Redcliffe’s most inspirational students of 2020
From incredible sporting achievements, conserving our oceans, volunteering, raising incredible amounts of money and scoring starring roles on the big screen here are Redcliffe most inspirational students of 2020.
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This year has been a tough one for all school students with online schooling, disruptions to exams, sporting events and end of year celebrations but some Redcliffe students have found the time go above and beyond – inspiring others to do the same.
From students who spend hours volunteering, raising money for various causes, raising awareness about the environment and chasing their dreams – these are Redcliffe’s most inspirational students of 2020 as nominated by their schools.
Humpybong State School
Daniel Harlow
An all around athlete. This year Daniel was selected in representative teams for touch football, rugby league, soccer and swimming.
But it is in athletics that Daniel really excels.
This year Daniel has competed in state and national championships in both cross country and athletics. He was selected in the Queensland Cross Country merit team, he broke the Australian record for 12 year 80m hurdles and he received two bronze medals at the Queensland State Athletics championships, competing in the 14 year age category.
Ema Costello
Ema represented the district at the Sunshine Coast Championships for both cross country and athletics this year. She had great success though at swimming – being selected in the Queensland State Swimming team and going on to swim at the Australian Swimming Championships.
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Ocean Wilkins
This Year 4 student has a keen interest in conserving the world’s oceans.
Ocean is the Australian ambassador for the Heirs to our Ocean global group of children who meet with the United Nations Youth Summit.
He received a High Commendation with the UQ Channel 7 Creating Change Awards and is currently awaiting news on his entry to the Cicada Film Festival.
Ocean regularly spreads the word about the oceans through various formats including a series of filming with Ranger Stacey on Totally Wild, holding a coral reef restoration project at Sutton’s Pavilion, talking on radio about sustainability, coral restoration and reef safe sunscreen and filming with the National Geographic for Shark Week.
He is currently working on a project at Scott’s Point to install coral biorock as well as his upcoming work on the show Ocean Wild Adventures.
Working in collaboration with publishers, will soon see the release of his own comic series Captain Coral.
Matthys Visser
Matthys has represented the Redcliffe district team and competed at the Sunshine Coast Championships in athletics and cricket.
He was also selected in the Sunshine Coast team to compete at the Queensland Cricket Carnival.
Golf is where Matthys has had the most success, being selected in the Queensland Golf Team over the past two years to compete at the Australian Golf Championships.
Southern Cross Catholic College
Charlotte Stent – Year 6
Charlotte Stent, an aspiring actor, is in Year 6 at the Scarborough Primary Campus.
She attended her first acting class after a recommendation from her Prep teach to help her overcome shyness and she had not looked back.
Charlotte’s achievements include featuring in TV programs such as Bluey, The Bureau of Magical Things, Totally Wild and Toasted TV.
She boasts many lead roles in University Graduation films such as Red Kite and was nominated Best Lead actor, Griffith University.
Charlotte has rubbed shoulders and appeared with some of Australia’s most iconic actors including Jack Thompson, Rachel Griffiths and Jacqueline McKenzie (Don’t Tell, 2017) and most recently played the part of Paul Hogan’s granddaughter, Lucy, in The Very Excellent Mr Dundee (2020).
As an in-demand actor, Charlotte manages to keep a level head by focusing on her school work and participating in activities such as tennis.
Scott Ditton – Year 12
Drones, mobile applications and autonomous vehicles: all part of the activities Senior Information Communications and Technology student Scott Ditton has been exploring over the past two years.
In fact, so wide-ranging are Scott’s skills in this area of technology he has been awarded early entry into the Bachelor of Design degree course in Game Design at the newly built USC Moreton Bay campus in 2021.
At USC Scott will be able to expand on his high-level coding skills to create more than “just games”.
With new opportunities emerging in education, healthcare, the environment and marketing, this diverse field is one of the fastest growing and most exciting sectors of the industry addressing a range of real-world problems.
