College SONG
Let us sing out, let it ring out, llluminare Hand in hand now we will stand now
Et Ardere
As our light burning bright turns our courage to flame United our hearts will remain. United our hearts will remain.
Aquinas has joined us as one Our dreams and our hearts are but young The years stretch before us with promise unsung And we face them together as one.
Let us sing out, let it ring out, llluminare Hand in hand now we will stand now
Et Ardere
As our light burning bright turns our courage to flame United our hearts will remain.
United our hearts will remain.
As we grow and we pass through the years And we learn from the joys and the tears From people we've loved and from challenges met Oh, may we never forget.
Let us sing out, let it ring out, llluminare Hand in hand now we will stand now
Et Ardere
As our light burning bright turns our courage to flame United our hearts will remain.
United our hearts will remain.
As we follow the Lord's leading way Standing strong as the years fall away
The light of His glory will make us all one The new day has only begun.
Let us sing out, let it ring out, llluminare Hand in hand now we will stand now
Et Ardere
As our light burning bright turns our courage to flame United our hearts will remain. United our hearts will remain.
From the PRINCIPAL
During Term 2, I was blessed to hear Sister Barbara Reid present on models of leadership provided for us within our Hebrew and Christian Scriptures. As a Dominican - like our patron Saint Thomas Aquinas - Sr Reid linked the ‘Bridge Building Across Boundaries of Difference’ model of leadership to the Dominican tradition of ‘Disputatio’: entering into respectful dialogue with others who hold a differing position in order to arrive together at truth. Part of this exploration involved wonderful quote from Thomas Aquinas:
We are mendicants [beggars] for the truth, happy to beg a little bit of illumination from everyone whom we meet on the road
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the birth of The Long Walk, first undertaken when AFL legend Michael Long walked from Melbourne to Canberra to highlight the need to do more and do better for our First Nations people. As Michele Armstrong writes in this edition, the Aquinas Long Walk first began over 10 years ago, and across the years has including guests from The Long Walk Foundation (including Michael Long himself), Opening the Doors Foundation (FIRE carriers), former Australian Senator and Olympian Nova Peris, indigenous Essendon footballers, and local primary and secondary schools of all denominations.
During the 2024 Reconciliation Week, we again hosted the Aquinas Long Walk, exemplifying bridge-building and experiencing such ‘illumination’ from those we ‘met’ along the road. As Christians, we know that reconciliation is not just a noun but a verb: an action we take to heal relationships with others. Our indigenous guests shared their stories and our larger Australian story - one that started well beyond 65,000 years ago - to provide ‘illumination’ that breeds understanding. As the Last Judgement (Matthew 25:31-46) teaches us, this is about going beyond tolerance towards unity and peace and advocating for the vulnerable ‘stranger’ and systemic justice.
Among the ten local primary & secondary schools who joined us for The Aquinas Long Walk, Mr Michael Dale from Mount Lilydale Mercy College presented us with this unique gift of a Wangim (number 7 boomerang). He explained that “it has been decorated with markings to honour Wurundjeri Country and comprises two Australian and English timbers to acknowledge our walk towards reconciliation”.
This journey together was also exemplified through our Aquinas athletes who competed alongside students from Worawa Aboriginal College (Healesville) in their sports carnival as part of Reconciliation Week, including playing in a combined Aussie Rules team. We have active FIRE Carriers and Journey Tracks student groups who regularly meet to improve both the experience of indigenous students and the intercultural understanding for our community. The Indigenous Food Trail and Wurundjeri Trade Training Centre demonstrate some of the ways in which we acknowledge and honouring of the traditional owners of the land on which Aquinas is built, and our new Master Plan will look to expand this connection (more on this in the next edition of Illuminare!).
As modern theologian Timothy Radcliffe (another Dominican!) challenges us, “It is easy to identify another person’s errors: do we have the courage to hear what they may teach us?”
May our Aquinas motto always inspire the courage in us not just to be on fire ourselves, but also to illuminate others so that their wisdom and stories may enrich us all.
David Broadbent Principal
Spirit of AQUINAS
To Light up and be educators for reconciliation.
Reconciliation is not merely a set day, week or time of the year. Reconciliation is something that, as Catholics, we should live each day. To reconcile is to restore relationships, to make amends and, where possible, rectify the past. At Aquinas, we try to do this through many avenues such as our respectful relationships program and our restorative justice practice within our community. We also seek reconciliation with our traditional owners of the land on which we stand, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation.
The past 12 months has seen a team of people working on our RAP (Reconciliation Action Plan) and our FIRE Carrier students have continued to educate themselves and others in areas of our First Nations peoples. As mentioned by David and Michele already in this edition, the Aquinas Long Walk is one of the most identifiable ways that we stand in solidarity with First Nation peoples for reconciliation. We were also invited to participate in Worawa College’s Reconciliation in Sport Day, where our students joined Worawa in a combined team to play football against other schools. There are plans later in the year to invite Worowa to visit our Indigenous Food Trail and participate in cooking in our WTTC.
