Country To Coast Sapphire Coast Anglican College | Newsletter

College Principal's Address

Thanks for the Memories!

Even the College's longest-serving staff struggle to recall a more all-around delightful group of young adults than the Class of 2025. Many have tried to identify what the special ingredients are, but in my view, it is about character traits that are diverse, almost divergent, yet within this cohort, strangely complementary. Mature, yet fun-loving and mischievous; cheeky yet compassionate and empathetic; sociable, yet driven and determined; the Class of 2025 has it all.

For those who were not in our College Theatre on the morning of 25th September, here are some of the key moments of what was a beautiful occasion to commemorate the completion of our Year 12 students' time at Sapphire Coast Anglican College.

“While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.”

What wise old owl said that? An Ancient Greek philosopher, or Aboriginal elder, a former American President? No, no, a woman called Angela Schwindt, happy to be referred to as a ‘stay-at-home mom’, from Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest of the USA... Angela really hit the nail on the head.

Year 12 Graduation Speech

Good morning, distinguished guests of all ages and stages, but most importantly, today, the graduating Class of 2025. It is my privilege to reflect on this observation... Yes, you have all taught us aspects of what life is all about over these past 2, 3 or 13 years.

We are gathering to celebrate you, on a day that is truly one of life’s milestones, not only in your life, but that of your family and of the College.

For me, the second half of Term 3 is really something of a festival of leaving for Sapphire Coast Anglican College’s Year 12 students, beginning with the Soirée, back on 4th September.

A beautiful showcase of creativity and collegiality, highlighting the deep bonds that develop between students and between students and staff members. Many Year 12 students who had not selected courses from the CAPA and TAS suite were also in the packed Soirée audience, offering support and their vociferous approval for what their peers have contributed, building on the glittering legacy of those who have gone before.

Today, we have reached the grand finale.

You are a group with an enormous diversity of talent and potential, well placed to make a positive difference in society at a time of unprecedented, in my lifetime at least, global uncertainty and division. You are, and will need to continue to be, adaptable, resourceful and determined. But never forget to be 100% kind too!

You seek to be who, what? True to yourself, of course! However, role models do matter. In this age of online and broadcast fakery, it is more difficult than ever to be sure who to believe in, even who represents the right values and aspirations for humankind. If nothing else, we hope and trust you leave us with the ability to think for yourself, critically, and recognise, and support, perhaps eventually even lead people and processes that favour peace and harmony over violence and division.

Parents

To the parents and wider support team out there in the audience. You are the essential, ‘without whom none of this would have been possible’ people. I also hope you have been the ‘no people or animals were harmed in the making of this production!’

Lebanese-American writer and poet, Kahlil Gibran, famously compared parents to an archer’s bow and our children to arrows:

"You are the bows from which your children, as living arrows, are sent forth".

The wisdom, of course, is that parents should provide a strong and stable foundation, allowing their children to fly swift and true into their own futures, rather than trying to control their destiny or make them like themselves.

Parenting has never been more difficult, in my view, as a parent and educator of almost 24 and 30 years standing, respectively. ‘The worst that could happen,’ back when I was around 18, was still pretty frightening, but the young adult landscape is vastly more complex and more risky than ever before. Your love and devotion to your children, and your steadfast support for this College, are the foundations on which today’s success was built, and more importantly, on which their future lives depend.

A share of today’s congratulations absolutely belongs to you!

Teachers and Support Staff

We have all heard that it takes a village to raise a child, and we are all also aware that in some cases, it feels more like a city the size of Jakarta or even Tokyo might be necessary... but the ‘villagers’ I’d like to honour next are the truly great teachers and support staff you have journeyed alongside for so many years.

I suspect you will each have your own ‘best teacher or teachers’, and as you roll that idea around inside your head for a moment, your neurons and synapses will be firing wildly, revisiting all the special traits that made them your ‘fave’.

It has been said we will forget what people (teachers) said, or did, but we never forget the way they made us feel... Those special teachers will have made you feel valued, even treasured, challenged, cared for, inspired, cajoled, consoled and appreciated.

It would be remiss of me not to give a particular, honourable mention to Year 12’s devoted Crew Teachers, Ben Crowley and Millie Proudlove, the smiling face of welcome each morning, the applier of wellbeing wisdoms and the writers of very glowing reports.

And Kirstin Gallagher, Head of Year 12... You have done it again! Two years in a row. Under your auspices, Sapphire Coast Anglican College has helped shape incredibly gifted, mature and well-rounded young adults who reflect our College values and who make us, and their families, extremely proud. Nobody has had a greater, more immensely positive influence on fashioning the Class of 2025 than you, and I think we might all pause to recognise that, with a rousing round of applause, please?

In conclusion, and among my final words for the extremely classy Class of 2025….As I offer to every graduating class, the famous Irish blessing:

May the road rise up to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

We would all love to be a small part of your future, as well as fondly remembered parts of your past… So please don’t be strangers. Go out there and express yourself, and you’ll do that best if you know yourself, and, as the Hollywood A-list actor Ethan Hawke put it, ‘The best way to know yourself is super easy, you just have to follow your love.’

And I hope and pray that, however much joy your time at Sapphire Coast Anglican College has brought you, the best days of your life are yet to come.

Thank you.

David Proudlove | College Principal

Graduation Speech By Mrs Kirstin Gallagher

Today is a celebration—not just of endings, but of beginnings. We gather here to applaud the class of 2025, whose time at Sapphire Coast Anglican College has shaped them into remarkable young people, ready for what comes next. And believe me, the future that awaits them is nothing short of remarkable.

