A wrap up of all the results from the Class of 2025, including the top 30 high achievers.
8-9
MEET THE CAPTAINS
The 2026 College captains share their aspirations for their new leadership role.
10
STAFF PROFILE
Kerri Parker, Deputy Head of Senior School, values kindness – and a good 80s disco tune.
11
PAWSITIVE SUPPORT
He’s a small dog with a very big heart. Meet therapy dog Smudgee, a very popular member of the Beaconhills College staff.
12
UNIFORM REPORT CARD
Beaconhills introduced a new uniform at the start of 2025 and enthusiasm has been strong, with a recycling program for old garments also proving successful.
13
ART AND INK
A new page showcasing students’ written and visual creative work.
14-19
THINKING AHEAD
The world is rapidly changing, but what types of skills will students need to thrive in their lives beyond school? How Beaconhills helps students become future ready.
13
CHAPLAIN’S CORNER
Revd Kathy Mildred explains what the role of a chaplain entails.
22-23
ALUMNI REUNIONS
Some happy snaps from our three alumni reunions last year, plus dates for upcoming events.
Front cover: Class of 2025
graduate Aanya shared the joy at a special morning tea in January for our top 30 VCE students.
Back cover: School is back for 2026. Let the learning begin!
Beaconhills College acknowledges the Wurundjeri and Bunurong –Boon Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Custodians of this land on which our College is built.
24
PARENTS AND FRIENDS 2026
Parents and Friends will have a new structure this year, and all parents are invited to be involved.
25
FINAL BELL FOR OLD PORTABLES
A decommissioning ceremony was a chance to bid a fond farewell to some of the College’s original buildings at the Pakenham Campus.
26-27 FROM THE ARCHIVES
Archivist Meaghan McKee gives an insight into the special methods needed to preserve the College’s earliest documents.
28-29
STAFF THANKED FOR SERVICE
Long-serving staff and retirees honoured for their service to the school, including teacher Colin Burns, who has been with Beaconhills for 30 years.
30-31
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Careers news from our alumni – and a Beaconhills wedding in the planning!
Welcome everyone to the start of a new year and to our first edition of our Lux Luceat publication for 2026. I hope you are looking forward to an exciting year ahead after a restful and relaxing holiday.
A warm welcome to all the members of our community, staff, students and families who are joining Beaconhills for their first year.
Congratulations to our Class of 2025, on not only your academic results but also the contribution and dedication you have made to your schooling years and to the life of Beaconhills. Once again, our Year 12 students have achieved impressive results across a broad range of subject areas. A special congratulations to our College Dux Manuth Galabada Widanarachchige and our Pakenham Campus Dux Lily Marshall
To our Class of 2025, we wish you success in this next exciting stage of your life and hope you take every opportunity to discover what truly matters to you as you begin your journey into adulthood. We look forward to seeing you at our 1 Year Reunion, one of the many ways for you to stay connected as the Class of 2025.
It is our aspiration that students at Beaconhills are ‘here to learn’, ‘ready to learn’ and ‘able to learn’. Beaconhills’ focus is to maximise student engagement in everything that the College offers. We challenge our students to ‘give it a go’, knowing that the opportunity they need may lie just beyond the next door.
Stephen McGinley Executive Principal
As we reflect on 2025 and gaze to the year ahead, we continue to encourage our students to be fully engaged in the life of the school and make the most of every aspect of the Beaconhills College education.
To our families, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the ongoing contribution that you make to our community school. Your support of the school and our students is critical in ensuring our students engage in their learning. The partnership between families and schools is a collaboration that recognises our shared aspirations for students to gain a high-quality education, progressing them towards a fulfilling pathway after school.
Wishing you all a very rewarding year ahead and thank you for being part of the Beaconhills College community.
WE CHALLENGE OUR STUDENTS TO ‘GIVE IT A GO’, KNOWING THAT THE OPPORTUNITY THEY NEED MAY LIE JUST BEYOND THE NEXT DOOR.
HIGHEST POSSIBLE ATAR
The highest possible ATAR of 99.95 and five perfect 50 subject scores are among the outstanding VCE results from Beaconhills College’s Class of 2025.
College Dux was Berwick Campus student Manuth Galabada Widanarachchige with 99.95, while Pakenham Campus Dux was Lily Marshall with a 97.7 ATAR.
The subjects where five students scored 50 were Biology, Outdoor and Environmental Studies, Visual Communication Design, General Mathematics and Environmental Science.
A total of 237 students from Berwick and Pakenham campuses obtained an ATAR, with 30 students ranking 90 and above and 70 students ranking 80 and above.
