Annabelle Clements: 29th National Schools Constitutional Convention | Event Wrap & Photo Gallery
Annabelle Clements: 29th National Schools Constitutional Convention | Event Wrap & Photo Gallery
The 29th National Schools Constitutional Convention (NSCC) took place at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Canberra’s Old Parliament House between 19-21 March, near the end of Term One.
And one of Canterbury’s senior students – Annabelle Clements, joined 94 fellow students from right across Australia, who travelled to the ACT to participate in this three-day convention.
"Throughout my trip I got to meet a lot of different teenagers from different states, which was one of my favourite parts... as it was definitely cool to make connections and meet people with all different opinions and issues in their home/local areas," said Annabelle.
"We also did a ‘soapbox’ in Old Parliament House, which I loved.”
A ‘soapbox’ is any raised platform on which one stands to make an impromptu speech, often about a political subject.
The term originates from the days when speakers would elevate themselves by standing on a wooden crate originally used for the shipment of soap, or other dry goods, from a manufacturer to a retail store.
Throughout this event, the student group learnt about and debated the topic of giving more Federal tax funds to the States and Territories to manage, which Annabelle was strongly opposed to.
“I got up and spoke in the soapbox session on my very opinionated stance on this issue, and despite me disagreeing with most people’s opinions, it was still fun to just argue and debate it out."
Under the guidance of Emeritus Professor Clement Macintyre and Professor John Williams, delegates engaged in discussions and debates over this year’s proposal: “Should Section 96 be amended to decentralise the power of the Commonwealth?”
After an insightful discussion with a panel of experts, Annabelle and her fellow delegates deliberated the proposal, concluding in a mock referendum vote.
The majority voted NO to the proposal, a decision that the convention’s Communiqué publication has documented, that will be presented to the Australian Senate for inclusion in Hansard, which is the official record of parliamentary debates.
The program also featured the Prime Minister’s Welcome Reception, and another highlight was getting to meet the Governor-General and his wife at their home for afternoon tea, plus dinner at the National Press Club of Australia.
The three-day learning experience, fully funded by the Australian Department of Education, covered all expenses – from flights and accommodation to catering.
It was a wonderful opportunity for Annabelle to represent Canterbury, rubbing shoulders with students from around the country and with some significant people in our political system.
“All round it was interesting to meet possible Australian up-and-coming politicians and discuss Australia's issues from a youth perspective,” Annabelle said.
“I found that a lot of our ideas were similar to older politicians as well, so despite an age gap, some of our ideas remained the same.”
The full photo gallery can be found on our Facebook Page HERE.
2024 Rugby Academy Program | Years 9 & 10 Students Complete Touch Football Officiating Course
2024 Rugby Academy Program | Years 9 & 10 Students Complete Touch Football Officiating Course
Today our Years 9 and 10 Rugby Academy students undertook their Level 1 Touch Football officiating course here at Canterbury.
The course is designed to equip students with communication, organisational and fundamental sport specific rule knowledge, to be able to properly officiate a Touch Football game.
QTF: Queensland Touch Football supported our students with both a theoretical and practical knowledge associated with quality officiating.
Students now have their Level 1 and may referee at local, community or other Touch Competitions, that also allow them to seek a pathway through QTF as a match official.
Thank you to our students who showed gratitude, were respectful, engaged with integrity, and gave their 100% effort. Well Done!
For more photos, please visit our Facebook Page HERE.
2024 Young Business Leaders Program | Start-Up Business Launch Day Wrap With BOP Industries & BYJCC
2024 Young Business Leaders Program | Start-Up Business Launch Day Wrap With BOP Industries & BYJCC
Today, over 50 enthusiastic Senior School students – including 27 from Canterbury College, commenced their eight-week Young Business Leaders Program journey, with their Start-Up Business Launch Day event.
This special entrepreneurial education is back again this year with huge thanks to our event organiser Bop Industries, event partner the Beenleigh Yatala Junior Chamber of Commerce and event sponsors Bendigo Bank, Quota Beenleigh Inc, Rotary Club of Beenleigh, Logan City Council, Logan Office of Economic Development and Mayor Jon Raven!
Together, they've given these students an amazing opportunity to ideate, design, create, develop, customer profile, market and budget their own businesses, while also gaining valuable commerce and entrepreneurial experience.
