Principal, Mr Graham Leddie
HSC Showcase Nominations and Selection for Music
We are delighted to announce that two of our talented students have been nominated for HSC ENCORE which is the top musicians in the state. A nomination is a wonderful achievement as the competition is very tough.
Congratulations to:
James Peate – HSC Music musicologies
Lieme Chan – HSC Music composition(s)
We received news this afternoon that James Peate has been included in ENCORE which will be held at the Sydney Opera House next year. Congratulations James!
And congratulations to Head of Music Mr Chris Balkizas and the Music Department on these wonderful achievements.
Farewell Fr Bernie Thomas, OFM
It is with mixed emotions that we announce the farewell of Father Bernie Thomas, OFM, who will be concluding his ministry at Mary Immaculate Church and also as our College Chaplain. Father Bernie has been an integral part of our College community for the past eight years, conducting Masses, liturgies, retreats, and offering spiritual guidance, pastoral care, and unwavering dedication to our students.
During his time with us, Father Bernie has been a source of inspiration and support, enriching the College with his wisdom, compassion, and commitment to faith. While we will miss him, we are excited for his new appointment to serve in Ipswich QLD, where we are confident he will continue to make a meaningful impact.
Below is the official letter from the Provincial Minister, Stephen Bliss, acknowledging Father Bernie’s service and contributions. We encourage you to read the letter and join us in expressing our gratitude and best wishes for Father Bernie in this next chapter of his ministry.
Letter from Stephen Bliss, Provincial Minister
Olympic Boxer Harry Garside Inspires Students at Assembly
This week we had the privilege of welcoming Olympic boxer Harry Garside to our Assembly. Harry spoke with openness and honesty about his journey, from growing up as the youngest of three boys, to the persistence and discipline that shaped his boxing career, to the period of deep personal growth that followed his experience at the Tokyo Olympics.
Throughout his address, Harry encouraged students to stay curious, stay connected to their values, and recognise their own self-worth. He spoke about the importance of becoming the person you genuinely want to be, even when that path challenges you or feels uncomfortable.
His message was a powerful reminder that growth often requires vulnerability, reflection, and stepping into discomfort with purpose.
We thank Harry for inspiring our students to pursue personal excellence, nurture their inner “flame,” and approach each day with intention and resilience. 
Salvation Army Christmas Appeal
The Salvation Army continues to play a vital role in supporting individuals and families in our state and city who are experiencing homelessness, family violence, substance addiction, poverty, and social isolation.
As Christmas approaches, they are running their annual Christmas Appeal, which provides much-needed assistance to those doing it tough during the festive season.
If you are able, we warmly invite you to contribute by donating any of the items listed below at either the Senior school or Junior school receptions.
Thank you for your generosity and support.
NSW 24hr Swim by Ocean Heroes
Last weekend Year 9 student Dylan Duque-Llorente completed the NSW 24hr Swim by Ocean Heroes. Over the 24-hour event, Dylan’s relay team covered an extraordinary 35 kilometres, contributing to a collective total of 820 kilometres swum by all participating teams. Together, the event has already raised $60,000 to support free surfing experiences for autistic young people.
For many autistic and neurodiverse people, opportunities for outdoor, physical, and social activities are limited. Even more concerning, drowning is the leading cause of death for children on the autism spectrum in Australia.
Ocean Heroes changes this by offering a safe, supportive way for participants and their families to enjoy the beach, build confidence, develop resilience, and most importantly have a lot of fun!
Dylan reflects that his time at Waverley College has taught him the value of community, service, and looking out for others. Balancing early-morning swim training from 4:55 to 7:00 am with academic and co-curricular commitments, he felt a strong personal connection to supporting Ocean Heroes and the young people they serve.
Donations remain open, and any contribution large or small will help Ocean Heroes continue delivering life-changing surf programs for young people on the autism spectrum.
https://www.givenow.com.au/nsw-24hr-swim-seas-the-limit#moreDonations
Well done Dylan!
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.
Success in the Theatresports Junior Semi-Final
Our Theatresports team, Cooper Firth (year 8), Sebastian Karhan (year 8), Rafferty Mulligan (year 7), Ethan Storie (year 7), and Gabriel Wright (year 8) achieved 2 nd place at the Theatresports School Challenge semi-final on the 14 November at Sydney Girls High School. We were only a single point behind the winning school of the evening, Cedar College. With such strong performances at the heat and semi-finals, we are optimistic (and will find out soon!) that we will make the grand-final this year!
