60+ students: Gympie’s school leaders of 2023
The Gympie region’s 2023 school captains and leaders have been revealed as they share their goals for the coming year and life plans.
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With ambitious goals and visions for 2023, school leaders across the Gympie region are the face of a positive and prosperous future.
The region’s schools have been asked to showcase their young leaders, and share what their goals and ambitions are.
Some schools, like Wolvi State School, have opted against having school leaders and are instead finding ways to celebrate the entire Year 6 cohort.
Gympie South State School has combined this approach with the traditional leadership, allowing new students leaders to be inducted at the beginning of each term, rather than a full year.
Join us as we celebrate these inspiring students taking their first steps in leadership roles.
Gympie Central State School
Sharnaya wanted to be school captain so she could help others to be their best.
She hopes to gain people's trust and respect through this role.
She loves that Gympie Central State School has music, art, and Japanese.
Bailey hopes that in his role as school captain, he can help others gain respect for themselves and each other.
He loves Gympie Central State School because it is a small school, which gives them more opportunities.
Taleah wanted to be school captain so he could have some responsibility and help others.
He loves his school because everyone is really kind and caring.
Hamish McLaughlin
Hamish wanted to be a school leader so people would listen to him.
As school captain, he wants to come up with great ideas for the school.
Gympie East State School
School Captain: Ella Hosking, 11
Ella has always looked up to the school captains and wanted to be one. She has always wanted to help her peers and loves public speaking.
As school captain, she hopes to ensure that all students feel safe and comfortable in the school environment. She also hopes to learn and try to teach Auslan to students at her school.
What she loves most about her school is the enthusiasm and encouragement of the students.
School Captain: Jack Stevens, 11
Jack wanted to become the school captain because he wanted to lead the school with pride and help his peers around the school.
As school captain, he wants to organise fundraisers for the school, so they can get more facilities.
What he loves most about his school is how kind and nice everyone is: including the principal, Mr Elson; his friends; and his “amazing” teacher, Mrs Chammen.
His hobbies are BMX racing, swimming, cricket and hockey.
Oxley House Captain: Etta Mackie, 11
Etta wanted to become sport captain so she could lead her team to victory, support her teammates and encourage everyone to have a go. As captain, she hopes to get every student participating in sporting events throughout the year.
Etta loves that her school is an environmentally aware school and has amazing teachers that support their education.
When she grows up, she would like to study the human body and become a surgeon, saving lives and making families happy.
Oxley House Captain: Ruby Tawse, 10
Ruby wanted to be sports captain because she loves sports and her sister was a previous Oxley house captain.
She is very determined to lead her team to victory, alongside her friend, Etta Mackie.
She loves her school because it has great sporting opportunities, and music.
Last year Ruby went to Gympie districts for long and short distance running, and hopes to get in to basketball districts next year.
Cook House Captain: Payton Shute, 11
Payton wanted to be sports captain to get to know more about all of the kids at her school and to help everyone achieve their goals.
As captain, she wants to lead her team into victory and encourage younger kids on sports day.
Payton loves that the students at her school are nice and hanging out on the oval.
She loves sports, and her favourite day of the year is sports day and swimming carnival.
Cook House Captain: Ryker James, 11
Ryker wanted to become a sports captain because he loves sport and I really likes encouraging others.
As captain, he hopes to lead his to victory. His favourite part about his school is his caring friends.
Ryker is a very sporty kid and loves all sports.
Gympie West State School
School Captain: Ryder Reid, 11
Ryder wanted to be school captain to be a good role model.
School Captain: Sullivan Cook, 11
Sullivan wanted to become school captain to be a good role model to others.
As school captain, she hopes to make the school a happier and safer place.
What she loves most about her school is how kind and respectful the teachers are.
School Captain: Yukinori Green
Yukinori wanted to become school captain so he could show the younger students how to be independent.
What he hopes to achieve as school captain is to inspire other kids to have a go and never give up.
He enjoys Gympie West because the teachers encourage the students to have a creative mind.
Captain: Abby Rogers, 11
Following in her brother and sister’s footsteps, Abby wanted to be school captain so she could do all the cool things they did, and hopes to achieve her goals and responsibilities as captain.
Abby loves her friends, classmates and teachers.
“They are the best things about school,” she said.
Music/ Cultural Captain: Brianna Albrecht, 11
Brianna wanted to become a school captain because she wanted to speak on parade and give awards to students.
As school captain, she hopes to help students with their learning and to achieve their goals.
She loves the teachers at her school, who help her with learning, as well as the “amazing” possibilities available.
