Named: 100+ Burnett school leaders of 2023
100+ students: We asked every school captain across the South, Central and North Burnett to share their vision for the coming year. Here’s what they told us.
South Burnett
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With their sights set firmly on the future, there is no doubt the Burnett will be in good hands with the next generation.
There has been an impressive response to our call for school captains and leaders from across the region to share their vision for 2023.
Some schools such as St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Murgon, have opted against having school leaders and are instead finding ways to celebrate the entire Year 6 cohort.
Acting assistant principal Sarah Skuse said “we expect all our Year 6 students to be positive role models and leaders for the rest of the student body”.
Join us as we celebrate these inspiring students taking their first steps in leadership roles.
Benarkin State School
Student Leader: Kloey Kruger, 11
Kloey wanted to become a school leader to “show the way, not tell the way” when helping others.
As a leader, she hopes to make her school more inclusive.
Her favourite thing about her school is the environment that surrounds it.
When she grows up, Kloey wants to be a vet.
Student Leader: Mia McKinnon
Mia wanted to become a school leader to be role model for her peers and to represent her school.
As a leader, she hopes to help others achieve their goals and aims.
Mia loves that her school is environmental and very supportive. She also loves the opportunities the students are given.
Student Leader: Isabella Curro
Isabella wanted to become a school leader because she wanted to be a role model who “shows the way, instead telling the way” when helping others. As leader, she hopes to achieve her goals and achievement as a student and as a school leader.
Isabella loves having great friendships with the students and teachers at her school.
When she grows up, Isabella really wants to be an actor or model.
Sports Leader: Harry Campbell
Harry wanted to become a sports leader because he really likes leading people. While leader, Harry hopes to set up a bike ride.
What he loves most about his school is his friends, the teachers and the playground.
When he grows up, he wants to be a movie director.
Sports Leader: Erin Barry, 11
Erin wanted to become a sports leader to help others and encourage them to do their best.
As leader, she hopes to gain the respect of younger students.
Erin loves the people, the learning and all the fun activities at her school.
Sports Leader: Dusty Maslen, 11
Dusty wanted to become sports leader to help others and be role model for his peers.
As leader, he hopes to work on being a better role model.
What he loves most about his school is art class, as well as the staff.
Student Council President: Adisyn Martin
Adisyn wanted to be student council president to help the teachers and students at her school.
In her role, she hopes to help raise money for camp, and overall, to be a good role model.
What she loves most about her school is that everyone is included, and that the students are encouraged to all work together.
Student Council Treasurer: Lacey Maslen, 9
As leader, Lacey wants to help with getting the price of school camps to be cheaper.
Student Council Secretary: Mikayla Bear, 11
Mikayla wanted to become student council secretary because she wanted to take on a bigger challenge.
In her role, she hopes to help around the school and become a role model to others.
What she loves most about her school, is the library as well as its history.
Blackbutt State School
Elena, 11
Elena wanted to become a school captain because she wanted to influence and look after the younger students at her school.
What she loves most about her school is her friends. “The gardens look great and the staff are awesome as well,” she said.
Charlie, 10
Charlie wanted to become a school captain because both his sister and brother were school leaders and he wanted to follow in their footsteps.
What he loves most about his school is getting to see his friends and that teachers are “great”.
Boynewood State School
2023 School Captain: Meisha Bourke
Coalstoun Lakes State School
Chloe Brown, 11
Chloe wanted to become a school captain because she wanted to represent her school and make it the best it could be.
As captain, she hopes to make her school’s principal, Ms Brook, proud.
Chloe loves that her school is fun, little and is like one big family.
She also plays touch for North Burnett and is going to netball trials.
Chloe Cooper, 11
Chloe wanted to become a school captain because she wanted to make her school one of the best in the North Burnett region.
As captain, she hopes to make her school one of the best.
What she loves most about her school is her teacher.
When she grows up, she wants to be a horse trainer.
Eidsvold State School
Secondary School Captain: Grace Roth, 17
Grace wanted to become a school captain because she wanted to be part of a positive team and mentor younger students to reach their potential.
As captain, Grace hopes to influence younger students to do the right thing.
