Mrs Dunwoody reflects on the significance of the creative arts and last week’s Junior School Art Show.
The past two weeks at Camberwell Girls have been filled with student-driven initiatives and experiences that showcased both their leadership and talents. Our Wellbeing Committee and Literature Captains joined forces to create an engaging program for the ever-popular Book and CamberWELL Week, which saw the School community come together to practice self-care, share book recommendations and celebrate the wonderful world of literature. Some highlights from the week include Murrundindi’s Yadaki meditation session, the highly anticipated CGS vs. CGGS Netball Match, and an inspiring visit from Melbourne based author Emily Brewin.
Fundraising for our Service Learning Tour to Timor Leste is also in its final stages, with students raising over $7000 for the Spend It Well Foundation. The funds raised will be used to build a new school and to provide essentials like gardens, desks, chairs, and playgrounds in a community that our students will visit during the tour. We look forward to farewelling the students and staff attending this tour in the last week of term and know that they are well prepared to make an impact and learn from this very worthwhile experience.
Students have also impressed on the track, on the snowfields, and in the technologies space with strong results at the Division 2 GSV Athletics Carnival, the Victorian Interschools Snowsport Championships and VEX Robotics Competition. Success was not only reserved for our students, with a staff member making history in the AFL, while another tasted their fourth consecutive year of premiership success in Victorian Netball League.
Over the next few weeks, we look forward to sharing many special events with our students and families, including our very first House Cinema, the annual Father’s Day Breakfast, the Celebration of Sport Breakfast and the highly anticipated Evening of Harmony. We also wish our athletes participating in the GSV Track and Finals Evening all the best, as they compete against the best of the 23 GSV schools. What an incredible end to the term it is shaping up to be!
Kath Woolcock
Head of Senior School
Tom Clark
Head of Middle School
Year 8 students embarked on an unforgettable adventure to Merricks Lodge. The camp was a perfect mix of challenge, discovery, and fun, allowing us to reconnect with nature and each other. One of the highlights was the hiking experiences, including the Bush Ranger Bay Walk that led us through winding trails, stairs, and even down to the beach. The campout was another standout moment – setting up tents, cooking together, and walking at night under the stars gave us a real sense of independence and resilience.
Activities like mountain boarding, boomerang throwing, bike rides, and tree climbing tested our courage and encouraged us to step outside our comfort zones. Many of us tried something completely new, whether it was survival skills, self-defence lessons, or even flag making. Daisy, the camp dog, brought a smile to everyone’s face and reminded us to enjoy the simple moments.
More than anything, camp taught us that persistence and support for each other make challenges easier. Facing challenges together – whether it was learning a tricky skill, completing a long hike, or setting up camp – reminded us that growth happens when we push ourselves.
“Mountain boarding was fun; everyone showed great perseverance and encouragement.” – Sophie M
“We liked the campout because we made a lot of memories, and the hike was beautiful.” – Amiya M and Sophie-May R
Year 8 Student reflections by Aaratrika A, Sarvani P, Shreya S and Clarissa C
On Monday the 18th of August, we hosted the annual CGGS vs CGS Netball match, which featured halftime show entertainment, fantastic commentary and a competitive game. A team of our Year 12s from Camberwell Girls went head-to-head in an extended netball match against the prefect team from Camberwell Grammar School. It was a rivalrous game, with the scoreboard was changing every few minutes. Camberwell Girls students from Years 7 to 12 were invited to come show their support and cheer on our players. Their energy was integral to the success of the event. The game ended in a narrow 16-14 win for Camberwell Boys, but it is safe to say the competition had everyone’s blood pumping right up until the very last second.
Thank you to all the players, dancers, commentators, scorers, umpires and supporters who made the whole experience so vibrant and fun. We’d also like to extend a thank you to Camberwell Grammar School for their enthusiasm and for giving us some good competition.
We’re super appreciative of the incredible community that we have here at Camberwell Girls and as our time as School Captains comes to an end, we hope that students never lose sight of the joy that is found in gathering as a school.
Abigail L, Angela L, Nysa R
School Captains
CGGS celebrated CamberWELL Week with a wide range of activities that brought our school together and highlighted creativity, inclusivity, and fun. A special week, it is held in collaboration with Book Week.
The week started with the annual CGGS vs CGS netball match, setting an upbeat tone for the week. On Tuesday, we saw students embrace Book Week dress-ups, while enjoying origami and board games. The origami will be donated to Waverly Valley Care Community through the Origami for Good initiative. Wednesday offered a calming Yadaki meditation session with Murrundindi as we all took a mid-week rest to regenerate. Participants were able to feel the vibrations from the Yadaki within their bodies which can promote relaxation and mindfulness. Thursday, we encouraged creativity and relaxation through mindfulness colouring, puzzles, and a collaborative mural that now can be seen when walking through the Courtyard breezeway. The week concluded with a highlight—author Emily Brewin visiting the school on Friday in the library, alongside a much-loved Crepe Day!