Class of 2025—you’ve made it. And what a ride it has been. I can say without hesitation that this has been one of the most entertaining, spirited, and unforgettable groups I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. As your Head of Year, I have had the privilege of watching you move from tentative first steps into confident strides. You have transformed—like chapters unfolding in a story none of us could have fully imagined when we began. When I first took on the role of Head of Year, I was just as nervous as many of you. But over time, we figured it out together. And along the way, we created moments that I will forever treasure. Together, we grew. Together, we discovered what it meant to persevere, to laugh, to lead, and to dream. For this, I thank you.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, ‘The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.’ You have all shown that you believed in the beauty of your dreams. You have taken your education into your own hands, worked diligently to achieve and reach your goals. After-school study classes, university preparation courses, countless emails to teachers with essay drafts and questions, and using study periods to your full advantage. And because of your choices and your actions, your goals are all coming to fruition. From university early entries, to Agricultural employment, to music school or to stepping into the realm of interactive animation, you have all been incredibly impressive with your ability to achieve your goals. You have dreamt, and I do not doubt that you all will be one day, not too far from now, living those dreams.

Academic successes aside, your strengths lie here. What has defined you, above all, is your generosity of spirit.

One of the qualities I admire most about this cohort is the deep respect you have shown—towards your teachers, towards each other, and towards this College. Respect is not just about good manners, though you have plenty of those. It’s about listening when someone else has a voice to share. It’s about standing up for what is right, even when it isn’t easy. It’s about valuing difference and making space for others to shine. You have demonstrated time and time again that respect builds trust, and trust builds community. And it is this respect that has allowed you to grow together, not just as classmates, but as a family. You looked out for each other. You lifted one another up. And in doing so, you built a community that is stronger because of you. It has been so heart-warming watching you grow together - you became a family, one who genuinely had each other’s backs. And this is rare.

Like any family, you had your leaders, your peacemakers, your comedians who could lighten even the heaviest of days, and your quiet achievers who made sure everyone felt included. Together, you created a household here at SCAC—one built on respect, love, and laughter. Years from now, you may be living abroad, you may be living here in the Bega Valley, you may not speak to each other frequently, or you might. But what you will have are those special years that you spent together, here on this beautiful campus, creating dreams and helping each other achieve them. You will always have this time together, and for that, you will forever be connected. So, keep in touch and continue to be there for each other, even when you are not side by side. “Even though you may grow in different directions, your roots here will remain as one.”

So, where to from here? I’m not going to lie, the thought of not seeing your happy faces every day brings sadness to my heart. Have I shed a tear over the thought of not having you in my classes or not listening to your trials and tribulations? Yes, I have. In a sense, I feel like I’m losing part of the furniture here at the College. You are appreciated and you are loved, and I speak for all of us when I say that. Your smiley faces, your polite words and your kind-hearted natures will be dearly missed. But you must know that your legacy here will live on. You will be remembered, and you have made the most phenomenal mark upon this College that no one will forget. I am overwhelmingly proud of you all.

So, Class of 2025, step boldly into the world. Carry with you the courage to take risks, the kindness to lift others, and the wisdom to keep dreaming. And remember—no matter how far you go, you will always be part of the Sapphire Coast Anglican College story. As you step into the next chapter of your lives, hold tightly onto your dreams. There will be times when the road feels steep, when obstacles seem too heavy to carry, or when doubt whispers that you’re not enough. In those moments, remember that every great achievement begins with someone who dared to believe in themselves, even when it was hard. Your dreams are worth protecting, worth fighting for, and worth chasing with every bit of courage you have. Trust yourself and know that the strength you’ve shown here at this College will carry you through whatever comes next.

It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.

Kirstin Gallagher

Year 6 Letter Writing

In Year 6, we have been learning how to write persuasive letters. We have chosen a topic we are interested in, researched facts and are now completing our letters. Please see below some of our incredible paragraphs!

Firstly, it is scientifically proven that interacting with a dog releases neurochemicals into your brain and the dog's brain. There are 3 types of neurochemicals (feel-good chemicals) that get released into your brain when doing this: oxytocin, dopamine and serotonin. Every one of these neurochemicals has been studied and scientifically proven to calm, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve social and emotional behaviour in both you and the dog. Statistics show that 92% of students felt more relaxed during class when a support dog was in the classroom with them. If we get a school dog, it could come to school carnivals and SASSA events to calm competing children, as you can get very nervous when competing. In my time at SCAC, all the teachers I have known have loved and cared for our environment. It seems only natural to have a school companion to support the students who find school difficult. - Olive Brooker-Gunner (6H)

Firstly, the waste of clothing items and natural resources is undoubtedly and utterly unacceptable. As one of the most successful clothing and textiles companies, you know the urge in the race to be the most popular clothing line is a challenge, but it is no exception. The Aral Sea, located between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, was once the fourth-largest lake in the world but was drained to irrigate cotton farms in the late 1960s due to the demand for clothing and textiles. Now it is a dust bowl. This is truly devastating and, in my opinion, unquestionably heartbreaking, as not many people know that just to make one t-shirt takes 2,700 litres of water. Just think how many shirts you make in a week? - Abigail Russell (6H)

Not only does it improve children's mental health, but it also helps with academic engagement. Having a class pet provides an emotionally supportive, calming presence that increases focus. It often motivates children to read aloud. Not only does it motivate children to read, but it also improves their self-esteem. Studies show that a class pet will increase the focus on tasks like cleaning up and doing what the teacher asks. Don't you want to increase the focus on learning? - Ava Campbell (6M)

To begin with, getting a therapy dog would definitely improve children's mental health & well-being. Having a therapy dog helps reduce stress and anxiety in students. Currently, 27.4% primary children in Australia struggle with stress & anxiety. In my class alone, 77% of kids in my class have admitted to being stressed or anxious. Studies show that being around a therapy dog puts happy chemicals into our brains & provides companionship and comfort. How do you feel that you could make a difference? - Olivia White (6M)