What she loves most about her school is the relationships she has formed with the students and teachers
Secondary Vice-Captain: Juleia Bayles-Law, 17
Juleia wanted to become a school captain because she wanted to be a role model for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
As captain, she wants to feel like she is a part of something that instigates change and that she gets to watch it grow.
What she loves most about her school is that everyone is very accepting and the school is like a family.
Juleia enjoys listening to her Uncles’ and Aunties’ stories.
Primary School Captain: Cora, 10
Cora wanted to become a school captain because she was interested in helping out younger students.
As captain, she hopes to have confidence speaking in public.
What she loves most about her school is her friends and socialising with all kinds of different people.
Primary vice-captain: Cianna Beezley, 11
Cianna wanted to become a school captain because she wanted to help the community and for everyone to gather as “Yumbin” together.
As captain, she wants everyone to be themselves.
She loves her school because of the people within the community and feels like she belongs there.
Flinders Sports Captain: Jakob Roth, 14
Jakob became a sports captain because he wanted to encourage and motivate people.
As captain, he hopes to lead his team into victory.
What he loves most about his school is getting to spend all day with his friends.
Leichhardt Sports Captain: Jalil Boyle, 13
Jalil wanted to be sports captain, because wanted to try something new.
As captain, he hopes that his team, Leichhardt will win the school sports for 2023.
Jalil’s favourite part about his school is learning the Wakka Wakka language.
Leichhardt vice-captain: Emma Hastings, 13
Emma wanted to be sports captain so she could be a role model for others.
As captain, she hopes that her team, Leichhardt will win the sports carnival for 2023.
Emma loves that her school is improving every year, in infrastructure and so much more.
Yumbin Leader: William, 17
William wanted to be Yumbin leader after being student leader last year and really enjoying it.
As leader, he wants to be apart of discussion making and finding things to improve upon.
What he loves about his school is that the teachers are friendly and helpful, and that it is a safe environment for children to interact.
Yumbin Leader: Alissa, 15
Alissa wanted to be Yumbin leader because she wanted to gain experience and help her peers.
As leader, she hopes to get more student voices in school decisions.
What she loves most about her school is that the students and teachers are friendly, and are like “family”.
Yumbin Leader: Kira, 12
Kira wanted to be a Yumbin leader for more opportunities to share her opinion.
As leader, she hopes to help ensure that everyone’s answers are heard.
What she loves most about her school are the students and teachers.
Yumbin Leader: Jesse Davis, 12
Jesse wanted to be a Yumbin leader so he could help others.
He would love to be school captain in the future. “It would be a dream,” he said.
What he loves most about his school is the great students and teachers.
Yumbin Leader: Aliyah Beezley, 9
Aliyah wanted to be a Yumbin leader, after she saw other leaders and decided she wanted to be one.
She hopes to be a leader that is nice and helpful to others.
What she loves most about her school is how everyone is so nice and caring.
Gayndah State School
School Captain: Marcus, 12
Marcus wanted to become school captain to represent his school and to grow as a leader
As captain, he hopes to make a good impression on all little children and to co-operate with staff and students.
What he loves most about his school is the kind staff and the good learning environment.
School Captain: Iesha, 11
Iesha wanted to become school captain to help make the school a better place and help other students whenever they need.
As captain, she hopes to make her school a place where everyone feels safe and likes to be at.
What she loves most about her school is the staff and learning environment.
School vice-captain: Jasmine, 11
Jasmine wanted to become school captain to help students at her school, especially in the playground.
As captain, she hopes to make her school a better place and make everyone feel safe.
What she loves most about her school is the staff because they help out and give students a choice.
Kingaroy State School
School Captain: Finlay Chapman, 11
Finlay wanted to become school captain because he wanted to be role model to younger students.
As captain, he hopes to encourage other students to respect each other.
The thing he loves most about his school is the variety of different students.
Finlay likes to play football and do boxing.
School Captain: Kimi Saito, 11
Kimi wanted to be a school captain to help her peers and make the school a better place for everyone.
As captain, she hopes to encourage the students at her school to be diamond students.
What she loves most about is the opportunity to help the younger students.
