From award-winning performances and work experience reflections to immersive excursions and innovative STEM challenges, our secondary students embraced every opportunity this term.
As we wrap up Term Two, we take a moment to celebrate the remarkable dedication, growth, and spirit our students have demonstrated throughout the term. Their commitment to learning, co-curricular involvement, and personal development has been truly inspiring. It’s been a term rich with academic milestones, vibrant events, and points of reflection. We extend our sincere thanks to our passionate and hardworking staff, whose unwavering support and expertise continue to shape a nurturing and high–quality learning environment for all.
Looking ahead to the school holidays, we’re excited to hear more about our students’ enriching experiences on the European Music Tour. At the time of publishing, the tour group is travelling from Salzburg to Vienna to begin their participation in the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival. We eagerly anticipate hearing highlights of both the competition and their travels upon their return.
We are deeply grateful to the staff for their leadership and support, not only while accompanying students abroad, but also for their dedication in preparing our Music students for this prestigious event. We wish all staff and students a safe, inspiring, and rewarding journey.
Whether you are chasing warmer weather these holidays or embracing the crisp chill of Melbourne’s winter, we hope the break offers families a chance to rest, recharge, and enjoy time together. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for Term Three on Tuesday, 22 July—refreshed and ready for another exciting chapter.
Kath Woolcock
Head of Senior School
Tom Clark
Head of Middle School
On Wednesday, 2 July 2025, the Premier’s VCE Awards Ceremony was held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Premier’s VCE Awards recognise the exceptional accomplishments of individual students and pays tribute to the principals, teachers and families who play a valuable role in supporting them during their VCE studies.
We were delighted to celebrate three students from Camberwell Girls who were recognised at the Premier’s VCE Awards for their outstanding achievement in their Unit 3 and 4 VCE studies in 2024:
More than 1,000 guests attended the prestigious ceremony, and it was a privilege for me, the Year 12 Coordinator, Mrs Nareen Robinson and EAL Teacher Ms Ting Liu, to celebrate alongside the students and their families. Congratulations again to Olive, Xinning and Sara on this outstanding achievement.
Kath Woolcock
Head of Senior School
Hannah L (Year 12) recently took part in the inspiring Monash Community Horn Day, held at the Sir Zelman Cowan School of Music at Monash University. This vibrant event brought together over 50 French Horn players of all levels, including school students, tertiary musicians, educators, and professional artists from the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO).
The day featured tailored ensemble rehearsals and insightful discussions. Hannah was honoured to be selected for the first horn solo part in the advanced ensemble, performing alongside MSO Principal Horn Nicholas Fleury and University of Melbourne Senior Lecturer Carla Blackwood. Seated between these two esteemed musicians, Hannah described the experience as inspiring.
Hannah’s Reflection: I played the first horn solo part, shared with Nico, and was seated between him and Carla Blackwood which was super fun and a memorable experience. We performed an exciting repertoire, including a medley from Frozen, the iconic Waltzing Matilda, and a traditional hunting call. A highlight of the day was a performance by MSO horn players and university lecturers, featuring a horn octet and a unique horn–only arrangement of Danny Boy by Jacob Collier, arranged by MSO’s Josiah Kop.
Just days later, on 21 June, Hannah competed in the Ringwood Eisteddfod Woodwind and Brass Open Solo competition, performing Olivier Messiaen’s challenging Appel Interstellaire. Her performance stood out among 14 competitors, earning her first place. The adjudicator praised her exceptional musicianship, tonal colour, and technical mastery. As a result, Hannah has been invited to perform at the Eisteddfod Showcase Concert on 19 July, offering her the exciting opportunity to play on a professional stage with full theatre facilities. Hannah continues to pursue excellence in both French Horn and Piano with passion and dedication. Congratulations, Hannah.
Kate Savige
Director of Music (Curriculum)
Last week, our Year 12 students were treated to an exciting and immersive experience run by Swinburne University. Three dynamic workshops each offered students a hands–on glimpse into different fields of study and potential career paths, allowing them to explore their interests in a practical and engaging way.
Students had the opportunity to choose from the following workshops:
All three workshops were highly interactive and well-received, with students actively participating and collaborating throughout. The sessions helped students reflect on their own strengths and interests as they start to consider future study and career options.
Ashley Nguyen
Head of Careers Education
At the end of Term Two, our Year 10 students stepped out of the classroom and into the real world for their much–anticipated Work Experience Week. From personal styling studios and law firms to architecture practices, finance companies, construction sites, marketing agencies, and healthcare settings, students explored a wide range of industries and professions.
Work experience is a valuable part of the Year 10 journey. It allows students to gain firsthand insight into the world of work, develop essential skills like communication, time management, and problem–solving, and begin to understand what careers might suit their interests and strengths. It also helps build confidence and independence in a way that’s hard to replicate in the classroom.
