FRIDAY 5 JUNE 2026 year 31st
CHAIRMAN AND BOARD DIRECTORS
Snowy Mountains Grammar School
Chairman
Michael Jones OAM
Board Directors
Lucy Blyton-Gray
Sally Campbell
Dr Kim Edwards
David Evans
Colleen Godsell AM
Alice Hornby
Donna Jowett-Poulos
ORDER OF CEREMONY
Processional
‘Castle on the Hill’ arranged by John McAllister
Acknowledgement of Country
National Anthem
School Captains’ Welcome
Georgette Philpott and Oscar Whitehead
Chairman’s Address
Mr Michael Jones OAM
Occasional Address
Miss Kesha Oayda
House Service Awards
Announced by Heads of House Presented by House Captains
Musical Performance by Year 12 Music ‘From the Start’ by Laufey
The Cordis Spiritus Junior Award
Announced by Mrs Kimberley Whitehead Presented by Mr Michael Jones OAM
The Cordis Spiritus Senior Award
Announced by Mr Tim Bland Presented by Mr Michael Jones OAM
The Staff Service Awards
Announced by Dr Andrew Bell Presented by Mr Michael Jones OAM
The School Prayer
Read by Mrs Dani Goucher
The School Song
Recessional
‘Man from Snowy River’ arranged by Bruce Rowland
OCCASIONAL ADDRESS
Miss Kesha Oayda
A proud member of Mowamba House and the Class of 2021, Kesha made a meaningful and lasting contribution to the life of the School. She approached all aspects of her school experience with enthusiasm, positivity and genuine care for others. Whether through her involvement in music, sport or leadership, Kesha consistently set a powerful example of courage, empathy and commitment to her peers.
Kesha played a vital role in fostering inclusive and engaging discussions, encouraging participation and demonstrating a strong sense of justice. Her leadership qualities were further evident in her role on the Student Representative Council, where she
advocated passionately for others and helped strengthen the student voice within the School community.
Kesha’s extraordinary musical talent was a defining feature of her time at Snowy Mountains Grammar School. Her singing brought joy and inspiration to countless school events and assemblies, leaving a lasting impression on both staff and students. Alongside her achievements in the performing arts, Kesha also excelled in sport, earning Age Champion honours in both athletics and swimming — a testament to her dedication and allround excellence.
In 2026, Kesha captured national attention as the winner of Australian Idol, where her powerful voice, authenticity and stage presence propelled her onto the national stage. Her journey from Snowy Mountains Grammar School student to one of Australia’s rising music stars is a remarkable example of passion, perseverance and staying true to one’s roots.
Kesha continues to be a wonderful ambassador for our School, and her success is a source of great pride for our community. We look forward to hearing her reflections and insights, and we warmly welcome her back to Snowy Mountains Grammar School.
SCHOOL HOUSES
The four Houses celebrate local geographical features and take their shields from our school crest.
Cascades is represented in the crest by the gum leaf, depicting ‘Environment’.
A cascade is a river environment where there is a waterfall or a series of small waterfalls over steep rocks. The streams and rivers of the Snowy Mountains have many such cascades. The Cascades region and Cascades Hut are found above Dead Horse Gap. The hut was built in 1935 by stockmen for use whilst grazing cattle. The hut and the Cascades region inspired Elyne Mitchell’s Silver Brumby books.
The Cascades house colour is Green.
Mowamba is represented in the crest by the flowing river, depicting ‘Flexibility’.
The Mowamba River is a tributary of the Snowy River, which flows south of Jindabyne. It is bridged by both the Barry Way and the Snowy River Way, before joining up with the Snowy River.
The Mowamba house colour is Blue.
Kiandra is represented in the crest by the linked figures, depicting ‘Community’.
For centuries before European settlement, Aboriginal tribes gathered in the Kiandra district in summer to feed on bogong moths. When the first Europeans arrived early in the nineteenth century, they used the high country for summer pasture for sheep and cattle.
The Kiandra house colour is White.
Twynam is represented in the crest by the mountain, depicting ‘Challenge’.
Mount Twynam is the third-highest mountain on mainland Australia. It is located in the Snowy Mountains on the Main Range, 8 kilometres north-west of Mount Kosciuszko.
The Twynam house colour is Red.
