Mrs Dunwoody reflects on the significance of the creative arts and last week’s Junior School Art Show.
What a term it has been! Our students have thrown themselves into every opportunity with energy, enthusiasm, and plenty of smiles along the way. From leaping to new personal bests at GSV Athletics, exploring the outdoors on Year Level Camps, debating their way through to DAV Debating Finals, to shining on stage in House Music and on camera in the first ever House Cinema, this term has been packed with highlights. There is so much to celebrate, and every student should be proud of the dedication and spirit they have shown.
Term Three also brings the excitement of our 2026 School Leadership announcements. Once again, students undertook a thorough process, submitting written applications and participating in both individual and group interviews. It has been inspiring to see their passion for leadership, their ideas for the School’s future and their eagerness to contribute to the Camberwell Girls community.
We extend our warm congratulations to Anneka S on their appointment as School Captain, and to Amber C and Christina W as School Vice Captains. In this edition of CamNews, we also celebrate all students who have stepped into various leadership roles, each contributing to the vibrant life of our School in their own way, and we acknowledge those that will act as leaders in 2026 in other and equally valuable ways.
Term Three is also a time for reflection and planning ahead. Students across the school have been selecting subjects for 2026 or putting in their VTAC preferences for life beyond school, thinking carefully about their interests and future goals. We thank staff, parents and guardians for their invaluable support in this process, from attending Curriculum Information Evenings to engaging in meaningful discussions, this partnership and collaborative approach makes a real difference.
As we head into the holidays, we wish all families a joyful and restful break. Safe travels to those heading further afield and may your days be filled with laughter and special memories. We wish the students and staff attending the Timor Leste Service Learning Immersion Tour a safe and productive experience, and we look forward to hearing their reflections and learnings when they return.
We look forward to seeing our VCE Unit 3 and 4 students at school in the final week of the holidays for their trial examinations, before welcoming all students back for Term Four on Monday 6 October.
Kath Woolcock
Head of Senior School
Tom Clark
Head of Middle School
At Camberwell Girls, our student leaders are some of our most valued members of the School community. During assembly on Thursday 11 September, we took the opportunity to acknowledge and thank the 2025 School Leaders for their outstanding contributions. Through their inspiring initiatives, events, and individual efforts, they have left a legacy that reflects their dedication, creativity, and commitment. We look forward to celebrating these achievements more formally at Presentation Evening on Wednesday 15 October.
At the same assembly, we were thrilled to introduce the 2026 School Leadership Team, which includes our School Captains, Vice Captains, House Leaders, Special Interest Captains, and Mentors. This team will work collaboratively over the coming year to develop programs and initiatives that continue to inspire, engage, and support the Camberwell Girls community.
The selection process for leaders is rigorous, and students complete written applications, participate in individual and group interviews, and some positions are then also voted on by both staff and students. This comprehensive process is made possible through the dedication of our staff, particularly the Heads of House and teachers overseeing co-curricular programs. We extend our sincere thanks to all staff involved for their commitment over the past months.
We also want to recognise and applaud all Years 10 and 11 students who put themselves forward for leadership positions. Stepping up takes courage, and every student who did so contributes to the strength and spirit of our school. Additional leadership opportunities will continue to be offered throughout the year, and we look forward to collaborating with all students on school projects and programs in 2026.
Finally, a huge congratulations to our 2026 Student Leadership Team, led by School Captain Anneka S, alongside School Vice Captains Amber C and Christina W. We are excited to see the creativity, energy, and inspiration this team will bring to our School in 2026!
Kath Woolcock
Head of Senior School
Eleanor Wood
Director of Co-Curricular Programs
Last year, Year 12 student Ella Z, responded to an opportunity to apply for Victorian Youth Parliament, a program through the YMCA.
Being accepted into this program led to being part of a team that drafted and wrote a bill, a process that culminated in a week-long camp and amazing series of events where she could work with other students, liaise and network with MPs, as well as the Governor and present her bill in Youth Parliament.
Ella was part of the Boroondara Youth Club team, made up of three other members. Their job was to write a bill to pose in Youth Parliament, proposing to make a change to current law. Her team met once a fortnight to work on their bill. In the Term Two holidays, she then met with the other teams in the program to present their bills and engage in a full week of debating.
