AND CONNECTION WITH THE UNITING CHURCH

Our College community recently celebrated the Class of 2025 with a series of meaningful events that honoured their journey and contributions to our College. These celebrations, which included the Valedictory Assembly and Lunch, House Assemblies, and various special activities, commenced with a memorable spiritual experience that perfectly captured our College values.

The Year 12 House Chapel services, held in our historic War Memorial Chapel, provided an inspiring start to our celebrations. These services brought together key staff and all students from within each House, creating an intimate atmosphere of reflection and gratitude. The services beautifully celebrated our connection to the Uniting Church while embracing the UCA Characteristics and honouring our inclusive all-faiths-and-none approach that welcomes every member of our diverse community.

A highlight of these services was the introduction of Jamie Breden, our new Head of Faith & Community. Leading these inaugural House Chapel services alongside College Librarian David Morris (current member of the UCA Presbytery of Tasmania representing Scotch Oakburn College and former VP of the Tasmanian Churches Council), Jamie demonstrated the thoughtful, inclusive leadership that will shape our spiritual life moving forward. This newly created role represents an exciting development for the College, strengthening our faith dimension and increasing our meaningful use of the Chapel.

The establishment of the Head of Faith & Community position reflects wonderful collaboration with key members of the UCA Vic/Tas branch. As Jamie assumes responsibility for leading future services and expanding our Chapel programs, we look forward to enriching our College’s holistic educational experience.

Ross Patterson
Principal

Jamal spoke at the Boarders’ Leavers Dinner reflecting on his time at the College and kindly agreed to share his words with our community:

“Standing here tonight feels a little strange. After two years in the Scotch Oakburn boarding house, it’s surreal that it’s finally coming to an end. When I first arrived, I didn’t really know what to expect – new faces, new routines, and the reality of living away from home. But looking back now, I can honestly say boarding has been one of the best experiences of my life.

I’ve learned so much more at boarding school than just how to roll out of bed first! Well, maybe not first… maybe not second or third either, but who’s counting? I always looked forward to whatever the next day in boarding would bring. More importantly, I’ve learned independence, responsibility, and how to live alongside people from all walks of life. It’s where I discovered that you can create a second family; with your roommates, your dorm mates, and the adults who care for you as if you were their own.

I’ve had my share of late nights and early mornings, and I’ve definitely felt homesick at times. But I also have a collection of moments etched in my mind that I will never forget. The laughter in the common room, the inside jokes we share as boarders, and the sense of community that made every day special.

To the teachers and boarding staff, you deserve our sincere thanks. Not only have you guided us through our schoolwork, but also through our lives. You’ve provided mentorship and been there for us when we needed it most. We truly appreciate the time and effort you put in behind the scenes.

To my fellow Year 12 boarders, we made it! We’ve seen each other at our best and our worst, and we’ve all come out stronger because of it. The friendships we’ve built during our time at Scotch Oakburn will last long after we leave.

Lastly, I’d like to thank Will Smith. None of this would have been possible without your support. Thank you for your sacrifices, for trusting me to grow, for believing in me, pushing me, holding me accountable, and always being there when I needed you most. Because of you, I’m proud to be here tonight. Thank you.

As I move forward, I know I’ll carry the lessons, memories, and friendships from the boarding house with me for the rest of my life. This has been more than just a place to stay — it’s been home, and it will always be a part of me. Thank You.”

Jamal Hussein
Year 12

I’m living in Bogotá, the capital city of Colombia, and attending Colegio Anglo Colombiano, or “The Anglo” on exchange. The biggest challenge has been the size of the buildings — running between classes on different floors is no joke, especially at over 2,600 metres above sea level, where there’s about 26% less oxygen than back home.

There are around 18 exchange students here, including Samuel Fischer from Scotch Oakburn. Three others are from Australia, and the rest from South Africa. It’s great having such a group — we often spend our free periods together.

Lunchtime is a highlight. The cafeteria serves freshly made meals, from traditional Colombian dishes to familiar favourites.

What I love most about Colombia is how social and lively everyone is. On weekends, there’s always something happening — football, family gatherings, or parties. The warm, welcoming atmosphere makes every day enjoyable.

This weekend, my host family and a few others are taking a trip to Cartagena, a coastal city known for its colourful buildings, cobblestone streets, and postcard-perfect beaches. I can’t wait to explore and see another side of this amazing country.

Overall, this experience has been unforgettable. Every day brings something new, and I’m so grateful to everyone who made it possible — especially my wonderful host family.

Ethan Wilkin
Year 10 

Year 4 students showcased their musical learning and performed to their parents in our Rock Media gigs recently.