Thirty-one subjects were studied by the College’s top-ranking students across all faculties. There were also 26 subjects where students achieved subject scores of 40 and above
Executive Principal Stephen McGinley congratulated all Year 12 students and their teachers for the year and paid tribute to both duxes for their hard work and commitment to their studies.
“Our VCE results once again highlight how the College’s broad offering of VCE subjects enables students to succeed in following their passions and interests” Mr McGinley said.
“No matter what their pathway is beyond school, the broad range of opportunities on offer at Beaconhills College lay the foundations for an exciting future.”
College Dux Manuth’s 99.95 ATAR capped off a successful academic journey at Beaconhills. He had already earned 50 subject scores for Mathematical Methods and Physics, which he completed in Year 11. His Maths results also saw him receive a Premier’s Award in July 2025
Manuth was up at 6am on VCE results morning to check his ATAR and said he “didn’t really know what to think” after seeing the result.
“The last four years has been a lot of effort –but now I’ve got it I can’t fathom it,” he said.
Manuth credits a consistent study routine, such as completing two exam questions a day, to his result. But he also found time to take walks with his mum for coffee, and even volunteered every Saturday for three hours at his local Salvos store.
For 2026 he plans to study a Bachelor of Applied Science at the University of Melbourne. He said while he loved science, he particularly enjoyed his French and English subjects.
Manuth was a Beaconhills College captain in 2025. He was one of just 42 students across Victoria who achieved the top 99.95.
Pakenham Dux 97.7
Lily Marshall, the Pakenham Campus Dux, said she would have happily slept through VCE results morning was it not for her dog waking her up at 8.30am.
She said while she was very surprised at her 97.7 ATAR, it was nice to see all of her hard work pay off.
Lily was one of five students who earned a perfect 50 subject score, in her case in Environmental Science which she hopes to study at RMIT in 2026.
She strongly recommends students choose subjects that really interest them, even if they are scaled down (meaning high raw scores get adjusted lower for ATAR calculations).
“If you pick things you are interested in and passionate about, it makes it easy to stay focused,” Lily said.
She managed to keep Year 12 studies balanced with working in a part-time job throughout the year.
College Dux 99.95
MORNING TEA CELEBRATION
STUDENTS, COLLEGE STAFF AND FAMILIES GATHERED TOGETHER AT A SPECIAL MORNING TEA IN JANUARY TO CELEBRATE THE HARD WORK OF SOME OF OUR TOP-SCORING VCE STUDENTS FROM THE CLASS OF 2025.
Berwick Campus
MEET THE CAPTAINS
In the coming year, I aspire to be a leader who represents not just a title, but the heartbeat of the school. I aim to nurture the unique abilities of those around me and help them to grow with confidence and purpose. If, at the conclusion of my schooling years, I can say I’ve done my absolute best as a role model, peer, and as an upstanding member of Beaconhills College, who has had a positive impact on the people around me, then I believe I will be content with my time at the College. I look forward to serving the College with heart, intention and the desire to make 2026 a most memorable year.
The onset of the 2026 school year brings with it excitement, opportunity, and collective anticipation, whether it marks your first day of Prep or the beginning of your final year. I hope to create an environment centred around kindness, grace, and personal growth. A place where you can discover not only yourself, but what it means to be a Beacon of Hope in our community, and to uncover the true value in making mistakes along the way. I am confident that, through our shared pride and spirit, 2026 will unfold to be a truly remarkable year for our entire Beaconhills community, and I cannot wait to share it with you.
As a College captain, I feel incredibly proud and grateful to represent our school in 2026 continuing the legacy of our amazing 2025 captains. I’m excited to work alongside my peers and the wider College community. I hope to be a friendly, approachable face for everyone. My goal is to foster strong connections within the Senior School and promote a positive, inclusive culture where every student feels valued and heard. I aim to lead with integrity, respect and compassion. I hope to make 2026 a year of growth, unity, and lasting memories for all of us.
Zara Dowling
As a College captain, I aim to connect everyone at Beaconhills College. I will be approachable and driven, bringing people together and fostering a supportive community. The College has influenced me in so many ways, and now I want to help others find confidence and passion within themselves. No matter what aspect of the school students involve themselves in, I aim to develop a community that can celebrate identity and inclusion and where every student feels valued and proud of who they are and what they represent. Beaconhills in 2026 will be a year of giving back and pushing each other forward
Naveen Sekhon
Prince Nagarajan
Pakenham Campus
The new College captains explain that they hope to bring to their leadership role in 2026.
