Mary MacKillop students making a big impact on the world

Whether they’re kicking goals in sport, taking centre stage in the arts, or receiving top marks, here are 17 inspiring students from Mary MacKillop Catholic College, with bright futures ahead.

Highfields school Mary MacKillop Catholic College is full of inspiring students with bright futures ahead.

Whether they’re kicking goals in sport and taking centre stage in the arts, or receiving straight A-grades and making an impact on the community.

We sat down with 17 students from the school who opened up about their biggest achievements and how they plan to make the world a better place.

Elise Scrivens. Picture: Nev Madsen

Elise Scrivens, 17
With a drive for helping others, Elise Scrivens pitched the idea of starting a school-based outreach program to her principal, in 2019.

Elise then founded the Actioning Mary MacKillop Advocacy (AMMA) group and with the assistance of other students, has assisted hundreds of people in the community.

Proudest of an initiative where students gifted drought-stricken families in Inglewood and Texas with shampoo, conditioner and gift cards, the year 11 student said seeing the impact it had was indescribable.

“Over the years, we’ve received cards from people thanking us for what we’ve done,” she said.

“Some of these cards bring tears to your eyes and serve as a reminder for why we do it.”

Other successful AMMA initiatives include fundraisers for Catholic Mission and Christmas gift packages.

When she graduates from high school, Elise intends to apply for secondary teaching at UniSQ and specialise in business and biology.

She is also set to complete her diploma in business soon and received the school’s All-Rounder award in 2020, for her contributions in academics, sport and the AMMA group.

Lucy Williams. Picture: Nev Madsen

Lucy Williams, 14

She may only be 14-years-old, but Lucy Williams has her sights set on becoming the next Grace Harris or Ellyse Perry.

Inspired by the two Aussie sportswomen, Lucy has already made her mark as a batter, after she was selected for UQ’s Firsts grade team and won the club’s Junior Cricketer Award last year.

The 14-year-old who travels to Brisbane for cricket three or four times a week and often completes school work in the car, has also competed in various state comps.

“(Nicolene Snyman) who goes to this school too and I batted together in the Queensland competition – she got 50 and I got 100,” Lucy said.

“It was honestly one of the best days of my life because we’re just such good friends and achieved that as a team.”

Picking up her first bat at the age of six, Lucy hopes to one day qualify for the Women’s Big Bash League and attend UniSQ or a university on the Sunshine Coast for a sea-change.

“I really want to play professionally when I’m older and become a physio so I can help players too,” she said.

“The late nights, travel and balancing it out with school gets pretty intense, but it’s so I can do what I love.”

Parents of Lucy, Helen and Brett Williams said they were immensely proud of their daughter.

They said in addition to her accomplishments in cricket, their daughter also started coaching a netball team at the school last year.

“Lucy is conscientious with her training and displays fierce passion and commitment to each and every game for all sports that she plays,” Ms Williams said.

“She is a true team player, with her desire being the greater success of the team over a demonstration of her own personal prowess.

“One of Lucy‘s biggest dreams in life is to help maintain girls’ participation in sport, particularly as they move into the adolescent years.”

Caitlyn Barr. Picture: Nev Madsen

Caitlyn Barr, 14

It’s been a challenging journey for Caitlyn Barr, but the determined 14-year-old has gone from a C to an A-grade student in the flick of a switch.

Her dad who served in East Timor dreamt of one day living there and the family made the move when Caitlyn was 11.

Struggling to form friendships and adapt to the new curriculum which was structured completely differently to Australia, Caitlyn has found herself at home at Mary MacKillop

Caitlyn said it was the best school she had ever attended, as it’s the first time she has felt accepted by students and staff.

Her detest for maths has also turned into a thriving passion for formulas, with the year 8 student achieving a 97% result on her exam and her first A+.

With a dream of pursuing criminal law at UniSQ, Caitlyn hopes to one day become a barrister.

Caitlyn’s mum Therese Barr said her daughter was a very thoughtful and creative individual who she loved dearly.

“As Caitlyn’s parents we are very proud of her achievements and the resilience she has demonstrated throughout her life’s journey to date.

“Caitlyn has always been determined to succeed and try her best in everything she does.”

Chloe O'Rourke. Picture: Nev Madsen

Chloe O’Rourke, 14

When Chloe O’Rourke played her first futsal game for Mary MacKillop, she didn’t know the rules and volunteered to be keeper because no one else would.

Now, she’s been selected for teams at a district, state and national level and will head to Brazil next year to play for Australia.

