Principal, Mr Graham Leddie
Debating Triumph After 34 Years
After years of near misses and determined efforts over 34 years, Waverley College has finally triumphed in the prestigious inter-school CAS Debating competition.
The team delivered a commanding performance in the final round, combining sharp reasoning, confident delivery, and seamless teamwork to secure a long-awaited victory.
Their success marks a historic moment for the school, reflecting not only the talent and dedication of this year’s debaters but also the hard work of coaches and past teams who laid the groundwork.
Congratulations to our 1st Debating team, (Y12) James Peate, (Y12) Tom Jackson-Whitlock, and (Y12) Nick Zanapalis who won the CAS debating competition (tied with Knox Grammar and St Aloysius College).
Congratulations and thank you to their respective coaches and convenors for all of their continued support and guidance of the team – Mr Christian Kitas (WCOB 2022), Ms Maisie Gordon, Ms Emma Halpin and Ms Alice Curtis.
James Peate was selected to captain the Seconds in the CAS rep team.
I would also like to acknowledge the work of Ms Natasha Zivanovic who introduced debating in Year 6 seven years ago, and facilitated participation in the IPSHA tournament.
Natasha reports that 42 students trialled for the Junior School Debating Team this year!
Wear it Purple Day – Bold Voices and Bright Futures 2025
Today we celebrated Wear it Purple Day, an annual LGBTQIA+ awareness day that Waverley College proudly supports. The day is about celebrating diversity and fostering supportive, safe, empowering, and inclusive learning environments.
As an EREA school, we value diversity and have clear policies in place to support this commitment. This is a day for everyone, both the LGBTQIA+ community and allies to stand together in solidarity.
We were honoured to welcome as guest speaker on assembly acclaimed author Gary Lonesborough who is a proud Yuin man from the far south Coast of NSW. Gary’s latest novel I’m Not Really Here has gone on to win the CBCA Book of the Year Award.
Gary shared his story of identity, cultural heritage, grief, resilience, community and youth justice with the audience. He reminded us that storytelling can be a powerful way to celebrate identity, foster understanding, and create safe spaces for young people. 
2026 College Leaders
After an extensive process of interviews, presentations, and staff, year level and house voting, the 2026 College Captains have been chosen. Congratulations to the following students:
Ben Cromer – Captain
James Barber – Vice Captain
Dante Fearn – Vice Captain
Charlie Carter – Vice Captain
Aungier
Angus Peshos – House Captain
Will Anstis – House Prefect
Patrick Blackall – House Prefect
Ben Adams – House Prefect
Brennan
Bobby McLennan – House Captain
Parker Campbell – House Prefect
Lachlan Gibbins – House Prefect
Lewis Hamilton – House Prefect
Conlon
William Lerche – House Captain
Nicholas Scerri – House Prefect
Adam Curran – House Prefect
Zac Jones – House Prefect
Green
Cy Preketes – House Captain
William Elliott – House Prefect
Roman Leilua– House Prefect
Will Solomon- House Prefect
Lacey
Owen Patient – House Captain
Jack Green – House Prefect
Billy Packington – House Prefect
William Livissianis – House Prefect
O’Connor
James Grant – House Captain
Mikayl Keshavarz– House Prefect
Ashton Hourn – House Prefect
Quinn
Charles Le Marchant – House Captain
Ryan Crawford – House Prefect
Will Tzavaras – House Prefect
Wolfie Penn – House Prefect
Tevlin
Xavier Kopsiaftis – House Captain
Fred Robertson – House Prefect
Lachlan Jones – House Prefect
Jack Richardson – House Prefect
Father’s Day Breakfast
We warmly invite all fathers, grandfathers, and significant men in the lives of our Waverley College students to celebrate Father’s Day with a special breakfast alongside your sons. This occasion is a wonderful opportunity to share time together, enjoy a light meal, and strengthen connections within our Waverley College community.
Date: Friday, 5 September
Time: 8am – 8:45am
Venue: Birrell Street Basketball Court (entry via Birrell Street)
To assist with catering, please RSVP today, Friday, 29 August.
We look forward to celebrating with you!
Father’s Day 2025 – Buy a Paver
With Father’s Day fast approaching, why not give a gift that lasts a lifetime? A personalised paver on the Waverley Walk, located just inside the iconic Carrington Road gates, is a unique way to honour the fathers and father figures in our community.
Your paver will not only serve as a permanent reminder of your family’s connection to the College, but it will also support the construction of the new Science & Innovation Centre, ensuring future generations of Waverlians have access to world-class learning facilities.
With only 19 pavers remaining, now is the time to secure this meaningful and enduring Father’s Day gift.
All pavers purchased from December 2024 onwards will be installed in early Term 4. Secure your customised paver today by clicking here.
10-Year Reunion – Class of 2015
The College was delighted to welcome back our Old Boys from the Class of 2015 for their 10-Year Reunion.
It was a special occasion filled with stories, laughter, and fond memories, as classmates reconnected and reflected on their journeys since leaving Waverley. It was also inspiring to hear about the diverse professional pathways they have pursued over the past decade.
A special thank you to Tom Miletich and former College Captain Ruairi Biollo for organising such a memorable gathering. We look forward to welcoming the Class of 2015 back to Waverley again soon.