Throughout my time at the College, I have been fortunate enough to partake in many different events and activities. I hope to reflect— and also contribute to—the culture of compassion and strong moral values and be approachable and genuinely caring as others once were for me. Being captain is about supporting, encouraging and challenging, through the big and little moments. I also aim to help with aspirations, supporting ideas right through to fruition, as well as being a conduit between students and staff, cultivating a unified, thriving and inquisitive environment.
For my time as a College captain, I’d like to create an environment where all members of the Beaconhills community - students, staff and families - feel welcomed, accepted and inspired. I believe the diversity within our community is one of our greatest strengths and in this coming year I’d like to celebrate and champion our diversity so we can be more compassionate and respectful towards each other. My aim for this position is to be a genuine and approachable leader that everyone at Beaconhills feels safe with. I’d like to leave behind a legacy suitable for a College captain and continue the work of those before me.
Imogen O’Connor
I am delighted to be named as one of this year’s College captains and I can’t wait to dive in. I will be a leader who is inspirational, approachable and someone who gets involved with peers on a personal level to help them achieve their dreams and goals. I aim to lead with respect, compassion and integrity. I wish to amplify the student voice and be the bridge between students and teachers. I hope that 2026 is the year that students take up the opportunities and find their passions because I’m sure this year will be one to remember!
To me, being a captain for 2026 involves being approachable and representative of the school community, leading while still being a part of the student cohort and helping to form a bond between the students as well as their teachers. I aim to continue the longstanding work of our College’s community and spur on the spirit of my fellow students, supporting them so that they may achieve their best and find comfort in school. Listening to each voice is a goal of mine, to ensure it is not only heard, but valued.
Ryan Crossley
KERRI PARKER
What led you into education and your current role?
A resounding lack of statistical skills put a stop to becoming a psychologist so I went to my next love which is English. Both of my parents had a teaching background so really, I was probably kidding myself! When I began my Dip. Ed and was immersed in pre-teaching service, I knew this was what I wanted to do.
I have worked in the state system, Catholic, independent, boys’ schools, girls’ schools, and of course co-ed teaching Legal Studies, History and English.
My first role beyond the classroom was Head of Year 8. From there I have been Head of Year 11, Head of English, Head of House, Head of Students and now the Deputy Head of Senior School.
What are you passionate about in your role?
Not surprisingly, I am in it for the students. I love working with them – they make me laugh, cry and everything in between! So I am passionate about working with students to build a culture that is genuinely nurturing and where they feel supported and comfortable. My favourite part of every day is cheerful greetings and banter; it never gets old. Every single student is their own person and there is a whole Senior School to get to know and engage with – I think that’s a genuine privilege.
Q & A with Berwick Campus Deputy Head of Senior School
What are the challenges and how do you help students with transitioning into adulthood?
The beauty of working with Senior School students is that from Years 10-12 there is immense growth in character. And that, I think, is where the challenge lies – they are deciding who they want to become and balancing who they are with increasing pressures of study. For me, I am all about being your best self in words and deeds. I try to encourage resilience because beyond the confines and safety of school, the world can throw you some curveballs and you can catch them, if you have the capacity to learn and grow from hard times.
What values do you think are most important for students to develop?
I think that kindness is the most important value students can develop. With kindness you will have integrity and compassion and respect. It is an understanding that others are on their own journeys and no one else is in any position to judge. Kindness puts you and others in a happier place. On balance, there is really no need to act otherwise.
What do you value most about being a part of the College community?
Being at Beaconhills has shown me what is possible. There are causes worth fighting for, such as embracing diversity with authenticity, and Beaconhills has been an institution that is willing and keen to shift and change with societal standards, yet also hold strong to its core values.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
I love a disco dance! Put on some 80s and/ or dance music and I am living my best life!
If you could give one piece of advice to senior students, what would it be? Wow. Okay. I wish that I had backed myself more when I was younger. I wish that I had understood that I have my own power and the decisions that I made could be deliberate and considered. So as a consequence, I say to students ‘don’t accept second best’, ‘if you don’t back you, who will?’.
It is so, so important to understand that you have to be your own best friend. You have to want what is best for yourself, to honour yourself and know your worth. And expect that you won’t feel like that every day and that’s okay, because there is acceptance in that. This would be the best advice I could give.
PAWSITIVE SUPPORT
He joined the College in 2019 and is now one of the most popular staff members.
Therapy dog Smudgee - a dachschund - brings constant joy to students and staff at both campuses, and of course he laps up the constant cuddles and pats. But as a member of the College wellbeing team (he even has his own staff photo), Smudgee has a serious side to his work.
Smudgee is trained through Lead the
He may be small, but therapy dog Smudgee is a big part of the College’s wellbeing team
past mistakes; he’s focused on the next pat or snack!” Ms Negus said. No matter what he does, he models mindfulness and relaxation.