While these are our big events, we also need to remember the smaller, everyday actions that can, at times, become subconscious habits. One example is the Acknowledgement of Country. Sometimes we can become complacent and the words become “lip service” . It is so important that we stop and remind ourselves that this is more than words. We cannot truly reconcile unless we acknowledge the past, present and future, to recognise the severe impact that occurred and still occurs to innocent people across the land.
Tania Grace Assistant Principal - Mission
College CAPTAINS
We are so privileged to be at a school that has such a strong sense of community. One of Aquinas College’s core values, perseverance, has been present in many activities in school life this year. This includes whole school events, fundraising, achievements and successes within smaller groups such as sports, music, robotics, and further experiences of students as a result of our dedication and cooperation to overcoming challenges and supporting one another.
During Term 2 we had our Long Walk, an event to raise awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander’s struggles and the need for all Australians to stand in solidarity and support. It was hosted alongside the Long Walk Foundation, and we were able to hear from Leanne Brooke, with special guests Nova and Jack Peris, Jeyana Serra as well as representatives from the Essendon Football Club. In both the lead up to the day and in the presentations just before our walk, we learnt about the importance of valuing each other to strengthen our national community. We were also joined by members of local schools, forming a greater sense of community that is not limited to those within our college. The representation of a diverse range of people who come to reflect on an important cause together is what makes the event so meaningful, and we are glad to have participated in our final Long Walk at Aquinas.
Australia is an incredibly multicultural nation, and without appreciation for the diversity of people that thrive here we could not advance as we do. Consequently, Aquinas not only highlights the beauty in the array of cultures around us, but also the areas in which Australia is yet to improve. Our core values of compassion and justice, inspired by our Catholic faith, allow us to adapt to the surrounding world and lead us to gain appreciation for our global community.
One of the highlights from the year so far has been the social justice support. This term especially has been successful, as we have supported St Vincent de Paul Society raising over one thousand dollars, in addition to donating over two thousand non-perishable items! By developing a culture of generosity at Aquinas, we have been able to be a light in the community as we support one another, not only within the school but by further extending that kindness in our local area.
On the tailend of our high school journey, we have seen the continuous growth and progression among our peers. By the time we graduate from Aquinas, we will have gained a wealth of knowledge and memorable experiences from our involvement in the Aquinas College community, that we will always remain a part of.
2004 Celebrating 20 years on...
2004 - 2024
A look back at the Year 12’s from twenty years ago!
Captains 2004 WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Co-Captains twenty years ago and life long friends.
2004 Captains and friends for life.
Mahala Fox and James Sheppard were the Aquinas School Captains in 2004.
Through their connection at that time they have forged a lifelong friendship that highlights the special connections that can be made here at Aquinas.
Mahala Fox
Years at Aquinas College: 1999 - 2004
Fond memories of the College?
Year 9 city camp, Ski camp, Central Australia camp, various themed dress up days (Melbourne Cup in May Day complete with piggyback ‘horse’ race), talent shows, the 665 (now 901) bendy bus, hiding your puka shell necklace under your shirt when you saw a teacher so you wouldn’t get told to take it off, splitting open the seams of your trackie pants so they’d fit over your fat skate shoes, butterfly clips, the beginning of mobile phones, hanging out at Eastland or Knox after school and the annual musicals. It was hard to whittle this down.
Favourite aspect of Aquinas?
The musical and the SRC. I loved Drama class but was never any good at singing or dancing so joining the BOH crew meant I could still be in on the fun. As someone who loves to organise an event and engage in public speaking I was also a big fan of being part of the SRC.
Pictures: She Scores, Bruce Huynh and STM Photography
Influential figures?
Early on, Sister Aileen, was a great help to our family. She’s such a delight to be around, a positive influence and was always there when you needed a chat. She helped me learn how to deal with my teenage emotions, tough times and how to move forward.
Impact of Aquinas on personal growth.
Being at a school with teachers that supported and encouraged you in your education was invaluable. The people –my friends – have all played a huge part in shaping the person I am.
Post-Graduation Journey
I completed a Bachelor of Business (Tourism Management/ Event Management) at Vic Uni
Professional and Personal Achievements
Following uni I spent 5 years working in event management at a catering company and then an AFL football team. I was then lured over to the tourism industry by my co-captain, James Sheppard, to work in Flight Centre for the next 9 years before COVID turned up. Turns out that tourism and events were not the best industries to work in during COVID so I moved over to tech for a couple of years before returning back to the events industry.
Travel is my passion and was for many years, my career.
I have been fortunate enough to travel often and to many different places around the world. My first solo journey on a plane was at 16 to visit family in the US as my Dad is American. Every dollar I had from there on in, went to saving for travel. Working in the travel industry for 9 years afforded me many more opportunities to travel for work and leisure to places I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to go. The best thing I ever did (sorry in advance to any parents reading) was to spend savings travelling for 7 months. I found myself looking to buy a house when my dream had always been to travel for an extended period of time so that’s what I did. I have no regrets. Travelling has allowed me to learn about other cultures, people, histories and myself. I would and have encouraged anyone I know to do the same.
