Principal's Report

Amongst the many impressive buildings that make up our school, Peacock Hall stands apart. It is hard not to be moved when reading the many names of those who served, protecting the freedom of those back home. Etched into the walls are the names of past students who once walked the halls of Ballarat High School, full of so many dreams for the future, forever immortalised for future generations to witness and remember. It is sobering to consider those who tragically lost their lives and the impact that this loss of life would have had on their community and families, at a time when the population of Ballarat would have been a fraction of what we know today. Every life lost would have touched so many people they left behind. The sacrifice of others is something that we should never take for granted. As ANZAC Day approaches and we read the immortal phrase, ‘Lest we forget’ etched into Peacock Hall’s stained-glass windows, it is important to appreciate the value of life and what we do with this gift.

There are many books that have been written about our school’s history and traditions that chronicle the lives of those alumni who had gone on to shape their communities and in some instances, their country. Within the all too familiar words of ‘Duty Always’ there is an inherent commitment that, as a community, we will do the right thing when tested by circumstances or events. This must be seen in our inclusiveness, our sense of pride in what we stand for and our insistence that every member of our school should feel safe and feel that they belong. Ballarat High School students should never be bystanders, but upstanders who are brave enough to do what’s right. 

Whilst we have over 100 years of history as a school, it is but one story of a community over time; a community that sticks together and is prepared to put the needs of others before our own. Our students are our culture and the insistence that this culture is based on kindness is something that can never be compromised. 

What we do today, we remember forever, and this is why we need our students to recognise the importance of always living the values of Pride, Respect  and Responsibility: this is who we are and what we do at Ballarat High School. The values that we promote at school are the values that we share with our families. These values are what drives us as we all work together to support our students to be the best versions of themselves that they can be: young people who are compassionate, empathetic and kind like so many who have gone before them.

None of us know what the future holds, but today we must write our chapter of the Ballarat High School story that we can look back on with pride. 

Stephan Fields

Principal