Ella’s bill was the Period Product Accessibility Bill, which she suggested to her team. In the process of debating in July, her bill was debated and then passed and will now be submitted to the Minister of Youth for consideration. Another part of the Youth Parliament process was debating in response to other teams’ bills and Ella represented her team in refuting a bill that focused on a VCAA scaling reform.
Ella has been interested in politics for a long time and feels this incredible experience has helped her understand the process of democracy and the role of an MP. It was invigorating for her to meet the Governor and MP Georgie Purcell, and she has been able to connect with many people on LinkedIn.
Congratulations Ella on your dedicated commitment to this program that spanned many months.
Jennifer Gordon
Head of English
School Debating and Public Speaking Coordinator
On Tuesday 2 September, Phoebe P gave her first speech to Parliament, taking part in a competition held by Jess Wilson, Member for Kew.
Keen to get insight into the world of politics, Phoebe put her hand up to write a speech and deliver it to Jess Wilson, firstly at CGGS in the preliminary rounds and then at the finals which took place in Parliament of Victoria.
Students who took part were invited to write a speech as though they are a newly elected member of parliament and express their vision for the future.
Phoebe chose an issue that she is passionate about – representation in parliament and giving voice to a range of voices in communities. She worked to develop her vision, got feedback from Jess Wilson and refined her speech so she was ready to deliver it in the finals of the competition.
There were seven other speakers in the secondary school division of the competition, and all delivered with confidence about the issue they cared about. Phoebe delivered her speech with conviction and passion, citing the inspiration that came from watching Julia Gillard as the first female Prime Minister of Australia, an important role model for young women.
It was wonderful to cheer on Audrey C, who was the CGGS representative in the primary school division, as she promoted the serious issue of youth mental health.
Supporting Jess Wilson in adjudicating the speeches was former CGGS Principal, Anne Feehan. It was a pleasure to connect with her at the end of the competition.
We look forward to inviting Year 11 students to take part in this competition in 2026.
Jennifer Gordon
Head of English
School Debating and Public Speaking Coordinator
The annual Alliance Française oral competition once again highlighted the passion and perseverance of our senior French students. This year’s turnout was exceptionnel, with more than 1,300 students across Victoria participating in the Senior Oral Assessment category.
The format of the assessment challenged students to demonstrate both their conversational skills and their ability to discuss complex ideas in French. Each candidate engaged in a nine-minute conversation with an assessor: four minutes of general conversation, followed by a five-minute discussion on a specific topic. This required not only a mastery of grammar and vocabulary, but also the ability to think critically and respond spontaneously in another language.
We are thrilled to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our own students. One of our Year 11 students, Camille C and two of our Year 12 students, Sophie C and Rhea J have progressed to the finals next weekend. Their success reflects hours of practice, resilience, and a genuine love of the French language and culture.
Competitions like this remind us of the power of languages to open doors, build confidence, and connect us to the wider world. We congratulate all participants and cheer on our finalists as they represent the school with flair and determination.
Dr Jo Rittey
Head of Languages
Independent Schools Victoria’s Annual Student Art Exhibition once again lit up with bold ideas, vibrant energy, and a celebration of student voice. This year, we were proud to have 12 students representing our school, showcasing an inspiring mix of oil paintings and custom-designed skateboards that reflected both technical skill and personal expression.
These works sparked conversation, invited reflection, and reminded us of the power of art to move, challenge, and connect.
The opening night was a joyful gathering, with many of our exhibiting students in attendance alongside families, staff, and fellow art lovers. The buzz of excitement was palpable as guests explored the diverse works from across ISV member schools, including contributions from Camberwell Grammar, Geelong Grammar, Penleigh Essendon Grammar, St Michaels Grammar and Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar.
We’re incredibly proud of our students not just for the quality of their work, but for their courage in sharing it publicly. Their participation in this exhibition is a testament to their creativity, commitment, and the supportive culture of our school community.
To explore the full exhibition, visit ISV’s Outreach page or follow the highlights on Instagram @independentschoolsvictoria.
