2020 school captains from Whitehorse, Manningham share hopes, dreams for future
They’re often thought of as selfie-taking showoffs — but our next crop of leaders are anything but. We asked Melbourne’s Year 12 school captains what difference they will make in the world. Here’s what those from Whitehorse and Manningham had to say.
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Change is inevitable — but what kind of world do our next generation of young leaders want to live in, and how will they play a role in making it happen?
In our second annual special report on Tomorrow’s Leaders, we asked school captains across the length and breadth of metropolitan Melbourne: “What action will you take to make a difference in your community?”
Captains of 216 schools responded, and the thought provoking and inspiring words of those from our local schools are published here.
A representative group of 26 of these young leaders, featured on the front cover of every local special print edition, gathered with us at State Parliament recently to extrapolate on their thoughts, and meet Premier Dan Andrews, who took the time to offer them some encouraging words to forge their own path as they prepare to take on the world.
One of the most inspiring observations from this gathering was how easily these confident young people networked with each other, despite never having met.
It reminds us great leaders are also great communicators.
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BOX HILL HIGH SCHOOL
Rose Hensher, 17
We live in a time of constant technological innovation and interconnectedness, with access to previously inconceivable opportunities.
However, we are challenged by a climate crisis and overwhelming feelings of being unheard, and it can often feel like the world is too big for us to make any meaningful impact, particularly in the face of the climate crisis and constant reminders that children should be in school rather than advocating for their futures.
This year, I want to challenge that narrative by encouraging local student leadership, community wellbeing, and advocacy through student-led initiatives. 2020s student leadership team is committed to empowering students to trust their leadership and changemaking skills regardless of whether they’re a Year 12 or a Year 7.
Our generation’s capacity to incite change has already been seen globally through changemakers like Greta Thunberg and Malala Yousafzai, but not all change has to be global. Empowerment can exist in a Year 7 classroom or at the UN – either way, young people learn that they are capable of compassionate and driven leadership.
In 2020, I want to demonstrate that from seemingly little things, big things grow – and that each child is a leader of tomorrow.
OUR LADY OF SION COLLEGE, BOX HILL
Lilli Eastwood, 17 and Emily Poldermans, 17
As college captain, I aspire to take action through encouraging those within my community to take a step outside their comfort zone. I want to encourage those around me to try things they have never tried before, things that have eluded them. Leading by example, I wish to inspire others through my own actions, to strive to instil the confidence in those who doubt themselves, to recognise each and every individual and help them to achieve their full potential, and to leave behind a meaningful and memorable impact on the individuals of my school community.
— Lilli Eastwood
As college captain, I intend to set a strong example for members of my community and to inspire them to flourish in their own ways.
I wish to be a source of humility, courage, and hope, who supports and encourages everyone to make a difference in someone else’s life.
I will strive to lead through my actions and be a role model that others want to follow. Working alongside various members of our school, I will endeavour to create a positive impact within our environment.
Through commitment to justice, dedication, and generosity, I hope to leave behind a legacy that fulfils others and brings about meaningful difference.
— Emily Poldermans
KOONUNG SECONDARY COLLEGE, MONT ALBERT
Blair Tink, 17 and Sarah Whitebrook, 17
Taking action within the community can come in so many forms and areas, but one that is commonly overlooked is the simple act of being a role model.
As leaders within the community we can talk of making a difference and say all the right things but unless we actually “do” then we can’t expect others to follow.
We are the generation of change.
From climate change to consumerism we are at the forefront of all of it and it feels like the world is looking at us for a solution.
A simple action we can take is encouraging everyone to do their part, even if it’s just to cut back on consumption.
Perhaps targeting things like fast fashion, plastic and water.
To really make a difference it takes a collective effort. This is why we need to be connecting and bringing people together.
At our school we have events that all members of the community can come and be a part of. Having a more connected community allows us to better support each other, especially with increases in mental health problems.
Helping one another can make a positive impact on our lives, making us balanced, happier, and instilling a greater sense of purpose in the everyday.
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MULLAUNA COLLEGE, MITCHAM
Hannah McClive, 17 and Jonathan Sar, 17
As newly appointed captains of Mullauna College, we strive for fairness, inclusion and inspiring others to grasp every single opportunity that is available to them.
We always aspire to be open and welcome for new ideas from everyone and to carefully consider and communicate each individual’s thoughts to staff and the principal team.
As leaders, we want everyone to feel included no matter what and to feel as though we always have them in mind. Furthermore, we have a deep understanding of the power of education.
Looking up to young advocates such as Greta Thunberg and Malala Yousafzai, we believe that every student, every individual and every opportunity can help change the lives of many.
This can be achieved by positive promotion through social media and other resources that could be used to effectively increase awareness in the community. We often inspire our mates to practise their education for a purpose.
This could be using their education to offer bushfire relief in the fire service, creating new climate change initiatives, or even becoming an educator for those less fortunate.
Our community is built on a diverse and powerful set of minds that can be used as a global resource.
NUNAWADING CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
Racquel Anthony, 17 and Jonah Bailey, 17
We are blessed to have this opportunity to represent our school in 2020 and are looking forward to making a difference in our school community.