The event was a huge success, with high participation across year levels, a fantastic sense of school spirit, and plenty of positive feedback from students and staff. Thank you to everyone who participated and the committee members who volunteered their time to support the activities.
Ash L (Year 12) and Sophie P (Year 10) Student Wellbeing Committee Captains
Book Week Dress Up Day
On Tuesday 19 August, as part of our Book Week celebrations in the Secondary School, we invited all students and staff to dress up as their favourite book character. It was wonderful to see the school filled with an array of imaginative costumes inspired by much-loved characters. From favourite picture books and timeless classics to modern literary heroes, every outfit was created with enthusiasm and joy.
Staff joined in the fun too, sparking lively conversations about books, authors, and the stories behind each costume. The Brooksbank Library was buzzing with laughter as students and staff lined up for photo opportunities and a chance to win Best Dressed.
For older students, Book Week offers more than just a moment of fun. It’s a chance to reflect on how reading evolves as we grow—from childhood favourites to books that challenge our thinking, broaden our worldviews, and deepen our understanding of ourselves and others. We continue to encourage our students to be lifelong readers, and the House Readers Cup is a wonderful opportunity for them to share their current reads, write reviews, recommend titles to peers, and explore new genres they might not have considered before.
Fittingly, we announced the winners of the House Readers Cup during Book Week. Over the course of 14 weeks, our secondary students read and reviewed over 950 books from the Brooksbank Library. This year, the winning house was Lawrence, with Taylor, Schofield, and Singleton close behind.
A huge thankyou and congratulations to everyone who participated in both our Book Week celebrations and House Readers Cup.
Author Visit – Emily Brewin
We were delighted to welcome author Emily Brewin to the Brooksbank Library as part of our Book Week celebrations. Emily shared her reflections on the writing process, offering students a behind-the-scenes look at how her stories evolve – from the first spark of an idea, through research, drafting, and editing, to the final published book.
Emily spoke in depth about her young adult novel, A Way Home, which tells the story of Grace, a 16-year-old girl experiencing homelessness in Melbourne’s CBD. Grace’s life takes a turn when she discovers a community piano in the City Library. An encounter that reconnects her with memories of her mother, a celebrated pianist living with mental illness. Emily explained how the novel was inspired by real-life events and individuals she observed in the city, and how their stories helped shape the authenticity of her characters.
Our students were highly engaged throughout the session, asking thoughtful questions about the writing process, character development, and the social issues explored in the book. Emily’s visit also encouraged them to think more deeply about the stories that shape our world and inspired them to explore their own creativity through reading and writing.
Sally Spencer
Teacher Librarian
In Week 4, Camberwell Girls celebrated National Science Week with the theme for 2026 being “Decoding the Universe”. Through a wide range of exciting activities students were encouraged to explore, discover, and be inspired by the world of science!
On Wednesday, Secondary School students created DNA bracelets from colourful beads representing A, C, T, and G – the four chemical bases that form the letter of the DNA alphabet. while Junior School identifying different animal footprints and matched the footprint with the correct animal before crafting their own footprints using natural materials. On Thursday, Secondary School students joined the “Smelly Practical” which required them to identify different smells to decode a secret phrase, while Junior School students tested their design skills in the Spaghetti Bridge Challenge, showing impressive creativity. The celebrations concluded on Friday with a thrilling Escape Room for Secondary School, where teams raced to decode clues winning a variety of 3D-printed gadgets, and a lively Science Quiz for Junior School, testing knowledge and quick thinking.
National Science Week was not only a chance to celebrate scientific discovery but also to spark curiosity and remind us that science is for everyone. We hope these activities have inspired students to continue exploring STEAM both inside and outside the classroom.
A big thank you goes to the teachers and staff who helped organise the events, and to every student who participated and made the week a memorable celebration of science at CGGS!
Selina Z (Year 11) and Ella Z (Year 12)
On 8 August, our Year 7 Chinese students embarked on an enriching excursion to the Museum of Chinese Australian History, where they explored thousands of years of Chinese heritage alongside the stories of Chinese migration to Australia.
The experience began with a fascinating introduction to Ancient China, giving students insight into the dynasties and inventions that shaped one of the world’s oldest continuous civilisations. From traditional Chinese medicine to Zhang Heng’s earthquake-detecting invention in 132 AD, students discovered how ancient innovations and traditions continue to influence Chinese identity today.
The museum tour then shifted focus to the history of Chinese migration to Australia. Students learned about the arrival of Chinese immigrants during the Gold Rush of the 1850s, a time of both opportunity and adversity. Through artefacts, photographs, and personal accounts, they discovered the resilience of these early settlers, who faced significant challenges yet contributed enormously to Australia’s development. Their stories highlighted achievements in agriculture, commerce, infrastructure, and civic life, showing how Chinese Australians have been instrumental in shaping the nation’s history.
