2019: A Celebration of the Radford Journey

From The PrincipalThis was a year of significant milestones in the Radford journey.

The Class of 2019 was the first cohort to include students who completed their entire education at Radford – from the Early Learning Centre in 2006, right through to their Year 12 Graduation (see Page 8).

It is also the first Radford cohort I have accompanied through their entire six years of Secondary School.

Year 12 Certificates were awarded to 174 students, with 160 awarded an ATAR. Fourteen students took an accredited package and of these, nine leave the College with nationally-recognised vocational qualifications for careers in industries such as motor mechanics and child care.

Zachary Gan is the Class of 2019’s JA Mackinnon Dux, having achieved the College’s highest ATAR of 99.8. Especially pleasing was the fact that eight students achieved an ATAR above 99 and that Radford’s 2019 median ATAR was 89.7.

Ninety-eight per cent of students were within or exceeded the ATAR range that was predicted for them – with 30 per cent slightly above their ATAR estimate due to a strong final semester and AST performance. It is important to note

that the ATAR is not the only pathway to a desired course of study or career. Some students have already accepted offers to tertiary institutions or arts companies by impressing selection panels through a portfolio or audition. Others were successful in gaining employment and/or study support in the form of scholarships.

All of our students embraced the many opportunities presented to them – through sport, music, performing arts, outdoor education, service to others, leadership roles and many other experiences.

Along the way, they also developed the enterprise skills being sought by employers: a strong work ethic, positive attitude, good communication skills, time-management abilities, problem-solving skills, acting as a team player, self-confidence and the ability to accept and learn from criticism.

As they embark on their journey beyond Radford, they do so in the knowledge that they will always belong to our community; just like the Class of 2014, who were mentors and prefects to this year’s graduates when they were in Year 7. They tell us about their travels and offer some advice to the Class of 2019 on Page 9.

Congratulations to each and every student on their achievements this year.

An Anglican co-educational day school

1 College Street Bruce ACT 2617 Australia

TELEPHONE +61 (0)2 6162 6200 FACSIMILE +61 (0)2 6162 6263 WEB www.radford.act.edu.au

Congratulations to our Class of 2019 2

Class of 2019 JA Mackinnon Dux Zachary Gan Zachary is the Class of 2019’s JA Mackinnon Dux, having achieved the College’s highest ATAR of 99.8.

Zachary has also been engaged in numerous extension activities, representing Radford College in the ICAS Mathematics, Science and English Competitions and the RACI Chemistry Quiz. In Year 11, he undertook a significant academic commitment through ANU’s Discovering Engineering H Course for talented students.

The Co-curricular Program is an integral part of a student’s education at Radford College and Zachary has made a significant contribution, particularly through his involvement in music activities such as the Bernstein Symphonic Wind Orchestra, the Precision Percussion Ensemble, the Combined Schools Music Festival and other musical recitals.

Zachary has also demonstrated his concern for the welfare of others through his involvement in the school’s Service Learning initiatives. He has volunteered at the Hall Markets, the Lifeline Book Fair, and worked with children with a disability to help them experience and enjoy Basketball through the RAID Basketball Program.

Academic highlights • ACT Mock Trial winners – Jack Coyle, Mandy Wang, Elise Northcote,

Nicholas Fitzgerald, Nikita Chandekar, Dionne Marks

• LitLinks Speculative Fiction prize – Amy Theakston

• ACT Plan Your Own Enterprise (Business Plan) winner – Bobbi Sayers

• ANU All Rounder Scholarship winner – Thomas Scott

• London International Youth Science Forum invitation – Elise Northcote

• Australia China Friendship Society Best Mandarin Student Award – Halery Xia

• UN Youth Australia Evatt National Final – Elise Northcote and Lauren Nicholson

• Geography Big Week Out ACT/NT winner – Ben Nugent

• UNSW Defence Civilian Undergraduate Sponsorship – Anson Thai and Raveen Pathiraja

• UC Visual Communication Design Competition winner – Noah Sampson

ATAR 85+

103 students

89.7Median ATAR

Zachary Gan

Shiyamar Sivapatham

Ethan Nguyen

Matthew Drown

Nicholas Doshi

Anson Thai

Olivia Young

Thomas Scott

Jack Coyle

Patrick Morrison

Top 10 Students

Congratulations to our Class of 2019 3

ApprenticeshipsOf the cohort of Accredited Package students, nine graduates completed or finished a significant component of their training while concurrently achieving their ACT Senior Secondary Certificates. These students are highly employable as they now have, or will soon have, nationally-recognised vocational qualifications.

In September, Monte Newman was awarded the Canberra Institute of Technology Automotive Industry ASBA of the Year, having been employed at Gulson Canberra doing light vehicle servicing during his Year 11 and 12 studies. Monte also won a BSSS Vocational Studies Award.

Lachlan Kuchlmayr is close to completing his commercial cookery qualification and becoming a chef at Courgette Restaurant, while Emma Blazevski finished her Certificate III in Business at CIT in record time, while working in the office at Discount Glass.

Lachlan Sampson and Abbie Hanbridge enjoyed working in Community Services and respectively completed their Early Childhood Education & Care and Individual Support qualifications.