This competition was significantly more challenging than the heat. The category scores (Narrative, Entertainment, and Technique) were more critical – 5 out of 5s and even 4s weren’t handed out lightly. The other schools had been training hard too – something our boys immediately picked up on. They met their competition with spirit, and kindness, applauding both their own success and that of the other teams.
Our team chose a wide variety of games to showcase their talents. This round, we started the 1-minute round by improvising an I Love You scene, where Cooper gave Ethan a shocking new hairdo. For the 2-minute round, we scored 4 out of 5 across the board from Inner Song, where characters in the scene are asked to step forward and create an original song on the spot with keyboard accompaniment, called out at various points in the improvised scene. The work students in the team had put in during Little Shop of Horrors had no doubt paid off, as they could keep a tune beautifully (thank you Music faculty!). For 3-minutes, the team selected Typewriter.
They improvised a post-apocalyptic story where Rafferty and Cooper were mutated by the mutants from the sewers – oh, and they gained superpowers! My personal favourite part of the story was the fact that Rafferty gained foot talons and Cooper gained the ability to smell 5 metres in front of him.
Thank you again to the support of Theatresports from our parents who came and watched, the students who make it happen, and to everyone involved in Drama and the Co-curricular team.
Interested in Joining us?
If you / your son is interested in being in the Theatresports group, we would love to have you. We are particularly interested in building our junior team from the incoming year 7s of 2026 – aspiring actors from the junior school come and join us!
Please email Mr Steven Hall (Theatresports Convenor) – he can also be found on campus in the Maths staffroom or putting the “fun” in “functions” in E32.
Theatresports Grand Final
The Theatresports Grand Final will be held next week, on the 27 November, 7pm, at St. Andrew’s Cathedral School (tickets can be purchased at the door). We warmly invite any parents or students to watch this event and cheer on our team.
If you are interested in joining Theatresports, please contact Mr Hall – shall@waverley.nsw.edu.au
We are especially interested in recruiting current year 6 students at the Junior School to join our 2026 Year 7 and 8 team.
A Fresh Chapter for Our Senior School Library
Our library has a brand-new look and it’s more inviting than ever! Over the past couple of weeks, the space has undergone a refresh, bringing in new furniture and a fresh layout designed to make reading, studying, and collaboration even more enjoyable.
The new furnishings include comfortable reading chairs, flexible study tables, and mobile shelving that allows the space to adapt to different learning needs. The refreshed design creates a warm, modern environment that encourages students and staff to linger a little longer whether diving into a good book, working on a project, or simply enjoying a quiet moment.
The goal of the redesign was to make the library not only a place for books, but a true hub of creativity, curiosity, and connection. A huge thank-you to everyone involved in the planning and setup and to our community for their continued support. We can’t wait to see how this new chapter in our library’s story inspires even more learning and imagination!
Student-Led Social Cohesion Roundtable
On Monday 17 November five Waverley College students attended the student-led Social Cohesion Roundtable at Rosebay Secondary College. The focus was student voices ensuring our diverse, multicultural community continues to be a place for everyone.
The event was convened by Allegra Spender MP, Member For Wentworth, in partnership with Together for Humanity and the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies. It provided a forum for thoughtful discussion on how we can better foster a sense of belonging among young people in our community.
It brought together students from a range of schools, diverse in their gender, culture and faith positions. All students contributed to meaningful activities and respectful discussion proving that we have much more in common than there is difference. It is also heartening to witness the commitment of our young people to fostering a community that values respect for others.
We were wonderfully represented by, left to right in the photo below, Roman Leilua, Lachlan Jones, Cy Preketes, Will Elliott and Will Solomon.
Volunteers Needed – Second-Hand Uniform Shop. We need your help!!
Just 1–2 hours a week or fortnight can make a big difference.
Help us sort, stack and sell!! Full training and ongoing support provided. Grab a friend and work a shift together, its great opportunity to get involved.
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
If you’d like to join our friendly team or find out more info, we would love to hear from you! clothingpool@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Shop Hours
Mon & Fri: 8:15–9:30am
- Wed: 2:30–3:30pm
clothingpool@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Basketball Holiday Camps
We are thrilled to announce the details for our upcoming Waverley College Basketball Holiday Camps – an exceptional opportunity for your son to elevate his game during the school break!
These intensive and fun camps are designed to provide high-level skills training, tactical understanding, and a deep passion for the game, all within the familiar and supportive environment of Waverley College.
