CAPTAIN'S CORNER

SENIOR CAPTAIN 

The first few weeks of Term 4 have included some major events for our Senior School, especially our Year 12s, who have now completed their 13-year journey. The official closing ceremony was held at Crown, where students, staff and families arrived, at this very special occasion, all dressed up and excited to celebrate the Class of 2026. 

A lot of the celebration occurred on the dancefloor, where the students weren't afraid to show off their winning moves, which led them to victory against the teachers in the annual WoMankinnon dance battle. 

However, there were many other celebrations in the lead up to Valedictory, including Dress Up day, where students came to school in fantastic costumes, displaying their creativity and enjoying the events held in the gym, along with a morning sausage sizzle. 

Another highlight was the shirt signing on the day of the Valedictory. Students signed one another’s shirts in an emotional farewell and embraced one another for potentially the last time. Emotions continued to build in the Year 12 Assembly, which featured videos, live acts and goodbyes prepared by the students. By the end of the assembly, tears were definitely flowing. With the celebrations over, we wish the Year 12s all the best with their exams and their future endeavours. 

During these events our sister school, Alfred Wegner Schule, from Germany came on an exchange visit. The students were able to explore Australia with their host families and attend classes at McKinnon. 

My family was fortunate enough to host one of the exchange students, and I was grateful for the opportunity to get to know them personally and learn about their life in Germany. This experience is a great way for students to learn about different cultures and customs, providing a fantastic learning experience for everyone involved. We wish the AWS all the best with their travels home and look forward to hearing from the McKinnon students about their exchange when they travel to Germany in late November. 

With this being my last Captain’s Corner report, I can confidently say that, on behalf of the Senior Art, Music and Sport Captains, we have thoroughly enjoyed serving McKinnon over the past year. This is a fantastic opportunity, and I would highly encourage all students to apply for any leadership position. I wish the Year 12s all the best with their upcoming exams and students in other year levels success in their studies as we approach the end of the year. Enjoy the upcoming summer holidays! 

Benny Baldwin

Year 12 Student

JUNIOR CAPTAIN 

Over the recent school holidays, a group of 33 Year 9 students went on a Red Earth Immersion trip to Northern Queensland. This was an incredible and life changing experience for us all. From swimming in the Great Barrier Reef, to making damper with Traditional Owners, the entire immersion was truly unforgettable. 

For the majority of the trip, we stayed at Gambir Homeland located in Cape York. Upon arrival, we were met with the warm presence of Dora and Trev, the Traditional Owners of Gambir, and two of the oldest members of their community and family. We also had the privilege of meeting the rest of their family members, whose ages ranged all the way from kids and toddlers that never stopped wanting to run around and play, to aunties and uncles who were always down for a good long chat. It was our duty to make sure everyone was fed, the place was clean and the owners always had a cup of tea in hand.

We learnt about the incredible traditions and practices of their culture. Trev taught us all how to throw a spear, and Dora gave us a taste of what it is like to speak and learn their language. After everything they taught us, the least we could do was give back by working hard on our fence building project. We all contributed to the ongoing construction of a white fence that surrounded the homeland, and seeing it finished at the end of our stay was an absolutely amazing way to leave our mark on Gambir. 

Some of our favourite moments came from things as simple as painting, weaving, making damper and preparing Gurruma, a traditional meal prepared using coal and leaves as a homemade slow cooker that sat beneath the ground. Our hearts were filled as we sat around long dinner tables enjoying dinners under the stars, and singing all together along to the guitar, around the crackling fire. 

After sadly leaving Gambir, we swam in the Great Barrier Reef and saw the incredible coral and a variety of beautiful sea creatures and marine life. We spent the day on the boat soaking up the beautiful sunshine and enjoying our final moments together as a group. 

This immersion changed the way we all see Australia and has opened our minds and hearts to the vibrant culture and earthy simplicity of living in a place as beautiful as Gambir. We all returned home to our families with fresh perspectives and intense gratitude to have been a part of the 2026 Red Earth trip. 

Elizabeth Noble

Year 9 Student