During the ICT course Scott was able to experience a range of innovative new technologies. In the Autonomous Vehicles unit Scott built and programmed a car with a camera vision sensor and a crash avoidance system with adaptive cruise control.
His latest project involved the programming of drones in the area of search and rescue missions in difficult terrain.
His drone project looked at how, when fixed with a camera and other sensors, it was able to search for lost persons and send back to base a plot map of the flight path for rescue teams to pinpoint locations.
No doubt Scott will develop his interest in these areas and develop many new and innovative solutions in this area.
Lani Skinner, Alexis Ranken and Mya Maini
These three students, Lani (Year 6), Alexis (Year 6) and Mya (Year 4) all chopped off their locks as part of the World’s Greatest Shave this year.
Lani, who attends the Kippa-Ring campus, raised more than $5200.
Friends Alexis and Mya, from the Scarborough Primary campus, raised more than $7000 between them.
Lani said she decided to brave the shave because “A few of my friends’ families have been impacted by cancer, and I had heard things on the radio on how I could help”.
“My friends loved that I did something to help people and their families all over Australia. I am proud of what I have done to make a difference.”
Alexis said she was traumatised when her hair was cut because it was so short, but she now likes it.
“I can do a mohawk now!” she said.
While Mya was sad to lose her long hair she said it was worth it.
“I felt happy like I did something really good for people who needed it,” she said.
Angus Browning – Year 10
Year 10 student Angus Browning goes above and beyond to help those in need.
Angus regularly volunteers for OzHarvest, Australia’s leading food rescue organisation which collects quality excess food from commercial outlets and delivers it to more than 1300 charities supporting people in need across the country.
Angus always puts up his hand to help whenever he can and has volunteered many hours at community events, fundraising stalls and keeps the OzHarvest vehicles in top condition by washing and detailing when he can.
He is passionate about fighting food waste and providing crucial food relief to those in our city who are experiencing food insecurity.
Angus is an inspiration to other students and with students like Angus in our community, our future is in great hands.
Grace Lutheran College
Lydia Murawczak
Lydia Murawczak was the college’s Faith and Service captain this year – giving an extraordinary amount of her time to serve the school community and beyond.
She played a key role in providing creative leadership when Grace went online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lydia was involved in the creation of a new online chapel format and lead a lunchtime girl’s group online.
Her positive leadership inspired optimism among the school community.
She also plans to cut off her hair to raise money for Destiny Rescue on November 19 – a group rescuing children from child trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Lydia also spend her school holidays volunteering as a leader at a camp supporting young people with disabilities.
She is a role model to many with displaying a great attitude, conduct and commitment to her studies.
Alex Wilson
This Year 12 student is an unsung hero in many ways. Alex Wilson gives his time selflessly, often behind the scenes, to support various departments and programs at the college with his amazing video creation and photography skills.
Often working outside of school hours Alex creates content to assist promoting various offerings and initiatives at the college.
He played a key leadership role this year when Grace went online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last year he also helped create a memorial video for the Year 12 graduation.
Outside of the college Alex has used his extraordinary gifts in n the area of video editing to create video content that has supported various projects, such as the ‘Mullets, Mo’s and Manicures’ appeal for Men’s Mental Health.
Redcliffe State High School
Charlotte Kent
A Year 9 student from Redcliffe State High School Charlotte regularly takes part in fundraisers to support the local community.
This year she raised an impressive $10,000 for children in Papua New Guinea through the Walk for Hope charity.
Katie Brooks
Katie, a Year 9 student, is a regular volunteer at the Breakfast Club where she helps cook and distribute breakfast to local homeless people.
She had been doing this with her grandmother for at least a couple of years.
Within the school community Katie is a valuable member of the Interact group where she came up with the idea of establishing the Community Garden.
Back surgery hasn’t stopped her working in the garden.
Katie also attends Interact events, Clean Up Australia Day, attends Rotary meetings and collecting for the Can Drive and Days for Girls among others.
She is also on the school leadership team.