Environment and Cultural Captain: Emily Devereaux, 11
Emily wanted to be a school captain because it looked like “so much fun”.
She loves her school because of the people: her friends, the students and the teachers.
As well as working at the RSPCA, Emily wants to raise a kind and loving family when she grows up.
“I want to make the best of my life,” she said.
Gympie South State School
Gympie South does their Year 6 leadership a little different for the other schools.
The school leaders are elected for each term, allowing more of the grade the opportunity to contribute to the school and make a difference.
These are Gympie State School’s Year 6 leaders for Term 1, 2023:
Jones Hill State School
Indy Worth, 11
As school captain, she hopes to help organise a day for the Preps for 2024 to show them how good the school is.
Indy’s favourite part about her school is the number of fun camps and activities the school offers.
Kyran wanted to be school captain because he would like to lead his school, helping kids and planning fun activities for the students.
As school captain, he would like to help organise a time capsule. “For people in many years to come to see how we lived, what school was like now. Some items we would put in would be school uniforms, current homework and photos,” he said.
What he loves most about his school is the large number of supportive staff and the range of activities available.
One Mile State School
Captain: Tully Bell
Tully wanted to be school captain to help make her school a better place and thought she would make a good leader.
As school captain, she hopes to learn how to be a good leader and take responsibility.
Tully’s favourite part about her school is that the teachers are very helpful.
When she grows up, Tully would like to become a professional dancer and dance teacher.
Mollie wanted to be school captain because she likes the type of work that the role offers and likes helping students and setting up fundraisers.
As school captain, she would like to organise a drawing club.
Mollie loves that people are so kind at her school: the teachers, students and staff.
When she grows up, Mollie would like to be a paediatrician or an actor.
Ella wanted to be school captain because she hopes that she can make a difference no matter how big or small.
Ella loves that the students and teachers are really nice at her school. When she grows up, she wants to be an actor.
Sophie wanted to be school captain because she wanted to show kids how to behave.
While she is school captain, she hopes that she can help her school in any way she can.
What she loves most about her school are the sports and academics.
When she grows up, Sophie wants to be a vet, so she can help animals.
Sports captains:
Charlotte
Charlotte wanted to be sports captain because she loves sports and wanted to encourage more students to try new activities.
She hopes to be a great house captain, and loves that the teachers at her school are kind and that the students respect each other. When she grows up, Charlotte wants to be a professional horse rider.
Abbey has always wanted to be sports captain, and hopes to learn all about sports in her role. She loves her school because “it is so big”.
When she grows up, she would like to be a professional horse rider.
Abbey is very keen to get her graduation belt in karate.
Phoebe wanted to be sports captain because she loves sports and ever since she has known about sports captains, has wanted to be one.
As sports captain, she hopes to help other students as much as she can.
Phoebe loves her school because “they have the best teachers.”
When she grows up, Phoebe would love to be an artist.
Jordon wanted to be sports captain because he loves helping people.
He hope to be a great leader at his school, and thinks the footy field there is “great”.
When he grows up, Jordon would like to work at a cattle station or be a diesel mechanic.
Layla wanted to be sports captain because she loves sports.
As sports captain, she hopes to be a good leader and encourage others to reach their potential.
Layla loves that her school has great staff and students.
When she grows up, Layla would like to work with some form of science.
Joseph wanted to be sports captain so he could lead his sporting house, Smithfield, to victory.
As captain, he hopes to help make Smithfield a proud sporting house.
His favourite part about his school is the friendly staff and the sporting teams.
When he grows up, Joseph would like to be either a meteorologist or a storm chaser.
Jack wanted to be sports captain because he likes playing sports and helping people.
This year, Jack wants to get fit, and his favourite part about his school is his friends.
When he grows up, Jack wants to be a professional NRL player.
Isabelle wanted to become sports captain so she could help set up at sports day and cross country day, leading her team’s war cries and helping people.
Isabella hopes that people will think she is a good sports captain for her team, Columbia.
What she loves most about school is the One Mile spirit and the teachers.
When she grows up, Isabella wants to be an author.
Two Mile State School
Glenwood State School
April, 11
April wanted to become a school captain, so she could be an amazing role model to her peers.
As captain, she hopes to gain more confidence with public speaking, and to be a strong and fair role model for all students.
What she loves most about her school are the students and teachers.
When she grows up, April wants to be a primary school teacher and help kids reach their full potential.
In her free time, April really loves gardening and being with nature.
Cooper, 11
Cooper wanted to be a school captain since he was in prep and aims to be an awesome leader for his peers.