Two weeks after the trials, Chloe woke up to a phone call from her mum telling her she was one of 10 players to qualify for the squad.

“I was half asleep when mum told me so it took about a day to set in, but once it did I was very excited,” she said.

“A lot of girls try out so it’s quite hard to get into the Australian team.”

While she only started playing futsal last year for fun, the active teen has played outdoor soccer for the Goondiwindi Roos since 2019.

Keen to see how far the sport can take her professionally, Chloe is also considering a career as an electrician.

Lilly Hayes. Picture: Nev Madsen

Lilly Hayes, 17

Making an impact and offering a helping hand to those who need it most has always been important to Lilly Hayes.

The 17-year-old student who has been volunteering with Rosie’s for the past year, attends Harlaxton Park every month to serve food and converse with some of the most vulnerable members of the community.

“Rosie’s has really fuelled my passion for wanting to help the marginalised people in our community who are often forgotten about,” Lilly said.

“It has really opened my eyes to the part of society that I hadn’t really considered or known about before Rosie’s and it reminds me to always show empathy.”

Along with 200 students from across the state, Lilly was also accepted into the UQ Young Change Makers Program.

The four-day program is designed to help ignite the passion of ambitious and innovative grade 11 students who plan to change the world one day.

Inspired by her mum who works as a nurse and has always instilled the importance of helping others into her daughter, Lilly Hayes said she plans to study medicine.

With plans to apply at James Cook University, Lilly is open to all opportunities but hopes to specialise in Indigenous or rural health.

“We are very proud of Lilly’s hard work and determination to achieve her goal of completing medicine and wanting to improve medical outcomes for our indigenous, rural and remote communities,” parents Jodie and John Hayes said.

“Even if Lilly does not achieve her goal she will certainly go on to achieve great results in her life.”

Erin O'Rourke. Picture: Nev Madsen

Erin O’Rourke, 14

For Erin O’Rourke, her earliest memory is spending time splashing around in the water.

Her love for swimming has only grown over the years after qualifying for the Darling Downs team every year since the age of 10.

Now aged 14, Erin who’s favourite stroke is butterfly, also qualified for the national team this year and travelled to Darwin for the tournament.

“I’ve been swimming since I was nine months old and training since I was six,” she said.

“It’s a great environment to be in and I’ve received a lot of incredible experiences – I just love swimming, training and working hard.”

When she’s not winning races in the pool, Erin is also excelling academically and is particularly passionate about hands-on subjects such as wood tech, food tech and sport.

And depending on what the topic is, she is partial to maths.

Bianca Philp. Picture: Nev Madsen

Bianca Philp, 14

When Bianca Philp picked up her first pair of drumsticks, the school was struggling to find people to fill the drum line group, but things soon changed.

“No one wanted to join but then they’d see us playing at events like the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers and Anzac Day and there was this sudden boom of drummers,” she said.

“I love the feeling of playing with a group, starting a beat, having someone else play a beat and then co-operating well together.”

As the group progressed and more members began signing up, they began performing at larger events including eisteddfods and the EKKA in Brisbane.

While Bianca’s favourite musician is American soul singer Leon Bridges, she prefers playing drum cadences, improvisation pieces or rock songs like Another One Bites The Dust by Queen.

Mum Katalin Kruchio said her daughter had a great feel for music and instruments and had also excelled at playing the violin over the years.

“Bianca is a talented young girl who has been playing the violin since prep at school, so when she came home and said ‘I joined the marching band and will be playing the drums’ – it was a bit of a surprise,” Mr Kruchio said.

“She, however proved herself and is the drum major of the marching band … couldn’t be more proud of her.”

Amity Boston. Picture: Nev Madsen

Amity Boston, 16

Nothing brings Amity Boston more joy than performing dance routines on stage.

The year 11 student who founded the school’s dance troupe, was also one of the first senior students to compete in an eisteddfod.

Recognised for her contributions, Amity received the school’s Arts and Cultural award last year and has completed a Cert II and III in dance.

“That means I’m the first student here at Mary MacKillop to be qualified within the arts,” she said.

“I’ve been dancing since I was two and a half and haven’t stopped since … dancing on stage, doing something you love and hearing the crowd react feels like I’m on top of the world.”

In addition to dancing for school, Amity also trains with the Radiance Dance Academy in Toowoomba.

The 16-year-old Highfields student was selected to be the Queensland Ballet’s team ambassador for the year – a role which will allow her to study at and one day be part of the company’s talent.