School Vice-Captain: Lucas Scott, 11
Lucas wanted to be a school captain so he could give back to his school and help younger students.
As vice-captain, he hopes to make his school a better place.
What he loves most about his school is the sports days.
School Vice-Captain: Eden Ewing, 10
Eden wanted to become a school captain because she wanted to be a great school role model.
As vice-captain, she hopes to show people how to be kind and to treat people how they want to be treated.
What Eden loves most about her school is how friendly the students and staff are.
Indigenous School Captain: Charlie Emmerson, 11
Charlie wanted to be a school captain to help her peers and help make the school a safe and welcoming place.
As captain, she hopes to enhance the no bullying policy and help students to be at an open level.
What she loves about her school is how helpful the teachers and staff are, and the education that we get and my fellow peers who make coming to school fun.
Indigenous School Captain: Jamychal Smallwood, 11
Jamychal wanted to be a school captain to help the lower grades and help out at sports day.
As captain, he hopes to help kids to be the best they can.
What he loves most about his school is all the sports that is to offer.
Kumbia State School
Samuel, 11
Samuel wanted to be a school captain to be able to help people.
As captain, he would like to make his school more popular in the burnett area.
Samuel loves how different yet traditional his school is.
Leila, 11
Leila wanted to be a school captain to make her school a better place for everyone.
As captain, she would like to make her school more popular and to help others have a better day at school.
Leila loves the traditions of her school and how the small school community feels like a big family.
My First Year 2023 Burnett: Memories to last a lifetime
Moffatdale State School
School Captain: Charlotte
Charlotte wanted to become a school captain so that she could help and influence the younger students.
As captain, she hopes to make her school a better place.
She loves her school because it is small and everyone knows each other.
School Captain: Dakota
Dakota wanted to become a school captain to help people and to be a good role model.
She loves her school because she has made best friends there and she enjoys English.
Sports Captain: Xavier
Xavier wanted to become a sports captain to tell students about different sports. He loves his school because he’s been here all of his schooling.
Sports Captain: Jake
Jake wanted to become sports captain to teach students about sports and get them doing more sports. He loves learning about different things at his school.
Monto State School
School Captain: Bella Frame, 11
Bella wanted to become a school captain because she loves to lead.
As captain, she hopes to make her school a happy and bright learning area, where people love to come and learn at.
What she loves most about her school is the people there and knowing that everyday she will learn something new.
School Captain: Jake Grubb, 11
Jake wanted to become a school captain because he wanted the chance to become a leader and make an impact.
As captain, he hopes to improve his public speaking and be a good role model to the younger students.
What he loves most about her school is the teachers and that the students get to play lots of fun games and learn in an interesting way.
In his spare time, Jake loves riding motorbikes and fishing.
Mount Perry State School
Aurelia Bedford-Akers, 11
(Aurelia: pronounced aur-ray-lee-ahh)
Aurelia wanted to become a school captain so she could lead people the right way.
As captain, she hopes to organise the choir, which she started a month or so ago, to sing in her school’s end of year concert.
Aurelia is thankful for all the things the school and teachers do for its students.
Miracle, 10
Miracle wanted to become a school captain because she wanted to be helpful.
As captain, she wants to help make her school a friendly and happy learning place.
Miracle really likes how every student gets a chance to try different activities.
In her spare time, she also likes to do rock climbing.
Nanango State School
School Captain: Elliott Black, 11
Elliott wanted to become a school captain, after his sister was vice-captain and he wanted to give it a go.
As captain, he wants to be a kind and respectful role model, that the younger students can count on.
What Elliot loves most about his school is how everyone is so nice and supportive of each other.
School Captain: Hayden Sanford, 10
Hayden wanted to become a school captain because he wanted to help make his school the best and encourage students to be responsible.
As captain, he hopes to organise fundraisers and help keep his school clean.
What Hayden loves most about his school are his friends and peers and how kind everyone is.
School Vice-Captain: Nevaeh Rabjohns, 11
Nevaeh wanted to become a school captain because she wanted to try something new and get out of her comfort zone.
As captain, she hopes to become a more confident speaker and to not get nervous in front of people.