The Young Business Leaders Program runs throughout Term 2 as a co-curricular activity on Wednesday afternoons from 3:30pm - 5:00pm for two months.
At the end, course graduates will have the capacity to promote and sell their own business product, service or concept to the wider Canterbury Community via market stalls at a special Breakfast Showcase in mid-June.
Good luck to our future young entrepreneurs with their businesses! ⭐️
More photos can be found on our Facebook Page HERE.
Our Campus Uniform Shop Temporary EFTPOS Unavailability
Our Campus Uniform Shop Temporary EFTPOS Unavailability
Due to technical issues, there is no EFTPOS available at our campus Uniform Shop until further notice.
Purchases can still be made using cash, but there is limited change available.
The currently preferred method is ordering your items and paying for them online using The School Locker website, then organising the pick-up for our campus Uniform Shop only.
A notification will be sent to you when items are available for your collection from our campus Uniform Shop.
Our partner The School Locker’s Superstore over at Loganholme remains CLOSED until late April (exact date TBC) due to urgent maintenance work announced back on Tuesday 12 March.
They are continuing their offer of FREE shipping for online purchases to apologise for these unexpected inconveniences.
Online ordering and purchasing QuickLink available 24/7 HERE.
Parents/Carers: Thank you for your patience and understanding during these current challenges!
2024 Trimester One Sport: TAS Finals Round Weekend | Results Summary
2024 Trimester One Sport: TAS Finals Round Weekend | Results Summary
Here is your final weekly wrap for Trimester One Sport with our big TAS Finals Round results from last Saturday 23 March...
Congratulations to all our Canterbury athletes for your hard work, team work, training attendance, resilience and successes – big and small – across Term One.
We completed this first Trimester with FOUR of the eight Premierships up for grabs – First IV Girls Tennis , Intermediate 1 Girls Tennis , Year 9 Boys Volleyball and Year 7/8 Red Boys Volleyball .
Plus we recorded 12 Top 3 finishes across all our teams with 18 Wins, 1 Draw and 15 Losses over the weekend – some of them extremely narrow!
Ultimately, Canterbury College has finished Trimester One ranked third in the TAS Champion Schools Table.
So thank you to our various Sport Coordinators, Coaches, Parents, Carers and Supporters for your time and dedication, and heartfelt barracking from the sidelines each Saturday morning.
Now let’s fire up for Trimester Two Sport with the Cross Country Championships , Girls Hockey , Girls Netball , Boys Rugby and Boys Tennis .
And as always... Go Taipans!
Canterbury 2016 Graduate Wins Australia’s Richest Poetry Prize!
Canterbury 2016 Graduate Wins Australia’s Richest Poetry Prize!
Canterbury Class Of 2016 graduate Svetlana Sterlin has won the Helen Anne Bell Poetry Bequest Award for her book-length manuscript: ‘If Movement Were A Language’.
Selected from a final distinguished shortlist of four candidates, Svetlana receives $40,000 plus publication of her winning manuscript by the independent Vagabond Press.
This is the fifth biennial award made under the bequest for a poetry collection by a female poet, which reflects Australian culture in some way, and is presented by the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
Ms Sterlin commenced Year 9 at Canterbury College in 2013 representing Ramsey House, and was an active member of the school’s athletics, cross country and swimming teams.
She represented Canterbury numerous times in cross country events up to the regional level, swimming up to the national level, and even competed at the 2015 Pacific School Games.
In 2016, Svetlana held the position of College Swimming Captain and involved herself in the Good Shepherd Program – a Seniors mentoring initiative supporting Year 7 students. ✍️
On the academic front, Ms Sterlin won an Australasian Schools Writing Competition Achievement Award back in 2014 – a positive omen for the professional recognition to come.
Svetlana’s writing has been recognised with other literary awards, aside from this prestigious Helen Anne Bell Poetry Award, namely the 2023 Richell Prize and the State Library of Queensland’s Young Writers Award.
Her poetry and short fiction appears in: Island, Westerly, takahē, Meanjin, Cordite and elsewhere.
Svetlana also edits with Voiceworks and is the founding editor of her own magazine featured here on her website: ‘swim meet lit mag’.
