Kinross Wolaroi Family Bulletin

Senior School Sport & 

Co-curricular

Henley Royal Regatta Recap

From Mr Ben Watt, MIC Rowing

On 24 June, 13 students and four staff members departed for London to compete at the world’s most prestigious rowing event — the Henley Royal Regatta. Known globally for its fierce one-on-one, knockout-style racing — akin to the format and grandeur of Wimbledon — HRR is the pinnacle of schoolboy and schoolgirl rowing, drawing elite crews from across the globe.

 

Our athletes touched down in London on 26 June, and after settling into accommodation, began training immediately out of Marlow Rowing Club — just 20 minutes south of Henley-on-Thames. Marlow served as the ideal launchpad, as the Henley qualifying regatta was underway and the course itself was unavailable. Amidst the intensity of qualification week, both of our crews proudly entered the main draw as pre-qualified crews based on the strength of their performances throughout the Australian domestic season.

 

Wednesday, 2 July – Prince Philip Challenge Trophy (Schoolgirl 1st VIII)

Our campaign began with the Schoolgirl 1st Eight facing Godolphin and Latymer School in the first round. With grandstands packed and thousands in attendance, nerves were high among athletes and coaches alike. As the girls were clapped onto the course by an incredible sea of travelling supporters, they rose to the occasion. What followed was nothing short of dominant — a composed and clinical row saw our crew power away to win by five lengths and book their spot in Friday’s quarterfinals.

 

Watch - Shiplake College v Kinross Wolaroi School, AUS - Fawley | Henley 2025 Day 3

 

Thursday, 3 July – Fawley Challenge Cup (Schoolboy 1st Quad)

Our Schoolboy Quad entered the regatta at the Round of 16, drawing local powerhouse Shiplake College — the premier rowing school in the UK and based just upriver from Henley. The Kinross Wolaroi boys got off to a courageous start, holding overlap through the first 750m in a gutsy show of speed and belief. Shiplake eventually edged ahead, building a lead through the middle thousand, but our crew fought tenaciously to remain within striking distance to the line. In a brutally tough draw, the boys represented themselves, their school, and their families with immense pride and resilience.

 

Watch - Shiplake College v Kinross Wolaroi School, AUS - Fawley | Henley 2025 Day 3

 

Friday, 4 July – Quarterfinal: Prince Philip Challenge Trophy

The girls were drawn against Latymer Upper School — the British National Champions. In an ironic twist, Kinross Wolaroi had been racing all week in a boat borrowed from Latymer. Undaunted, the crew lined up with a quiet confidence and an eye on opportunity. Launching from the start with precision and purpose, the girls quickly took control of the race and never looked back. Despite commentary that favoured the locals, our eight delivered a mature and masterful performance to claim victory and a spot in Saturday’s semifinal.

 

Watch - Kinross Wolaroi School, AUS vs Latymer Upper School- Prince Philip | Henley 2025 Day 4 - YouTube

 

Saturday, 5 July – Semifinal: Prince Philip Challenge Trophy

To race on Saturday at Henley is to be among the elite. Our girls now faced Shiplake College, the reigning British champions. Amid a sea of Australian supporters, the Kinross crew made their way through a tunnel of cheers to the start line. Battling strong headwinds and the weight of the occasion, the girls delivered a brave and composed race. With unrelenting spirit, they challenged Shiplake stroke for stroke — ultimately falling short by just a length and a half in what was a sensational semifinal performance.

 

Watch - Shiplake College vs Kinross Wolaroi School, AUS - Prince Philip | Henley 2025 Semi-Finals

Beyond the Course

The trip wasn’t all racing. The squad also soaked in the history and culture of England, exploring London and Oxford, including visits to Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, the London Eye, Mayfair, Tower Bridge and more — experiences that added depth and richness to this once-in-a-lifetime tour.

 

We extend our deepest thanks to our exceptional travelling staff — Adam Harrison, Emma Fessey, and Andrew Gannon — whose dedication and leadership made the tour possible. The support from parents at Henley was inspiring, and the backing from our KWS families and alumni back home was felt profoundly — lifting our crews through every race. To Dr Andrew and Josephine Parry, their travelling support was immensely appreciated, it was incredibly special to have them both join us at the regatta. The Parry’s have been incredible supporters of our Rowing program and as a program we will be forever grateful. 

 

To the 2025 Henley Rowing Squad

You represented Kinross Wolaroi School on the international stage with passion, integrity, and resilience. Your leadership, independence, and fighting spirit have etched your names into the legacy of Kinross Rowing. This tour was more than a campaign — it was a celebration of character, unity, and belief.

 

Well done team. You made us all immensely proud.

Alumni in Australian Under 23 team at World Championships

From Mr Ben Watt, MIC Rowing

On behalf of Kinross Rowing, we would like to extend our best wishes to four of our rowing alumni who compete this week at the u23 World Championships in Poznan, Poland this week. Lucy Searle (2023) & Hannah Richardson (2022) in the Womens Eight. Isabella Scammell (2021) in the Womens Pair and Alec Hoskin (2022) in the Mens Pair. We couldn’t be prouder of these former Kinross Rowers. If you would like to watch these athletes compete, you can find the livestream via this link - World Rowing Video - World Rowing. Racing starts Wednesday the 23 July.  