What he loves most about his school are all the students and teachers.
When he grows up, Cooper wants to join the Australian Army.
Cooper is also Bradford’s sports captain at his school and his favourite sport is soccer.
Gunalda State School
Daniel Richardson
Daniel wanted to be a school captain to make his school an even safer and better place to be.
As captain, he hopes to make the students at his school happy.
He loves how nice everyone is and how inclusive it is at his school. He also likes that the school has great lunchtime activities and the teachers modify the curriculum to make learning fun.
When he grows up, Daniel wants to be a game developer.
Selina Helm-Pascoe
Selina wanted to be school captain to help others in the school community.
As captain, she hopes to make everyone happy and feel safe at her school.
What she loves most about her school is how kind the teachers are. She also likes that the school has great play facilities and that the teachers make class fun for the students.
When she grows up, Selina wants to be a vet.
Rainbow Beach State School
Kai Riehl-Posadowski, 11
After being at Rainbow Beach State School since prep, Kai wanted to become school captain so he could be someone people could look up to.
As captain, he wants to make this school achieve great things.
What he loves most about his school is the small community of the students and teachers.
When he grows up, Kai wants to be a fireman.
Jasmyn Bullen, 10
Jasmyn has always looked up to past school captains and thought to herself “I want to be that when I am older”.
As captain, she hopes to be a leader who is friendly, responsible and kind to all the teachers and students in the school.
What she loves about her school is the small environment and that everybody is kind and inclusive.
When she grows up, Jasmyn wants to be an engineer or a nurse.
Widgee State School
Ebony Robertson, 11
Ebony wanted to become school captain so she could watch kids grow and to set an example.
As captain, she hopes to create a coding class for Prep and Year 1’s.
What she loves most about her school is the teachers and students.
When she grows up, Ebony would like to be an electronics repair technician.
Jake Corrigan, 11
Jake wanted to become school captain so he could connect with kids across the school and pass on his knowledge.
As captain, he hopes to make basketball drills every second Friday until Term 3, and possibly for touch football.
What he loves most about his school, is the community of the school and that everyone is friendly.
When he grows up, Jake would like to be a famous rapper.
Wolvi State School
Being a small school, Wolvi State School only has five Year 6 students. Because of this, the school has decided that all students in the Year 6 cohort are the leadership team.
Alani, 11
As school captain, Alani hopes to be a good role model. Her favourite part about her school is getting to hang out with her friends.
When she grows up, Alani wants to work with animals. She also loves to sing.
Mairead, 11
As school captain, Mairead hopes to help younger kids by showing them what to do.
Her favourite parts about her school are: the big oval, volleyball net and tennis court.
When she grows up, Mairead wants to be an animal carer. She also loves to draw and sketch.
Lexie, 11
As school captain, Lexie hopes to show the younger students how to act.
Her favourite part about her school is that she gets to see her friends in person and that they get to do art activities together.
Something to know about Lexi, she doesn’t like loud noises.
Brodie, 11
As school captain, Brodie wants to be a good leader.
His favourite part about his school is play time.
When he grows up, Brodie wants to be a butcher.
Unfortunately, Jordan (the fifth school leader) was absent and couldn’t be featured.
Photos | Gympie junior cricket celebrates its winners of 2023
Kilkivan State School (P-10)
Junior President: Indy (Year 6)
Indy wanted to become a school leader to help the school become a better place.
While she is junior president, she hopes to make more friends and encourage people to have more fun at school.
What she loves most about her school is that they have amazing teachers and that the students are very kind and supportive.
Junior Vice President: Parker (Year 6)
Parker wanted to become a school leader to help keep the school the great place it is, and encourage younger students to have a say.
As school leader, she hopes to be a positive influence and to help the younger students be included.
Parker loves that she is in such a supportive and encouraging school, with teachers that just want to help you improve to the best you can.
Sophie wanted to be secretary, because she wanted to be more involved in the school community.
As the secretary, she hopes to show other students what a school leader looks like and to inspire students to give it a try.
What she loves most about her school is how much the students encourage each other.
Nikkita wanted to become a school leader so that everyone could have an opinion about the changes which are made throughout the school, even if they are not in the student council.
As a school leader, she would like to achieve a more inclusive council, where not only the leaders can contribute to the conversation but the rest of the school as well.
The thing she loves most about her school is the connections and effort the teachers make with the students.
Isabelle wanted to be school vice-president so she could inspire and lead the students of Kilkivan State School.
As vice-president, she hopes to be a great leader and help the students at her school happy.
Isabelle loves the whole school environment at Kilkivan state school, where the high school students can work the primary school, and be good role models.