Even when Smudgee is a little work-weary, there’s a valuable lesson to learn. Signs such as yawning, looking away, or walking off mean he needs a little ‘brain break’, but Ms Negus said this just means he needed to rest and reset.
NEW UNIFORM REPORT CARD
Beaconhills College introduced a new uniform at the start of 2025, after extensive consultation with students, families and staff.
One year down the track and not only has the enthusiasm for new uniform items been strong, but the College community has embraced the recycling program offered for old uniform items.
Business Manager David Young said the College was very pleased with the uptake of new uniform items by families and students, which has “exceeded our expectations”.
“We also need to acknowledge the work that went into the design of the new garments, which has met a number of key requirements around considerations such as comfort, fitting and durability,” Mr Young said.
As the old uniform is gradually replaced, last year Berwick Campus families donated 388.5kg of uniforms for recycling, with 721.8kg from Pakenham, totalling 1.11 tonnes recycled material.
The Textile Recycling Group will clean and shred the old uniforms, with the fibres spun into new yarn.
Beaconhills students still have a choice of transitioning the new uniform for two more years, with the ability to mix items from the old and new.
Quarter zip top 1053
Junior trackpants 968
Dresses 887
Relaxed style trackpants 836
Socks 3936
Junior PE shorts 1172
Relaxed short sleeve shirts 1125
Short sleeve polos 3616
VOX POP
What do you think of the new uniform?
I think it’s pretty good. It’s very comfortable – the old dress was a bit bland. Anaya, Year 10 Berwick Campus
The white of the old dress didn’t give off a Beaconhills vibe. Lucy, Year 10 Berwick Campus
* Sales since the new uniform was launched.
Showcasing student creativity
ART & INK
Moon Chased
By Phoebe R, Year 11, Pakenham Campus
I roll down the car window, stick my hand out and let it slice through the speeding sky as if it is a seagull swooping down to steal an unsuspecting chip. I rest my head against the seat. I can smell something fresh and sweet. The scent of sticky rain after a sweltering hot day. Of mango and nectarine on the back deck in the dusk.
Summer is gradually sinking its claws into me again, allowing all the fatigue from the past year to trickle out with its promise. ‘I’ll be back,’ it says to me. I know it will be. But right now, I won’t worry. Because I have weeks of sunlight stretched out in front of me, winter can’t reach me, and I have so much time.
This excerpt from her short story was ‘highly commended’ in the Victorian Association for the Teaching of English A Story in Miniature writing competition, 2025.
Below: Artwork by Binuthi J, Year 9, Berwick Campus.
THINKING AHEAD
FROM CLIMATE CHANGE TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI), THE WORLD IS RAPIDLY CHANGING. BUT WHAT TYPES OF SKILLS WILL STUDENTS NEED TO THRIVE IN THEIR LIVES BEYOND SCHOOL? HERE ARE SOME WAYS THAT BEACONHILLS IS HELPING STUDENTS BECOME ‘FUTURE READY’.
LEARNING WITH AI LEARNING TO VERIFY INFORMATION IN AN AI WORLD IS A CRITICAL SKILL.
AI is here to stay. This is a reality that all educational institutions now face.
AI has impacted every aspect of education, from how teachers design their instruction through to how students can show evidence of their learning.
With guidance from AI researcher/ education consultant Leon Furze, Beaconhills College now has an AI Assessment Scale which sets out different levels of GenAI use for students in Years 8-12.
The scale starts from ‘no AI use’as in exams - increasing to use of AI for generating or brainstorming ideas, through the higher-level use to edit and refine written work or even complete an entire task.
One of the critical challenges for students in an AI world is learning to verify information that AI provides, according to Head of Digital Learning Michael Torsello (now retired).
He gave a practical example of incorporating AI use into one of his Year 9 Digital Engineering classes. When Mr Torsello gave his students an assignment on ‘AI in Education’, a group of students presented their work showing how
robots can talk to students and were used in coding classes. The problem was that the group only used AI for their research - and it got it wrong.
“They have taken everything from AI as gospel truth and that’s the problem,” Mr Torsello said. “They have got to be able to verify information and look at it critically.”
He added that “by and large, the students who are using AI are using it well - they understand the bias and the dangers of putting in personal information.”
For teachers, Mr Torsello believes that some things have not really changed, with or without AI.
“Essentially, teachers know their students. When you have to authenticate student work, then you ask the student to 'explain this paragraph' to me," he said.
Pakenham student Jeremy used AI in his Year 10 Design and Graphics subject last year to help create a visual concept for a video game character.
Jeremy used AI to embellish a written character profile which reflected all his initial points, and AI was also used to create an
outline of the hypothetical game using Jeremy's ideas. ChatGPT was credited on his poster presentation.