The Waverley Exchange Breakfast
One of Waverley’s greatest strengths is the intellectual wealth within our Old Boys community, a resource we have not fully drawn upon in the past. That is about to change.
Next week we are launching The Waverley Exchange Breakfast, a new series of mentoring and networking sessions designed to connect accomplished Old Boys with our senior students. These gatherings will give Year 11 and Year 12 students the chance to hear first-hand from Waverlians who have excelled in their chosen fields, and to build supportive networks that extend beyond the College gates.
We are honoured to welcome our first guest speaker, Dr Samuel Lackey (Class of 1964). With an extraordinary career spanning mining engineering and finance, and international experience in countries such as Canada, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, Dr Lackey brings a wealth of knowledge and insights. His story will no doubt inspire our students as they prepare to chart their own paths.
This initiative marks the beginning of a stronger tradition at Waverley – one where the experience and expertise of our Old Boys becomes a guiding light for the generations who follow.
Archbishop of Sydney Awards for Student Excellence 2025
Congratulations to Archie Godby (Year 12) as Waverley College’s recipient of the Archbishop of Sydney Awards for Student Excellence 2025. A medal and certificate were presented to Archie by Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP at St Mary’s Cathedral College Hall earlier this week.
Established in 1999 by Edward Bede Cardinal Clancy, the Archbishop’s awards are an annual recognition of some of the outstanding young men and women in Catholic schools.
They have been an important way of highlighting the very positive contribution that young people make to their local communities. Specifically, these awards recognise those young people who give witness to their Christian values and who actively contribute to the faith life of their school.
Recipients of the award are practising Catholics who show responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the Catholic faith community.
Parent Education Session with Dr Judith Locke
On Tuesday evening we had the opportunity for staff and parents to hear from Dr Judith Locke, a registered clinical psychologist with expertise in modern parenting, family wellbeing, and educational settings. With a background as a teacher and school counsellor, Judith is also a bestselling author of The Bonsai Child, The Bonsai Student and Raising Anxiety.
She gives practical and effective strategies to build children’s resilience, confidence and capability in the home and in their schooling. Judith also explains how good intentions may inadvertently make children more anxious, and offers practical strategies to turn this around. For further information, please consider one of Judith’s books.
Outstanding Debut: Ollie Moclair Breaks 17yrs National Record in Europe
We are proud to share the wonderful achievements of Year 12 student, Ollie, who recently represented Australia in his first international swimming competition.
Ollie’s journey began with a staging camp in Slovakia before heading to Romania to compete against some of the world’s toughest swimmers in challenging European summer conditions. In his heat, Ollie swam a personal best of 22.41 seconds in the 50m freestyle, placing him 6th overall and securing a place in the semi-final. Although he narrowly missed a spot in the final, finishing equal 9th, the story didn’t end there. A swim-off was required to determine the reserve finalist – and Ollie rose to the occasion.
That evening, he produced an extraordinary swim of 22.11 seconds, smashing his own PB and breaking the National All-Time 17 Years Record, previously held by Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers. While he remained reserve for the final, Ollie’s time would have placed him 3rd overall – an incredible achievement at this level of competition.
Ollie now proudly holds the National Age Record in both the short course and long course 50m freestyle (17 years), a remarkable milestone in his career. We congratulate him on this outstanding achievement and look forward to following his continued success in the pool
VET Hospitality Takeover at Bistro on the Greens – A Night to Celebrate
Thank you to our Hospitality teachers, Ms Bev McCarthy, Mr Mark Neale, and Ms Georgie Weaver, for organising the VET Hospitality Takeover at Bistro on the Greens on Tuesday night.
The evening was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the value of VET in a setting that was social, enjoyable, and truly impactful for everyone involved. Sixty parents and twenty staff members attended, creating a strong sense of community and support around our students.
For the boys, this event was more than just a dinner service, it was a culmination of two years of dedicated training in Hospitality. It gave them the chance to demonstrate their skills in a professional environment and, for many, to shine in an area where they’ve found genuine passion and success. Events like this allow students to represent their school with pride and confidence.
Thank you again to everyone who attended and supported the event. We are proud to promote the strength and importance of VET in the Waverley community through authentic and meaningful experiences like this.
Waves Wednesday: Students Recreate Iconic Moments from the Archives
As part of this week’s Waves Wednesday initiative, mentor groups were invited to step back in time and recreate two significant moments from the school’s historical archives. The challenge aimed to foster school spirit, creativity, and a deeper connection to our rich heritage.
The first photo recreation paid tribute to the 1936 Tennis Champions.
The second photograph reimagined Prime Minister John Gorton’s 1970 visit with the Cadet Unit.
These visual homages served not only as a fun and engaging activity but also as a meaningful opportunity for students to connect with the school’s legacy.
Helping Hands
Year 11 Engineering Studies students put their biomedical engineering skills into practice this week by constructing mechanical prosthetic hands for donation to landmine victims overseas. These recipients, often living in low-resource settings, would otherwise be unable to access or afford a prosthesis.
The project offered students a meaningful opportunity to apply design and mechanical principles to a real-world humanitarian need. Each prosthetic was carefully assembled to ensure functionality, comfort, and durability, reinforcing the role of engineering as a tool for social impact.
This hands-on initiative not only developed technical competencies but also encouraged empathy and ethical problem-solving.