If ever anyone is concerned about spending money on travel - even in this economy - if you can, just do it. Time is precious. You can always make more money but you can’t earn time.
Please feel free to share any other thoughts and observations about your life/and or Aquinas College.
Many of my good friends still to this day are friends I made at Aquinas. For that I’ll be forever grateful.
James Sheppard
Years at Aquinas College:
1999 - 2004
Fond Memories of Aquinas College
The Musicals hands down. In particular playing Daddy Warbucks in Annie in 2003. It’s rare that Annie herself is almost as tall as Daddy Warbucks... but we made it work! I loved every year being part of the college representatives at the all schools Anzac Day service at the Shrine of Remembrance. The day plays a big significance in my family and it was a privilege to be part of those days.
Favourite Aspect of Aquinas
For me the highlights were all centred around the arts. Being part of the Musical for 5 of the 6 years was a great experience. Playing covers of Jet - Are You Gonna Be My Girl to anyone that would listen in our band “Sticks in the Mind” whenever the opportunity arose was amazing. We probably weren’t that great, but we thought we were and the support of staff to let us pursue that was awesome. Year 11 Kakadu was a great trip where even in the later years of our time at Aquinas, we were still able to create and forge even stronger friendships.
Influential Figures at Aquinas
Meredith Greenwood, my VCE drama teacher, and Rod Meaklim who was never actually a direct teacher but a big influence though musicals and our band. They both provided an environment where it was okay to be yourself, and gave me the confidence to do things I may not have otherwise attempted if not for their encouragement, engagement and support.
Impact of Aquinas on Personal Growth
I left school confident that I could tackle whatever the world could throw at me, and it certainly has thrown plenty since. Mostly, the long lasting friendships from Aquinas have been invaluable. To still be close friends with people that I met over 20 years ago is a brilliant thing and something quite unique I’ve gone on to learn.
Post-Graduation Journey
After graduating from Aquinas College, I pursued a Bachelor of Business (Tourism & Hospitality) at Latrobe University.
Professional and Personal Achievements
Professionally, finishing my Uni degree and wanting to work in Tourism, I took a job at Flight Centre as a “foot in the door” to the industry. I didn’t know at the time that almost 20 years later I’d still be working for them. I went on to be team leader of various Flight Centre stores across the eastern suburbs,
before moving into corporate travel where I am today. It’s a job that’s provided me with many friendships and many incredible experiences all over the world.
Personally, I have learnt that you never know what life might throw up at any time. In 2017 I was diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy. Having spent many months in hospital in end stage heart failure I was eventually listed for a heart transplant. In May 2018, I finally got the life changing phone call and received the gift of life, a heart transplant. Since that time I have gone on to recover brilliantly. In 2019, only 18 months post transplant I travelled to Newcastle, UK, to represent Australia at the World Transplant Games in the cycling road race and time trial. It was an incredible experience to represent your country and celebrate life. I work closely with Donatelife as an ambassador for organ and tissue donation in Australia having spoken at many events and to various media outlets. I have nothing but love, gratitude and respect for that family out there that said yes to organ donation in a time of great loss for them, and I hope they know deep down that I am out here, living an incredible life because of their generosity.
A Long History of Walking for Justice
Aquinas College can be proud of its long tradition of educating our young people in issues related to the plight of our First Australians.
Many years of involvement ramped up in 2009, with Year 11 students attending an immersion experience at the indigenous community Ltyentye Apurte in Santa Teresa near Alice Springs. That same year, the College became a FIRE Carrier school, (Friends Igniting Reconciliation through Education.) This initiative is driven by the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry here in Melbourne. At that time, it was led by Vicki Clark OAM and in later years Sherry Balcombe. The ACM assists First Australians in a variety of ways in the Melbourne community. Our “Proud Race” figures displayed on the lawn each year were initiated by the Ministry and created by FIRE Carrier students of the past. Each figure represents an Indigenous Australian who has made a positive contribution to Australian society throughout history.
From 2010 onwards, in the Southern winter, even larger groups of Year 11’s travelled to both Santa Teresa and Daly River in the Northern Territory. Our student involvement with Indigenous groups in Melbourne and the Northern Territory grew.
In Reconciliation Week, 2013, we conducted our First reenactment of Michael Long’s walk to Canberra. Our FIRE Carriers led the way, as the school recognised and symbolically mirrored Michael’s attempt to raise awareness of the plight of indigenous Australians in Federal Parliament. That first reenactment was particularly powerful. We invited senior leaders in the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry to attend. They were having a Victorian Conference at the time, and held their meeting on the Aquinas campus. The front row of the hall was occupied by a large group of members of the Stolen Generation. Our choir sang the Archie Roach classic, “Took the Children Away.’ The tears flowed. Those
tears flowed across the entire hall, not just in the front row. The College continued to walk during Reconciliation week each year. It grew as we invited more and more schools to participate. Throughout 2014/5, the College developed a closer connection to the Long Walk Foundation through the Essendon Football club. In 2016, Michael Long himself agreed to join us along with Gavin Wanganeen.
