Principal, Mr Graham Leddie
HSC Showcase Nominations – Visual Arts and Drama
We are delighted to announce that two of our talented students have been nominated for consideration in prestigious HSC Showcase events which is a testament to their creativity, skill, and dedication to the arts.
Visual Arts
Xavier Robert Gemmola has had his HSC Visual Arts body of work nominated for consideration in ARTEXPRESS 2026.
ARTEXPRESS is an annual exhibition that celebrates outstanding student artworks from across New South Wales. The exhibition will be displayed in various galleries and venues throughout the state during 2026, showcasing the remarkable talent of HSC Visual Arts students.
Drama
Harry Bowcock has had his HSC Drama Individual Project nominated for possible inclusion in OnSTAGE 2026 for his original scriptwriting project Detritus.
For the Scriptwriting Individual Project, candidates must write a complete play intended for live performance. Harry’s Detritus is a darkly powerful new play that borrows conventions from Ancient Greek Theatre and takes inspiration from Steven Berkoff’s potent style of physicalised storytelling. The work explores the unending cycle of violence and war, offering a haunting perspective from the point of view of the victims.
OnSTAGE is an annual showcase of exemplary HSC Drama performances and projects, which will be held at the Seymour Centre from Saturday 7 February to Friday 13 February 2026.
Rock Concert
Congratulations to all our young performers who took part in last Friday’s Rock Concert! The evening was alive with energy, music, and excitement as our talented students took to the stage and delivered incredible performances.
Their hard work, teamwork, and passion for music truly shone through each song, captivating the audience and filling the night with rhythm and joy. From powerful guitar riffs to soulful vocals, every performance reflected the dedication and enthusiasm our students have shown in developing their musical skills.
A huge thank you to our music staff for their guidance and support, and to the families and friends who came along to cheer.
Junior School Music Festival
Congratulations to all our young performers who took part in last night’s Junior School Music Event! Your hard work, talent, and passion for music lit up the stage, leaving us all inspired. We are immensely proud of your confidence and enthusiasm, as well as the dedication you’ve shown in mastering your skills.
Thank you to Mr Jonathan Bowden and his team for their guidance and commitment.
Remembrance Day
On Tuesday this week, we paused at the 11th hour, on the 11 November, to remember and honour our service personnel who died or suffered in wars, conflicts and peace operations in the service of Australia.
Remembrance Day was originally called ‘Armistice Day’ to commemorate the end of WWI. At the end of WWII, the Australian government changed the name to honour personnel killed in both world wars.
Commemorating Remembrance Day is vital to honour the sacrifices of those who served in wars, preserve history, and teach students the value of peace and freedom. It fosters gratitude, empathy, and reflection, helping our students understand the human cost of conflict and the importance of resolving issues peacefully through dialogue, negotiation, and compromise.
Supporting Our Students – from Deputy Principal, Students, Mr John Allen
New Social Media Age Restrictions for Under 16s – support strategies
In last week’s edition of Nurringa, we shared information and resources about the impending social media restrictions for children under 16. This week our attention shifts to preparing and supporting our students through the changes by messaging through House meetings, Kanyini lessons, and Assembly. The eSafety Commissioner’s Social media age restrictions: Get-ready guide for under-16s can be found here. The eight point preparation and support guide is listed below. Parents and carers are encouraged to explore the content on the website and to discuss these changes regularly in the lead up to 10 December. Parents should also continue to check-in with their child(ren) routinely over the summer break. This is a time when the loss of connection through social media may prove very challenging for some young people. The emphasis should be on replacing the lost connection through social media with other meaningful opportunities for connection.
The eSafety Commissioner’s Social media age restrictions: Get-ready guide for under-16s encourages us to assist our children to:
- Understand what’s changing and why
- Work out which accounts you’ll lose
- Map your digital world
- Explore other ways to connect and belong
- Build your community
- Protect your digital memories
- Avoid last-minute stress
- Find support
e-Bikes and e-Scooters
Students are permitted to cycle to school with the permission of their parents or carers. However, safety is paramount, especially as the roads around Waverley are very busy, with few bike lanes that connect to the College. A couple of reminders:
- Bicycles are not to be ridden in the school grounds
- Waverley’s insurance does not cover the loss, damage or theft of bicycles stored on campus. Parents should ensure they have household contents insurance to cover this eventuality.