Jeremy said having AI helped save time overall on his project.
“It cut down a lesson or two having AI to write the character profile,” Jeremy said, adding that it gave him more time to spend on manually drawing his video game character.
Head of Visual Arts, Leanne Peters, said that while students used AI in the project, the overall design still needed to come together based on planning by the student.
01.N o G en AI
No GenAi is permitted in this task. This may be appropriate for examination style tasks, exam practice and practical assessments requiring no GenAi. If conducting task with no GenAi, it must be completed during class time and under supervision.
05.Full GenAI
Full GenAi: GenAi may be used complete the entire task. This may be appropriate where the task is directly related to GenAi (e.g., the instruction of how to use a tool) where the content or skills being assessed can be produced by GenAi.
02.Ideas and structure
Brainstorming and ideas: GenAi may be used for brainstorming and the generation or refinement of ideas, such as using a chatbot to create a list of potential essay topics or research areas or using image generation to create mood boards and visual ideas.
BEACONHILLS COLLEGE
03.AI Editing
Outlining and notes: GenAi may be used in the creation, organisation, and synthesis of outlines and notes. For example, GenAi may be used to transcribe and organise recorded verbal notes or turn brief typed notes into a longer outline.
FOCUS FORWARD EVENT FUTURE JOBS THE WORLD WILL NEED
A major new community seminar on 4 March aims to help families navigate the key issues of digital wellbeing, learning and mobile phone use.
The College has partnered with some high-profile presenters for the Focus Forward event, to be held at Berwick Campus’ Tony Sheumack Centre for Performing Arts.
The event will include presentations on:
• the impacts of social media use on young people by keynote speaker Andrew Fuller, clinical psychologist and author
04.AI and human evaluation
Editing and feedback: GenAi may be used to edit, proofread, or self-assess work. For example, tools like Grammarly may be used for the refinement of written tasks, or chatbots may be used to give structural and grammatical feedback, or feedback against a criterion. to may is the or
• Climate resilience officer: Helps communities adapt to extreme weather by planning sustainable infrastructure and local response strategies
• Aged tech companion specialist: Supports older people using smart home devices and care robots –blending empathy with digital know-how
• Cyber trust officer: Protects digital systems and users from misinformation, data breaches and privacy threats.
Source: ChatGPT
• * being safe on social media, led by international expert in online safety Kirra Pendergast
• how families can take the pledge not to give their child a smartphone until at least Year 8, by Wait Mate.
Bookings via this link trybooking.com/DIQYP
FOSTERING SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP
The Year 8 Certificate of Excellence is a valuable addition to students’ future CVs, particularly as some tertiary entry pathways look for skills such as leadership and community service.
The Year 8 co-curricular program helps students identify their strengths and contribute meaningfully to causes beyond themselves.
One of the core skills students learn is ‘Design Thinking’ – a human-centred way of solving problems through empathy, creativity and experimentation.
Whether it is solving an environmental problem or helping address food insecurity by cooking meals for local charities as the Pakenham Salvos, or Follow Bless Collective, students work together with the overall aim of making the world a better place.
Last year 66 students completed the program, with 14 students awarded gold certificates for their exceptional personal growth and perseverance.
Some of these students have described how they believe the program will benefit them now - and into the future:
“The Certificate of Excellence has helped me learn leadership and teamwork through activities such as preparing BeaconMeals at Lanterns Viet Kitchen. Working with others to support the community has helped me with empathy, problem-solving, and initiative. These skills will help me become a better leader and make a positive impact in the future.” Celina S
“I truly believe that the Certificate of Excellence program has given me the experience I need to continue helping the community and possibly allowed me to take leadership and initiate one of these programs in the future.” Dihain K
“The program has taught me how little things can portray symbolic gestures and go a long way towards building on values of empathy, initiative, service, and compassion - paving the way for enhancing future work ethic and Areng D
“I have been taught to work well with those I may not know, all the while learning about what others are going through and how we can take a small step to lift the positivity in the world. It has taught me gratitude for what I have, and that I should always help others around me.”
Charlotte U
66 students completed the Certificate of Excellence
In a world where information and careers are rapidly changing, curiosity is a vital skill for children to develop.
In the Junior School, curiosity serves as a powerful catalyst for learning, engagement and cognitive development. Curiosity drives lifelong learning.
Berwick Campus’ Head of Teaching and Learning in the Junior School, Merrilee Jongsma, said all students in Prep to Year 4 complete Units of Inquiry, exploring “big ideas” that spark curiosity and building knowledge of the world around them.