The 2017 walk was the biggest event the College has possibly ever hosted. Michael Long, and Nova Peris (Olympian) led the entire school and representatives of the ACM, Caritas, St Vincent de Paul, and 41 other schools around the perimeter of the College. Great Ryrie St was closed off to traffic for the first time. Those 41 schools were Primary, Secondary, Catholic, Christian, Islamic, Jewish, and Government. The entire spectrum of our Educational system was represented. The message was spreading further and further. The local Leader newspaper had reported on the action for many years and 2017 saw many school and charitable newsletters also covering the event.
Michael Long has attended the event fairly regularly since 2017 as has Nova Peris. Many schools continue to join Aquinas students and walk together.
This year, it was particularly pleasing to see TV networks reporting on it. The new generation of Essendon Footballers and athletes were in attendance. The Aboriginal Catholic Ministry also continues their involvement.
Each year during Reconciliation week, the little figures reappear on the lawn and stand with pride. They watch over thousands of young people walking with a dream for a better future for our First Australians. Aquinas truly leads the way.
Michele Armstrong
A photo reflection on the history of the AQUINAS LONG WALK
Dux of 2004 Nicolas Piastri
My name is Nicolas, and I attended Aquinas College between 1999 and 2004.
Since graduating from Aquinas, I completed a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Melbourne, majoring in Accounting, and have been working as a forensic accountant for over 16 years.
If you’re wondering what a forensic accountant is, don’t fret. I get approached by lawyers working for clients that are involved in legal disputes. They ask me to solve any problems relating to accounting or finance. Usually, it’s to calculate the economic loss that one party has suffered at the hand of the other party, but it can also be to assess the value of a business, or to find out what profits a business could have made under alternative hypothetical scenarios. I write up my findings in a report that lawyers and judges can understand, and this report is filed in Court. The other party has an opportunity to critique and rebut my report, so accuracy and attention to detail are critical in my role.
I love the career that I’ve chosen. Traditional accounting jobs can be quite boring and repetitive, but not forensic accounting. Every job that I work on is different, whether it’s the question being asked, the information available, or the industries that the parties work in. I’ve been really lucky in that my job has taken me around the world and I’ve gotten to work with incredible people, including Christine Oliver (Dux, 2003), who coincidentally now leads a forensic accounting practice herself.
So how did I get here? During my time at Aquinas, I found that I had a strong interest in maths and problem solving, particularly in business. I remember in about Year 9, we did one of those careers quiz. My top career suggestions were
actuary and accountant. I made it my goal to become an actuary when I found out that they make a lot of money by using maths to solve problems.
With that as my goal, I achieved the ATAR score that I needed and got into my chosen course at Melbourne Uni. At the end of the first year of uni, after realising that actuarial studies wasn’t for me, I made a quick trip to Aquinas and met with my Year 11 and Year 12 accounting teachers, Ms Wood and Mr Griffin. I had a great working relationship with both teachers, and I had hoped they could shed some light on what I could do next. I vividly recall Ms Wood saying to me: “well you like accounting, and you like law, have you ever thought about forensic accounting?” No, I had not, I had never heard of it.
After completing my Commerce degree, I started as a graduate at Ferrier Hodgson, in 2008 during the heart of the Global Financial Crisis. Ferrier Hodgson was a leading insolvency firm that also had a leading forensic accounting practice. I got to work on both sides, helping out with the odd administration/liquidation whilst building up my skills in forensic accounting.
In 2011 I asked for, and was granted, a secondment to London. It had always been my dream to work in Europe and make use of my French passport. London was the best opportunity of my life. As a Chartered Accountant, I was earning enough to enjoy everything that London had to offer. I was able to fly to other countries for short holidays and take the Eurostar to visit family in France on the weekend. With my expat friends we’d visit the historical sights, exhibitions and restaurants; experiences that I’d only dreamed of. Highlights included a six-hour lunch at Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck and trips to Iceland to see the northern lights, Croatia to see Dubrovnik where Game of Thrones was filmed, and Belgium for their fries, chocolates and beers. London was very much ‘work hard, play hard’ – whilst in Lithuania for 6 months investigating the collapse of a bank due to fraud, I was working from 8am to midnight, 6.5 days per week. But I loved every minute of it.
I now work for FTI Consulting, a global company with a very strong forensic accounting practice. I’ve been able to travel and work on some high-profile matters, including investigating the collapse of Clive Palmer’s Queensland Nickel, and travelling to Perth and UK to assess the financial viability of copper and tungsten mines. Many of the matters that I am involved in are reported in newspapers and legal news sources, even if we are not named, which gives meaning to the work that I do.
