On Monday 3 March the School Captains accompanied by Mrs Plumb, attended the Halogen Young Leaders Conference at the Melbourne Convention Centre. We had a terrific day as we listened to prominent leaders from various parts of Australia speak about how they came to be successful in their chosen fields and what they learned along their journey to where they are today.

It was a lot of fun from catching the train into the city, meandering along Southbank to get to the Exhibition Centre, participating in an engaging day, along with meeting and having a photo taken with the superstars and then topping off the day with a huge ice cream as we walked back to the train station.

Each of the Captains, chose a speaker to write about which we’d like to share with you.

Catherine Laga’Aia- Plays the role of Moana in the live movie to be released in 2026.

Catherine had a normal and relaxing life before it was tipped upside down, Catherine and her 2 sisters had a talent for acting but they weren’t perfect. One day their mother was watching the news and heard that the film crew for Moana were looking for a person to act as Moana for a new movie. Their mother told them to give it a try and so they auditioned and before they knew it, all three sisters got a call back and then another, and then another and then another until on their eighth call back, they got all three into the room and said that the youngest sister was too young for the role. Before they knew it, Catherine was on a plane with her older sister and her dad going to Hollywood. They found themselves auditioning with eight other people from across the world and a week later the news came out. Catherine and one other girl made it for the final selection.

In her final audition, Catherine went into the room and came out knowing that she smashed it but didn’t do so well in the singing part. She found herself with so many thoughts: was this going to throw her audition off? Why couldn’t her older sister do the singing? The final two girls were both called in and were shaking of nervousness but before they entered the room the other girl said you look like her. They entered the room and the producer and director announced who will be the actor and Catherine was shocked to hear her name being said. Catherine, her dad and sister finally flew back to their home in Australia and she started practicing for a month. Catherine and her dad who accompanied her were supposed to fly back to Hollywood but the trip was called off because of the writers’ strike. Catherine returned to school as she was in her final year when after a few months had passed, she was called into the principal's office to be told she was catching a plane to New York for all the preparation work before filming started. Catherine had to leave everything behind and wasn’t allowed to tell anyone the news. During the year she was away filming she had to complete Year 12 including her final exams. She never stopped working and was working 10 hours a day 7 days a week for both school and acting. There were times like when she broke down crying in the middle of filming and her dad had to help her calm down and times when she just wanted to quit and go home again. She missed her friends and her family and all the celebrations Year 12 students get to enjoy. But despite it all, she bravely pushed on to finish the film. She spoke about enjoying working with the entire filming crew who looked after her including Dwayne Johnson who plays Maui. Now that the hard work is all over, Catherine said that she is fortunate to have had such an amazing experience, even though at the time, she was missing her family so much.

I think the main lesson of Catherine’s life was to never give up even if you can’t see the end or if you hate it because you will regret quitting and not appreciate the opportunity you had. And also, life will always never be perfect and there will always be times where you will have to make the hardest decisions of your life but sometimes it’s a good thing to do that, so keep following your dreams and never ever give up.

By Xavier R

Emma McKeon: Olympian and 8 time world record holder in swimming

Emma Mckeon was exactly 5 years old when she decided she wanted to be an Olympian. She was inspired by Suzy O’Neill to become an Olympic swimmer. When she was little, Emma used to watch Suzy all the time. Emma now has 7 Olympic medals. Emma told us that if you have that nervous feeling in your stomach, it means you are doing something you care about and you are doing something worthwhile.

Training for the Olympics meant Emma had to get up at 5am in the morning every single day, even on days when she just wasn’t motivated. At the Rio Olympics, Emma felt that sick feeling in her stomach and was very nervous but Emma reminded herself that she might never ever get to do this again so she should just try her best. And guess what, she got a bronze medal!! Emma McKeon is an amazing speaker and I am really glad we got to meet her. We learnt so much from her as she spoke about her ten tips for working consistently to make your dreams come true. Emma was truly inspirational, and I want to be just like her when I am older!!

-Ella G

Thomas Duncan-Watt: Australian screenwriter and playwright

On Monday all four of us school captains went to a Halogen Conference where we met four inspirational people. Thomas Duncan-Watt a screenwriter and author has written scripts and crafted scenes for many famous shows like “Space Nova”, ”Home and Away” and many other TV shows and Movies.

His career began as an ordinary boy with an obsession towards Star Trek. He made a movie as a kid about it, which he showed us and laughed about how it wasn’t really great. Thomas described his obsession for science fiction and his dream of creating an animation movie. As Thomas grew older, he started to write commercials but got a lot of rejections from other companies until finally a toilet paper brand named “Quilton” agreed that his idea was the best. After that, more companies began to accept his proposals and soon enough he began making real TV shows. Even after failing and being rejected over a hundred times, he said he just couldn’t quit because his goal was too big to give up. It took many years by starting out with small creative opportunities until finally he became the successful screenwriter and playwright that he is today. Thomas has won three AWGIE Awards for his screenplays out of five nominations.

Thomas’s main message was it will take time, continued hard work and you might get lots of rejections, but NEVER give up on your dreams when you believe in them.

Dhyey D

Majak Daw: First Sudanese-Australian football player to be drafted to the AFL

Majak Daw is a famous AFL player who played for North Melbourne and he is the first Sudanese - Australian to ever be drafted to play in the AFL.

Majak was born in Sudan on the 11th of March in 1991, but his family had to flee to Australia because of Sudan’s civil war. He wishes that one day he could go back to Sudan to see his family back there who didn't come to Australia with him. When Majak went to school in Australia, all of his friends played AFL and he wanted to join in and play the sport with them. He asked his parents if he could play AFL but they were hesitant because AFL was a very violent and physical sport and they thought that he would get hurt and injured a lot. They wanted him to play a less physical and violent sport like soccer or something instead, but he insisted, saying that he would be fine and that all of his friends played AFL and he wanted to play and join in with them. Eventually his parents had to give in.

Majak soon found his passion in playing AFL with his friends and he decided to pursue the sport as his career. Majak became the first Sudanese - Australian to play in the Australian Football League as a player when he joined North Melbourne in 2009. Mary Daw, his sister, was inspired by her brother and how he was the first Sudanese - Australian to play in the AFL. Mary now also plays in the AFL for the Western Jets and then North Melbourne just like her brother. Majak also has a son who was born in August 2019 and they always have the funniest conversations with each other. Majak Daw retired from football at the age of 31 on the 27th of June in 2022 and is now passionate about positive mental health and working with others.

It was inspiring to listen to Majak’s story and makes you realise that if someone can go through such a tough life and still achieve their dreams then anyone who doesn’t give up can do it too.

Lauren F

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