“A huge part of this inquiry is student questioning,” Ms Jongsma said. “We want our students to be questioning all of the time.”
For example, this year students in Year 2 investigated the world of physics through the lens of forces, light and sound. They looked at how things move, how
sound travels and light behaves. This led to asking questions, making predictions and developing observation skills – all laying a strong foundation for future STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) learning.
Preps explored how materials could be repurposed sustainably, through hands-on activities and imaginative play. They discovered the value of reducing waste and thinking innovatively about how objects could have a second life.
Ms Jongsma said parents could support their child’s curiosity and learning at home, whether it was looking at the stars, noticing a seedling growing, or asking “why?” together.
The Year 9 Summit to School camp has a deeper purpose in 2026 - a focus on caring for our planet’s future.
The seven-day hike, bike and rafting adventure from Mt Baw Baw to Beaconhills was successfully launched in 2025.
This year’s camp will be futurefocused, giving students much clearer understanding of their role in responding to climate change - not just in theory, but through practical, measurable actions.
Head of Experiential Teaching and Learning, Belinda Dalziel, said students will learn how to calculate and track the carbon emissions produced through their travel to and from the program.
“They will then partner with local Landcare providers to offset those emissions through targeted tree planting,” she said.
“It’s a simple concept, but it allows our young people to see a direct connection between their choices and their impact on the environment.”
At end of last term, Year 9s also started growing some of their own food, such as potatoes, that they will harvest in time for the camp. It is all part of their learning about sustainable living, food systems and the realities of reducing personal environmental impact, Ms Dalziel said.
“More importantly, it introduces the idea that individuals can take meaningful action rather than feeling overwhelmed by global challenges.”
WHAT DOES A CHAPLAIN DO? OUR MISSION IS TO SHARE THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST WITH ALL PEOPLE.
This is my eighth year as Senior Chaplain at the Berwick Campus, and I don’t know where the time has gone. It’s such a blessing to be called to serve in our contemporary Christian community – one that worships the triune God while also respecting people of all faiths and no faith.
Chaplaincy is an unusual role. When I meet people and tell them what I do for a living they often respond with a confused “chaplain – what’s that?” It’s a fair question.
Chaplains are people who are called by God to serve in the community with prayer, pastoral guidance and practical help, like providing food, clothing or connections to services.
At Beaconhills College, chaplains also run worship services for special occasions,
like Commencement, Easter, Christmas, Anzac and Remembrance Days and Founders Day. These services offer the College the opportunity to worship God and reflect on some of the meaningful events in our culture.
We also teach RAVE – Religious and Values Education. As Christian ministers we focus on the person and power of the risen Lord Jesus, and his mission on earth. We teach about the major world religions, including Sikhism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam too. We believe that the more educated our students are about all faiths, the more tolerant society will be for all to enjoy.
Our mission is to share the love of Jesus Christ with all people. Being people of God, we also honour the different understandings of God that
many families in our community have, by encouraging all our students to worship the God of their heart.
Chaplains are busy people! But we are never too busy to chat or help our brothers and sisters in need.
If you’d like to find out more about what we do or would like pastoral care for you and your family, please don’t hesitate to contact Revd Peggy Kruse at Pakenham or myself at Berwick.
Class of 1996, 30 Year Reunion Friday 11 September / Circa 1884, Berwick
Class of 2006, 20 Year Reunion Friday 18 September / Circa 1884, Berwick
Class of 2025, 1 Year Reunion Friday 16 October / Middle Ground, Beaconsfield
Class of 2021, 5 Year Reunion Friday 30 October / Middle Ground, Beaconsfield
Class of 2016, 10 Year Reunion Friday 13 November / Middle Ground, Beaconsfield
Keep an eye on the Beaconhills Alumni Facebook group for updates or email alumni@beaconhills.vic.edu.au
PARENTS AND FRIENDS 2026
Beaconhills has a proud history of Parents and Friends partnership with the College since its earliest days.
In 2026, Parents and Friends (P&F) will have a new, more formalised structure at each campus but with the same overarching aim of encouraging parents to be involved in the life of the school.
The College is inviting expressions of interest from parents of students in Early Years through to Year 12 to join the P&F, with a variety of ways to be involved.
Each campus P&F meets once a term, with all parents welcome to attend meetings at any time.
Parents and Friends structure
THE P&F’S KEY PURPOSES ARE TO:
• foster a sense of community, connectedness and belonging
• encourage parents and guardians to be involved in College life
• support the College in organising activities that enhance students’ experiences and community spirit
• raise funds to benefit student and services programs, and capital projects
• support volunteerism and College events
• provide constructive feedback on College-related matters, when invited by College leadership.