I’m now working towards the next step in my career, whilst juggling a young family. With my loving wife, we have three beautiful daughters under the age of six. All four ladies are keeping me on my toes!
The fondest memories of my time at Aquinas relate to shared experiences with friends, whether at school camps or gatherings at friends’ houses. I’m so glad I got to be part of a great group of friends.
My advice to future graduates of Aquinas is to set yourself a goal that you are passionate about. Not a goal to achieve a certain ATAR score, or to simply get a job, but something challenging yet meaningful to you. You’ll be surprised at how much you can achieve.
Alexander Robinson
Hi, I’m Alex and I graduated from Aquinas in 2022!
I’ve always loved to build things and try to figure out how things work, so engineering became a natural choice for me. I’m now in my second year of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering at Monash University. A lot of our projects involve building circuits and writing code to bring them to life.
University is full of opportunities, and over the last few years I’ve tried to get involved in as much as I can. Monash offers first year students the unbelievable opportunity to study abroad, so last year my classmates and I embarked on a two week trip to Delhi, India. With a focus on sustainability, we visited solar farms and biodiversity parks, whilst having fun with our newfound friends from the local Indian University.
Mitch
Rainey Where are
I’ve also got involved in a Monash engineering team, which is a bit like an engineering club. It’s called the Monash Young Medtech Innovators, and its focus is building medical-related technologies and running design competitions. Right now my teammates and I are building a retractable arm for electric wheelchair users, so they can hang their belongings on the back of their chairs.
I didn’t always know what I wanted to do after school, and I’m sure my next few years will be full of surprises. But that’s okay. I like to think that if you just keep doing what you enjoy, the path ahead will sort itself out.
Having graduated from Aquinas College in 2010, I entered studies at Deakin University in Burwood and completed my Bachelor of Property and Real Estate shortly thereafter. Just prior to completion of studies I was offered a role as an assistant valuer with NAB where I worked for some time. The role was great and involved travel to various parts of the greater Melbourne region. Eventually, I decided to step away from property valuations and obtained a role working as a property advisor on the Level Crossing Removal Project. More recently, I have found myself working with an amazing team at the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne and my role is to provide specialised property advice to the 200+ parishes in the diocese, across a wide breadth of issues.
In my personal life I spent many years playing music as both a solo artist and in bands – one of which was a 7-piece funk cover band that played all across Melbourne. More recently, I have discovered a passion for motorcycles (riding, buying, fixing and selling) and I document my adventures on Instagram at @ dirk’s.garage. I am also a loving father to a French Bulldog named “Poppy”.
they now?
Vince McQuillen
I began at Aquinas College in early 1988 after both my older sisters had already graduated, and after my uncle had been school captain and Aunt a drama teacher. After graduating Year 12, I went on to complete a Bachelor of Business (Property) at RMIT in 1997. I then began my career as a commercial agent in several of Melbourne’s leading commercial agencies before taking a working holiday stint in London for 3 years. During this time overseas I met my wife Joanna. We returned to Melbourne and settled up the road from Aquinas in Nunawading.
Not long after the arrival of our second child, our family migrated across to Perth where I took up a new role in shopping centre management. That business has continued to grow over the last 15 years and I now run a dedicated team across the country overseeing some 60 retail centres. The geographical remoteness of these properties means I spend a lot of time on planes and in hire cars (which isn’t as glamorous as it sounds). After nearly 26 years in industry I enjoy guiding my young team and doing some mentoring for Curtin University.
I remember with fondness my formative years at Aquinas and take great pride in the lifelong friendships with my former classmates. Though currently separated by the Nullarbor, the boys and I have been through thick and thin together and will always treasure the times spent becoming young men at Great Ryrie Street.
Claire Dros (Henderson )
I graduated from Aquinas College in 2006. Throughout my schooling, I was very passionate about visual and performing arts and went on to study Visual Merchandising at Swinburne University. Following two solo trips to the USA with Camp America, I secured a role at the Victorian State Government, where I have enjoyed a diverse, challenging, and fulfilling career.
Over the last 14 years, I have been a senior adviser to a number of senior executives, including two Secretaries in Victorian government departments and the Victorian Chief Health Officer. I have worked in various high-pressure roles, responding to public health incidents and outbreaks, as well as preparing briefings for Cabinet and parliamentary committees and hearings. Most recently, I have focused on employee experience, providing strategic advice and direction on leadership and culture within my department. I enjoy working in the public sector and the feeling of giving back to the community — a value that was instilled in me throughout my time at Aquinas.
My husband, Daniel, and I have been married for seven years and have two children. Our eldest has just started schooling at St. Richard’s Primary, and we hope he will attend Aquinas in 2037!
Where are they now?
Shaan Plummer
I completed high school at Aquinas in 2015 and went on to accept a place in a Bachelor of Business degree, Majoring in Marketing at RMIT university. I always gravitated towards business subjects at school, and the creative aspect of Marketing stood out to me as something I wanted to pursue.
