Student Success

Lily McDonald

Aspiring chef Lily McDonald is celebrating her place at the table of the WA Taste of the Future competition. 

The Year 12 St Norbert College student placed third in the annual Masterchef-style cook-off run by Hospitality Group Training WA at Woodvale Senior High School last week.

The competition - open to all Year 11 and 12 students across WA (one representative per school) - was judged by Stephen Clarke from Clarke's Of North Beach, Josh Vears from Chapters Bistro and Gianni Moretti from Ten Acre Block Pan Pacific Hotel Perth who paced the kitchen floor Matt Preston-style.

Lily created a walnut and thyme-stuffed chicken maryland with a spiced citrus carrot puree and broccolini. 

“The judges said the quality of cooking on the day was right up there with many restaurants and bars in Perth and the competitors should be very proud,’’ food science technology teacher Mrs Rogers said.

“Lily was extremely focussed on the day and was a wonderful ambassador for the College and her family.’’

Lily is working at a Hills hotel as part of a school-based apprenticeship and Certificate III in Commercial Cookery.

"My favourite cuisine to cook would be Italian because I love the fresh flavours they cook with and they inspire me in my work everyday,'' Lily says.

"My love of cooking began when I was little and wanted to be a baker. I worked so hard every weekend to make cakes and practise my skills, but then in 2019 I was diagnosed with coeliacs disease, making my job as a baker surrounded by flour products very difficult. 

"This was when I started to look around at different options and discovered the kitchen operations and commercial cookery courses, which I would gain qualification to be a chef through. 

"From there I was inspired to want to become a chef and I'm very grateful for all the help I've had along the way. 

"My career aspirations would be to get qualified then work in a fine dining restaurant, like Nobu situated in the Crown complex. I enjoy making food an art and making it something that not only tastes good, but look amazing as well.'' 

Tegan Reder

Swimming WA has congratulated Year 12 student Tegan Reder on her selection to Swimming Australia's National Para Swimming Development Squad.

Selection to the squad is an integral part of the Para Swimming Performance Pathway, which is designed to prepare swimmers for transition to the senior national team and to achieve high performance success in and out of the pool. 

As a member of the development squad, Tegan will have access to a range of workshops and camp activities. Her inclusion was announced after the Paralympic Swimming Trials in Adelaide in which she dropped four seconds off her entry time in the Multi-Class Women's 100m Breaststroke race to gain fourth place in a highly competitive field.

Shenae Hartree

After being named female WABL player of the year two years ago, Shenae Hartree is now one of the youngest players accepted into NBL1 (the division below Perth Wildcats and Perth Lynx) and recently represented WA at the Under 20s national competition in Mackay, Queensland.

The Year 12 ATAR student, who has her sights on studying medicine or veterinary science, spends at least 12 hours a week on the basketball court including playing three to four times a week for St Norbert College, Perth Redbacks and NBL1.

"My ambition is to get as high as I can go, whether it’s NBL like the Perth Lynx, or if it’s playing for Australia, or even College basketball in the US,’’ Shenae told ED! magazine in The West Australian, adding that her determination play at a high level had finally paid off.

“When I was younger I was always in the top teams but was never recognised, but I just kept training and working as hard as I could. Only in recent years have I started achieving my goals. When I wasn’t chosen for state competitions, I didn’t stop trying.’’ 

As well as good grades, Shenae says her off-court achievements are “my family and the relationships I have with my friends’’.

Mrs L Quartermain

(Community Relations and Marketing)