Rural spotlight: Secondary students across Victoria aim high

THEY include future Olympic champions and up-and-coming digital entrepreneurs — these regional students represent Australia’s bright future.

Rower Fergus Hamilton graduated from Melbourne Grammar in December and has been accepted to Yale. He won the junior men's double at the World Rowing Championships in Lithuania last year. Picture: Zoe Phillips

THEY include future Olympic champions and up-and-coming digital entrepreneurs — these regional students represent Australia’s bright future.

POWER HOUSE

REMEMBER the name Fergus Hamilton. Rowing fans may be shouting it at TV screens in six years’ time, when the summer Olympics are held in France. The 18-year-old Melbourne Grammar School graduate aims to compete in the 2024 Games if he can continue in his current form. The former boarding student comes from a dairy farm at Albury and won gold last year in the junior men’s double at the World Rowing Championships in Lithuania. Genetics play a small part in his success — Fergus is the son of British Olympic rower-turned-dairy farmer Richard Hamilton. But the determination, fitness and talent must be credited to Fergus alone. Recently accepted to Yale University, Fergus will fly to Connecticut, in the US, to start undergraduate studies in September and take his rowing training to the next level.

The Gippsland Grammar Shelton siblings (from left) Year 10 Sam, Year 8 Monique, Year 12 Bella and Year 7 Nathaniel from Bairnsdale collaborate to run online businesses.

BRAINY BUSINESS

ENTREPRENEURSHIP runs in the blood of the Shelton family from Bairnsdale. Four of the family’s five siblings attend Gippsland Grammar, and they all work together to run three online businesses. Year 10 Sam, Year 7 Nathaniel and Year 12 Bella design and sell products through Amazon. Sam sells diabetic compression socks and made-to-order T-shirts, while Nathaniel and Bella design office products. Their older brother, Elijah, 20, and Year 8 sister, Monique, help with graphic design. Parents, Tim and Michelle, helped the children launch the online businesses three years ago, when Sam was diagnosed with a brain tumour. The family uprooted from Bairnsdale to live in Melbourne while Sam received treatment. They ploughed themselves into creating online companies as a welcome distraction from the ongoing treatment, and a way to safeguard finances for the future. Sam’s tumour is now static, and Michelle is optimistic about all her children’s futures, especially since they are earning money to help see them through further study and beyond.

The Hamilton and Alexandra College Year 12 student Niamh Jones takes aim.

HOT SHOT

WHEN Niamh Jones picked up an archery bow and arrow at the age of nine, she didn’t expect to be shooting targets worldwide. The Year 12 student from The Hamilton and Alexandra College in western Victoria has been competing in archery since primary school. In 2011 she competed for Victoria at the National Youth Championships, followed by representing Australia in 2014 at the Trans-Tasman championships. “This marked a turning point in my relationship with sport and I began to see the opportunities it could provide, such as leadership, team work and travel,” Niamh said. Since then, archery has taken her to the US, Turkey, Tonga, Ireland, Iceland, Denmark, Shanghai and most recently Argentina. This year she was named co-team captain for the Victorian Youth State Team and led her teammates to the overall compound trophy for the event.

Year 12 Ballarat Grammar footballer Lauren Butler.

TOP MARKS

BALLARAT Grammar student Lauren Butler, 17, is kicking goals on campus and off. The Year 12 sportswoman from Maryborough has been playing footy since she was about eight years old, and captained her senior girls footy team to win the Herald Sun Shield Grand Final at the MCG last year. Outside of school, Lauren has played games in the VFLW for Western Bulldogs and captained the Greater Western Victoria Rebels in the TAC Cup competition. “Pulling on the red, white and blue for the Bulldogs alongside many inspiring teammates was an honour,” she said. “I enjoyed every second of the game (once I got over my nerves!) and it was a day that I will never forget.” She loves all sports, but aspires to continue her blossoming career in football.

Methodist Ladies' College boarder Pearl McMillan from Albury is heading to Paris for five months on a scholarship to study in France.

FRENCH CONNECTION

LATER this year, MLC boarder Pearl McMillan will say “au revoir” to Melbourne, and “bonjour” to France. The Year 10 Methodist Ladies’ College student from Albury has been awarded a scholarship for to study for five months in France. Pearl was encouraged to apply for the program by MLC head of boarding Jane Shone. Her application included a creative video and a Skype interview. Pearl will stay with a family and attend a local school. “In my application I had to describe what I would gain from it,” she says, knowing this scholarship would be invaluable to heighten her French skills. “I’m really excited about this opportunity.”

JESS IS COCK-A-HOOP

The Geelong College boarder Jess Treble, from Newfield, southwest Victoria, is an accomplished aerial hoops athlete.

JESS Treble is walking on air. The Geelong College boarder from Newfield, in southwest Victoria, is delighted to be heading to the national Miss Lyra Australia championships for aerial hoops this year after placing third in the Victorian competition. The Year 9 student will compete with Year 11 student Tielle Lyons in the Duo Lyra section. “The aerial hoops is like trapeze but instead it’s a suspended hoop that you swing and hang from,” Jess said. “The competition Miss Lyra Australia is the only competition in Australia that is solely aerial hoop acts, so it was huge that we got through to nationals. Duo Lyra means one hoop and two girls working together.” And as if hanging from a hoop is not enough, Jess also specialises in foot juggling. Boarding at The Geelong College allows her to develop her acrobatic skills at a local circus training studio.

St Pauls' Anglican Grammar Year 11 student Ben Bargwanna on the winners’ podium at Bathurst.

DRIVER SEAT

BEN Bargwanna is hitting speeds of 180km/h, and he’s just warming up. The St Paul’s Anglican Grammar Year 11 student recently claimed the chequered flag on the Mount Panorama Circuit at Bathurst in the Hi-Tec Oils six-hour race in the Excel support class. Racing is a family affair as Ben’s dad, Jason Bargwanna, won the Bathurst 1000 in 2001. But the 15-year-old is staking a place for himself in the industry with the win against 55 of the best drivers from across Australia. It was his first time racing on the circuit. Ben is part of St Paul’s Elite Sports Performers Program, where he receives support to balance the demands of Year 11 with his racing.