The feedback from employers was overwhelmingly positive, with many praising our students for their enthusiasm, professionalism, and willingness to learn. We’re incredibly proud of how our students represented the School and embraced this opportunity.
Here are reflections from Millie M and Harper D about their experience.
“My favourite part about working at The Digital Picnic was how inclusive and welcoming the workplace and team were. By the end of the week, it truly felt like I had been part of the company for years, thanks to the wonderful relationships I built with each of the staff members. Thanks to the work experience program—and The Digital Picnic—I now know that I’d love to work in a job as creative and inspiring as the one I experienced there.”
— Mille M
“Completing my work experience at a law firm was a fun and insightful opportunity, which has given me comfort and excitement that working in the legal profession is something that I would enjoy if I were to pursue it as a future career. The experience of writing blog posts, engaging with legal research, observing law cases, and learning about the leasing processes and law terminology was both valuable and interesting. ” — Harper D.
Ashley Nguyen
Head of Careers Education
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We were excited to host mock interviews for our Year 9 students, an annual event only made possible through the support and participation of our extended alums and parent community. The initiative is part of the World of Work curriculum, which introduces CGGS students to our extensive Careers program, led by Ms Ashley Nguyen. Mock interviews provide students with invaluable experience in facing real first job interviews, allowing them to practice their responses and receive constructive feedback on their performance. The opportunity to engage with interviewers who are unfamiliar to them is particularly beneficial, closely mimicking real–world interview scenarios.
Adding to the value of this experience, our Year 9s also had the chance to hear from current Year 10 students who are balancing part–time work with their academic and co-curricular commitments. The Year 10s shared their insights and experiences, highlighting how they manage their time and the skills they have gained from being actively involved in all facets of the School’s co-curricular program. Their stories were not only inspiring but also provided practical advice and encouragement to the Year 9 students as they prepare to enter the workforce.
We extend a heartfelt thanks to our Camberwell Girls community for their support of this initiative and encourage anyone who would like to contribute to similar programs to get in touch with our Community Engagement office and become a fully fledged volunteer.
Kate Manners
Director of Strategic Initiatives
On Tuesday, 24 June, Year 8 and 9 students took part in The VERI Spatial Challenge, a unique STEM experience that involved activities celebrating the 105th anniversary of the School’s iconic fig tree. The challenge was co-designed with our partners at Veris, an Australian company specialising in spatial data and surveying services.
Students were challenged to simulate a drone swarm that would replicate the life–size shape and volume of the tree without using direct measurements or advanced equipment. Instead, they relied on creativity, teamwork, and their understanding of mathematics and geography.
Working in teams, they brainstormed, sketched, and applied scaling techniques, and concepts of geometry and spatial reasoning to estimate the tree’s volume based on familiar objects. They also considered how drones would need to be spaced and distributed to create a realistic 3D representation in the sky.
This hands-on activity not only deepened students’ appreciation for mathematics and geography but also sparked their curiosity about future careers in STEM. Students got a glimpse of how important measurements are in the geospatial industry, with messages and videos from Veris, including how surveyors would solve problems like this in real-world settings.
Kingsley Ren
Physics and Mathematics Teacher
The Units 3 and 4 Legal Studies excursion gave students a valuable opportunity to connect their classroom learning with real-world legal and political processes. The day began with a tour of Parliament House, where students learned about its history and functions. They observed both the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council in session, and were joined by Member for Kew, Jess Wilson MP, who answered questions about her role and responsibilities as Shadow Minister for Education.
In the afternoon, students visited the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court and observed several hearings, including bail applications and sentencing matters. This provided a clear look at how the courts operate.
Overall, the experience helped students make meaningful connections to key legal concepts studied in class and we also enjoyed being able to connect with two Year 10 students who were visiting as part of their work experience placement!
Mohita Sahni
Legal Studies/Commerce Teacher
A group of curious Year 9s took part in a day-long experience designed to give them a taste of life in the field as a surveyor and working in the office with our partners at Veris. To start, they braved the rain and skipped over puddles to record stormwater infrastructure in Hawthorn. Students then moved to on the banks of the Yarra, where they learned about mapping the river system for flood modelling. Ironically, all the rain meant that we were not able to see the ‘remote-controlled’ surveying boat in action.
At the office, students learned all about Veris, career pathways in the geospatial industry and the graduate program. They heard about a range of different projects, which centred around the themes of the day – water resources, flood modelling and Water Sensitive Urban Design. Veris team members also shared personal stories about their career journey so far. The day concluded with students working in groups to apply what they had learnt to a scenario and presenting back to the team of Veris professionals for feedback.
“I enjoyed learning about the way that LiDAR (laser light pulses) from the boat uses distance and time to calculate the depth/shape of underwater features (bathymetry) in order to create a 3D model.”