I went straight from High School to University and the first 6 months of study made me feel incredibly fatigued after a long 2 years of VCE. The passion to keep studying wasn’t there, and I realised I needed a break for a while. I made the decision to
work in my casual job for 6 months full time, saving up for an 8.5 month solo backpacking trip around South East Asia and Europe the following year.
Taking a gap year is something I could not recommend more highly. The time away from study reignited the passion I needed to keep studying and to work towards a career that would not only fulfill me but allow me the means to travel more often. When I returned to uni, I managed to incorporate a 1-month trip to India and 1-month trip to Vietnam into my studies.
Travel Memories
5 years of on and off study later and I’d completed my degree in marketing and was applying for jobs in the fashion and beauty industries. This is the path I always saw myself going down, but at the time in 2021, it was incredibly hard to secure grad positions. After many applications, the first job I ended up landing was in the major infrastructure space in communications and stakeholder engagement. While not exactly the ‘glamorous’ marketing job I had envisioned, I swapped the high heels for the high vis and am so glad I ended up in this field of work.
I have worked in communications and stakeholder engagement on various metropolitan and regional Victorian Level Crossing Removal Projects and new station builds, the North East Link project and more recently after a move to sunny Gold Coast am working as a Senior Communications and Media advisor in the marine space for Gold Coast Waterways Authority.
The opportunities that working in major infrastructure have bought me have been limitless. No day is ever the same, particularly when it comes to media. My days have involved anything from visiting farmers in Warrnambool, countless site visits to our construction projects with MP’s and media, talking to news outlets on the phone who want the latest on our project, or simply developing communications materials and media releases in the office, to help the community navigate the project I’m working on, its impacts and the benefits.
This job allows me the flexibility to work from anywhere, see some of the biggest infrastructure programs in action, travel to areas I would never have otherwise, and work with a diverse workforce of people ranging from engineers and environmental scientists to lawyers and politicians.
I’ve loved the 4 years that I’ve been in this field and cant wait to hopefully start my own communications consultancy one day in the not so distant future!
Where are they now? GRANT JAMISON
I attended 2005-2010.
Many fond memories from Aquinas, having the opportunity to see friends every single day is something you don’t appreciate until after you leave so that was always great. I loved Media class, was always running around with a camera and am grateful to the staff for appearing in some of the videos we made! Finally, I have great memories of the year 11 trip to France, such an amazing experience and something that I look back on even today.
I loved being a part of high school plays we had like Cosi. Lots of fun!
I think that all the staff during my time were great although there were a few in particular like Kath Wilson, Meredith Greenwood, and Anne-Marie Grimaldi who were wonderful mentors and helped me get the best out of my time at Aquinas.
I think Aquinas helped foster my sense of creativity, helped support my interest in filmmaking and videography, and on reflection was a wonderful environment to learn, grow and build relationships.
After High School I studied Journalism at Monash before working at a media agency in Collingwood for 5 years.
Since leaving Aquinas I’ve gone travelling (cycling through Northern India with my Dad was a highlight for me!), filmed for Linfox in Asia, then started my own business in 2020 called Lift Video Production. We work with marketing & communications teams to create videos for their businesses across Australia. Some of the videos are used on their website, social media, cinema ads and more. We now have 2 amazing employees plus myself, get to make videos for incredible businesses and love what we do!
I think we had a great cohort and I love seeing some of the amazing achievements people I’ve grown up with have accomplished. It’s amazing and a little funny to think back on what we were like in High School and how much has changed. I still catch up with some of the old school friends as well.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Aquinas College and built lasting friendships (even meeting my partner). While I probably didn’t appreciate what I had at the time (who does!), looking back it was a great school and community to be a part of. I think it was very supportive of my passion for filmmaking which has shaped me to where I am today.
SAM Update
After just over 12 months of construction, the SAM courts are now operational! On August 5 the gates opened and students during recess and lunchtime poured in to have a go on our new courts. PE classes also had their first lessons in SAM and there were smiles all around. Being undercover means that students can stay active no matter the weather which has been really handy in the first few weeks of opening.
The finishing touches to the tennis clubrooms are nearly finished and will provide more space for specific PE indoor sports. This is anticipated to be ready mid September with full occupancy by the start of term 4. We are currently waiting for consultation with the Wurundjeri Council in regards to the new name for this complex and plans are being made for an official opening ceremony early in 2025.
Aquinas Old Collegians
AOCFC
The Aquinas OCFC (The Bloods) are now half way through the 2024 season and as always there is a lot happening around the club.
Round 10 on June 22 marked our annual Mental Health Awareness Round which featured presentations at training about the importance of mental health awareness as well as the support services provided through the club such as Mental Health First Aid accredited volunteers and the Player Assistance Program which enables free counselling services with a qualified practitioner for all of our players and coaches.
AOCFC is not just about football; it’s about building a community. The club regularly engages in community outreach programs, promoting physical fitness and teamwork among youth. Through clinics, charity matches, and local events, AOCFC has become a beacon of positive social influence. The club also places a strong emphasis on inclusivity, with teams ranging from junior levels to senior men’s and women’s squads.