President: Sasha (Year 10)
Sasha wanted to be school president to encourage kids to try new things and step out of their comfort zones.
Her main goal as president is to make students feel like they are not alone and have someone to talk to.
The thing she loves most about her school is how well everyone gets along and treats each other.
Goomeri State School (P-10)
Learose wanted to be a school leader to create a better experience at school for students. As school leader, she wants to help the little people in the school and support them, hoping to create better environment for the students at her school.
She loves how her school is future focused and provides them with many opportunities.
Madison Holding, 14
Madison wanted to be a school leader so that she could help make Goomeri State School P-10 a better place and to be a voice for the student body.
As school leader, she hopes to help students to enjoy coming to school and that are able to share their opinions about the school.
Madison loves how, at her school, the teachers check up on the students and listen to their problems while still giving them their time.
Tin Can Bay State School (p-10)
Harmonie wanted to be school captain to help the school and students to the best of her ability and to see people smile.
As captain, she wants to be someone that other students look up and to encourage students to seek support.
What she loves most about her school is the friendship she has made with both teachers and students. She also loves the subjects offered at her school.
Senior Vice-Captain: Sieanna Arthur, 14
Sieanna wanted to be school captain because she enjoys working with people and seeing them laugh, smile and have fun. She would like to encourage people to try everything and do their best.
As captain, she wants to work with her school to encourage students to engage in all areas of the school day.
Sieanna enjoys playing volleyball, and is a part of the schools volleyball program.
Senior Vice-Captain and Senior Indigenous Captain: Rylei Braddick, 14
As captain, she wants to support her school and encourage students to enjoy learning.
Rylei loves the connection she has formed with her peers and the human powered vehicle and volleyball programs at her school.
Junior Indigenous Captain: Madison Katon, 11
Madison wanted to be school captain to help her school continue to improve and to see the students and staff happy.
As captain, she hopes to help the school be a happy place for all.
What she loves most about her school is the way teachers teach, the whole school eats together, and how all the student leaders work together and have formed friendships.
Madison also loves all of the lunch time activities that are offered at her school.
Senior School Captain: Brandon Roby, 15
Brandon wanted to be school captain, to be a role model and for students to feel comfortable approaching him.
As captain, he hopes to inspire younger students to do their best and become future leaders.
What he loves most about his school is the volleyball program.
Junior Captain: Kaylee Jensen, 11
Kaylee has always had a dream to talk on parade and loves to help people, wanting to be school captain so she could make the school a lovely place to learn and teach.
As captain, she hopes to help people think positive, ensure that students are enjoying school.
Kaylee loves the “fun” programs that are offered at her school and that the teachers are nice. Kaylee plays soccer, volleyball, swimming and various other sports.
Junior Captain: Amanda Geurts, 11
Amanda wanted to be school captain because she thought she would be a good role model for the students and enjoys speaking in front of the school community.
As captain, she would like to become more confident at speeches and for younger students to follow in her footsteps.
She loves how kind and friendly the teachers and students are at her school and how supportive everyone is.
She is also in the school band.
Victory College
Harrison Kipping, 11
Harrison wanted to be a school leader to improve his responsibilities and maturity, as well as helping others and being a role model.
As captain, he hopes to achieve what he can to help the school in a positive way.
He loves the teachers and his friends at his school, where someone can always make you feel like you belong and are included.
Zoe wanted to be a school leader to learn more skills and responsibilities for future tasks.
As captain, she hopes to make a positive impact on the students and teachers at her school.
She loves that her school provides great opportunities for her to achieve her goals.
Willow wanted to be primary school captain because she thought it would be a fun and exciting experience.
As captain, she would like to be a little less bossy, and be able to present at assembly easier.
Her favourite part about he school is the P.E. lessons and the rugby teams.
When she grows up, she would love to be a vet or doctor.
Thomas wanted to be primary school captain because he liked the idea of being a leader and the extra responsibilities.
One of his main ideas to help Victory College was to strive for more inclusivity and friendliness.
He has great friends and loves that his school has given him lots of great opportunities through school work and sports.
Holly Grattidge, 17
Holly applied to be college captain so she could make a positive contribution to her school and be a voice for the students.
As captain, she hopes to help build upon the school’s community, so that it runs as a supportive team where all students feel included and heard.
What she loves most about her school is the community and how friendly the teachers and students are.
Matthew Cooley, 17
Matthew never thought of himself as a leader, until his teacher Mrs Thomas encouraged him to go for the leadership position.