As an emerging screenwriter, Ms Sterlin has participated in various programs and initiatives run by Screen Queensland and the Queensland Writers Centre.
While her early writing was based in the world of fantasy, her recent works are largely centred around her lived experiences – much of it about her huge passion for swimming – perhaps first gained with Canterbury College…
Born in New Zealand to Russian/Jewish parents, Svetlana is now a Swimming Coach based in Brisbane.
She grew up with her own successful Swimming Coach father, so naturally her many stories revolve around swimming and take place poolside – including her winning entry in this latest high-level prize.
The Helen Anne Bell Poetry Bequest Award judging panel praised her manuscript, calling it:
“Captivating in its evocations of swimming in literal and metaphorical terms, and in its characterisation of the complexities of a family life, at once supportive and salutary.”
“Each of the poems is striking as its own self-contained sigh and collectively they develop a powerful narrative arc mapped out in language that is fresh, lyrical, stylish and brave.”
“The collection confronts ideas of displacement, mortality, human intimacy and self-knowledge in challenging and engaging terms.”
Ms Sterlin expressed her gratitude in her award acceptance speech.
“This is an incredible honour. To be among such esteemed company and to have even made the shortlist is such a proud achievement of mine.”
“Now, the opportunity for my debut collection to be published with Vagabond is a dream come true.”
“I cannot wait for the ripples of my poems to reach the shores I’ve been swimming towards for so long."
“As I grew up and my family moved around, swimming was one of the only constants in my life.”
The Helen Anne Bell Poetry Bequest Award is funded by the generous bequest of former university student and namesake Helen Anne Bell, and celebrates women poets and Australian literature.
Born in 1947, Bell worked widely in the areas of Adult Literacy and Aboriginal Education and was a Member of the NSW Adult Literacy Council, Australian Council for Adult Literacy, NSW Teachers Federation, Committee to Defend Black Rights and the Australian Association of Adult Education.
In this competition, entrants submit manuscripts between 50-80 pages long, which must relate to Australia in some way, and are judged by three distinguished award-winning Australian female poets and academics.
The current judging panel comprises of Cassandra Atherton, Jeanine Leane and Maxine Beneba Clark.
We couldn’t be prouder of Svetlana and her achievements, which reflect the spirit of excellence that defines Canterbury College.
Join us in congratulating Svetlana on this well-deserved honour!
2024 Junior School Interhouse Cross Country Carnival | 9am – 11:45am, THIS Monday 25 March @ Oval 2 – Canterbury College
2024 Junior School Interhouse Cross Country Carnival | 9am – 11:45am, THIS Monday 25 March @ Oval 2 – Canterbury College
What: 2024 Junior School Interhouse Cross Country Carnival.
When: 8:40am For 9:00am Start – 11:45am With Morning Tea Until 12pm Midday, THIS Monday 25 March 2024.
Where: Oval 2 – Canterbury College | Near Yalburru Community Café.
- Entry via Junior School Gate, High Road, Waterford with onsite parking available.
- Attending parents/carers & families have a designated spectators area near our Yalburru Community Café.
Who: For All ELC – Year 6 Students | Parents, Carers & Families Most Welcome.
Hosts: Junior School | Mr Ben Maxfield – Junior School Head of Sport & Activities.
RSVPs: Not Required.
Dress Code: Students: School Sports Uniform | Parents/Carers & Families: Casual Wear.
Contact: Junior School Admin – T: 07 3299 0847 | E:
IMPORTANT PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE: Easterly Street Roundabout and High Road Set-Down Zones and Carparking Update
IMPORTANT PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE: Easterly Street Roundabout and High Road Set-Down Zones and Carparking Update
Dear Parents, Carers and Families,
We understand that drop-off and pick-up routines are not straightforward here at Canterbury in 2024, due to the closure of the Easterly Street parking and set-down zone, because of the ongoing Junior School construction work.
In advance of this work commencing, we purposely increased the general carparking capacity of the school by over 120 parks – across the High Road carpark, Sports Hall carpark and Aquatic Centre carpark.
We currently have traffic marshals working in the High Road carpark to assist with the flow of traffic through the correct lanes during peak morning drop-offs and afternoon pick-ups.
We have now also made the decision to have a traffic marshal working at Care Central’s Easterly Street roundabout in the mornings and afternoons as well.