Equestrian

Over the holidays Amy Caldwell yr 11 boarder, competed in a few Equestrian competitions. The first one being the Australian Youth Dressage Championships which was held at Wagga Wagga. Amy and her horse Justice competed in 2 divisions Hey came 7th and 8th in the Novice dressage and 6th and 6th in the Elementary classes. (Top 10 in Australia for both divisions) She also competed at the NSW State Equestrian Interschools as did Audrey Pearce. Amy competed in the Novice dressage where she placed 4th overall, the Elementary dressage where she placed 6th overall and 60cm Combined Training where she placed 5th. With these results she has qualified for National Interschools which will be in September. Audrey Pearce competed in the combined training 105cm and won also securing a place in the Nationals. Amy has also qualified for the Pony Club Nationals and will compete in 2 divisions of Dressage. They will be held in October. 

Rugby Report

From Mr Lachlan Barratt, MIC Rugby

Rugby Union Highlights – Term Break Achievements

Over the term break, KWS students and staff were involved in outstanding representative Rugby opportunities at both state and national levels:

  • NSW Schools Rugby Championships:
    • Sam Hill was selected in the prestigious NSW U16 Schools I side.
    • Oscar Cleary delivered a dominant performance for Opens NSW Schools II, and we are keeping a close eye on the future announcement of the 2025 Australian Schoolboys XV, with Oscar looking to be a promising selection.
    • Harper Shaw also represented with distinction as part of the Opens NSW Schools II team.
    • Lilly Clarke was selected in the NSW II Girls U18s 7s squad.
    •  
  • NSW Country Rugby Selections:
    • Maddy O’Brien – NSW U18 Girls Country Squad
    • Liv Gordon – NSW U14 Girls Country Squad
    • Reuben Cleary – NSW U14 Boys Country Squad
    • Xavier Zinga – NSW U15 Country Black Squad
    • Heathcliffe Bell, Declan Dixon, and Hamish Leader – NSW U15 Country Gold Squad

These achievements highlight the strength and depth of our Rugby program, and we are proud of the dedication, talent and sportspersonship shown by all involved.

We also acknowledge the excellent contribution of our staff in these representative pathways:

  • Mr Angus Brotherton served as the ISA Manager at the National Schools Championships.
  • Mr Ben Cleary and Mr Matt Tink, provided outstanding support and coaching throughout the campaign, continuing to strengthen Kinross Wolaroi's ties with ISA and state-level Rugby.

A sincere thank you also goes to all Kinross Wolaroi Rugby coaches across the 2025 season to date for their ongoing commitment, leadership and support of our students. Their dedication to building skill, character and team culture has been instrumental in the growth of the program this year and is evident in the above achievements. 

 

Additionally, Kinross Wolaroi Rugby continues to grow external partnerships, most recently working alongside Sydney University Football Club (SUFC) in their Holiday Clinic programs. This collaboration has provided our students with high-quality development opportunities and further connection to elite Rugby environments.

NSW All Schools Cross Country – Skye Napier

From Mr Adam Harrison, Head of Sport

Congratulations to Skye who represented Kinross Wolaroi School at the NSW All Schools Cross Country Championships this week. Competing in a highly competitive field of 98 runners in the 15 Years Girls 4km race, Skye achieved an impressive 26th place finish.

CSSA State Gymnastics Success!

From Mr Adam Harrison, Head of Sport

We’re proud to share some fantastic results from the recent CSSA State Gymnastics competition in Sydney. Matilda Tink and Mya McLachlan both represented our school in Level 6, showing great skill and determination.

 

Matilda placed 4th in both Vault and Beam, while Mya had an outstanding performance, taking 1st in Vault, 3rd in Bars, and 3rd in Beam, which earned her 3rd place overall!

 

A huge thank you to their coach, Madeleine Waters from Central West Gymsports, for travelling to Sydney and supporting the girls on the day.

 

Well done to both gymnasts on their amazing achievements!

Building Tomorrow’s Leaders: Cadet Leadership Camp at Kinross Wolaroi School

During the first week of the July school holidays, Kinross Wolaroi School hosted its annual Cadet Leadership Camp, welcoming 85 cadets and 10 staff members for a week of immersive leadership development. Held at the Wolaroi Campus, the camp was fully residential, giving cadets the chance to live, learn, and lead together in a supportive environment.

The camp focused on three leadership levels: Corporals (Year 9), Sergeants (Year 10), and Cadet Under Officers (CUOs, Year 11). Each group engaged in tailored training to prepare them for guiding junior cadets in Years 7 and 8.

Learning by Doing

Cadets participated in hands-on lessons covering essential field skills:

  • Navigation using maps and compasses
  • Planning and leading navigation exercises
  • Field hygiene and basic first aid
  • Radio communications (RATEL) using NATO protocols

These skills were put into practice during a field assessment day at Macquarie Woods, where cadets demonstrated their readiness in real-world scenarios.

 

Leading with Heart

Leadership isn’t just about logistics—it’s also about people. Cadets explored “soft” leadership skills such as:

  • Leading games and activities
  • Resolving conflicts
  • Building inclusive and effective teams

CUOs took their learning further by discussing leadership styles and shaping their vision for the 2025–2026 Cadet year. They reflected on the kind of unit culture they want to create and the legacy they hope to leave.

 

Life at Camp

Thanks to the support of our boarding staff, cadets enjoyed comfortable accommodations and hearty meals at the Wolaroi Campus. Evenings were filled with games, delicious suppers, and well-earned rest after full days of learning and activity.

 

Looking Ahead

With a strong group of trained leaders now ready to take the reins, the Kinross Wolaroi School Cadet Unit (KWSCU) is looking forward to another fantastic year. The camp not only built vital skills—it also strengthened the camaraderie and commitment that define the KWSCU spirit.

 

Here’s to a year of confident leadership, teamwork, and growth!