Berwick Campus Principal Sam Watson said P&F involvement was a way for parents to become involved in some of Beaconhills many events and service programs.
“It’s also an opportunity for parents to meet and network with other parents,” Mr Watson said.
Above is an outline of the new P & F structure. Each campus P&F has 10 members, with various ‘Friends of’ subgroups which support the P&F.
FINAL BELL FOR OLD PORTABLES
A special Decommissioning Ceremony in September was a chance to bid a fond farewell to Pakenham Campus’ original classrooms.
When Beaconhills opened in 1982, it had little more than these few portable classrooms donated by St Catherines College, Toorak, and six temporary portaloos. There were just 34 students and five staff.
The College founders and staff who attended the ceremony had many happy memories of those early years in what they described as the “nerve centre” of the College. The staffroom was a friendly and collaborative space, and the venue for an enjoyable Friday morning tea.
Some of the original parents at the ceremony remember cleaning the portaloos as part of their parent helper duties.
The portable classrooms hosted the first assembly and were later used by Middle School students, finance and administration.
The Decommissioning Ceremony saw former headmasters Tony Sheumack and Rick Tudor and the first Head of Middle School Frank Pagliuca share their reflections of that happy time.
Led by Senior Chaplain Revd Peggy Kruse, the ceremony ended with the removal of symbolic items from the building which represented the school’s history, values, leadership and faith.
They included the original framed photograph of the College taken by Ian Thomas of the Pakenham Gazette on the first day of school, February 3, 1982.
Foundation Chairman John McConchie handed over the first Constitution and initial Prospectus, while founding parent Carole Clark rang the original brass school bell
The Decommissioning Ceremony saw former headmasters Tony Sheumack and Rick Tudor and the first Head of Middle School Frank Pagliuca share their reflections of that happy time.
YEARS 7 AND 8 CENTRE OPENING EVENT
While students were already well-settled into their new Years 7 and 8 Centre at Pakenham, an official opening event took place in October.
It was a chance to thank those who helped bring the $13.02m project – including a $650,00 Federal Government contribution – to fruition.
In his address, Executive Principal Stephen McGinley said “these buildings don’t just happen – they are hard-earned successes because of endless hours of planning and construction”.
Guests, including state and federal MPs, enjoyed a tour of the new centre with Middle School student leaders.
(L-r) Former headmasters Rick Tudor and Tony Sheumack and Executive Principal Stephen McGinley.
UNEARTHING BEACONHILLS’ ORIGINAL PLANS
When the original school building at Pakenham was recently decommissioned, no one expected a discovery that would transport the College back to its earliest days. Tucked away in a dusty filing cabinet, the maintenance team uncovered an important piece of College history—the original architectural plans for the school.
These plans, now safely in my hands as the College Archivist, tell the story of Beaconhills’ humble beginnings. The College’s first architect, Rod Holton, generously volunteered his expertise to design the initial three stages of the campus. Back in 1981, the fledgling school relied on volunteers and resourcefulness. Three portable classrooms were donated by St Catherine’s in Toorak, and another three were purchased from Willcroft-Terrapin Pty Ltd. These structures laid the foundation for what would become the campus we know and love today.
Preserving these plans is a meticulous process. I have carefully flattened and inspected each sheet for signs of pest damage or environmental wear. Using specialised cleaning products, I have restored the documents before photographing and storing them in archivalquality packaging. The originals now rest in a cool, dry, pest-free environment—ensuring they remain intact for generations to come.
But these plans won’t stay hidden. Copies of the plans will soon be mounted for display,
THE ARCHIVE IS ALWAYS EAGER TO EXPAND THE COLLECTION WITH DONATIONS THAT REPRESENT THE COLLEGE'S RICH HISTORY.
and digital versions will feature online on Victorian Collections, a statewide archive celebrating historical and cultural artifacts from across Victoria.
The new archive room at Pakenham Campus provides the perfect sanctuary for these and other precious items.
The archive is always eager to expand the collection with donations that reflect the College’s rich history.
If you have memorabilia to share, I would love to hear from you at Meaghan.McKee@ beaconhills.vic.edu.au.
Meaghan McKee College Archivist
Above: The College's original architectural plans. Right: The original school building, Architect Rod Holton (left) and John McConchie, and members of the College planning team.
The originals now rest in a cool, dry, pest-free environment—ensuring they remain intact for generations to come.
STAFF THANKED FOR SERVICE
This year Beaconhills College pays tribute to long-serving teacher Colin Burns, who is about to complete an impressive 30 years at the school.