Studying an Accredited Package was not a barrier to university entry with Accredited Package students receiving early offers to study bachelor-degree programs in Film Production, Digital Media and Justice Studies.

Accredited Package Students and Australian School Based Apprenticeships (ASBAs)

Abbie HanbridgeCert III Individual SupportCRANLEIGH SCHOOL

Alanah JansenCert III Information, Digital Media & TechnologyDEPT EMPLOYMENT, SKILLS, SMALL &

FAMILY BUSINESS

Connor BlackmoreCert III Carpentry (ongoing)ABS FACADES

Emma BlazevskiCert III BusinessDISCOUNT GLASS

Lachlan KuchlmayrCert III Commercial Cookery (ongoing)COURGETTE RESTAURANT

Lachlan SampsonCert III Early Childhood Education & CareRADFORD COLLEGE

Miguel FernandezCert III Carpentry (ongoing)SMITH & SONS TUGGERANONG

Monte NewmanCert III Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology (ongoing)GULSONS CANBERRA

Rosanna JoshuaCert III Sport & RecreationRADFORD COLLEGE

Congratulations to our Class of 2019 4

Performing Arts Congratulations to Radford Chorale on being the only choir in their section to receive a prestigious Platinum Award at the Australian National Eisteddfod

Alison BarclayNikita ChandekarJoshua DaffernEmily GatesJames ThirkellNatasha ErbKatherine KosaPatrick LeerdamMaddison ScottPatrick KnightOlivia YoungEllen Wedgwood

Chorale wishes to thank Director of Choirs, AJ America, and accompanist, Bronwyn Brown.

We congratulate the many Radford Year 12 students who were selected in a wide range of representative teams and individual pursuits over the year.

The following students were members of an Australian squad in their chosen sport, with several competing at the international level.

Jacinta Buckman & Emily Gates – KAYAKING

William Clode – GRIDIRON

Jessica Cox – ARCHERY

Matthew Drown – VOLLEYBALL

Miguel Fernandez – RUGBY

Alanah Jansen – INDOOR HOCKEY

Marianna Lawless – SOCCER

Jay Macdonald – HOCKEY

Aaron Passioura – TRIATHLON

Individual Sporting Achievements

Jay Macdonald

Congratulations to our Class of 2019 5

Service Learning

Emilie MacCallumFrom learning with the Indigenous community on Gamilaraay Trips to

cooking pumpkin soup for OzHarvest on a Wednesday afternoon, Radford provided our cohort innumerable opportunities to work alongside the community and give

back. However, any task for others is only as impactful as its guiding principles or

philosophies, and Radford has taught us that service to others is a delicate task. We have learnt that service must seek to form long-term respectful relationships that enable

genuine connection and encourage learning, rather than highlight differences or force aid.

61 students from the Class of 2019 attended Service Learning trips to Gamilaraay country in Northern NSW.

Congratulations to our Class of 2019 6

Samuel EarleService Learning is an integral component of Radford College and the development of its students. There are many opportunities and means through which students can engage with service activities such as the senior Timor-Leste

and Gamilaraay Trips as well as the school-wide Dirrum Conference. Students learn many useful skills such as communication and teamwork, and are presented with opportunities to apply their academic learning in a practical environment.

The service program at Radford is something that I believe to be integral to creating well-rounded people, who are not only able to discover themselves, but also look outside of themselves to help others. I have participated in many service opportunities at Radford, and delight in the ability to have fun with the people Radford has a strong connection with. My favourite activities have been teamSUPPORT and RAID. TeamSUPPORT is a group of Year 10 boys who work with Black Mountain School to create fun-themed

sports days for the students. RAID is run by the YMCA every Wednesday night for people with disabilities to come in and play a modified version of basketball. Since Year 10, it has been my absolute pleasure to help mentor the teamSUPPORT boys, and an even greater pleasure to participate in RAID basketball. I learned Radford’s key message of service – “not to, not for, but with” – very early on. This motto has stuck with me, strengthening my sense of self and will undoubtedly become who I am in the future.Patrick Knight

Service Learning

94% of the Class of 2019 participated in at least one service activity in Years 11–12

Congratulations to our Class of 2019 7

Duke of Edinburgh

Five Year 12 students achieved their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award, four of which were presented with their awards by the Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable David John Hurley AC DSC (Retd) at Government House in December.

L-R right with DoE Coordinator Sue Hassall and Principal Fiona Godfrey are Alison Barclay, Lucinda Jaggers, Nikita Chandekar and Stephanie Ni (Katherine Kosa will receive her award at a later date).

These students began their Duke of Edinburgh journey in Year 9, achieving their Bronze Award and committing to the further requirements for their Silver and Gold over the remaining three years.

This has involved a weekly commitment of one hour to service, a skill, a sport, training and qualifying expeditions for each Award Level and a further Residential Project to achieve Gold.

79% of students participated in Radford Sport or Outdoor Education programs

Congratulations to our Class of 2019 8

2006

2019

This photo includes members of both Class of 2019 and Class of 2020 as three and four-year-old students.