This year, we hope to further strengthen the sense of community and belonging that we already experience at this school.
Through being involved in various activities that benefit the school, we hope to inspire the younger kids to feel encouraged to make a difference and increase their sense of school pride. At Nunawading Christian College, friendship and belonging is a vital part of our culture.
This year, we aim to not only strengthen friendships and bonds but also to instil in the school, a widespread sense of having an NCC family.
Throughout 2020, our Year 12 class has determined to make a consistent effort to engage in whole school activities in order to create relationships with a wide range of people across all year levels.
We strive to uphold the four values of our school; respect, responsibility, resilience and integrity, and through that, create a school that pursues not only academic brilliance, but values that will last a lifetime.
VERMONT SECONDARY COLLEGE
John Anastasoglou, 17 and Alison Lipski, 19
Our role as VSC’s 2020 school captains will complement our current work within our community. As young and developing leaders, we aspire to make positive, lasting changes for our peers in the local and wider area.
As an umpire, Alison is part of the EFLUA’s leadership team, and is proposing implementing signage at EFL matches to help eliminate the verbal abuse and bullying that umpires are subjected to. By making this compulsory, the EFL hopes to see a marked improvement in behavioural standards.
In the future, Alison would also love to speak to students to educate them about the impact of discrimination and abuse in sport.
Similarly, it is a priority of John’s to continue to be involved as a leader in our local community.
He will continue to volunteer at the Reach Foundation, where he is deeply invested in Reach’s mission to empower young people.
He aspires to progress to a facilitator role, delivering workshops to young people in schools.
And we are always looking for other ways to connect with and support our community. This includes supporting victims of the recent devastating bushfires, both in the short and longer terms.
We are both very excited to be active members of our community in our school captain role.
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EMMAUS COLLEGE, VERMONT
Corinne Brennan, 17 and Zachary Busch, 17
At the end of the 2019 summer holidays, the world watched Australia face catastrophic bushfires. Regional communities in Victoria such as Buchan, Bairnsdale and Gelantipy were among the many forced to evacuate their homes.
As leaders of Emmaus College, we wanted to show our support to those affected by the fires while uniting our school community.
To do this, we are planning a day trip with the families of Emmaus College to spend some time in the East Gippsland region. Most of us have been visiting this region for many years on school camps so we want to provide support and spread positivity to those recovering communities to which we feel a personal connection.
By bringing together the families of Emmaus to visit an affected area, we hope to encourage growth in the local businesses and inspire resilience.
Creating a community event rather than fundraising alone will support the local economy and show our compassion to these communities by seeing first-hand, the effects of the fires.
As drivers of change at Emmaus, we can make a difference by spreading awareness to the next generations in our community to actively help others.
BOX HILL SENIOR SECONDARY COLLEGE, MONT ALBERT NORTH
Rachael Walker, 17 and Celina Anderson, 17
I volunteer at the Venus Bay Surf Club and have been throughout my schooling. In the future I want to become more involved in environmental and political activism.
The surf club works to promote beach safety, patrol and keep Australian beaches and swimmers safe.
In the surf club, I patrol about 50 hours every summer, every second weekend.
Through the surf club, I have trained and achieved certificates so that I can further volunteer and help others. Inside my school community I am on both school leadership and the school council where I work to better the school community and surrounding communities.
— Rachael Walker
As a Pacific Islander I fight for indigenous people that are discriminated against, fighting for their culture in today’s age.
I’m an active protester in many pro-black/coloured culture movements.
I volunteer at non-profit organisations and donate to Healing Foundation – focusing on repairing the repercussions of The Stolen generation.
My aim is to break ignorance that’s bled into this generation from centuries ago, and enlighten the intergenerational trauma on native peoples in nations that have been colonised.
— Celina Anderson
EAST DONCASTER SECONDARY COLLEGE
Megan Lim, 17 and Cameron Roper, 17
Our current society faces so much conflict, it can be difficult, especially as young leaders of our generation, to foresee the good things that could be coming our way.
We’re often told that we “should be the change we want to see in the world”. We think it’s incredibly important to have such a mindset in times like these.
When topics like climate change, discrimination, mental health, and even social media, are heavily talked about, it’s crucial to keep in mind that we are all capable of making positive change.
As young people, we are primary consumers of media, and the impact social media can have in times of crisis can be incredible. Such a large, widespread community response – coming together in support of a specific cause – goes to show that we are all capable of making positive, inspirational change.
That’s our goal.
Using our tools and modern technology for a good cause, whatever that cause may be, to spread information and spark discussion.
We want our future to be bright and promising. We want our generation to continue having a strong sense of community, and we’ll do that by learning, collaborating and being the best versions of ourselves.
TEMPLESTOWE COLLEGE, LOWER TEMPELSTOWE
Tom Elms, 17 and Lilith Stewart, 17
Optimism can be difficult to find when the world these days is literally on fire. Maintaining a positive attitude is what enables individuals to come together in the face of adversity and work collectively to make meaningful contributions to our community.
