It has been a privilege to work alongside dedicated leaders, teachers and support staff who tirelessly nurture and challenge students to be their very best. Their passion for education and their unwavering care for every student is a hallmark of this College, and I thank them for their support and deep investment in all that we strive to do.

To the families of Trinity College, I am deeply grateful for your trust and partnership. Your support is essential in shaping the learning and growth of our students and it has been an honour to walk alongside you on this journey.

To our students, you are the heart of this College. It has been a joy to witness your achievements, resilience and kindness. Whether in the classroom, on the sporting field, in service to others, or through artistic and cultural pursuits, you continue to make Trinity proud. I encourage you to remain committed to your goals, embrace challenges as opportunities, and always strive to be people of integrity, compassion and courage. You are ambassadors not only of Trinity College but of the Colac community, and I have no doubt that you will continue to make a difference in the world.

As I move into this next chapter, I carry with me cherished memories and immense gratitude for all that Trinity College has meant to me.

May God bless you all abundantly in the years ahead.

Ms Rachel McGennisken
Deputy Principal

Our student leaders from Years 7 to 11 were officially recognized for their willingness to serve in leadership roles. After the example of Jesus, may they always be people of hope, looking for the best in themselves and others. During the College Assembly, Mr Clohesy awarded them their leadership badges, symbolizing their role in shaping and supporting our school community.

Year 7 Class Captains

Ruby, Ursula, Joseph, Leo, Oscar and Seth.

Year 8 Student Leaders

Jack, Rhuby, Layla, Claudia, Fletcher and Carter.

Year 9 Student Leaders

Pippa, Bella, Cam, Lily, Leah and Pippa.

Year 10 Student Leaders

Xantha, Amol, Audrey, Kieley, Sascha and Darcy.

Year 11 Student Leaders

Xavier, Mia, Georgia, Thomas, Eliza and Luca.

Congratulations to all our student leaders! We look forward to seeing the positive impact you will make this year.

We had the privilege of Ebony Hickey conducting the Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony, a meaningful acknowledgment of the land we learn and grow on. The students listened with interest and participated in this important cultural tradition.

Moreover, we looked back on the House Swimming Sports Day on 21 February. It was great to see so many students dressed in their house colours and eager to get in the pool. A huge congratulations to the following students who recorded the fastest times on the day and have been crowned our overall age champions:

13 years girls - Alexis (Year 7)

13 years boys - Leo (Year 7)

14 years girls - Claudia (Year 8)

14 years boys - Leon (Year 8)

15 years girls - Estelle (Year 9)

15 years boys - Jarryn (Year 9)

16 years girls - Ruby (Year 10)

16 years boys - Toby (Year 10)

17 years girls - Harmony (Year 10)

17 years boys - Thomas (Year 11)

18 years girls - Emma (Year 12)/Bailee (Year 12)

18 years boys - Ryan (Year 12)

The Superfish Awards went to Thomas (Year 11) and Estelle (Year 9). Congratulations on your outstanding performance!

Rice took the lead with 678 points; McAuley followed closely behind with 645 points; MacKillop secured third place with 570 points; and Glowrey rounded out the standings with 482 points.

Well done to everyone who participated and contributed to an exciting and memorable event!

Among the many camp highlights was the Leap of Faith, where students bravely climbed a 10-metre platform before making a daring jump while their peers belayed them. The zipline brought both excitement and camaraderie as students tackled different challenges mid-air, while the giant swing offered an exhilarating 17-metre drop, with teammates pulling each other into the sky before the thrilling release.

Beyond the high-flying activities, students also embraced canoeing, tested their aim in archery, enjoyed a round of frisbee golf and navigated through orienteering challenges. The fun continued into the evenings, with a night walk on the first night and an entertaining music trivia showdown on the second night, where students took on their teachers in a friendly competition.

The staff at Log Cabin Camp thoroughly enjoyed hosting our Trinity Year 8 students and sent them off with big smiles all around. It was a fantastic experience filled with adventure, teamwork and plenty of unforgettable memories!

Mrs Vicki Dambo
Year 8 Level Coordinator

A highlight of the day was the insightful keynote address delivered by Joshua McGuane, a distinguished alumnus from the Class of 2011, currently serving as Vice President Field Operations - APAC at Ticketmaster. Joshua's address centred around our theme, 'If I could tell myself when I was in Year 10', offering profound advice tailored to resonate with our students, encouraging thoughtful reflection on their futures.

Following the keynote, Joshua facilitated a Q&A panel featuring industry leaders: Liam McCullagh (Radio News Media Journalist), Donna Hay (Human Resources Spence Construction), Dr Tom Daffy (Chiropractor) and Simone Hay (Talk To Me Allied Health). The panellists shared invaluable lessons learned from their career journeys, emphasizing key takeaways such as seizing opportunities, embracing challenges for personal growth, fostering a commitment to lifelong learning and leveraging mentorship and feedback for continuous improvement.

Throughout the day, students engaged in a series of structured 'speed dating' style interviews with representatives from diverse local industries. This format allowed students to gain firsthand insights into various professions, posing thoughtful questions such as those concerning job satisfaction, necessary qualifications, essential skills for success, career pathways and practical advice for aspiring professionals.

