Message from the

Director of Boarding

Thank you and farewell to Year 12

I have been very fortunate, recently, to attend all the Year 12 Farewells that Boarding Houses have hosted. It has been a delight to watch our Year 11 boys and girls stand up and comment on the legacy that our current Year 12s will pass on. House Captains and Vice Captains have given the most eloquent, heartfelt and hilarious speeches about their own experience; the good times, the tough, funny moments, pranks, and many comments on the culture of support that exists between staff and students. The speeches have been very emotional, and rightly so. Boarding is a special journey and it is the people you meet along the way that matter most.

At the heart of it all are our Boarding Leaders and I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one. Below are a few comments from Heads of House which I would like to share.

Will Byrnes (Boarding Prefect)

Will has been an outstanding Boarding Prefect; a great ambassador for boys’ boarding and a representative for all. He is a selfless individual who consistently puts others first and is not afraid to think outside the box in his search for a solution or for continued improvement.

Lucy Aveyard (Boarding Prefect)

Lucy has demonstrated this year that she has the ability to connect with a wide variety of people and has made an excellent Prefect as a result. She leads by example and is not afraid to speak her mind. She has been a great role model for all the girls at PLC and has set the standard for future Boarding Prefects to follow.

Lochlan Birchall (Trathen)

Lochie been a fantastic role model for the year 7s in Trathen. He has been a strong leader and always respectful in his dealings with the Year 7 boys and staff. He has a great attitude towards his studies and will leave a positive legacy to Trathen House. He is an outstanding individual and we have been very lucky to have him.

Ethan Mulholland (Wolaroi)

The relationship between a House Captain and the Head of House is an important one and one that, in most cases, develops over years. In a turbulent year, Ethan has been a great support to me in my new role. He has flourished in Term 3, as more events have been allowed to take place and as there have been opportunities for him to do so he has relished the chance to lead from the front. This was particularly the case in his mentorship of the Year 11s in preparation for their leadership applications and in his organisation and advocacy for the Wolaroi vs. Weymouth rugby game. He has set a fine example for those who will come after him and he will be greatly missed.

Will Luelf (Wolaroi)

An old colleague of mine was fond of using cricket analogies. One of his favourites that has stuck with me, and which would resonate with Will is, “play the straight ball straight”. Will has been a wonderful source of truth over the past year. He tells it how it is and he doesn’t sugar coat it. His willingness to share the ‘temperature’ of the house with me and to sit down and have an honest conversation to ‘nut something out’ has been invaluable. He has the best interests of his fellow boarders at heart and he has worked patiently with me as I have learned the ropes. I am grateful for his guidance during a difficult year and he has the thanks of the whole house for his leadership.

Bridget Longley (Loader)

Bridget has been an outstanding asset to Loader House. She displays inclusiveness to all members of the house in a respectful and constructive way. Bridget is very helpful in supporting staff within the house and initiating house activities when required. She is a bright and friendly personality and has most certainly set a great example for Loader’s future House Captains.

Edwina Reilly (Loader)

Edwina is supremely diligent and hardworking, always willing to be involved in house activities and supported the Loader girls academically at every opportunity. She has a great work ethic and has been a great support to the House Captain. Her warm personality and approachability will be sorely missed by all the girls and staff. 

Ally Bermingham (New)

Ally has been a wonderful New House Captain in 2020. Her ability to support and care for the girls in the Boarding house has been exceptional during a year that has posed many difficulties. She has taken her role seriously and will leave a legacy of friendship, commitment and care that will live in the hearts of New House girls well into the future.

Jess Jones (New)

Jess has been an exceptional Vice-Captain of New House for 2020. Her leadership, strength of conviction and personal integrity has meant she can be relied upon to always do the right thing even when times are difficult and challenging. She will be greatly missed and has set a high standard for the girls following her to equal.

Jetta Kennett (Stuart Douglas)

Jetta has been a wonderful ambassador and leader for the Stuart Douglas girls.  She is patient and kind and has always made time to talk with the girls and help them settle into the boarding routines. She can always be relied upon to help, and no task is a bother for her.  Jetta has shown great motivation towards her studies and the girls and staff of Stuart Douglas wish her all the very best for a bright future.

Tyrese Carr-White (Tower)

Tyrese is from Brisbane and has been a boarder since Year 7. Tyrese is well liked in the house because of the big brother role he has taken on. He enjoys interacting with the juniors particularly in sports, which the younger students really appreciate. Tyrese will undertake an internship at Humanitix in Sydney after the HSC, and he is looking to study Commerce and Arts at the UNSW. 

Tom Richardson (Weymouth)

Has been a fine leader and House Captain in Weymouth for 2019/2020. Loves chatting to anyone and everyone. Can often be found cooking a BBQ breakfast for the house on a Sunday morning with his coffee in hand!! Tom is a man of few words but leads by example and has been an outstanding role model to his peers and all Weymouth boys.

Alex Brien (Weymouth)

Alex has enjoyed the social aspects of boarding and spending time with his friends. He has studied hard and worked to improve his grades whilst at the same time supporting others. He has come to the end of a wonderful journey in boarding and we will miss his character next year!

To all Year 12 boarders…

Congratulations for making it through to the final week intact! Thank you for the wonderful and varied contribution you have given to Boarding at Kinross Wolaroi, no matter how big or how small. You have been exceptional this year in the face of some serious challenges; taking it all in your stride and doing so with a deep breath and a smile! The warmth and spirit you have displayed over the last few weeks says everything about your qualities as a cohort.

I wish you every success for the HSC examinations and for your future endeavours. We will look on with interest.

Mr Matt Curran 

Director of Boarding