Ms Walter
“The final activity, where students were given a budget and tasked with planning a strategy to prevent flooding, was a brilliant way of bringing everything together. It showcased how technical knowledge, teamwork, and creativity come together in real–world problem solving.”
Mr Ren
“I really enjoyed learning how the different experiences intertwined… I also realised how vital geography is in our world and the huge part it plays in shaping everyday activities.”
Minaaz K
“I learnt a lot about geospatial technologies and this was a field of work that I was not very familiar with.” Lily W
“I found it interesting how many different pathways all lead to surveying, proving it connected a lot of different areas, like how there were presenters at Veris who came to their surveying/GIS careers after studying civil engineering or even studying a Bachelor in Design.”
Anni Z
Karoline Walter
Head of Geography
The Senior Hockey team delivered on the biggest stage last week in winning the GSV Senior B Division Premiership.
With a Finals campaign not guaranteed until their convincing 7 – 0 last-round victory of the regular season, the Camberwell Girls team progressed into the finals conversation with a fourth-place finish at the conclusion of home and away matches.
The elimination semi–final match–up against the division’s first–placed team was always going to be a huge challenge in which the Camberwell Girls team would have to be at their best. This proved to be the case, with Camberwell Girls going behind on the scoreboard on two occasions before producing their highest level of play for the entire season in the second half. With only minutes remaining, match–day captain Anika S (Year 11) converted on a penalty, which saw Camberwell Girls take a 3 – 2 lead and progress to the Grand Final.
Buoyed with the confidence and self–belief emanating from such a courageous victory, the Camberwell Girls team dominated the season decider from the outset and never looked in doubt of claiming the silverware, winning the Grand Final 5 goals to 2.
Congratulations to these mighty twelve players on their grit and determination to overcome two quality opponents in the fiery cauldron of high–level competition.
![SS_Charlotte Chong[68]](https://cggs.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SS_Charlotte-Chong68.jpeg)
With 10 rounds completed in the BNA Saturday Netball competition, a multitude of Camberwell Girls teams are well poised to be playing finals, with six matches remaining in the regular season.
Semi–Final Saturday will be conducted on 30 August, with Grand Final action on Saturday, 6 September.
Officially the fastest human being at Camberwell Girls this year, Open 100m Champion Emily (Year 10) has enjoyed a remarkable semester of sporting achievement.
Having claimed the titles of Year Level Champion at both the House Athletics and Cross Country Carnivals, followed by selection to the GSV Representative Soccer Team, Emily has been firing on all cylinders in 2025.
Term One saw Emily and her Intermediate Softball teammates progress to the GSV A Division Grand Final, with this term seeing her play at the Centre position in her netball team, which has recorded a wonderful season, qualifying for GSV Semi–Finals.
Emily acknowledges that the beautiful game (soccer) is her favourite to play, where she is currently playing her trade at the U20 National Premier League level. Athletics also features prominently, as she was awarded the 2025 U15 Best Performance Club Trophy to sit alongside her gold medal for the 2024 U20 4 x 200m Relay at the State level. Emily has competed in the Stawell Gift, the nation’s oldest and considered most prestigious running event, in the U18 100m, in which she won her heat to progress to the semi–finals.
A student at Camberwell Girls since Year 7, Emily loves the strong sense of community and the opportunities that attending such a school provides. This year, she has been a voice for the Year 10 cohort as a member of the Student Representative Council, driving the Class Representative Think Tank to promote the interests of her peers.
![SS_Emily Lewis[35]](https://cggs.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SS_Emily-Lewis35.jpeg)
Year 10 student Millie has enjoyed great success this term as a Captain of the Northern Junior Development Representative team competing in the 2025 AFL Vic Metro Junior Development Series.
Playing in the Division One side, Millie led her team to produce an undefeated record, on the back of an extensive training block under coaches with AFLW playing experience. Winning a Best-on-Ground medal for her performance in one of the matches, Millie was a standout in this, her second year playing in the representative team.
Millie is no stranger to high–level AFL representative play, having been selected in the inaugural Victorian U12 Girls Team in 2021, one of the rare few to have worn the cherished Big V jersey!
Cameron Childs
Director of Sport
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From award-winning performances and work experience reflections to immersive excursions and innovative STEM challenges, our secondary students embraced every opportunity this term.
Curiosity, creativity and care have shaped Term 2 at the Junior School with highlights including student-led sustainability initiatives, national debating success and inspiring community connections.
Celebrating 105 years, rallying behind fundraising efforts, and supporting student growth – ended by showcasing the strength and spirit of our Camberwell Girls community.
This edition, Mrs Dunwoody reflects on a term filled with learning, leadership, and community connection, including milestone events and exciting student initiatives.