Nevaeh loves helping with the flags and wherever she can at her school.
She also loves horses, and enjoys the parade dance at her school.
School Vice-Captain: Teeghan Starkey, 12
Teeghan wanted to become a school captain because she wanted to help her school and have responsibilities.
As captain, she hopes to achieve positive change around her school.
What she loves most about her school is how all the teachers and students are friendly.
When she grows up, Teeghan would like to have a huge property with lots of horses, where she will train them and compete competitively in show jumping.
Student Council President: Jessica Tranter, 11
Jessica wanted to become student council president because she wanted to make the school a happy and safe place for all students and teachers.
In her role, she wants to help out as much as she can and help a lot in student council.
What she loves most about her school is the kind teachers and students who help her.
When she grows up, she wants to be an artist or a mechanic in the air force.
Taabinga State School
School Captain: Nevaeh Smith, 11
Nevaeh wanted to become school captain because she wanted to make a positive impact on her school.
As captain, she hopes to promote the school values at all times, providing leadership to the student body.
What she loves most about her school is that everyone is unique and there are plenty of opportunities for everyone to enjoy.
School Captain: Liam Sudholz, 11
Liam wanted to become school captain because he wanted to “give it a go”.
As captain, he hopes to make more activity groups at lunch time, with one idea being to form a science club.
What he loves most about his school is the after school robotics class, as well as the camps and discos.
School Vice-Captain: Rylee Groth, 11
Rylee wanted to become school captain after she was inspired by the past school captains.
As captain, she hopes to help make the school a happy, brighter community.
What she loves most about her school is the staff and students.
School Vice-Captain: Kobe Chambers, 11
Kobe wanted to become school captain to make the school community become a better place.
As captain, he hopes to get a new fort for the Year 4-6 classes and learn how to be a leader.
What he loves most about his school is his friends and teachers.
Tanduringie State School
School Vice-Captain: Sophie Pincott, 11
Sophie wanted to be school captain because she loves helping others and wanted to show everyone what a great student leader she can be.
As captain, she would like to be a strong leader and be a role model to all other students at her school.
What Sophie loves most about her school is the small school community where everyone is friends, and there is so many opportunities to achieve greater things.
School Captain: Blake Cullen, 11
Blake wanted to be a school captain because he always thought that he would make a great role model.
As captain, he hopes that all his peers look up to him and that he will inspire them to live up to their dreams.
Blake’s top three favourite things about his school are that it is a small school, there is a lot of different opportunities, and that everybody is supportive.
Wooroolin State School
School Captain: Sophie Weller, 10
Sophie wanted to become school captain so that she could help make her school a better place.
While captain, Sophie hopes to get the school a new playground.
Her favourite thing to do at her school is to play with her friends.
Vice-captain: Griffin Calvert, 10
Griffin wanted to become school captain to make his school better for his little brothers.
As captain, he is looking forward to going on an excursion with his school.
Sports Captain: Caidence Litzow, 11
Caidence wanted to become sports captain, because she wanted to help out with the sports activities at her school.
As captain, she hopes to get her school a new playground and more sporting facilities.
Caidence loves that her school provides the students with many opportunities.
Environmental Leader: Zayden Horne, 10
Zayden wanted to become environmental leader because he enjoys getting his hands dirty and loves farming.
As environmental leader, he wants to help keep the school grounds and gardens tidy.
Zayden loves that, at his school, there are so many opportunities to experience different things.
Fundraising Leader: Nulla Laird, 10
Nulla wanted to become fundraising leader, because he wanted to show others that he is a good role model.
As fundraising leader, he hopes to help organise fun days and trips.
Nulla loves his school because his friends and teachers always help him when he needs it.
Kingaroy RACQ LifeFlight fundraiser | photo gallery
Mundubbera State College
School Captain: Grace Townsend
Grace wanted to be a leader so she could make a difference within her school community.
She hopes to be a great leader by actively encouraging her fellow students, being approachable and listening to ideas/issues that could improve her school.
What Grace really likes about her school is the atmosphere, where you always feel supported by staff and fellow students.
