When a community rows together

In my recent College News article Rowing Together, I reflected on the powerful image that emerged from Norway’s national celebrations, where athletes and spectators united in a simple rowing motion. It was a reminder that extraordinary outcomes are rarely the result of individual effort alone. Instead, they are achieved when a community works together with shared purpose, trust and commitment.

Over the past week, I have seen a remarkable example of this brought to life through Hadestown: Teen Edition in our Horton Auditorium.

What audiences experienced across four days and five performances was nothing short of exceptional. From the opening moments to the final curtain, our talented cast, musicians, crew and support staff delivered a production that left audiences in absolute awe. The sell-out closing night was a fitting conclusion to a performance that showcased not only extraordinary talent, but also the collective effort required to bring something of this scale to life.

Hadestown: Teen Edition was always going to be an ambitious undertaking. It demanded courage, commitment and a willingness to tackle something challenging. Our staff, led by Head of Performing Arts, Andy Prideaux, placed great faith in our students and that faith was repaid many times over through their dedication, professionalism and remarkable performances.

The success of this production also reflects the strength of Performing Arts at Scotch Oakburn College. Our department continues to produce performances of the highest standard, while broader participation across music, drama and performance continues to grow. Pleasingly, the introduction of greater co-curricular choice through our points-based system has seen record levels of student involvement, creating more pathways for students to discover and develop their talents.

To everyone involved in Hadestown: Teen Edition, congratulations. You have demonstrated and set the standard for what can be achieved when a community rows together. I feel incredibly privileged to have attended two performances and to have witnessed first-hand the passion, teamwork and excellence that made this production such an outstanding success.

Ross Patterson
Principal

We invite you to fall down the rabbit hole with Alice for this year’s much anticipated Year 5 Junior School Production of Alice in Wonderland Jr.

This 60-minute stage adaptation of the classic Disney animated film and the Lewis Carroll stories makes a triumphant return to the stage, with an updated script and score made specifically for young performers.

When young Alice finds herself in a strange world where everything seems upside down, she must find her way home…and find herself along the way. As she travels through Wonderland, she encounters all of the iconic characters that audiences have come to love: including the ever-tardy White Rabbit, the grinning Cheshire Cat, a cool Caterpillar, the wacky Mad Hatter, and the hot-tempered Queen of Hearts.

Alice in Wonderland JR. features Disney favourites such as “The Golden Afternoon,” “The Unbirthday Song,” and “Painting the Roses Red” along with brand-new songs, including music from the 2010 live-action film. This is a Whether this is your first experience with Alice or your hundredth, this is a show for all ages to enjoy.

Book you tickets now 

One of the greatest strengths of our Collegian community is the connection between past and present students, with past students generously returning to share their experiences and insights with those following in their footsteps.

Years 10, 11 and 12 students recently attended a financial literacy-focused year level meeting featuring two young Collegians who shared their experiences, lessons and advice about building successful futures.

Olivia Pedder (’25), founder of Bloom Coffee, spoke about the courage it takes to turn a passion into a business. Sharing both the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, she encouraged students to back themselves, embrace opportunities and not be afraid to take calculated risks in pursuit of their goals.

Students also heard from Clair Russell (’23), who shared her experiences with investing and the importance of developing good financial habits from a young age. She highlighted the value of starting early, diversifying investments and recognising that building financial security is achievable for anyone willing to take the first step.

Together, Olivia and Clair demonstrated that whether through entrepreneurship or investing, confidence, curiosity and informed decision-making are key to financial success, empowering students to take ownership of their financial futures.

We thank Olivia and Clair for generously giving back to the community and inspiring our students to think boldly about their futures. The session formed part of an ongoing commitment to financial literacy initiatives led by Joy Russell, helping students develop the knowledge and confidence to make informed financial decisions throughout their lives.

Joy Russell
Teacher

Our Head of Faith & Community, Jamie Breden, recently attended the UCA National Education Conference. He shared his thoughts on the key takeaways from the conference in an article published by the Uniting Church Synod of Victoria and Tasmania.

He said his biggest takeaway was that “faith and leadership remain vitally important because they work in the spaces where flourishing grows—relationships, belonging, spirituality, purpose and service. In a world increasingly focused on information, achievement and outcomes, schools still carry the profound responsibility of helping form human beings of wisdom, character, compassion, faith and hope.”

You can read his full article here

Year 3 students have been exploring the beauty of Australian and Tasmanian birds through drawing and painting.

Building on their prior knowledge of the elements of art, they focused on line, colour, and value, while observing and creating artworks inspired by nature specifically birds.

Through artmaking and the study of artists who feature Australian birds in their practice, students developed a sense of wonder, appreciation, and connection to the natural world through art while developing their skills and processes.

Caz Saunders
Art Teacher

We were delighted to welcome back Collegian Gabe Hadley (’16) for an inspiring Basketball Q&A and shoot around session with our students this week.

Gabe has recently been signed to a one-year deal with the Brisbane Bullets. Gabe played college basketball in the US at New Mexico State University and the University of California San Diego.

Sharing insights from his basketball journey, Gabe spoke about the importance of “surrounding yourself with good people, like-minded people, that want the best for you.”

He also emphasised that success often comes down to the effort made when nobody is watching, saying, “how hard you are willing to push yourself and train when no one else is watching is what will set you apart from others striving for the same goal”.

The session was led by staff member and basketball coach Mr Nick Bean, who had the privilege of coaching Gabe during his time at the College.

It was a wonderful opportunity for students to hear firsthand about resilience, dedication and striving to reach your full potential.

Ali Foot
Head of Sport

We are excited to introduce our Semester 2 Student Representative Council (SRC) Class Representatives. These students have been selected by their peers to be the voice of their class and to contribute positively to our College community.