Trained in all styles of dance, Amity’s favourite genres are contemporary and hip-hop.

Nicolene Snyman. Picture: Nev Madsen

Nicolene Snyman, 15

When Nicolene Snyman sent down her first delivery, women’s cricket didn’t have the platform it does today.

Five years on and the league’s fanbase has grown as much as Nicolene’s love for the sport.

The bowler said her proudest moment has been achieving a 201 partnership with Lucy Williams in the Western Swelter state competition.

“We’ve always been great friends so to achieve that result which is pretty big for that competition and together felt great,” she said.

“I really look up to (professional players) Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry and it’s great to see how much women’s cricket has grown since I started playing.”

Nicolene plans to pursue the sport professionally when she completes high school.

She said she is currently playing grade cricket in Brisbane, where player selection usually occurs.

Olivia Horrex. Picture: Nev Madsen

Olivia Horrex, 15

Results-driven and determined to succeed, Olivia Horrex has always made a name for herself, whether it’s achieving straight As at school or pirouetting on stage.

Top of the class in English, literature and creative writing, the year 10 student said she’d found a way to balance school work and ballet through managing time wisely.

Training at the Blue Rhythm Mix in Highfields, Olivia attends the studio at least three times a week.

With a decade of experience in ballet, the dancer has also evolved to teaching classes and helping out younger students.

“Ballet has really taught me about patience, determination and trying my best, which I also try to implement into my school work and my future,” she said.

“I love the thrill I get when I perform and just putting all that practice into action is so gratifying.”

Inspired by her sister who works as a speech pathologist, Olivia hopes to follow a similar path in allied health and holds an interest in occupational therapy and dietetics.

Jackson Clark. Picture: Nev Madsen

Jackson Clark, 13

Some people struggle to find one sport they excel in, but for Jackson Clark, the most difficult part for him is making a choice between the growing list.

The 13-year-old who has been playing AFL and rugby union for some time, is now planning to take up league next year too.

With too many trophies and medals to count, Jackson has represented the school and Darling Downs region for the two sports multiple times.

Among the awards he has claimed are Best and Fairest and Most Improved.

“(Hearing the crowd cheering) motivates me to keep pushing on the field,” he said.

“I love those sports for the contact and because I get to run around and stay fit.”

Spending many hours a week training, Jackson plays ruck in AFL and the outside centre for union.

He also supports the Brisbane Broncos and Lions and hopes to land a spot on the teams himself one day.

Jackson’s mum Catherine Nott said her son was growing up to be a very kind and respectful person.

“I am extremely proud of him and the effort that he puts in to his sport,” she said.

“He is willing to try anything and always tries his best for himself and his team.”

Georgianna Reisinger. Picture: Nev Madsen

Georgianna Reisinger, 15

Star of the show Georgianna Reisinger has always been a natural performer.

The talented singer said there wasn’t a time in her life when she wasn’t singing or performing for others.

“My family is very musical and growing up, I always remember my mum’s side whipping out their guitars and singing,” she said.

“I still get nervous (going on stage) but I think the trick is to harness those nerves by turning them into excitement.”

During the term 3 school holidays this year, the singer attended the State Honours Ensemble Program in Brisbane and performed in the jazz ensemble.

While Georgianna loves to sing most, she also has dance and acting experience under her belt.

Her favourite casting to date was playing Gloria the hippopotamus in the school’s production of Madagascar.

The 15-year-old hopes to study musical theatre at Griffith University’s Queensland Conservatorium.

Mum Jonie-Marie Reisinger said the family could not be prouder of the accomplishments Georgianna had made so far.

“Georgianna has been blessed with a God-given gift of song – she also has a high intellect and a large amount of street-smarts,” Ms Reisinger said.

“All this combined with her passion for performing and the arts, will no doubt see her achieve her dreams.

“We are excited to see – and hear – what she does next.”

Charlotte Voll. Picture: Nev Madsen

Charlotte Voll, 16

Music and biology have few similarities but both share a place in Charlotte Voll’s heart.

Excited to perform with her two younger sisters at the Mayoral Carols By Candlelight event in Queens Park this year, Charlotte said she hopes to one day start a rock band.

“The three of us (sisters) used to sing around the house when we were kids all the time, so mum signed us up for lessons,” she said.

Taking singing lessons since the age of nine, Charlotte has also dabbled in acting and was cast as Melman the giraffe in the school’s production of Madagascar.

