WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING (1 of 3)
GOLD COAST SPORTS TOUR 2026: BUILDING CHARACTER THROUGH SPORT
BY STEVE KELLY (SECONDARY SPORT COORDINATOR & CSEN COORDINATOR)
When 21 students and 3 staff boarded a flight to the Gold Coast last week, the goal was never simply to win games.
The purpose of the Gold Coast Sports Tour was to provide students with opportunities to grow as athletes, teammates, leaders and representatives of Belgrave Heights Christian School. By the time we landed back in Melbourne, it was clear that this group had achieved far more than a collection of wins and losses.
Throughout the week, our basketball and netball teams competed against strong opposition from four Queensland schools: Trinity Lutheran College, Parklands Christian College, Hillcrest Christian College and Groves Christian College.
The basketball boys opened with a 74-55 win over Trinity Lutheran, followed it with an 84-46 win against Parklands, then came within two points of an undefeated tour, going down 91-89 in a fierce contest against Hillcrest, before closing out with a 68-54 win at Groves — three wins and one heartbreaker against tough opposition.
The netball girls showed tremendous resilience all week. Against Trinity Lutheran's strongest side in 20 years (by their own coaches' admission), our girls fought to the final whistle in a 46-25 result. After a tough 37-24 loss to a Hillcrest program known for its netball excellence, the girls bounced back in style — leading Parklands 23-2 at quarter time on the way to a 56-14 win, then finishing the tour with a dominant 48-14 win over Groves.
While there were plenty of outstanding performances on the court, the real highlights came away from the scoreboard.
At Parklands Christian College, our students planned and delivered basketball and netball clinics for Year 6 students. Taking full responsibility for the sessions, they demonstrated confidence, leadership and genuine care for the younger students they were serving. The feedback from staff and students was overwhelmingly positive.
Throughout the tour, students had opportunities to connect with peers from other schools, share meals together, participate in recovery sessions, and build relationships beyond competition. After a tough double-header at Hillcrest, the group came together for an optional ice bath and recovery swim — with a number of students braving the full ice bath before the girls capped things off with a win over the boys in a swimming relay. On the final day at Groves Christian College, students spent time with their hosts after the matches, sharing lunch and enjoying games of dodgeball and volleyball together. It was a fitting reminder that sport is about people and connection as much as it is about performance.
Before departing, our students committed themselves to a simple standard: Grit. Serve. Lead. Over the course of the week, we saw that standard lived out repeatedly. We saw students persevere through difficult matches, encourage teammates after setbacks, help without being asked, and represent themselves and their school with maturity and humility. Across every venue we visited, staff commented not only on our students' competitiveness, but on the way they conducted themselves.
That is the culture we are striving to build within BHCS sport. We want our students to compete hard, pursue excellence, and take pride in representing their school. Just as importantly, we want them to be known for their character, their leadership and the way they treat others.
We are incredibly proud of every student who participated in the tour. They represented Belgrave Heights Christian School with distinction, embracing every opportunity and leaving a positive impression wherever they went.
Thank you to the families who supported the tour and entrusted us with their children. It was a memorable week of growth, connection and learning, and one that has set a strong foundation for future sports tours.