Colin was Beaconhills’ first PE teacher in 1984, when it was just a “tiny little country school” – as he described it - with only 250 students. It’s a far cry from the thriving two-campus College of today with a student population of more than 3000. Back in the day, sporting activities were managed by parents with athletic skills, a grassroots approach that feels worlds away from today’s sports programs.
After a brief hiatus, Colin returned to the College in 1999 as Head of Sport, then later moved to our Berwick Campus where he focused on Year 9 PE, sports coaching and administration, and Head of House.
His career is marked by standout memories, pioneering Duke of Edinburgh trips, the school’s first major trip to Alice Springs, and taking basketball enthusiasts on USA tours where students crossed paths with teams like the Atlanta Hawks.
What has kept him in the job so long? It’s all about the people he works with, he says, and of course the students he teaches, coaches and mentors.
Colin was one of number of long-serving staff honoured in the Staff Service Awards at the end of last term. They also included Michelle Gummer, Mark Tory, Saasha Bugeja, Ed Antoniotti and Clare Polglase (25 years) and Sharyn O’Connell, Germain Ramos, Joseph Zamer and David Young (20 years).
RETIREES HONOURED
A special retirement afternoon tea was also held on December 9 at the Berwick Campus to farewell a number of muchloved staff.
Retirees are Jeff Porter –Pakenham Commerce teacher (28 years), Michelle Gummer – Pakenham Head of Library (25 years), Gloria Winstone –Pakenham Science Technician (19 years), Jim Prendergast –Pakenham Science teacher (14 years), Michael Torsello – Head of Digital Learning (10 years) and Berwick Religion teacher Steve Terrell (eight years).
COLIN WAS BEACONHILLS’ FIRST PE TEACHER WHEN IT WAS JUST LITTLE COUNTRY
WITH ONLY 250 STUDENTS.
Retirees: Top (l-r) Michael Torsello, Jeff Porter, Steve Terrell. Bottom (l-r) Michelle Gummer, Gloria Winstone, Jim Prendergast.
BEACONHILLS’
JUST A “TINY SCHOOL”STUDENTS.
30 years of Colin Burns: (Top left) pictured second from the left and (top right) pictured to the right.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Ava Cashmore
Ava Cashmore (Class of 2023, Pakenham Campus) is currently studying a double degree in journalism and marketing at Monash University while also completing her Certificate III and IV in Fitness. Alongside her studies, she works as a pilates and group fitness instructor.
After leaving school, she had an unexpected start to her media career. While waitressing the Star News Christmas party, she struck up a conversation with the editor, which led to an interview and eventually a reporting role. She spent a year and a half at the paper, where she was a finalist for several journalistic awards and scholarships.
In August last year, she began an exciting new chapter, joining 7 News Melbourne as a reporter. She is thrilled about the opportunity and eager to see where this next step in journalism and the greater media sphere will take her.
Jayashri Maya
Jayashri Maya (formerly Thirumalai Nambi) Class of 2020, Pakenham Campus, graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Media Communications in 2024.
She is now an Internal Communications Coordinator for the Australian Energy Market Operator and loves the mix of ‘creative and corporate’.
Jayashri was an active member of the performing arts community at Beaconhills and had a passion for percussion.
From orchestra to the world music ensemble, she recalls spending most lunchtimes, mornings and even after-school practising and rehearsing with her bands.
“I always had a fascination for the arts –something I believe Beaconhills fostered and encouraged throughout my schooling career,” she said.
Krisha Saravanan
Since graduating from the Pakenham Campus in 2016, Krisha Saravanan’s path has blended her interests in psychology and neuroscience.
She completed a Bachelor of Health Science majoring in Psychology and Psychophysiology at Swinburne University - a course she found with the help of then Careers Advisor, Jeff Porter. The degree included a year-long full-time placement, working as a research assistant with the Institute for Breathing and Sleep at Austin Health.
Krisha went on to complete a Bachelor of Psychological Sciences (Honours) part-time while working, graduating in 2022 with first class honours and publishing a research article from her thesis. She spent the next two years working full-time as a research assistant. In 2024, she joined the Austin Health Sleep Laboratory as a sleep scientist, and in 2025 as a paediatric sleep scientist at Monash Children’s Hospital. Krishna now plans to pursue a PhD in sleep psychology.
A WEDDING
Kevin Seth and Siluni Hewa Dewage
Another Beaconhills wedding is about to take place!
Kevin Seth (Class of 2019) and Siluni Hewa Dewage (Class of 2020) were a year apart at the Berwick Campus when friends introduced them.
They went on to see each other graduate from Beaconhills, finish university and start their professional careers. The couple got engaged last year on a beautiful cliff in the Mornington Peninsula, and are now looking forward to tying the knot in April. We wish them all the best during this exciting time.