As part of the program students explore how songs are put together and looked closely at instrumentation while learning how to play parts that suit the style on their chosen instrument. Through this, they have developed technical skills and grown more comfortable performing in front of others.

Jamon Dingemanse
Teacher

Congratulations to the following students who received prizes at the recent awards ceremony for the Heritage Sketch competition.

• Georgia Cugley first place, and Jasper Lin third place in the Years 1 & 2 section –  Architectural line drawing of The Boarding House in collage and water colour.
• Jasmin Liu second place in the Years 5 & 6 section – Architectural study of Lemana in mixed media.

Heritage Sketch is a Launceston City Council initiative open to children and young people from Kinder to Year 12.  Prior to 2024 the competition celebrated photography.  From 2024, the competition included 2D artworks in drawing, painting, printmaking and photography.

The brief: “Create a 2D artwork depicting a heritage place within Launceston of importance to you and include a brief paragraph of the place, building or object and what ‘Our Place, Our Stories’ means to you.

Congratulations and thank you to all students who submitted artwork to this exhibition.  The Gallery of all entries can be viewed on this link.

Suzanne Creese and Caroline Tandy
Art Teachers

Recently, conneXions was buzzing with creativity as we welcomed two incredible author teams.

Aleesah Darlison captivated our Year 1, 2, 3 students and some of our Early Learning groups with thought-provoking sessions on capybaras, endangered animals, and fractured fairy tales. Her talks inspired us to think deeply as writers and inquirers, sparking curiosity and imagination.

We also had the pleasure of hosting Jol and Kate Temple, who entertained Prep through to Year 5 students with their hilarious stories featuring bin chickens, frogs, birds with arms, mega-rich guinea pigs, and gigantic underpants! Laughter filled the room as students were encouraged to dive into these fantastic books, promoting a love of reading and creative writing.

These visits reminded us of the power of storytelling to engage, educate, and inspire.

Laura Beaumont
Teacher

At this year’s Round Square Peace Festival Gathering, Calan Young, one of our incoming 2026 College Captains, spoke about his perspective on peace. An abridged version of Calan’s heartfelt reflection is shared here:

Peace is something very close to my heart. As you may or may not know, I am from Northern Ireland — a place with a very interesting relationship with peace. Northern Ireland isn’t particularly well known, but if you had to pick something, it would probably be political violence and the Titanic — neither of which had particularly good outcomes. For the record, we built plenty of other perfectly good ships that didn’t sink, but no one seems to remember those.

I want to talk about what peace actually means — and what Australia can learn from Northern Ireland in building a peaceful society. Peace could simply mean the absence of violence, but I believe true peace is more than that: it is the presence of justice, equality, and reconciliation.

For thirty years, during the conflict known as the Troubles, Northern Ireland was far from peaceful. The violence was rooted in political and religious divisions between those who believed Northern Ireland should remain in the United Kingdom — mostly Protestants — and those who wanted to unite with the Republic of Ireland — mostly Catholics.

This became what I call the formula for hate: Othering → Dehumanisation → Violence.

It begins with othering — dividing people into “us” and “them.” This instinct gives people belonging, but it can also create deep division. In Northern Ireland, Catholics and Protestants began to see each other only by their differences. Division led to isolation, and in isolation, negative beliefs fermented.

Once people are seen as “others,” dehumanisation follows. They stop being individuals and become faceless stereotypes — symbols of what one group fears or resents. At that point, empathy dies.

Then comes violence, the ultimate result of hatred. When people are divided and dehumanised, violence becomes easier to justify. It feels less like harming another person and more like attacking the thing one most despises. Violence then deepens division, feeding a cycle where hatred justifies violence, and violence justifies hatred.

After decades of conflict, a U.S. president’s visit, and two Nobel Peace Prizes, the violence ended. I am what’s called a “peace baby,” born after the 1998 peace agreement. But while the shootings and bombings stopped, Northern Ireland remained divided — not yet a place of justice, equality, and reconciliation. The overt violence endured by my parents and grandparents became a quieter, more insidious kind.

This is where the antidote to hate comes in: Empathy → Understanding → Acceptance.

Empathy is the essential starting point. When we try to feel what others feel, we see them as people like us — with hopes, fears, and humanity. Empathy grounds us in our shared humanity and prevents us from slipping into the cycle of hate.

Empathy leads to understanding. We move from feeling to learning — breaking down harmful stereotypes and replacing them with knowledge and nuance. This understanding allows us to collaborate and solve problems for the good of all.

And with empathy and understanding comes acceptance — living together, not necessarily in agreement, but with mutual respect. It means recognising our differences as the foundation of a democratic society, allowing us to work together for the shared benefit of all.