The Radford Journey

By Ellen Wedgwood

The Class of 2019 is the first cohort to include students who started at Radford in the Early Learning Centre and graduated as Year 12s.

Throughout my 14 years at Radford I learnt how to look after myself and others in an ever-changing world. Some memories are:

• Building billy carts to learn about physics in the Junior School

• Older students teaching us fun games which we then passed on to younger students when we made it to Senior School

• Having older students as mentors in various drama productions and then me being able to mentor younger students in later years

• Running around Sydney on the Year 8 trip with all my close friends

• Struggling to make it through Year 10 Camp but feeling as though I had accomplished something at the end of it.

Under the guidance of many different teachers every student is able to find something at Radford that interests them. Whether it is sports, drama, music or STEM, each student is given opportunities to find where they may fit in later in life. Every student at Radford is able to bring their own personality to the school, with no fear of how others will react to them. Everyone is encouraged to make their own memories. From aiming to read a new book in the Junior School Reading Challenge, to learning a new sport, or even having a go at performing in a musical, each member of the College is able to find their own spot.

Congratulations to our Class of 2019 9

Five Years Beyond Radford – Prefects from Class of 2014

Jim Graham

Jamie McColl

Anna Milligan

Tom Earle

Amy Hatton

Dougal Mordike

Jessica Wallace

Rowan Blake

I went on a gap year in England, helping out at a school. After

coming home, I moved to Sydney and completed a Bachelor of

Commerce, majoring in Accounting and Marketing at Macquarie

University. I now work full time as a financial consultant.

MY ADVICE: “BE YOURSELF, BECAUSE EVERYONE ELSE IS TAKEN.”

The past five years I’ve been studying mechatronics and computer

science at UNSW, and took half a year off to work at an underwater

robotics company.

MY ADVICE: “NOT SURE IF THIS COUNTS AS WISDOM, BUT FIVE YEARS OUT OF

SCHOOL MOST PEOPLE ARE EITHER DOING SOMETHING THEY NEVER EXPECTED OR STILL

AREN’T SURE WHERE THEIR LIFE IS GOING, SO IF THAT’S YOU … DON’T WORRY!”

Since finishing school I’ve taken two gap years at different points and now I’m currently studying

Mechanical Engineering in Oregon where I’ve also played college

soccer. I’ve travelled around Cuba, USA, NZ and Europe; all of which has been awesome! Currently on

track to graduate in May.MY ADVICE: “IF YOU WERE TO ASK A

DOLPHIN IT WOULD SAY IT LIVES IN ORDER TO FROLIC, RATHER THAN FROLICKING IN

ORDER TO LIVE”.

I’m just about to graduate from a double degree of International

Relations/Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies at ANU – not what I thought I’d be doing when I

finished Year 12.

MY ADVICE: “I DIDN’T HAVE A GAP YEAR, BUT I WENT ON EXCHANGE TO THE US IN MY SECOND YEAR AND IT WAS THE BEST

THING I’VE EVER DONE.”

Since school finished, I’ve been around Europe in my gap year and I am towards the end of my Bachelor of Science at ANU. I work a lot and

have moved out of home so I’m taking a bit longer to finish my degree than I planned, but if I’ve learnt anything

over the past five years, it’s to cherish these years and have fun.

MY ADVICE: “TRAVEL, WORK, STUDY IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT YOU DO, BUT DO SOMETHING YOU ENJOY! AND MAKE

SURE TO DROP IN ON YOUR FAMILY EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.”

I moved to study medicine at Monash University and in 2018 I took the

year off clinical studies to complete a degree in medical research.

Alongside, I just finished a Diploma of Arts, majoring in International Relations. I hope to combine this

with medicine and work in the field of women’s health on humanitarian

aid projects and in Australian Indigenous communities.

MY ADVICE: “LISTEN TO OTHER PEOPLE WHEN THEY TELL YOU ABOUT THEIR LIFE

EXPERIENCE, YOU CAN LEARN A LOT.”

I jumped straight into studying a Bachelor of Stage & Screen (Television) at CSU including

interning at Fox Sports, SBS, and Nine. Then decided to do another

degree (Creative Arts and Design – Graphic Design) which I’m currently

completing via distance.

MY ADVICE: “EMBRACE OPPORTUNITIES, FIND SOMETHING YOU’RE PASSIONATE

ABOUT, AND DO WHAT YOU LOVE! REMEMBER THE GOOD TIMES YOU’VE HAD WHILST AT RADFORD, AND ALL THE BEST WITH THE NEXT CHAPTER OF YOUR LIFE!”

I took a gap year to work in England and travel in Europe and then moved

to Sydney to study Occupational Therapy, and earlier this year I did

an exchange semester in Canada for my course. I’m now working with a

disability equipment company while I finish my studies next year.

MY ADVICE: “IN THIS NEXT CHAPTER TRY NOT TO WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT WHERE

EVERYONE ELSE IS AT – JUST FOCUS ON DOING WHAT’S BEST FOR YOU!”

1 College Street

Bruce ACT 2617 AustraliaTELEPHONE +61 (0)2 6162 6200

FACSIMILE +61 (0)2 6162 6263

WEB www.radford.act.edu.au