Rachael Miller
Head of Art and Design
On Wednesday 10 September, eight students along with three staff began the Timor-Leste Service Learning Immersion Tour. The School and wider community has come together and over the past month, through a Silent Auction, many generous donations, a student and staff casual day with raffle prizes and lunch time BBQ, funds have been raised to support organisations the group will work with in Timor-Leste. $8000 AUD has been raised to support Spend-It-Well to continue building schools and gardens to increase access to education. 55 Days for Girls kits were packed by students and will be delivered to local communities whilst in Timor-Leste. Other funds raised will be used to provide local community and educational facilities with resources, such as paints and gardening tools, to continue their vision in Timor-Leste, as this comes from the $1400 raised through the Casual Day raffles and BBQ.
We hope to be able to update the community of the happenings on tour through our socials and you can follow a detailed journey through the Tour Blog on myCGGS.
Shane Maycock
Teacher in Charge of the Tour
This week, the Class of 2025 welcomed back alumnae Isabel Betts and Cindy Gan (Class of 2024) for a special lunchtime panel. Over a warm meal and insightful conversation, students heard firsthand about the transition from high school to tertiary study.
Isabel and Cindy spoke candidly about academic adjustments, evolving study habits, and strategies for managing deadlines. They reflected on choosing their courses, what influenced their decisions, what surprised them, and whether they’d choose the same path again.
The panel also explored the emotional side of post-school life: making new friends, staying motivated, and balancing study, work, and social life. Both alumnae offered practical tips on budgeting, using organisational tools, and navigating support services.
From joining clubs to accessing wellbeing resources, their stories highlighted the importance of seeking opportunities and building networks. Their final advice to Year 12 students? Be open to change, ask for help when needed, and trust that growth comes from stepping outside your comfort zone.
It was a warm, inspiring session that left students feeling more prepared—and excited—for what lies ahead.
Ashley Nguyen
Head of Careers Education
2025 was a successful year for our DAV Debating teams. We are so proud of our students for their commitment to being part of a team, debating over five rounds, and attending to support their team. It is also wonderful to see students commit to debating over multiple years and new students join every year.
This year we had:
There were many successes over the season. Students debating for the first time, plenty of wins across our teams, and taking part in secret topics for the first time. An especially big congratulations for our Year 12 team on their final season after years of commitment.
In the competitive and strong standard of teams in our region of Camberwell we are proud that one of our Year 10 teams and one of our Year 11 teams progressed to the finals.
Well done to C Grade CGGS 1, made up of Sass L, Natasha O, Valerie K and Maggie R.
Sass Lovell also won the prestigious Swannie Award for having the highest average score in C Grade for our region. Congratulations Sass!
Well done to B Grade CGGS 3, made up of Abbey M, Ana-Sofia J, Emily L, Emily H, Emily W, Anneka S, Grace W, Sofia S. They competed in the second round of finals this week.
A final special thanks to Aashi S, our enthusiastic School Debating and Public Speaking Captain who is so supportive of our students. And a big thank you to our coaches, Isabel Fernando, Kate Manners and Felicity Carroll.
Jennifer Gordon
Head of English
School Debating and Public Speaking Coordinator
The annual CGGS Celebration of Sport was staged this past Wednesday, recognising the wonderful sporting accomplishments realised over the past year.
Due to the re-imagining of Barbara Sutton Hall, the event this year adopted the format of a breakfast, conducted in the Brooksbank Library.
The guest speaker was Deanna Berry, Captain of the Western Bulldogs AFLW Team, who spoke eloquently to students and parents on her experiences as an elite footballer.
A full overview of the event and its awards recipients will be included in the first edition of CamNews for Term Four.
After some inspirational performances at the Preliminary Carnival, the CGGS Athletics Team once again qualified for the Division Two Championship Carnival.
Excitingly, the team recorded sixteen event victories, thirteen second placings, and thirty-two third place finishes, resulting in twenty CGGS students qualifying in events or as emergencies for the Finals Evening, which was conducted this past Tuesday. The Intermediate Division athletes were superb, finishing the meet in 4th position.
Congratulations to the following students that recorded wins at the Championship Carnival:
All Finals Evening information to be included in the next edition.