To conclude the day, students enjoyed a guided walk through Melbourne’s Chinatown. They admired the vibrant colours and intricate details of traditional Chinese architecture, learning about the symbolism of features such as protective lion statues and ornate gateways. These streets offered a living reminder of how Chinese heritage continues to thrive in contemporary Australia.
The excursion not only deepened students’ understanding of Chinese history – both ancient and modern – but also fostered respect for the resilience, contributions, and cultural richness of the Chinese Australian community. It was an experience that brought history to life and encouraged students to celebrate Australia’s multicultural heritage.
On Tuesday 12 August, Charlotte Cand Vivienne T proudly represented Camberwell Girls Grammar School at a VEX Robotics Competition, hosted by St Andrews Christian College. Competing against 28 teams from across Victoria, our team showcased exceptional skill, strategy, and sportsmanship throughout the day.
Before the event, teammates Claire P-H, Alana S, and Sophie L contributed heavily to building and preparing the robot, though they were unfortunately unable to attend on the day. Their hard work laid the foundation for the team’s success.
After their first four matches, Charlotte and Vivienne had a good run with two wins and two losses, placing them 12thgoing into the second half of the day. The afternoon saw their determination shine through, especially in an exciting 29–24 point victory, where they secured the autonomous round and narrowly claimed driver control with a well-executed park from their alliance team, lifting them to 8th position on the leaderboard.
Finishing the qualifying rounds in 8th place earned them a spot in the prestigious Alliance Selection stage, where they chose to team up with a Copperfield College side – the same team they had triumphed with earlier. Together, they had a successful quarterfinal, delivering an incredible performance that included scoring two blocks in the high goal.
The semi-final was a hard-fought battle against St Andrews Christian College, where they ultimately bowed out. Nevertheless, this result marked their best competition to date — a remarkable leap from finishing near last in their previous outing to securing a place in the top six in only their second event.
The team’s growth as competitors is a testament to their dedication and collaborative spirit, and to the many hours they have all put into the competition. The school community congratulates them on this outstanding achievement and look forward to seeing their continued success at their next event in October.
VEX Robotics is an international STEM competition that challenges students to design, build, and program robots to complete specific tasks. It encourages problem-solving, teamwork, and innovation, giving young engineers a hands-on opportunity to put their skills to the test. If interested, please contact Mr Sam Fitzgerald for further details.
Sam Fitzgerald
Head of Digital Technologies
On Tuesday 26 August, we had the lucky opportunity alongside 19 other schools around Melbourne, to attend the 2025 Gender and Sexuality Interschool Student Symposium at Carey. The event focuses on promoting inclusivity and diversity and the ways on reaching a society in which everyone is equal, and everyone feels welcome to express themselves freely.
The day began with guest-speaker, Archie Beetle, the Founder and CEO of Queertown who discussed and shared their experiences growing up as a queer teen working through their identity. We also listened to a Q&A panel where we heard from several speakers who discussed a variety of intersecting topics, including the manosphere and respectful relationships, disability visibility, and neurodiversity within schools.
Later in the day, we each attended different workshops covering a multitude of topics in more detail, such as GSAs in schools, queer history, masculinity in online spaces, and LGBTQIA+ individuals in novels and nature. Carey was a super welcoming place, everyone was very kind, and we all found this experience extremely valuable and eye-opening.
Shreya H and Elsa W (Year 9), Elise O and Sophie P (Year 10) and Spencer P (Year 11)
CGGS athletes ventured to Lakeside Stadium in Albert Park on Wednesday 13 August to compete in one of three GSV Preliminary Carnivals, which are designed to allocate schools into divisions for the Championship Carnivals a fortnight later.
With four first, fifteen second and twenty-five third place event finishes, Camberwell Girls qualified for the Division Two Championship Carnival.
Congratulations to the following students who won their respective events at Prelims:
With the Division Two Championship Carnival completed this past Wednesday 27 August, a report on this showcase event will be included in the next edition of CamNews at the conclusion of Term 3.
Four Senior School students ventured to Mt Buller last week to represent the school at the Victorian Interschools Snowsport Championships.
Congratulations to our students that competed over two days in several events with the following results:
Alpine Giant Slalom @ Little Buller Spur
Ski Cross @ Skyline
Team member Jasmine X (Year 9) reflects on another enjoyable campaign in the Victorian Alps:
‘This winter marks my fifth Interschool Snowsports competition, and this year’s course has proven to be the most challenging yet. Unpredictable weather conditions, including wind and heavy fog, combined with a longer racecourse than in previous years, tested our skills and perseverance. Despite these difficulties, the unwavering support from staff, fellow students, and guardians provided invaluable encouragement. Overall, the experience has been deeply rewarding, fostering resilience and strengthening both individual and team spirit’.