Northern Ireland is improving, but much remains to be done. Over 90% of schoolchildren still attend either Catholic or Protestant schools, meaning little exposure to difference at a key age. Many communities still live separately, often through fear. This “self-imposed apartheid” shows that peace cannot simply be signed into existence. It must be built from the ground up, through empathy and understanding.

Australia, with its relative stability, must not become complacent. Peace needs to be actively tended to — never taken for granted. So, treat everyone with empathy and respect. Seek to understand before you judge. Be wary of those who sow distrust or demonisation and be curious enough to engage with people who see the world differently.

Only through empathy, understanding, and acceptance can we recognise each other as humans deserving of dignity — and build a just, fair, and peaceful society for everyone who calls this land home.

Calan Young
Year 11

Scotch Oakburn College is proud to support The Salvation Army’s Christmas Bags of Hope Appeal, helping Tasmanian families facing hardship this festive season.

Many in our community struggle with the financial pressures of Christmas. By filling a Bag of Hope with non-perishable food items, you will be helping The Salvation Army deliver over 2,000 food hampers to those in need across Tasmania.

How to participate:

• Each Elphin class and Penquite Mentor group will be asked to contribute different items.  Check what your child/ren have been asked to contribute.
• Collect a red Bag of Hope from Student Reception at either the Junior, Middle or Senior School.
• Fill the bag with non-perishable food items (see suggested list attached to each bag).
• Return your filled bag to your child’s campus by Monday 1 December 2025.

We invite those that are able to help, to contribute where they can. Let’s come together as a College community to spread hope and kindness this Christmas. Every bag makes a difference!

Learn more on this link.

Jamie Breden
Community Service Coordinator

The College was pleased to host the Chess State Finals at the Penquite Campus recently for both Primary and Secondary Divisons. With over 300 players, it was the largest tournament in Tasmania for quite some time.

Primary

Five students from the Junior school were selected to compete.

Over the course of the day students had to play nine games of chess against students from across the state. Year 5 students Ethan Wagner and Alex Chong, and Year 4 students Zachary Lim, Charles Clifton and Jason Wu used all the strategies at their disposal to win 21 points, landing the Scotch Oakburn Junior team in fifth place from 32 primary schools. A fantastic achievement and reflective of their commitment to the game.

Riley Jones
Teacher

Secondary

Our Secondary  players took a while to get into the rhythm and match the level of intensity of the opposition, and they fared better as the competition progressed.

The team of: Bosco Kong (Year 7), Henry Chilcott (Year 8), Maddi Gofton (Year 8), Shiv Kataria (Year 9), Matias Munoz Lagos (Year 11) Himash Keerthiratne (Year 11) and Oscar Mann (Year 11) finished a comendable seventh.

Himash finished second individually, for the second time in a row. He was undefeated, but had three draws, whereas the overall winner only had two draws. Matias also did very well with six wins out of nine matches, while Bosco had five wins and Shiv four and a half.

Himash’s second placeing concludes a very successful year for him. He won the three Interschool tournaments in the North, the Under 18 Tasmanian Junior Rapid Chess Champion 2025 title, and the Under 18 Tasmanian Junior Classical Chess Champion 2025 title. A great individual achievement.

Thank you to all who helped making this event such a success.

Fabrice Dauchez
Person-in-Charge of Chess

Golf

Eight students have competed at the Interhigh Golf Day held at the Launceston Golf Club with some great results. Team member were  Hugo Clifton (Year 9), Nixon Coombes (Year 8), Charlie Graham (Year 9), Xavier Nicholls (Year 10), Kirri Piper(Year 10), Will Stevenson (Year 9), Zach Stevenson (Year 7) and Harry Proctor (Year 9).

In the Junior Division Zach Stevenson and Nixon Coombes were members of a combined 7/8 team, placing third. In Seniors, Will Stevenson and Harry Proctor also placed third as members of a combined 9/10 team. Individually there were also some great resutls with Zach finishing with a round 0f 72, Nixon, 73 (both in the top five for juniors) and Xavier finishing with a round of 63 (top five for senior).

Hugo, Xavier and Will als recently competed in at the Launceston Golf Club Championships. Hugo was crowned C Grade Handicap Champion, while Will finished as runner-up in the C Grade Scratch division. In an outstanding effort, Xavier defeated a seven-time club champion on his way to the A Grade Scratch final, where he finished as a hard-fought runner-up.

A great few weeks of golf.

Ali Foot
Head of Sport – Penquite

The 2026 College Calendar is now available on The Dash highlighting major events and learning programs throughout the year.  Our calendar is always subject to change, however we hope that making our Calendar available now will help to assist our community with future planning.

View Calendar