Congratulations to the CGGS Senior Water Polo Team who were crowned Division B Zone Premiers at the conclusion of the regular season, qualifying for the Grand Final which was played last week.
The CGGS players battled gamely against talented opposition, competing to the final siren to finish Runners-Up.
Term 4 sees the CGGS Junior Water Polo Team take to the pool in GSV competition.
The BNA Saturday Netball competition reached its zenith last weekend with five CGGS teams playing in their respective Grand Finals.
The success of the CGGS Saturday Netball program continues year-after-year, evidenced by five of the fifteen teams progressing to their season deciding matches. Congratulations to:
All five Grand Finals featuring our teams were matches of high quality, in which CGGS students had to play at their best if their team was to prevail as season premiers. Well done to the following teams that held the day, to claim the ultimate prize at the conclusion of the 2025 season:
Special mention to the members of the CGGS Silver team, who finished the regular season in 4th position, to go on and win a thrilling Semi-Final and then overcome an early deficit in the Grand Final to claim back-to-back Premierships. Attention now turns to a 3-peat in 2026!
Thank you to CGGS Netball Coordinator – Ms Alexia McConnell – for guiding the CGGS teams and coaches through another highly successful and rewarding campaign.
This week was indeed a busy one for several CGGS teams that qualified for Finals on the back of impressive seasons in the Term 3 GSV weekly Sport competitions. Congratulations to the following teams:
JUNIOR
INTERMEDIATE
SENIOR
Stay tuned for all Term 3 Finals results to be included in the next edition.
Year 11 student – Angel Q – took to the slopes of Mt Buller recently to represent CGGS at the Victorian Interschools Snowsport Championships.
Competing in her sixth Interschools campaign, Angel recorded some impressive performances, placing 26th in the Alpine Giant Slalom (GS) and 44th in the Ski Cross.
Referencing the Alpine GS as her favourite event, Angel relishes the exhilaration afforded by racing through the flags, maintaining her focus and precision to successfully negotiate technically demanding courses. Angel enjoys the endurance levels required to meet the challenges that this discipline presents, viewing every run as an opportunity to improve her performance. Having also skied in Japan, Angel is looking forward to the 2026 iteration of Interschools.
Angel’s contribution to the school’s sport program has been immense during her journey at CGGS. Commencing in 2014 at Foundation, Angel has been involved in GSV Athletics, Badminton, Cross Country, Diving, Netball, Swimming, Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball, and Water Polo over the past eleven years. Just last Saturday, Angel and her CGGS Silver Netball teammates, won a second successive Grand Final in the Boroondara Netball Association Saturday competition.
Having performed the role of Junior School Captain (2020) and this year the 2025 Schofield Sport Captain, Angel has displayed exceptional commitment and has been a wonderful ambassador for CGGS Sport.
CGGS Intermediate Indoor Cricket Coach – Romy Mead – played some impressive Cricket for the Victorian team at the UniSport T20 nationals on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland earlier this term.
Romy was a part of history, playing in the first-ever Women’s T20 Cricket tournament in the UniSport Nationals. UniSport promotes and fosters the importance of university sport as an integral part of university life at 43 member universities, who collectively represent more than one million students nationwide.
The Victorian team played some fine Cricket with the pink ball, finishing the competition in 3rd place.
CGGS Badminton coach – Mr David Zhou – has recently returned from Malaysia where he represented Australia in the Air Badminton Asia-Pacific Championships.
Competing against ex-national players from many of the heavily resourced powerhouse Asian nations, David relished the opportunity to represent his country in this rapidly expanding sport.
This December, David will travel to Dubai to participate in the Air Badminton World Cup.
Air Badminton is a new outdoor version of the game developed by the Badminton World Federation, with features such as a wind-resistant shuttle, different court design and dimensions from the traditional indoor sport and playing surfaces such as grass and sand. The innovation aims to make the sport more accessible to a wider audience that may not have the access to indoor courts.
David also has considerable experience with the traditional form of the sport of Badminton, having played the game his entire life. Now a career coach, David was the Head Coach for the Australian team that competed in the 2022 Para-Badminton World Championships in Tokyo, Japan. Here in Melbourne, David also coaches in the highly competitive APS system.
Cameron Childs
Director of Sport
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.