- Bicycles must be parked in allocated spaces and secured with a lock.
- The school does not provide facilities for the charging of e-Bikes.
- Bikes must be ridden safely, in a way that is considerate of others and in compliance with the law. This includes wearing a helmet, riding at a safe speed, observing the road rules, including refraining from going the wrong way on one way streets.
e-Bikes
Excerpts from the NSW Government legislation relating to e-bikes, as published on the the Transport NSW website here, are listed below.
The rider must primarily propel these bikes – a motor can’t be the only source propelling it. The motor should only help the rider, like when going uphill or facing strong winds.
The two types of permitted e-bikes include:
Power-assisted pedal cycles
A power-assisted pedal cycle:
- has one or more motors attached with a combined maximum power output of up to 200 watts
- can’t be propelled only by the motor/s
- weighs less than 50kg (including batteries)
- has a height-adjustable seat.
Electrically power-assisted cycles
An electrically power-assisted cycle has a maximum continued rated power of up to 500 watts. This power output must be:
- progressively reduced as the bicycle’s speed increases beyond 6km/h
- cut off when:
- your bicycle reaches a speed of 25km/h
- you stop pedalling and the speed exceeds 6km/h.
All petrol-powered bicycles are illegal on NSW roads and road-related areas such as footpaths, shared paths, cycle ways and cycle paths.
Police and educators alike are finding the addition of throttles on e-bikes to be a challenging matter. At Waverley College, we continue to be guided by advice from the Police and our commitment to safety for our student riders, and others in our community and beyond, especially in light of the number and nature of injuries associated with e-bikes that are being reported in hospitals.
The advice we have received continues to be that bikes with throttles should not be allowed. Many are either not legal for riding on public roads, have an easily reversible isolation switch (that enable riders to quickly oscillate between public road and private property only modes), or can be modified to enable higher speeds. This makes it difficult to ascertain which, if any, may be considered permanently legal for use on public roads. As such, bikes with throttles are not to be ridden to the College. It is great to see that many of our e-bike users have had their throttles removed to ensure that they are compliant and, most importantly, are safer.
Given Christmas is only weeks away, parents should carefully consider the above information when considering purchasing an e-bike for their son.
e-Scooters
The NSW Government is working closely with NSW councils to enable trials of shared e-scooters. However, personal e-scooters remain illegal on NSW roads and road-related areas, including footpaths, shared paths and bicycle lanes.
You can only use these on private property.
Parents Association AGM – Congratulations
I would like to thank all parents/carers who have been involved in the work carried out by the Parents’ Association throughout 2025. Particular thanks to the tireless work of the Year level representatives, past parents representatives, clothing pool representatives, canteen volunteers, co-curricular supporters groups and the executive, for all of their organisation, support and efforts in organising events and communicating across our community.
A heartfelt thank you to all the parent volunteers who have dedicated their time and energy to supporting our Second-Hand Clothing Pool. Your hard work helps our school community immensely. A special congratulations to Camille Owen and Kirsten Hott for their six years of outstanding service in the Clothing Pool. You were there right from the start of the new uniform changeover, and your commitment has made a lasting difference.
From the recent November AGM, I would like to congratulate the following parents/carers on their elections to the Parents’ Association Executive for 2025-26, and I look forward to working with them in the new year.
Parent Executive for 2025-26
President – Louise Lakomy
Company Secretary – Carl Lee
Treasurer – Jane Gregs
Vice Presidents – Mande Ilic, Numeeta Goddard, Susie Rakoczy
Year Parent Representatives
| Year 5 | Seeking nomination |
| Year 5 | Seeking nomination |
| Year 6 | Kim Gould |
| Year 7 | Samantha Mott |
| Year 8 | Daniella Strbac |
| Year 8 | Nicole Draper |
| Year 9 | Kim Gould |
| Year 10 | Daniella Strbac |
| Year 10 | Anne Clerc-Johnson |
| Year 11 | Claire McGaffney |
| Year 11 | Eileen Trinca |
| Year 12 | Camille Owen |
| Clothing Pool | Seeking nomination |
| Clothing Pool | Seeking nomination |
2025 Parents Association Impact Award
We are delighted to congratulate Paula McCabe, the recipient of the 2025 Parents Association Parent Impact Award.
