From the Principal

Commissioning of the 6th Principal of Kinross Wolaroi School

Yesterday’s Commissioning Service marking my appointment as the sixth Principal of Kinross Wolaroi School was a deeply significant and humbling occasion, grounded in faith, tradition and our shared commitment to the future of this School. 

 

I was honoured by the presence of the Moderator of the Uniting Church Synod of NSW and the ACT, Reverend Faaimata Havea Hiliau, the Director of Missions for the Uniting Church, Reverend Stuart Bollom, our Chair of School Council, Reverend Andrew Cunningham, and the members of School Council who serve Kinross Wolaroi School with such dedication. I also warmly acknowledge the Federal Member for Calare, the Hon Andrew Gee, the State Member for Orange, Mr Philip Donato, and the Mayor of Orange, Mr Tony Mileto, for their support of our School and wider community. It was particularly meaningful to welcome our former Principal, Dr Parry, and Mrs Parry, along with other distinguished guests, staff, parents and friends of the School. 

 

Most importantly, I thank our students, who are at the heart of all that we do and whose growth, character and learning give purpose to our work each day.

 

Following is my speech to the community on this important occasion.

It is an honour to stand before you today as the new Principal of Kinross Wolaroi School. 

I am deeply conscious of the School’s standing as an enduring leader in education, and of the significant role it has played in the life of Orange and the wider Central West across generations. It is a school shaped by history, sustained by purpose and distinguished by a proud tradition of excellence.

I am therefore both honoured and genuinely excited to have joined this community, as together we accept the responsibility and privilege of carrying that legacy forward and contributing to the next chapter in the School’s story.

I commence in this role, conscious that I do so in the footsteps of many principals who have served this School with great dedication, each bringing their own distinctive gifts and leadership. I wish to acknowledge, with sincere appreciation, the significant contributions made by those who have gone before me - most especially the outstanding legacy of my predecessor, Dr Andrew Parry. Dr Parry’s nine years of distinguished service have laid a strong foundation, one from which our School can move forward with confidence as, together, we begin to write the next chapter of its rich and wonderful history. I am deeply grateful to Dr Parry for the generosity and care with which he has made my transition so seamless, and I thank both Dr Parry and Mrs Parry for joining us this morning.

It is a quite a significant decision to pack up your life, where you feel safe and comfortable, and move nearly 2,000km to start anew – particularly when you have never lived in NSW. But from the moment I first visited Orange and Kinross Wolaroi – I knew that it was a place I should be. I cannot thank my wife Nicky to be willing to do this with me. But, quite honestly, we could not be happier to have joined such a warm, caring and committed community – we have just felt so welcome from our very first day. 

As I step into this role and begin this journey with you, I want to share the vision that guides me - not only as a Principal, but as someone who believes deeply in the promise of young people.

Education should be transformative. Not simply something we pass through, but something that equips us to stand confidently in the world.

Education should help us discover who we are, clarify what matters to us, and awaken a sense of purpose beyond ourselves. It should give us the knowledge, skills and courage to shape the world around us - and the character to do so with integrity, compassion and resolve.

That is the kind of education I believe in, and the journey I am commit myself to taking with you.

Here at Kinross Wolaroi, my vision is clear: to create, together, a learning environment where what we do each day truly matters - where learning is meaningful, relevant and deeply connected to the world in which our students are growing up, right here in this remarkable regional community.

I want this to be a school where every one of our students is seen, known and valued. A place where they feel understood and supported, and where the opportunities we place before them are not generic, but thoughtfully shaped around who they are – their needs, their interests, and their aspirations for the future.

And at the heart of it all, I believe profoundly in growth. Not perfection - growth. The courage to try, to stumble, to learn, and to keep moving forward. That is the culture I am committed to building with you.

For that reason, I am committed to continuous improvement - in the way we teach, in the programs we offer, and in how we support and challenge one another. At the heart of everything we do are our relationships, because it is through trust, respect and shared responsibility that real growth occurs.

I want us to act with intention and integrity, knowing that the choices we make today shape the opportunities of tomorrow - and leave a positive mark long after we have moved on.

Above all else, this vision is about our students and the people they are becoming: confident, capable and ready to make a meaningful contribution to the world.

I want them to live with conviction, to stand up for what they believe in, and to step into the world with purpose and meaning. I want them to feel confident in their identity and grounded in their values. And I want this school to be a place where respect, fairness and inclusiveness are not just ideals, but everyday actions - visible in how we treat one another and in how we carry ourselves.

As a School, we are called to nurture more than academic success. We are called to develop character, compassion, resilience and a desire to contribute to something bigger than ourselves. These are qualities I value personally and qualities I hope to encourage in everyone.

My vision is simple:  I want every student who walks through our gates to leave this school not only well‑educated, but genuinely well‑prepared - to live meaningfully, lead confidently, contribute positively to the world, and serve others with compassion.

My aim is to work alongside every member of the Kinross Wolaroi community to build on the strong educational foundations already so evident here - an environment where each student is supported to reach their full potential and develop a deep understanding of the world they are preparing to enter.

For this vision to be realised, it is important that we, as a community, are intentional in the behaviours we choose to live out each day.  

Behaviours such as Respect. Respect begins with how we treat ourselves - our wellbeing, our choices and our potential. But it also extends to the way we treat others: teachers, colleagues, fellow students, our families, and the school we belong to. 

Behaviours such as Kindness. Shakespeare wrote in the The Merchant of Venice “How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world.” When we go out of our way for someone else, we enrich our own life at the same time. Kindness matters. With kindness also comes tolerance. A diverse community is a strong community - one where we celebrate differences and appreciate the unique talents and perspectives each person brings. Let us choose to be a school where kindness and understanding guide our actions. 

Behaviours such as Commitment. When their time at Kinross Wolaroi comes to an end, I want our students to look back without regret - knowing that they gave their best effort and seized the opportunities available to them. Success, for many, is not instant. It requires persistence, long hours, resilience and commitment. There will be challenges, but I urge them to stay the course, keep going, and remain determined in the pursuit of their goals. 

I would like to finish this morning by offering three commitments from me, as the new Principal of Kinross Wolaroi School. 

First, I commit to you that I will never take this role for granted. I step into the position of Principal with a deep sense of duty and responsibility. I see this work as a privilege - one I will honour every day. Because of that, I will work as hard for you, and for this school community, as any Principal possibly can.

Second, I want to be completely honest with you: not every decision I make in the years ahead will be popular. That is the nature of leadership. There will be times when some of you may disagree with me, and that’s okay. But you have my word that every decision I make will be grounded in what I believe is in the very best interests of the students of Kinross Wolaroi School - those here now, and those who will join us in the future.

And third, I commit that when the time eventually comes for me to leave this role -hopefully many years from now - I will leave Kinross Wolaroi a stronger, healthier and even more vibrant school than the one I have the privilege of leading today.

I conclude this morning by offering my sincere thanks. My wife, Nicky and I are deeply appreciative of the warmth and generosity extended to us by the School community since our arrival in January; we have felt truly welcomed and are most grateful.

I also wish to acknowledge, with thanks, the Uniting Church and the School’s Council for the trust they have placed in me to lead this wonderful old School. Finally, I express my heartfelt gratitude to our parents, staff and students for their support, partnership and shared commitment as we work together, now and in the years ahead, to provide the very best educational opportunities possible.

Thank you.