Over the coming weeks we are also holding our first ever Indigenous Round with both our men’s and women’s squads wearing a specially designed indigenous playing jumper for these matches. The club is also holding cultural awareness training for our entire playing and coaching group as part of this initiative.
On the field we have 4 teams proudly representing our club each Saturday with our men playing in the VAFA Division 2 competition and our women competing in VAFA Premier B section. Whilst the on field results haven’t been going our way this season, we continue to provide a fun, inclusive and safe environment for our young men and women to play footy with their mates.
Our women are fresh off a big win over Old Xavier who are the biggest senior football club in Australia and
the highlight of our men’s season so far was a wonderful victory over local rivals Whitefriars earlier in the year.
In 2024 we have taken over full use of our brand new $4.5m pavilion facilities at JW Manson Reserve in Wantirna, this facility is now host to the majority of our social functions and we also play all of our women’s football there.
As the largest amateur football club in the outer eastern suburbs we are always on the lookout for new players, membership of our football club is a brilliant way to stay in touch with current and former classmates from Aquinas College but we are open to everybody who wants a game of footy with their mates.
Recently one of our Life Members, Jack McDonald, received the 2024 Deakin Community Award in the Open (31 - 65 years) Category. Jack McDonald has been a long-standing Committee member of the Club which has included being Secretary for 10 years and now Vice President for the past 2 years, amongst an array of other roles such as administration, communications, events, fundraising, our Covid Safety Officer and much more.
As an accredited Mental Health First Aider, he has facilitated speakers from the group “Outside The Locker Room” to present and workshop with the Men’s & Women’s players and coaches on Mental Health and Drug & Alcohol awareness. Jack played for 11 years from 2009 totalling 151 games starting in the Under 19’s and then playing Reserves including being Reserves Captain in 2015 and 2016, and playing in a Reserves premiership in 2017. He played a prominent role in the establishment of a successful Aquinas Women’s Football program in 2018, which now has 2 teams, being a Team Manager and Assistant Coach. He was also the inaugural Secretary of the Aquinas Junior Football
Club. Jack received the Best Club Person Award in 2018 and Life Membership in 2022.
As always we give a massive thanks to Aquinas College for providing our brilliant training and match day facilities and all of the other support they give to the club.
Go Bloods.
Generations in Jazz
On May 3rd, the junior and senior music students set off for a cold and jazz-filled weekend at Generations in Jazz in Mount Gambier. After many many months of hard work, dedication and developing meaningful connections with one another, we would firstly like to congratulate both the choirs and bands who performed fantastic performances at Generations in Jazz, and offer a special congratulations to the Senior Stage Band for being the Division 3 2024 winners.
We thought long and hard about what this win actually meant for Aquinas College. Not only was the win a wonderful show of the effort and dedication our Senior Stage Band has displayed, but it demonstrates the strong community built within our music groups, bands, choirs and staff, which is what really made Generations in Jazz so meaningful this year. This in turn led us to look at our school as a whole, and reflect on the great importance that lies within the Aquinas community. The opportunities it gives us, what we can take from it, and how in 6 months, a couple of years or even 5 more years of high school, every Aquinas student will leave this school knowing that they will forever hold a place in a community that has never faltered to give us every opportunity available.
So looking to the future about how we can continue to make change and be a part of that great big community, we encourage every student and staff member of our Aquinas community to join in. To come to places like Generations in Jazz, go on our Year 11 Kakadu camp. Because by contributing your part to this community, you will always take away experiences you just can’t get elsewhere.
We are so incredibly proud of the work every student at Aquinas does already and we wish to see every student shine a light on this. By giving rise to yourself, by doing more, by saying yes; you are ultimately benefiting the Aquinas community and yourself far more than you may have ever thought.
Aquinas College is different, because we are more than just a college, we are a community. We continue to encourage you to be a part of the Aquinas College community as we all grow together.
Illuminare Et Ardere.
Lucas and Bella College Vice-Captains
2024 GIJ Results Stage Band Awards
Band Awards
Senior Stage Band Division 3.1 - 1st Place (out of 24)
Intermediate Stage Band Division 4.117th Place
Jazz Combo - Combo 3 Section - 7th Place
Since the beginning of the year, members of the stage bands and the vocal ensembles have been preparing meticulously for the prestigious “Generations in Jazz” Festival in Mount Gambier, a National competition which we are privileged to attend. This year we had the highest level of participation for a very long time, with 5 amazing performances coming from the Large Vocal Ensemble, the Small Vocal Ensemble as well as the Senior Stage Band, the Intermediate Stage Band and the Small Jazz Combo.
All ensembles performed wonderfully and we are all so proud of our performances. But most of all it was great to get rewarded for our effort as the Senior Stage Band took out first place for a second consecutive year, moving from division 4 last year into division 3, we had little expectation about how we would perform in terms of competitiveness but to win against 23 other schools was just a perfect reflection of the effort we all put in. It was great for the junior students to see all the senior ensembles to inspire them to further pursue music and see the future opportunities that await them in the senior school.