We believe making a difference within society begins on an individual level.
By making a promise to yourself; a promise that every day you do the best that you can, so that people around you are inspired to do the same.
Every person can make a choice to have a positive influence on the people around them. This is done by providing them with support and positive vibes accompanied by an approachable, personable and nonchalant manner.
All it takes is an infectious smile that spreads, or an encouragement that boosts someone’s confidence.
One by one, each person can have a domino effect upon the people around them that reaches out and embraces the whole community.
MARCELLIN COLLEGE, BULLEEN
Giacomo Carbone, 17
The recent years of my life have been a somewhat treacherous search for the meaning within all of us.
I believe this search is something that we all come face-to-face within life. In an effort to face this hunger for meaning and truth, I’ve come to realise God in a different way.
There’s something in all of us that’s greater than what meets the eye. If we’re to call that immaterial power within us “God”, then God is not some far away being, but a presence or an energy within. I prefer to call it “Love”.
Love is what brings meaning into our lives.
Separate from society, money, time and everything else. Imagine a world where we all embrace ourselves and each other as one unified loving force.
As a leader in my community, I only hope to spread the knowledge of our inherent power, to love ourselves and one another – to plant seeds of love so that they may grow.
There’s little I can do to change the world, but if I can show others that they are beautiful, worth loving, and capable of loving others wholeheartedly – perhaps I’m doing something good.
WARRANDYTE HIGH SCHOOL
Brooke Bowyer, 17 and Caitlyn Bull, 17
This role isn’t just about the title or the shiny badge. It is about representing our school positively and being inspiring role models for our peers (and by peers we mean our fellow students from Year 7 right through to Year 12.)
We both enjoy working with and engaging with members of our school community to the best of our ability as we want nothing more than to be leaders who embody our school values of excellence, integrity and respect.
By relentlessly demonstrating these values, we believe this will help us to be the best leaders we can be, leaders who are respected and looked up to. It is our aim to encourage students to follow their pursuits while working productively and successfully with all members of the school community. It is our goal to be viewed by our peers and teachers as being considerably reliable.
We are not superheroes who can fly to everyone’s aid all the time. But we are leaders who will listen, motivate and encourage wherever possible. What more can we do than try our best? We will be the leaders who are not only wanted but needed. And not all heroes wear capes.
WHITEFRIARS COLLEGE, DONVALE
Alex Dunmill, 17
Often we think “action” means to change something with vigour and while Jacinda Ardern’s government introduced strict gun laws in response to the Christchurch mosque shootings, it was her presence and compassion that made newspaper headlines all over the world. Her leadership – selfless, strong, caring, thoughtful, respectful and responsive – brought her community together.
At Whitefriars College, we talk about “gentle men”. We talk about community and selflessness and we put these values into action through our House Charity program. For six years, I have supported Doncare, who support those fleeing domestic violence and struggling to provide for their families.
I define leadership as a selfless act for the betterment of others and I feel their work embodies this.
Today we are tackling issues like equality and climate change. I cannot tell you at this point, what difference I will make over my lifetime – but I can tell you that I intend to lead selflessly and with compassion to help those less fortunate.
It is my guess, that if we all act more like Jacinda, the sum of the total difference we could make to our community would be colossal.
PRESBYTERIAN LADIES’ COLLEGE — MELBOURNE, BURWOOD
Tash Tian, 17 and Britney Pham, 17
PLC is a supportive community of driven, passionate and inspired girls who always strive for the best, look to help others and are keen to make a real difference.
The most special thing about our school is our girls; personal goals are celebrated and each girl knows they have a safe place where they are supported by their peers.
Excellent as individuals and as a sisterhood, these girls reach new heights at PLC, as they are supported by a wider network of teachers and staff who all look to help the girls reach their full potential – whatever it is that they hope to pursue.
This is exactly the environment that the girls continue to foster, as they empower themselves, their peers and others in the wider community, not only in their academic pursuits but also through volunteering efforts and sporting events alike.
We are so blessed to lead such enthusiastic and passionate girls.
Our vision for 2020 is to encourage girls to “take 20 to love” whether that be showing love for their classmates, friends or even taking a moment for themselves.
We know that with the right support, every girl can learn and grow to become their true, incredible selves, and impart positive change in our society.
FOREST HILL COLLEGE
Jack Baker, 17 and Sophia Brando, 17
Looking around, there are a lot of places where action needs to be taken. We need to take on the tough topics that some aren’t willing to talk about, and work towards a solution to improve and fix issues, not just within our school or our immediate community, but state and countrywide.
We need to advocate for issues important to our community. We can, and need to be, allies to everyone who needs support. We’ll continue to provide a support network so that everyone can feel accepted, loved and cared about. We won’t sit back and let people be ignored or neglected.
We need to stand up and fight for critically important causes that threaten the quality and safety of life of everyone, not just our generation.
We need to fight for policy that combats climate change, for providing better mental health services to those who need them, and for the rights of those who are constantly attacked for just being who they are.
By taking action as one, by standing up as one, by fighting as one, we can make a real, positive impact on the lives of those around us.