School Captain: Erin Oppermann
Erin wanted to be a leader so she could give back to the community and support her fellow peers.
As captain, she would like to achieve anything that could potentially improve her school and be there to support everyone.
Erin loves the lunchtimes, at her school, and the positive social attitude within the community.
School vice-captain: Nelli Gagen
As captain, she hopes to be a role model and be known for her skills within leadership.
Nelli loves the way respect is shown between teachers, staff and students at her school.
Nelli also plays volleyball, netball, tennis and cricket.
School vice-captain: Dustyn Bunter
Dustyn wanted to become a leader, to show his school and community what he can do.
As captain, he hopes to be great leader, who interacts effectively with other students, and achieves great outcomes.
Proston State School P-10
As captains, they want to fundraise for new school equipment by running and participating in various activities.
They both love that their school has a positive and calm environment, and that everyone is friendly and knows each other.
Kaitlyn is particularly thankful of the schools support of the show team, allowing them to participate in cattle competitions at all the local shows.
Captain: Darren Blanch, 15
Captain: Kaitlyn Barber, 15
St John's Lutheran School P-10
Junior School Vice-Captain: Jekobie, 11
As captain, he is determined to work hard and make a good difference to better his school.
He loves the opportunities that he has been given to represent his school, like in sports, band and other community events.
Junior School Vice-Captain: Elizabeth, 11
As captain, she hopes to promote kindness and be a helping hand to others.
Elizabeth loves the opportunities that her school has given to her, for example: camps, special guests, carnivals and numerous other activities. She also loves how the teachers encourage and help her.
Junior School Captain: Braxton, 10
As captain, he hopes to improve his leadership skills and encourage others to be the best they can be.
Braxton loves that his school provides many opportunities, such as whip cracking and various sports activities. He also loves the family community at his school.
Junior School Captain: Giaan, 11
Giann has always wanted to be a school captain, just like her big sister, and knew she had good leadership traits for the role.
She has many ideas for what she wants to do as captain, and really hopes to fulfil them. One of her biggest goals as a leader is a music arts festival for each sports house.
Giann loves the many different activities that her school has to offer, such as, whip cracking, music, choir, touch football, and drum lessons.
Senior School Captain: Ella, 15
As captain, she hopes to watch and help everyone at her school to grow as individuals.
Ella loves the friendliness of the staff and students at her school and has made lifelong friends.
Senior School Captain: Divan, 15
As a leader, he wants to represent his school in the local community and develop a positive reputation for the school.
He wants to be a student people can turn to when they have a problem, and to create a positive environment for everyone at his school.
Divan loves that, at his school, everyone can find their place.
Wondai State School
The Wondai State School Leadership team has already organised various activities and fundraisers at their school, such as holding a Jeans for Genes day, helping out in organising a blue light disco, and planning point events for their sporting houses.
Primary Captain: Macie Zischke, 11
Macie wanted to become school captain, because she loves her school and wanted to help others.
As captain, she hopes to encourage students to participate in more opportunities and to follow their dreams.
What Macie loves most about her school is that the teachers encourage the students to keep learning and try their best.
Macie plays netball for the Kingaroy team, and has recently participated in the South Burnett netball trials.
Primary Captain: Emily Astill, 10
Emily wanted to become school captain so she could give back to her school.
As captain, she wants to help students have more resilience and believe in themselves.
What Emily loves most about her school is that the kids are open for advice and that the teachers are very helpful.
Emily plays netball for the Kingaroy team, and has recently participated in the South Burnett netball trials.
School Captain: Reuben Simpson, 14
Reuben wanted to become school captain to help others and to show that he can be a great role model.
As captain, he wants to help make his school great.
Reuben loves that his school incorporates fun into everyday learning and activities.
He also loves sports and plays football for the South Burnett Eagles.
School Captain: Robert Cairns, 14
Robert wanted to be school captain for the maturity and responsibility that comes with the role.
As captain, he wants to show others that people can be good and give them hope.
Robert loves that his school has a calm environment.
When he grows up, he wants to be the “best” in the Army Defence Force.