Important Note: Unfortunately, it is not possible for parents or carers to park at this Easterly Street roundabout for longer than 15 minutes.
It is essentially a drop-off and pick-up zone only until construction work is completed, with 15 minutes allowed for those parents or carers who need to collect an unwell child from inside Care Central.
We wish to advise you that Logan City Council has been issuing infringement tickets to those drivers choosing to park along the Easterly Street footpath.
While some parents have been using this area for quite a while, it is not regarded as a legal carparking zone.
And the Council has indicated to us that they will continue to fine motorists who use this footpath area for parking.
As a suggestion, many parents have shifted their drop-offs and pick-ups for their Years 5-6 students over to the new Sports Hall and Aquatic Centre carparks to avoid the congestion.
So this is something you may wish to consider and trial with your own children if possible.
High Road’s Junior School access has been engineered as well as we possibly can, while Easterly Street access will remain challenging during this construction phase, which is expected to end later this year.
We are all part of one Canterbury Community, and we need to work cooperatively to keep our carparks and set-down areas functioning, while still completely safe for our children.
So I please ask for your patience and understanding over the next few months.
And please be respectful to any staff or traffic marshals who ask you to move on from areas that are not regarded as carpark zones.
Nobody deserves to be abused for just doing their job in the best interests of the whole community.
Yours sincerely,
Dan Walker
College Principal
Canterbury College End Of Term One Easter Chapel Service
Canterbury College End Of Term One Easter Chapel Service
What: Canterbury College End Of Term One Easter Chapel Service.
When: 1:30pm – 2:15pm, Thursday 28 March 2024 | Last School Day Term One.
Where: CEC – Canterbury Events Centre.
- Entry via Junior School Gate, High Road, Waterford with carparking available onsite.
Who: Whole College Students & Staff – Junior & Senior Schools | Parents, Carers & Families Most Welcome.
Host: College Chaplain Fr Dan Talbot.
RSVPs: Not Required.
Dress Code: Students – Summer School Uniform / Plus Blazers If On-Stage | Parents & Carers – Smart Casual.
Contact: Senior School Admin – T: 07 3299 0843 | E: OR Junior School Admin – T: 07 3299 0847 | E:
Our 2024 Canterbury College Alumnus Of The Year Award Winner is…
Our 2024 Canterbury College Alumnus Of The Year Award Winner is…
Our winning past student was a 2003 School Captain, who went on to complete a Bachelor of Business Management Degree majoring in Human Resources, at the University of Queensland.
Since 2011, she’s been working for the Brisbane Airport Corporation, making their Executive Team in 2018, as the Executive General Manager of Human Resources.
While our school faced its own COVID pandemic campus hurdles, can you imagine the ‘mega challenges’ the HR Department of an airport went through?
Hundreds of cancelled flights, long-term grounded crews, reduced maintenance hours, forced staff redundancies, skeleton airport services… the list goes on…
And then, having to pull it all back together again, and rebuild staff levels after COVID ended.
Well, our Canterbury alumnus helped steer the Brisbane Airport Corporation through this HR nightmare.
In return, her strategic HR skills have been formally recognised, with the BAC being awarded ‘Best HR Strategic Plan’ – a document which she co-authored.
She’s also been shortlisted as a finalist for the ‘Best Learning and Development Strategy’ at the National HR Awards.
Brisbane Airport Corporation has been recognised as an ‘Employer of Choice’ by both the Australian Business Awards and Australian HR Awards during our graduate’s tenure.
She has served on the board of the Karlee Adams Foundation – a not-for-profit organisation working to reduce the impact of melanomas and other skin cancers on Australians.
And last year she participated in the Live Like Her Challenge to raise awareness and money for homeless women.
She’s also campaigned for better support by employers for pregnant women and for women working in the infrastructure sector.
So it gives us great pleasure on Canterbury College’s 37th Birthday Foundation Day to present the 2024 Alumnus of the Year Award to Mrs Jane Dionysius – or as we knew her in 2003 – Ms Jane Hampson!
As part of this prestigious past student award, Canterbury donated $1,000 to Jane’s favourite nominated charity organisation – Melanoma Patients Australia – Karlee Adams Foundation Partners.
- Canterbury College 37th Foundation Day, Friday 15 March 2024.