Congratulations to Year 10 student – Selena C – who has recently returned from China after representing Australia at the 2025 Lishui International Inline Freestyle Open.
Competing in the Free Jump and Slide events, Selena established a new Australian record of 100cm in the Free Jump discipline, to place 7th and rocket up the world rankings to 19th.
Selena is no stranger to representing her country at international competition, as she wore the green-and-gold at the 2024 World Skate Games in Rome, Italy, competing at the Colosseum!
A recent convert to the sport of inline skating through her mother, who has international experience in speed skating, Selena lists the High Jump as her favourite event and also enjoys the Skate Cross.
Wishing Selena every success in her ambition to once again represent Australia at the World Skate Inline Freestyle Championships in Singapore this December.
Congratulations to Kaitlin Barr (Year 7 Coordinator & Physical Education Teacher) who made her AFL boundary umpiring debut last Saturday in the Round 24 match between the Adelaide Crows and North Melbourne Kangaroos.
Round 24 proved historic, as Kaitlin became one of only three women boundary umpires to officiate an AFL match in the 128 years of the VFL/AFL!
We wish Kaitlin a long and illustrious career with whistle in hand umpiring the great Australian game.
On the eve of the BNA Semi-Finals in which several CGGS teams will play for the opportunity to progress to Grand Finals on Saturday 6 September, CGGS Netball Coordinator/Sports Administrator – Alexia McConnell – has achieved another milestone in her storied coaching career.
Alexia is a coach with the City West Falcons Championship Team that recently claimed a fourth-successive Premiership in the Victorian Netball League (VNL). Alexia has coached at the Falcons during an era of incredible and sustained success, in which the team has won fifteen premierships since the inception of the VNL in 2009.
Easily the most successful club in the history of the VNL, the Falcons had to fight their way into the season decider this year, after losing the Major Semi-Final to a team that would become their Grand Final opponent.
Finding themselves 11 goals behind in the Grand Final, Alexia and the coaching staff made some courageous substitutions to have their side claw their way back into the match. These moves proved decisive, as the Falcons edged ahead on the scoreboard with only seconds remaining, to create history by winning a fourth-straight title.
After a season-long campaign that included 103 training sessions and matches, and a run of forty-six matches undefeated prior to the shock Major Semi-Final loss, Alexia takes her winning coaching style to the BNA courts these next two Saturdays, as CGGS teams compete for premiership glory.
Cameron Childs
Director of Sport
As I sit here typing this reflection, the dulcet drilling tones for the Barbara Sutton Hall refurbishment are vibrating their way through the walls. It’s the sound of an exciting future that awaits us.
The unexpected gift that this refurbishment brought with it, was the opportunity to perform our Senior School Production, Wolves are Coming For You, in a ‘found’ space. Negotiating shared space, a space with different parameters to a purpose-built theatre… an opportunity to really interrogate what it is that makes the telling of a story transform into a theatrical experience.
For 4 nights, the Camberwell Girls Grammar Gymnasium became the village hall for our “rural” community. A community designed by the VCE Theatre Studies composite class and populated by our own committed community of friends and family. As with all our productions, the cast, crew and creators demonstrated remarkable creativity, courage and collaboration, bringing this story to life with large scale live cinematography and exquisitely detailed miniatures. With a support network of Alumni hands to mentor our students through these uncharted waters, we feel especially lucky to belong to such a dedicated and extended theatrical family. Congratulations to our Year 12s who have performed, designed and or crewed with us throughout their years at CGGS – thank you to all you have given. We will miss you!
Keira Lyons
Head of Drama and Performing Arts
The Year 9 Social was a truly memorable evening, bringing together students from CGGS, CGS, Fintona and Strathcona. The atmosphere was filled with energy and excitement, with students eagerly embracing the chance to celebrate and connect with one another. From the very beginning, it was clear that everyone was ready to make the most of the night.
CGGS students conducted themselves wonderfully, displaying maturity while also bringing plenty of enthusiasm and joy to the occasion. It was fantastic to see them engaging wholeheartedly and representing the school with pride. One of the highlights of the evening was the dancefloor, which quickly became the centre of attention. Our students were ever present, dancing with confidence and creating an uplifting sense of fun that spread to everyone around them.
Beyond the music and dancing, the night also provided a special opportunity for friendships to grow and for connections between the schools to be strengthened. These occasions are a reminder of the importance of community and the joy that comes from celebrating together.
A big thank you goes to Camberwell Boys for their excellent organisation and for hosting such a fantastic evening.
Daniel Loff
Year 9 Year Level Coordinator
Mrs Dunwoody reflects on the significance of the creative arts and last week’s Junior School Art Show.
Mr Donohue takes this opportunity to farewell the Junior School community on his final day.