Senior Harmony - Division 2 Small - 6th Place
Generations in Jazz Choir - Division 3 Large - 11th Place
The festival also featured incredible concerts from the incredible Hot Potato Band on Friday evening, followed by the Iconic Kate Ceberano and Budjerah on the Saturday night. As well as mind blowing performances from international composer Migiwa Miyagima.
Aquinas also got to experience music workshops from professional Jazz musicians and attend important discussions on how we as senior music students can grow the culture of our school’s music department.
Overall it was such a great experience for the college to immerse themselves in Jazz music and grow closer as a music department. We are so grateful for all of the music teachers involved, they have been so supportive with our music development and allowing us to have the best possible experience on this trip.
Music Captains, Cody Boland, Lachlan Bruni, Sarai Nunez
Stage
Jazz Combo
Vocal Awards
Maeve Wilkinson
Over the last few months, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity of a lifetime to go overseas and compete at two international competitions for my Irish Dancing. I would like to thank my family for supporting me and providing me with this opportunity. I flew over to Ireland late in Jan to train and compete at the All Ireland Championships, which is the second
biggest competition of the year. I placed an amazing 17th out of 150 competitors, which was a great result given a minor slip up in one of my rounds. There was no time to celebrate though as I was straight back to training and working hard for the World Championships in April. Training 6 days a week, at the studio, my home and in the gym. These countless hours of hard work and dedication all lead to this one competition.
The week long World Championship competition was held in Glasgow, Scotland, where the top 1% of Irish dancers were to compete. To be fortunate enough to make this category of dancers is an amazing achievement, but it is something I have focused on for most of my life. I competed over two days of intense competition, where you certainly experience the physical and mental challenges elite sport throws at you. The nerves, excitement, pressure and self doubt all run through your head, but you have to get them out of your head to succeed. After qualifying to the 5th and final round, the results are awarded. After placing 19th the previous year, I had my eyes set on a top 20 finish again, but unfortunately I wasn’t able to achieve that. I placed 35th in the World, which was still a huge achievement, but not what I was hoping for.
After all of the hard work, dedication, countless hours of training in the summer heat, for you not to achieve the goal you set out to achieve, naturally I was disappointed. But in times of disappointment and struggle, there are two ways you can go about it. You can dwell on it, be mad about it and potentially give up because you lose motivation and it all becomes too hard. Or you can cop it under the chin, move on and use this disappointment as the driving force for you to work harder and come back even stronger next time. Success isn’t linear and everyone is going to have their bad days. That’s why it is important to use the people around you like family and friends as support because disappointments are a part of life and these difficult experiences help us learn and grow from our mistakes.
If you ever find yourself in a disappointing situation, whether that be a bad exam or SAC/test result, have a bad game of footy or don’t perform as well as you would have hoped for, remember to put things back into perspective. Use that disappointment as hunger to keep working even harder, because hard work does pay off and when it does, that success will be even sweeter.
Ben Tornatora AUSTRALIAN LITTLE ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Recently, Ben Tornatora in 7 Green participated in Australian Little Athletics Championships, leaving a trail of gold and silver in his wake.
Representing the Victoria team with pride, Ben undertook the challenge of not one, not two, but five events, each demanding its own unique blend of athleticism and strategy. The results? Simply extraordinary. Ben emerged triumphant, adorned with three gleaming gold medals and two shining silver medals. His victories were not merely individual achievements but symbols of relentless dedication and unwavering commitment to excellence.
We are very proud of you Ben!
Sarah Aluthge Homeroom Teacher
Driving Sustainability AT AQUINAS COLLEGE
Over the past 12 months, our dedicated staff at Aquinas College have been actively engaged in small group projects aimed at enhancing our school’s sustainability efforts. One standout initiative has been our focus on recycling within practical classes, starting with composting food scraps from our Food Tech classes and the WTTC Cafe.
Our Year 9 Social arts students were instrumental in making this happen, as relayed by Teacher Kathy Thompson,
“Getting the students to paint these bins isn’t just a fun activity. It’s a hands-on lesson in taking care of our planet. When they’re busy turning plain old bins into colourful masterpieces, they’re also owning up to their role in keeping our environment clean and green… Year 9 Social arts is spreading the word about saving our planet. With a brush in hand and a whole lot of heart, our students are painting a future that’s brighter and greener for all of us.”
These efforts not only promote sustainability but also provide a splash of colour and character to our college grounds.
What’s Next?
We’re gearing up to tackle plastic recycling in our Tech programs and explore clay recycling in our Arts classes, further embedding sustainability into our curriculum.
At Aquinas, sustainability isn’t just a project—it’s a commitment woven into our School Improvement Plan (SIP), reflecting our dedication to creating a greener, more responsible future for our students and community.
Term 2 SNAPSHOT
Term 2 SNAPSHOT
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