Kingaroy State High School
Captain: Jamica Evangelista, 17
Jamica wanted to be school captain because she enjoys interacting with people, and wanted to work with new people and become the voice for the students of her school.
As captain, she hopes to solve as many issues as she can within the school before she graduates.
What Jamica loves most about her school is that it provides many opportunities, from performing arts to sporting activities that students can participate in.
Captain: Karl Macasaet, 17
Being able to create change, help others, and inspire those around him was the main reason Karl wanted to become school captain.
As captain, he hopes to encourage and inspire younger students to become leaders in their own lives and be the best versions of themselves.
What Karl loves most about his school is the culture of and the sense of belonging it gives the students.
Vice-captain: Charlotte Landherr, 17
Charlotte wanted to become school captain because she wanted to make a difference in her school.
As vice-captain, she hopes to be the students’ voice and to make positive chance in her school, by listening to everyone’s ideas, helping both our school community, and branching out further by raising money for charities.
Charlotte loves that her school has so many opportunities, and is a member the instrumental music program, among many other activities she participates in.
Vice-captain: John Wicks, 16
John wanted to be school captain after his friend encouraged him to try out for it.
As vice-captain, he hopes to fix the food line and have fun.
What John loves most about his school is the “great” people.
Senior indigenous leader: Jemma Vanderkolk, 17
Jemma wanted to become an indigenous leader because she wanted the younger students and her peers to have a positive role model to look up to for guidance and help.
As indigenous leader, Jemma wants to create a more joyous school environment that everyone wants to be at every day.
She loves the school spirit, teamwork and respect shown by everyone in the community.
Senior indigenous leader: Rowan Gordon, 16
Rowan wanted to become an indigenous leader to help his fellow students strive towards a better attitude and education.
As indigenous leader, Rowan hopes to better himself and others.
What he loves most about his school are the wide range of possibilities and opportunities available in helping set up his future.
Monto State High School
Bailey McLurcan, 17
As school captain, he would like to successfully run various events throughout the year alongside teachers, other captains and peers.
Bailey loves the inclusiveness and hardworking culture of his school.
Bailey is considering going to university, after graduation.
Prue Dow, 17
Prue wanted to be school captain because it’s a great opportunity to grow her leadership skills.
As school captain, she hopes to get more students involved in a wider variety of activities at school.
Prue loves that she’s in a small school, where everyone knows each other and everyone is really fun and easy to talk to.
Murgon State High School
Sam Cobbo, 17
Sam wanted to be school captain to be a leader and role model to her peers.
As captain, she hopes to encourage students to engage more with school and their subjects. She also hopes to improve attendance across the school.
Sam loves the diversity at her school and its inclusivity of diverse backgrounds and cultures.
Josh Steinhardt
Josh wanted to be school captain to be a good role model for future school captains.
As captain, he hopes to set a good example for all students.
What he loves most about his school are the facilities, such as agriculture farm and the multipurpose hall.
He is also involved in fortnightly cattle sales at Murgon and is part of the Murgon High cattle team.
Nate Donohue, 16
Nate wanted to be school captain to become a better leader.
As captain, he wants to help the students of his school.
Waipnong Seth, 17
Waipnongwanted to be school captain to inspire kids to aim high.
As captain, she hopes to achieve a sense of belonging in the school and 100% attendance.
What she loves most about her school is the teachers.
Nanango State High School
Declan Cogger, 16
Declan only decided that he wanted to be a school captain on the day his application was due, and thought it would a good way to get out his comfort zone.
As captain, he wants to create a positive impact on his school community and lead by example.
He loves how closely knit his school’s community is, where everyone knows and is friends with each other.
Mackenzie Bygrave, 17
Mackenzie wanted to be school captain to help create a positive environment at her school.
As captain, her aim is to create change, hoping to strengthen relationships between junior and senior students.
What she loves most about her school is that the teachers are there for all the students.
Buddy Reader, 17
Buddy wanted to be school captain to make the school a better place for every student and staff member, and to promote a sense of unity within the school.
As captain, he hopes to create a more unified student body and more inclusive environment at his school.
What he loves most about his school is the mateship and camaraderie of the students and that it is “a place where lifelong friendships are made”.
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