He hopes that by being a role model to his peers, he can teach other students to embody the school values, just as he does.
What Matthew loves most about his school is the values.
“Victory College teaches every student the importance of treating everyone as your neighbour,” he said.
Sophie Pellinkhof, 17
Sophie wanted to become College Captain to help others, hoping to be seen as a friendly familiar face around campus and improve the lives of others, particularly younger students.
While serving as Captain, her goal is to create a fun and enjoyable place where students can feel comfortable to come to.
Sophie loves the overall atmosphere of her school and well as the care that the teachers have for the students.
St Patrick’s College
Lauren Cartwright
Lauren wanted to be school captain so she could see the way the school operated from a leadership perspective and because she loves interacting with students of all ages.
As school captain she hopes to build connections throughout all year levels and to be an approachable and cohesive leader.
Lauren loves her school’s traditions, strong community connection and that it provides many opportunities for the students.
George Finger
George wanted to become school captain to give back to his school in any way possible.
As captain, he hopes to establish a connection with all his peers, while demonstrating the core beliefs and values of our school to the wider Gympie community.
He really likes that at his school, they have the opportunity to take part in many extra-curricular activities.
After graduating, George hopes to study at the University of Queensland.
Cooloola Christian College
Captain: Oliver Hooper, 17
Oliver wanted to become school captain to have more opportunities to help serve his school.
As school captain, he hopes to start more Christian centred activities that help and inspire students to live a Christ-centred life.
What he loves most about his school is how kind and welcoming the staff and teachers are, and how much they are a joy to learn and work alongside.
Captain: Lily Mallett, 17
Lily felt lead to become school captain because she felt that was what God put in her heart to do.
As captain, she wants to be available and ready for God to use her for whatever need be when the time comes.
She loves how connected the community at her school is and how caring the teachers are.
Vice- Captain: Jenna Williams, 17
Jenna wanted to be school captain, because she has looked up to the school captains from previous years and wanted to serve her school just like they did.
As vice-captain, she hopes to make her school a more fun and safe environment for all students and teachers.
Jenna loves how at her school, the students are always given the opportunity to succeed in their subjects.
Vice-captain: Hannah Shelley, 17
Hannah became a school captain because she wanted to give back to the school community.
As captain, she hopes to grow as a person and encourage others to grow.
Hannah loves that the school community is always loving and caring.
Sports Captain: Rachel Davies, 17
Rachel wanted to become sports captain to set a new tone for her school and be an example of a Christian student, who is a role model to other students, teachers and the broader community.
Rachel loves her school, for the way it embraces and encourages Christian values.
Rachel is not sure what she wants to do after graduation but hopes for a job that is stable and provides her with the ability to continue staying connected to her family, friends and church community.
Sports Captain: Emily Morgan, 16
Emily wanted to become a sports captain so she could be more involved in the sporting side of the college life. As captain, she hopes to promote house spirit and fun in sports participation.
Emily loves her school’s community, where all students are friendly and aim to bring the best out of each other. Her favourite sport is long-distance running, and she would love to complete a marathon one day.
Sports Captain: Aimme Parker, 17
Aimme wanted to become a sports captain so she could have a say in how her school develops and changes.
As sports captain, she wants to create more opportunities for the students to play fun games and sports, and to create a bond between teachers and students when competing together.
Aimme loves the bond between the students and teachers at her school.
Gympie State High School
Kirra was inspired by past school captains when applying for the role, wanting to help and support the school
community in the best way possible.
As vice-captain, she hopes to leave a positive impact on the school and support the future leaders to come.
Kirra loves the range of activities that are available at her school.
Kirra is very passionate about playing netball, hopes to one day play for the Australian Diamonds.
Patrick wanted to be school captain for the opportunity to develop and give back to the school community and to assist with making it a better place.
While vice-captain, Patrick hopes to start new projects that will enhance his school.
Patrick loves that his school has a welcoming student body, who will go out of their way to assist and
support all students.
Nick hoped becoming captain would allow him to learn how to become a better leader and teammate.
As captain, Nick wants to establish a legacy at his school, hoping to inspire and encourage future school leaders.
Nick loves the opportunities that his school provides, and the people within it. “I have met people that will likely become lifelong friends,” he said.
Sophie wanted to become a school captain because she wanted to make an impact and leave her mark at Gympie State High School.
As school captain, Sophie wants to make the school community a more fun environment, hoping to get more student involvement in the school’s activities and events.
What Sophie loves most about her school is the people, where she feels supported by the students, teachers, and admin staff.
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Originally published as 60+ students: Gympie’s school leaders of 2023
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