Despite growing up listening to country music, the 16-year-old has developed a love for rock with Queen, Pink Floyd, Nirvana, Matchbox 20 and Coldplay featured throughout her playlist.

But nothing compares to Crowded House, particularly when Better Be Home Soon is playing.

“That song starts off with just a guitar playing and then the whole band comes in and that rush of adrenaline you get playing it and the sound is just so awesome,” Charlotte said.

In addition to forming a rock band, Charlotte also hopes to study agricultural science at UniSQ to gain a career working on preventions for nematodes.

“Instead of using insecticides or pesticides, you can breed plants so they are resistant to nematodes which I find really interesting,” she said.

Archer Turner. Picture: Nev Madsen

Archer Turner, 15

He may only be 15-years-old, but at one stage Archer Turner ranked number one in the world for Olympic weightlifting in his age group.

The national medallist also claimed victory when he represented his school and placed first in the Under 15s and 55kg division.

Despite his dad excelling in weightlifting too, Archer never considered pursuing the sport himself until an injury left him unable to play soccer.

Now, two years on and the teen has never looked back, with his best result being a combined 109kg for the snatch and clean and jerk lifts.

“My dad originally did weightlifting at school and then came back to it in his adult years,” he said.

Despite the misconception of weightlifters needing to have bodybuilding physiques to excel, Archer said “it’s all about technique.”

“You can be the strongest person but you have to have the technique because that’s the biggest foundation for catching … it goes together like bread and butter.”

When he isn’t lifting weights, the year 9 student is playing instruments with his favourite being the bass guitar or performing in the school’s rock band.

Keen to move up a division in the sport one day, Archer said he hopes to become an arts or music teacher or pursue weightlifting professionally.

Adele Adams. Picture: Nev Madsen

Adele Adams, 14

Adele Adams went from thinking of choir group in primary school as a chore to loving it and starting one at Mary MacKillop.

The creative soul co-founded the junior choir because she wanted her peers to have the opportunity to sing and form a sense of community with like-minded students.

Playing the piano since she was in prep and her mum taught her, Adele loves to play the instrument with her grandad at retirement homes on school holidays.

“I like making people happy and I like doing arty things like singing, dancing, acting and drawing because it makes me feel full,” she said.

“People talk about being successful, but when I grow up, I would just be so happy with having a comfortable job, a comfortable home and a comfortable family.”

Adele’s favourite musicians are Delta Goodrem, The Beatles and Queen.

When it comes to playing the piano, she likes to dabble in contemporary and classical music, as well as hits from Disney movies.

The year 8 student was cast as Marty the Zebra in the school’s production of Madagascar and is also a member of the college’s dance troupe and rock band.

Levi Logan. Picture: Nev Madsen

Levi Logan, 18

It wasn’t until he received his report cards in his senior years of high school that Levi Logan recognised the power of hard work.

“When I received my results at the end of year 10, I wasn’t happy with them so I began working really hard to slowly crawl up the ranks until I was at the top,” he said.

“I went from getting a D+ in year 10 maths, to get A’s and topping the class in physics, chemistry, methods and specialist maths.”

The studious high school senior is sitting on a 50 out of 50 score for physics and is the only student in his grade who took the specialist maths subject.

While some students would find a one-on-one class with a teacher daunting, Levi said it was fantastic as he was able to control the pace.

Levi who is set to graduate from Mary MacKillop in weeks has gained early entry into UniSQ for a Bachelor of Science and will major in mathematics and statistics.

He plans to one day complete a Masters degree in mathematics and pursue a career as a statistician as he loves to compile and analyse data.

Dylan Schmaling. Picture: Nev Madsen

Dylan Schmaling, 17

Fascinated by the way things work, Dylan Schmaling always knew he wanted to do engineering.

After years of watching motorsport as a kid, the high school graduate was set on specialising in mechanical.

“Every weekend my family would turn the t.v on and watch motorsport and it became a bit of a tradition,” Dylan said.

“Hopefully one day I’ll be chasing the dream of travelling the world and working on Formula 1 vehicles and Supercars.”

This all changed after he completed work experience for a civil engineering firm in Toowoomba and accepted a role with the company as a trainee draftsman.

The 17-year-old said he really enjoyed the role which involved mostly drawing up footing and slab designs for concreters and plumbers to build new housing developments.

Unable to choose between the two specialties, Dylan now plans to obtain qualifications in both and has already received early entry in civil engineering at UniSQ.

Dylan has also already completed a Cert III in Technical Engineering.