Paula has made an extraordinary contribution to the College community through her tireless work with our Snow Sports teams. Over the past few years, she has unofficially taken on the immense task of managing and coordinating the College’s Snow Sports program – from registrations and family communications to overseeing the teams’ activities at Perisher.
Her efforts, all voluntary, have made it possible for students to represent the College and even achieve selections at the NSW level. Paula’s consistent dedication, warmth, and enthusiasm have inspired students, families, and staff alike. The College’s Snow Sports program simply wouldn’t be what it is today without her leadership and commitment.
Congratulations, Paula, on this well-deserved recognition!
Call for Year 9 Parents Association Representative – 2026
As we look ahead to the start of the 2026 school year, the Parents Association is seeking a parent representative from the Year 9 cohort.
The Year 9 representative will play an important role in helping to build a strong sense of community among families, while also supporting communication and collaboration between parents and the College.
If you are interested in volunteering for this rewarding role, or would like to learn more about what’s involved, please contact Parents Association President Louise Lakomy at papres@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Becoming a Parent Representative is a wonderful way to stay connected, strengthen our community, and contribute to a positive and supportive experience for all families in 2026.
Secondhand Uniform Shop Coordinator Roles – Join the Team!
After five years, our current Coordinators are stepping down, and we’re looking for a pair/team to take the reins. This is your chance to put your own stamp on the role and help keep this valued service running for our school community.
What’s involved?
- One shop shift per week
- Managing the volunteer roster
- A few minutes of email checking once a day
- Grab a friend and share the role! Full training and ongoing support provided. It’s a great way to get involved, contribute meaningfully and shape how the shop continues to run, all in 1-2 hours a week.
By volunteering, you’ll be:
- Helping families access affordable uniforms
- Giving uniforms a valuable second life
- Ensuring the shop can stay open three days each week
Regular volunteers are also needed – even one shift every couple of weeks makes a huge difference!
If you’d like to join our friendly team or if you’re in need of more information (either as a coordinator or a volunteer) please email clothingpool@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Shop Hours
Monday & Friday: 8:15–9:30am
Wednesday: 2:30–3:30pm
Term 4 Literary Evening and Waverley Community Book Club
We are delighted to announce that we will be hosting our annual Literary Evening and Community Book Club on 25 November at Waverley College Library.
This year we will be joined by guest speaker, Gabrielle Mace, founder of ProReading Solutions and well-known literacy expert. Gabrielle is a literacy consultant and library services specialist who works with schools and communities across Australia and internationally to foster a culture of reading. Gabrielle has presented most recently at the International Boys’ Schools Coalition Conference in the UK and the World Literacy Summit in Oxford, and is a sought-after speaker on boys and reading, digital distractions, and student voice.
Our pick for Book Club is the wonderful novel ‘The Strange Library’ by Haruki Murakami. This is a fantastical illustrated short novel about a boy imprisoned in a nightmarish library. Readers will find themselves immersed in the strange world of best-selling author Haruki Murakami’s wild imagination. We will also have lucky door prizes and light supper.
Please RSVP here.
2025 Sydney Commemorative Service for General Sir John Monash
On the 7 November, ten of Waverley’s year 10 Cadet leaders represented the college at the 2025 Sydney Commemorative Service for General Sir John Monash at SHORE. Held at the Smith Auditorium in the beautiful grounds of the college in North Sydney, the service was attended by students from the host school, Pymble Ladies College, Abbostleigh, Knox and Riverview.
The service covered the significance of Monash to the Australian experience in World War 1 and his importance as an exemplar of servant leadership, presented by Brigadier Robert Calhoun. Further Monash’s characteristics as a role model were highlighted. Presented by Dr Trung Nghia Ton, a recipient of the prestigious Issac and Susan Wakhil John Monash Scholarship (2017), emphasised Monash’s respect for education, hard work, and on having a diversity of interests, all characteristics we would like to uphold. It was a somber commemoration that our students greatly appreciated.
Thank you to Mr Neale and Mr Brophy for accompanying the following students to the presentation:
Oliver Isaac
Henry Goldrich
Kai Fernandez-Paul
Dylan Zuscak
James Cullen
Will Morris
Finn Carr
Oliver Lorimer
Axel Stapleton
Tom Jackson