HOUSE SERVICE AWARDS
Understanding the Award
The House Service Awards were first presented in 2012. This award is presented to a Junior School Student in Year 5 or 6 and a Senior School Student in Year 10 or 11 from each house. The award recognises the achievements and work of a student in service to their house as a school community throughout the year. Students at Snowy Mountains Grammar School have many opportunities to participate pastorally, to contribute to the activities initiated by their house and to work with staff and their peers at sporting and cultural functions.
Cascades
Announced by Mrs Krista Mower
Presented by Chase Hughes
Kiandra
Announced by Miss Mariah Dhar
Presented by Violet Ottley
Mowamba
Announced by Mr Nathan Booth
Presented by Lola Brown
Twynam
Announced by Mrs Kylie Wharton
Presented by Cole Haigh
THE CORDIS SPIRITUS AWARD
Understanding the Award
The Cordis Spiritus Award is presented to one Junior School student in Year 6 and one Senior School student in Year 11. It is considered an important part of the Foundation Day celebrations, having great symbolic meaning. This award reflects the spirit of the Snowy Mountains that has been demonstrated by so many wonderfully resourceful and determined pioneers of the Snowy Mountains Scheme, one of Australia’s greatest engineering feats. This spirit has been anchored in our school, where many of the same attributes live on today.
The recipients of this Award have been chosen as they best demonstrate the attributes of a student of our school, with regard to their behaviour, respect, trustworthiness and courtesy shown to all. A student who is accepting of their peers, remaining friendly and promoting a strong sense of belonging in their school community. This student should also show a strong and positive involvement in a wide range of school events and activities in the academic, sporting, cultural and community service areas. A student who has a desire to work for the betterment of others, not simply for personal reward. This may include volunteering in a wide variety of situations, offering to assist with preparations before an event, remaining behind to pack up and do what is required to help, supporting their peers and teammates at all times. The Award is to recognise unreserved reliability that is combined with a persistent, determined and committed resolve, characterised by a ‘never-give-up’ attitude and consistency of approach in all tasks and in all situations.
For this award, level of achievement is not a criterion, rather the emphasis is on capable and regular participation in a wide range of situations within and for the school, with the spirit of ‘having a go’ being espoused at all times.
THE CORDIS SPIRITUS AWARD
List of Past Recipients
Junior School
Lara Fairfield-Smith
Saskia Dutch
Winsome Ogilvie
Daniel Ternes-Dixon
Charlotte Wilson
Chloe Chilcott
Abbey Wilson
Olivia Roche
Stella Smith
Lillian Brown
Axel Lyster
Jack Philpott
Sergio Costanzo
Justin Klempfner
Senior School
Tayla Brown
Adam Dickson
Molly Nicholl
Sean Richards
Kate Hobbs
Joshua Kuner
Antonia Murphy
Eve Donnelly
Jessica Dickson
Alexi Cross
Chloe Chilcott
Elise Philpott
James Peake
Evie Cuthbert
STAFF SERVICE AWARDS
Understanding the Award
The Staff Service Awards are presented to staff in recognition of their dedicated and valued service to Snowy Mountains Grammar School. Staff are eligible for this award and fully recognised after a total of 10 years, 20 years, 25 years, 30 years, and 40 years of service. Additionally, staff are partially recognised after a total of 15 years, 35 years, and 45 years of service.
STAFF SERVICE AWARDS
10 Years’ Service
Mr Craig Moore
Mrs Susan Plum
20 Years’ Service
Mr Scott Frize
Passion, dedicatation and vision create unstoppable momentum.
THE SCHOOL PRAYER
Our loving God, who sent your Son to be the Light of the World We thank You for the Snowy Mountains Grammar School May it be a place of learning, nurture and growth; with love, care and respect for all.
Bless all who teach, all who learn, all who govern, and those who administer and provide support; May the light of Your Word show us the way; The light of Your truth fill our minds; and the light of your life fill our hearts.
Let our light so shine before all people that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father who is in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
THE SCHOOL SONG
In the mountains we have gathered, from the hills and from the sea Students who have built a school that values truth and quality
We move toward a future of hope Experience and knowledge are our goals
Here we stand and proudly sing of Snowy Mountains Grammar School.
Who are we?
Students from the mountains high
Who are we?
Students reaching for the sky
Who are we?
Snowy Mountains Grammar School in the high country.
Every challenge we are faced with, we will strive to overcome Students who have come together, each wanting to belong Through the years as we move forward, new horizons to explore We will stand and proudly sing of Snowy Mountains Grammar School.
vision