A dedicated session on Work Experience further equipped students with essential insights into employer expectations, effective workplace conduct, skills development and the broader benefits of gaining practical experience in their chosen fields. The event culminated in student self-reflection sessions and the distribution of comprehensive Work Experience packs, empowering our students to further explore and prepare for their future career endeavours.

The Work Experience program is a valuable opportunity for students to prepare for life beyond school. It allows them to:

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our esteemed guests and the broader community whose unwavering support ensures that Trinity College Colac remains steadfast in its commitment to guiding our students towards achieving their career aspirations. Together, we strive to empower every student to 'Get where they want to go' upon completing their secondary education with us.

We thank the following businesses:

AKD, Blooms The Chemist, Bulla Dairy Foods, CMTP, Colac Area Health, Colac Otway Shire, Colac to Coast Real Estate, Colac Toyota, Deakin University – School of Medicine, Findex, MeatCrew, Mercy Place Colac, Millville Children’s Centre, Minerva Foods, MixxFM, Premium Group Painting, Prosper Health Group, Sewells Lawyers, Spence Construction, Talk to Me Allied Health, Victorian Group Training and Westvic Staffing Solutions.

Mr Ryan Geary
Learning Leader: Careers Counsellor

Mrs Julie Demasi
Careers Officer & VET Coordinator

The event was one of the many youth activities and events organised by the Colac Otway Shire this year. It began with some solo performances and smaller group performances, including Trinity performers Jesse, Audrey and Sarah as The Zodiacs. This was followed by The Eliminations and concluded with a crazy heavy metal band that shook the roof with their skilful playing.

Max Heaton-Harris
Year 11 Student

Our students gave their all in the pool, competing with enthusiasm and representing Trinity with pride. Among the many outstanding performances, the highlight of the day was the Year 7 Boys 12-13 Years Freestyle Relay team. Comprising Leo, Nash, Ted and Walker, the team secured a well-earned third place medal in an incredibly close finish—crossing the line just 20cm ahead of the competition!

Beyond the pool, our swimmers displayed exemplary behaviour and a positive attitude, reinforcing the values of sportsmanship and camaraderie that we hold dear at Trinity. We are incredibly proud of all our competitors for their hard work, perseverance and team spirit.

A huge congratulations to all our swimmers for their fantastic efforts. We look forward to more outstanding performances in the future!

Mrs Jane Hawker
Learning Area Leader: HPE & Sports Coordinator

From sprint races to long jumps, every event was filled with enthusiasm and fierce competition. Special mention goes to the fastest runners of the day: Harmony (Year 10) and Ryan (Year 12), who displayed incredible speed and determination in their races. Their outstanding performances were among the many highlights of the day.

The atmosphere was further enhanced by a group of talented students who provided live music, adding an extra layer of excitement and energy to the festivities. Their performances kept the crowd entertained and encouraged athletes to give their best efforts on the track and field.

In addition, the event also celebrated the overall winners in the age categories with the most victories across all events. Congratulations to the following athletes:

12-13 years girls: Alexis (Year 7)

12-13 years boys: Nash (Year 7)

14 years girls: Stella (Year 8)

14 years boys: Ash (Year 9)

15 years girls: Olivia (Year 9)

15 years boys: Jarryn (Year 9)

16 years girls: Jess (Year 10)

16 years boys: Izaac (Year 10)

17 years girls: Mason (Year 11)

17 years boys: Ashton (Year 11)

18-20 years girls: Bridie (Year 12)

18-20 years boys: Ryan (Year 12)

Congratulations to Mackillop House , our House Athletics Sports Champions of 2024!

Final Points Tally:

Mackillop: 2172 points

Rice: 2153 points

McAuley: 2065 points

Glowrey: 2040 points

A huge congratulations to all participants, organizers, and supporters who made this Athletics Day one to remember. The spirit of Trinity College was on full display, proving once again that sportsmanship, perseverance, and teamwork are at the heart of our school community.

Emotional intelligence is the ability to:

Many of today’s parents grew up in a world devoid of technologies and often have little knowledge of how best to assist and guide their children. In today’s digital world, 90 percent of a child’s socialisation occurs online. As the range of social media platforms grows, so too does the opportunity for bullying and stalking. Often, parents have no idea their child is a victim, and kids are unlikely to report it for fear of losing access to their technology, which to them, is the equivalent of "social death”.

Young people today are growing up in an increasingly connected world where technology is part of their everyday lives– for learning, socialising, and entertainment. While the digital world offers enormous benefits, it also comes with serious risks. From cyberbullying and online predators to inappropriate content and screen time concerns, navigating the online environment can be challenging for young people and their families.

Cybersafety is not just about blocking access, it's about empowering young people with the knowledge and skills they need to use technology responsibly and safely. This includes understanding privacy settings, recognising scams, and developing healthy digital habits. At the same time, it's important for parents and caregivers to stay informed, have open and judgement-free conversations with their children, and lead by example through positive online behaviour.

In today's digital age, safeguarding a child's wellbeing must also include protecting their online life. This edition of SchoolTV will help you better understand the digital landscape your child is navigating and offer practical strategies to help them stay safe, confident and in control online.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.

The Secret to Happiness

“Happiness is a state of being, not a pile of stuff. So, I'm going to share with you the Big Four Happiness Factors. The Big Four practices that can change your life for good are friendliness, cheerfulness, compassion, and gratitude.”

The Secret to Happiness | Trinity College - Colac