Congratulations to our Semester 2 SRC Representatives:

Year 1 – Eliza Ranson, Alice Churchill, Ollie Grantham, Poppy Marson, Pippa Muir-Wilson, Vaughan Cugley

Year 2 – Jimmy Daking, Annabelle Luttrell, Matilda White, Xavier Ong, Nancy Hughes

Year 3 – Yarshan Vinothan, Zoe Jones, Zoe Berwick, Mirza Narang, Hugh Eggleston, Vinny Terry

Year 4 – Albert Hughes, Frankie Wellspring, Finn Patterson, Alfie Temple-Smith, Rupert Robson, Ava Gibbins

The SRC plays an important role in fostering student voice and leadership throughout the school. Class representatives meet regularly together with Year 5 Round Square Captains to share ideas, discuss issues that are important to students, and help plan initiatives that enhance school life.

Throughout Semester 2, our SRC representatives will work together to raise and discuss ideas from their classes, contribute to school improvement initiatives, support special events and community projects, and develop their leadership, communication and teamwork skills.

We congratulate all students who have taken on this leadership opportunity and look forward to seeing the positive contributions they make to our school community throughout the semester.

Renee Hodgetts 
Director of Wellbeing – Elphin 

We warmly invite you to join us for our Annual Fathers’ Day Breakfast on Friday 4 September 2026.

Following positive feedback about how much our community value our Mother’s and Fathers’ Day events, we also heard a clear desire to increase capacity and make these occasions more inclusive. We listened and, through collaboration with staff and our community, have slightly refreshed this year’s format to create more space for everyone to attend, connect and enjoy time together. There is no limit on guest numbers, so families are warmly encouraged to invite all the special people in their child’s life.

Join fathers, grandfathers and other supportive figures for breakfast in HPEC@Elphin from 7:30 am to 8:30 am. This special occasion provides a wonderful opportunity for students and their parents, carers and loved ones to spend quality time together while sharing in the spirit of the Scotch Oakburn College community.

We encourage you to book as soon as possible. Please remember to reserve a ticket for each child attending.

Book your tickets now via this link

For further information, please contact the Community and Events team on 6336 3368 or community@soc.tas.edu.au.

We look forward to celebrating with you.

Nicole Willcox
Community and Events Manager

The Inter-House Debating Competition for 2026 saw a contested final between Dean and Fox House.

The finalists were selected after a round of debates the previous week between twelve representative House teams.

In the final, Dean was represented by Meg Kilby, Calan Young, Angus Poulsen and advisor, Ethan Wilkin and Fox House by Elizabeth Moore, Olive Kwan, Max Wilson and advisor, Florence Rogers.

The topic, that school days are the best days of our lives, saw a well contested battle. The decision, in a narrow result, went to Dean House who were arguing the affirmative. The debate was held during a full school assembly chaired by senior debaters, Makaela Fulton and Georgette Wilks and adjudicated by Principal, Ross Paterson, Head of English, Carrie Dunham and Person-in-Charge of Debating, Sharon Beattie.

This caps of an excellent year for our senior debaters who have taken out the Senior College roster, the Parliamentary Shield and the Parliamentary Plate competitions; a clean sweep. In the high school competition, in the Junior and Senior divisions, it will be four Scotch Oakburn College teams in the finals.

Thank you to Helen Dosser for her stewardship and support of those teams and competitions and also to our amazing senior debaters who mentor and adjudicate the younger students.

Sharon Beattie
Person-in-Charge of Debating

Two Year 8 students from Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School (BCGS) in Western Australia, Hayden Starr and Alyssa Ong, recently joined Scotch Oakburn College as part of a Round Square student exchange. Hosted by Leni Derbyshire and Ryan Dhanaraj, they have been embracing the opportunity to experience life in a different school, community and part of Australia.

While both students admitted to feeling nervous about their first day, particularly when meeting their exchange partners’ friends and adapting to a new environment, they were quickly made to feel welcome by their host families, teachers and new classmates.

Hayden and Alyssa enjoyed discovering some of the similarities and differences between Scotch Oakburn and their school in Bunbury. They noted our strong connection to Round Square, our broad language offerings and the different structure of the College. Alyssa also observed that students at here generally remain in one classroom while teachers move between classes, unlike at BCGS where students move between rooms for each subject.

Outside the classroom, the students were equally impressed by Tasmania’s distinctive landscape, cooler weather and the opportunity to explore Launceston with their host families. A visit to Cataract Gorge was a particular highlight for Hayden, while Alyssa enjoyed experiencing the hills and mountains surrounding Launceston, so different from the flatter coastal landscape of Bunbury.

For both students, however, the most memorable aspect of the exchange has been the people they have met and the friendships they have formed. Their experience reinforced an important message at the heart of Round Square: stepping outside your comfort zone, seeing the world from another person’s perspective and embracing every opportunity to try something new.

Stuart Walls
Director of Round Square

A reminder to our parent/carer community that as part of our continuous improvement process, you have been invited to share feedback on your experience of the College across a wide range of areas.

The research is being conducted by MMG Education, a specialist education consultancy that works with schools in the areas of school strategic reviews and stakeholder satisfaction. MMG’s client schools include many schools across Australia.

Please refer to your emailed invitation to participate for your survey link.

Joel Brewer
Director of Marketing, Communications and Community 

We are pleased to provide a community news section in our news highlighting events in the wider Launceston community that may be of interest to families. Included this week:

• Artificial Intelligence public lecture – Artificial Intelligence: What it Can (and Can’t) do, Sunday 23 August
• Launceston Swim School Holiday program
• Free online webinar – Making sense of AI’s impact on young people