Lest We Forget — and Other Reflections from a Busy Few Weeks
There are moments in a school calendar that quietly remind you why this work matters so much. The past few weeks have delivered several of those moments, and I wanted to take the time to share them with you.
ANZAC Day — A Proud Showing
Of all the highlights recently, it is our ANZAC commemorations that I find myself reflecting on most. From the streets of Camden to our own College grounds, our students gave me every reason to be proud.
I was genuinely moved by the turnout and conduct of our students at the Camden ANZAC March. Our college was well represented, and it was heartening to see so many of our young people standing alongside the community to honour those who served. These public acts of remembrance matter — they connect us to something much larger than ourselves.
Back at the College, our ANZAC Assembly brought together students from Year 4 through to Year 12, and I have to say, it was one of the most impressive gatherings I’ve witnessed here. The level of honour and respect shown by our students was something to behold — genuine, quiet, and dignified.
Mr Irwin made a particularly meaningful contribution, sharing stories from his grandfather’s service in the Australian Army. There is something very different about hearing a personal story — it moves ANZAC Day from history lesson to lived experience, and you could feel that shift in the room.
During the laying of the wreath, a slide was displayed showing some of our current students and their family members who have served — and in some cases, given their lives — in defence of Australia and other nations. It was a powerful, humbling moment. To see those names on the screen, belonging to families right here in our community, brought the weight of the occasion into sharp focus.
I mention all of this because I think it’s worth acknowledging. Sadly, ANZAC commemorations elsewhere were marred by booing — behaviour that was widely reported and rightly condemned. Our students demonstrated that young people absolutely can carry themselves with grace and maturity on occasions like this. I was proud of every one of them.
A Word of Caution — E-Bikes
On a less celebratory note, I want to share something from a recent Police Forum that I think every family in our community needs to hear. This one is important, and I’d ask you to read it carefully.
I recently attended a Police Forum for Heads of School across the Camden area, and one topic dominated the conversation: e-bikes. Specifically, non-compliant e-bikes — the kind that are increasingly appearing in our streets and that bear little resemblance to the legal, pedal-assist models most parents would picture.
These bikes can reach speeds well in excess of 60 km/h, and they are being ridden by young people with no licence, no registration, and often no helmet. The police shared accounts of serious injuries and, tragically, deaths involving young riders. It’s a growing concern, and one I feel compelled to pass on to our community.
I can speak to the damage speed and hard surfaces can do from rather personal experience. On a recent weekend run, I tripped over a shadow — possibly just my own feet in an unfocused moment — and hit the concrete path face-first. The result: deep grazing to my shoulder and face, a decent black eye, and very fortunately no fractured cheekbone and all my teeth still accounted for. And I was only moving at around 10 km/h with no protection. It’s a sobering reminder of just how unforgiving a hard surface can be, even at low speed… imagine hitting that same surface at 60 km/h.
We know from neuroscience that the adolescent brain — particularly the parts responsible for risk assessment and understanding consequences — is still very much a work in progress. This isn’t a criticism of our young people; it’s simply biology. But it does mean that the adults around them need to be the ones asking hard questions
Student-Led Conferences — A Genuine Highlight
To finish on a high note, I want to celebrate something that has left me genuinely encouraged about the young people in our care. Our recent Student-Led Conferences were, quite simply, the best we have ever had.
The participation this year was the best we have ever seen, and I think that says a lot about the culture we are building together. Watching students step up, lead conversations with their parents, and take genuine ownership of their learning was one of those quietly joyful things about working in a school. It takes courage to sit across from your mum or dad and talk honestly about where you’re at — and our students did it with real strength of character.
We offered both face-to-face and online sessions across two weeks, and the flexibility clearly resonated — the numbers reflected that. A special mention must go to our online sessions, which ran like clockwork… perhaps a little too much like clockwork. If you or your child’s teacher found yourselves mid-sentence when the connection was cut at the five-minute mark — my sincere apologies! The scheduling system was ruthlessly efficient. The intention was good, even if the timing occasionally wasn’t. I hope you took it in the spirit it was intended!
As always, thank you for your ongoing support and engagement with the life of our College. These are the weeks that remind me what a privilege it is to be part of this community.
God bless,
Mr Steve Owen
Deputy Principal – Head of Senior School