College Captains' Report

FROM THE COLLEGE CAPTAINS

Left to Right: Dr Barclie Gallogray, Jared Brooks, Dylan Ford, Shiva Tuflasa, Caydence Gilotti, Mr Peter Hopper

Dylan Ford College Captain What a cracker of a year! As College Captain of Mackay Christian College for 2021, it was my absolute pleasure to devote my time to assisting my fellow peers and teachers for a successful year.

At the beginning of the year, the college leadership team attended the annual GRIP leadership conference. This was a great day and opportunity to gain skills and strategies to become a more effective leader. These skills allowed the leadership team and me to lead the college through an incredible and collaborative year.

I have been very grateful for all of my mates and teachers who have made the senior experience exhilarating and engaging learning experience. My final year at MCC was memorable with the first year that MCC TTC attended the Formula Student Program Regularity. This saw TTC students and I build various components for a small-scaled race car and allowed us to race it at Lakeside Raceway.

The opportunities that MCC gives to students is one thing that makes school, especially the senior year, very memorable.

As I reflect on the past 13 years I have spent at the college, and I am sure to miss a variety of things; however, I look forward to the future and the challenges ahead and put all of my skills and knowledge to work. Most of all, “Keep the shiny side up.”

Shiva Tuflasa College Captain

Jared Brooks Vice Captain

Caydence Gilotti Vice Captain One of many blessings God has gifted me within 2021 is the role of Female College Captain. Over the past years, as I admired other captains, I had noticed they took leadership in many events within our school. Personally, being able to take leadership in such a huge event where the whole school came to celebrate is one of the most memorable things you could go through in life.

One significant event, in particular, is Founders Day, where as a school, we celebrate the day our college was built.

Due to Covid last year, celebrating Founder’s Day looked slightly different, with only our seniors and Year 6 class attending.

This year, my fellow captains and I was blessed with the news that Founders Day would be celebrated with the whole school again. Not only does it show the student led environment Mackay Christian College is driven by, but it displays our values when we come together through Christlikeness, Learning, Excellence, Attitude and Respect.

Founders Day will forever be an important but memorable day for myself and the future college captains of Mackay Christian College.

Being chosen to be the 2021 vice-captain was an achievement I never thought I would have gone for.

But being the vice-captain has been a responsibility I have enjoyed thoroughly, as I was able to use this as an opportunity to define myself as a leader further. It has helped shape the person I’m becoming and who I want to be.

Our captains spent many of our lunchtimes throughout the year either in a classroom running the student council or with Mr Hopper discussing the important aspects of school that each quickly approached. The significant two events included Anzac Day and Founders Day, where we each played an important part. Being a captain is also about being willing to help behind the scenes. It’s not always about being up the front.

This last ever school year went by so fast, and I was happy to represent my cohort. Although, at times, school is difficult. It does end quicker than you would realise, as it feels like just yesterday, I started grade 12.

It is now your turn to lead, future captains, but realise that leading by example isn’t always easy. Just remember God has a plan for you.

I have attended MCC since Prep. Through my 13 years of schooling, I can say 2021 was the best year of them all, filled with many great moments and memories. However, one stands out above them all - the 2021 ANZAC Day service.

Being a College Vice-Captain allowed me to participate in many different opportunities and experiences.

This year, I had the privilege, along with my fellow College Captains, of placing a wreath to honour the fallen soldiers.

This was very humbling as it gave us a closeup experience in the ANZAC service and an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of ANZAC Day. We honoured those who gave their lives for our freedom and what we have today, lest we forget.

All of these experiences and memories have helped shape me into the person I am today. Without the support of all the staff of MCC, I would not be this person. To all the future leaders of MCC, lead for the right reasons and serve others while forging your own path and creating your own identity, creating a better version of yourself in everything that you do.

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson