21 February 2024

The Radford Worm Farm Family is growing exponentially - by about 160,000 members.

On the back of the hugely successful launch of the worm farm in the Junior School a year ago, and shortly after that the introduction of another backing onto the Gossan Hill Nature Reserve, a third was installed this past week.

The Sustainability Working Group and Global Worming have worked together to introduce this new worm farm at Radford for Secondary School staff and students. These worms - Indian Blues, Tiger Worms, and Red Wrigglers - will feed on food scraps, paper towels, wooden cutlery and other organic material that would otherwise have ended up in landfills.

The new worm farm is located in the Stromlo Precinct behind Food Technology, and just like the one in the Junior School, is 1.5 metres wide and 6 metres long. Cid Riley, CEO of Global Worming has this past week introduced the first 20kg of worms to their new home. These 80,000 worms will slowly increase in numbers until they reach a total weight of around 40kg.

Worm farms like these have gone a long way in reducing Radford College’s carbon footprint.

“Worm farms have so many benefits for our College: they can be used for educational purposes, they fit perfectly with our sustainability commitments but also save us money in waste collection” says Ms Agnes Kopras-Ianson, Director of Finance.

According to Mr Riley, when fully operational, the worms will turn between 120kg and 150kg of food waste per week into compost, which will be used in Radford’s gardens. This equates to more than six ton per year.

“Every ton of food waste diverted from the landfills equates to about 3.5 ton of methane gas not being produced,” says Mr Riley.

Cid Riley was an economist and data architect by trade but has always been a keen gardener and worm farmer. In 2006 he started Global Worming and for the past 13 years it has been his full-time occupation. He now proudly refers to himself as a vermi-economist, vermi from the Latin word for worm.

“We have to stop food rotting and causing greenhouse gasses, and this has to be the way of the future,” he adds.

Mr Riley and his team will be visiting the College twice a week to collect the contents of the green and purple lidded bins and to feed the worms.

We can all do our part by ensuring that only organic materials end up in these bins. Things to avoid are the round plastic stickers on fruit, squeezy bags for yogurt, single use plastic snack bags, cling wrap and baby wipes. Mr Riley also likes to point out that the purple bins are vegetarian, so no raw meat please.

A message from the 2024 Sustainability Captains

By Tiffany Chue & Pippa Humphries

It is with great pleasure that we embark on this journey to lead as Sustainability Captains of 2024! As members of the Sustainability Working Group, we are committed to contribute to the development and implementation of sustainability initiatives across Radford College. Each of us is responsible for the actions we take that affect the environment, so we encourage the Radford community to See, Listen, and Act as we continue to work towards a more sustainable school.

Term 1 began with the construction of a worm farm on the school grounds. Worms can turn your organic or food waste into rich fertiliser for the garden. Let’s help keep food waste out of landfill! Please keep an eye out for the labelled organic bins around the school. Cross-contamination can harm the worms, so let's take responsibility for the waste we produce and ensure the new bins remain containment-free!

Click here to read more about worm farms.

By Katherine Zhang, Nandhitha Gopalakrishnan, Olivia Zhang and Natalie Tam

In celebration of the International Day for Women and Girls in Science, ourselves and Miss Lauren Heyward had the privilege of attending a forensics event held by the Australian Federal Police. Female students and teachers from schools all around Canberra gathered to meet some of AFP’s forensic scientists to hear from their expertise and experiences, as well as learn about what a career in the field of forensics looks like. Throughout the day, we were able to partake in a wide variety of workshops, delving into various aspects of the fascinating world of forensics.

The first workshop focused on blood verification, where we conducted tests on various samples to determine their authenticity. After using cotton swabs to collect a small amount of each sample, we placed them onto chemical strips and observed the reaction. To our surprise, the brown samples that looked the least like blood were the ones that were synthetic blood, despite their dissimilar appearance. We learned that this method is commonly used by forensic scientists to obtain a rudimentary assessment of whether a substance could be blood. However, it is not definitive and requires further analysis as other substances such as rust, and even potatoes, can produce similar results due to their chemical composition. In another workshop, we explored how fingerprints can be revealed from evidence and crime scenes. By pressing our hands onto paper and brushing a magnetic substance over the top, our fingerprints were revealed as the substance stuck to the oil-substances from our skin. It was intriguing to see that the effectiveness of this method depended on the greasiness of our hands. These engaging workshops allowed us to gain valuable insight into forensic techniques for evidence collection and analysis.

The event was a truly inspirational opportunity for and valuable experience to us as students. As we delved into the field of forensic science, we were deeply captivated by the depth of knowledge and passion, allowing us to witness how scientific technology can be applied to a real-life scenario. In this thoroughly enjoyable and unforgettable experience, we have gained a newfound deeper appreciation for forensics, and a sense of eagerness to continue exploring the enthralling field of science.

Please tell us about your role as the newly appointed Head of Houses

As the newly appointed Head of Houses for both the Junior and Secondary Schools at Radford College, my role primarily involves fostering a sense of community and belonging within our school's House system. I am responsible for overseeing the organisation and execution of House meetings, ensuring they are meaningful and engaging for students. Collaborating closely with House Leaders and Prefects, I aim to create an inclusive environment where every student feels valued and heard. Additionally, I seek to strengthen the connections between the Junior and Secondary Schools, promoting collaboration and mutual learning among students across different age groups.

What do you hope to achieve in the role?

My overarching goal in this role is to enhance the sense of House spirit and pride within Radford College. I aspire to make our House meetings more purposeful and impactful, fostering a strong sense of community among students. By facilitating connections between the Junior and Secondary Schools, I aim to break down barriers and promote a culture of inclusivity and support. Ultimately, I want to contribute to the holistic development and well-being of every student, empowering them to thrive academically, socially, and personally.

What do you like best about your current role?

What I find most rewarding about my current role as Head of Houses is the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of students. I deeply enjoy collaborating with students, staff, and fellow educators to create a supportive and enriching environment within our school community. Witnessing students' growth, engagement, and sense of belonging brings me immense satisfaction and motivates me to continue striving for excellence in my role.

What did you do before joining the Radford community?

I have been working as a teacher for 15 years, both domestically and internationally. My teaching journey took me to the United Kingdom for five years, where I worked at a prestigious private prep school in Surrey. During my time there, I served as a Sports Teacher and Head of Houses, gaining invaluable experiences and forming lifelong friendships with colleagues. These experiences enriched my teaching practice and provided me with a diverse perspective on education.

What do you enjoy outside Radford?

Outside of Radford, I lead a fulfilling life filled with various interests and activities. Currently, I am pursuing my Master of Education degree, furthering my knowledge and expertise in the field of teaching and learning. Additionally, I have a passion for cooking and find joy in experimenting with new recipes and flavours from around the world. One aspect of my life that brings me immense fulfilment is my involvement in volunteering internationally. Leading groups of teachers to Indonesia and Thailand allows me to make a meaningful impact on the lives of educators and students in underserved communities. This experience is not only humbling and grounding but also reaffirms my commitment to the transformative power of education. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to global learning initiatives and look forward to continuing this work in the future. Furthermore, I cherish spending quality time with my family, enjoying outdoor activities such as visiting the beach and going on hikes with my beloved dog, Elsa.

ACT Junior Championships – Saturday 17^th February

The ACT Age Championships is one the major regattas for schools in the ACT rowing calendar with fierce competition from ACT and interstate schools.

Radford crews featured across the whole program during the day of good weather and great rowing conditions.

All rowers and crews performed well and along with showing individual and crew improvements, managed to achieve the following outstanding medal performances: five gold medals, five silver and nine bronze.

Congratulations to the following students:

Gold medal winners

U15 Men’s Single Scull

William Fraser (Acacia)

U17 Women’s Double Scull

Isobel Egan (Kurrajong)

Gigi Hickey (Acacia)

U16 Men’s Single Scull

Charlie Knight (Banksia)

U19 Women’s Double Scull

Amelie Brennan (Banksia)

Zara Turner (Boronia)

U19 Men’s Double Scull

Connor Malouf (Huon)

Angus Scott (Acacia)

Silver medal winners

U16 Men’s Double Scull

Hugo Ryan (Huon)

Charlie Knight (Banksia)

U19 Men’s Coxed Quad Scull

Josh Miller (Kari)

Euan Greig (Huon)

Hamish Gaden (Karri)

Hamish McKee (Jarrah)

Moira Geraghty (Huon)

U17 Women’s Single Scull

Gigi Hickey (Acacia)

U16 Men’s Single Scull

Hugo Ryan (Huon)

U17 Women’s Coxed Quad Scull

Lucy Mihaljevic (Jarrah)

Hanna Koch (Jarrah)

Isobel Egan (Kurrajong)

Gigi Hickey (Acacia)

William Huang (Coxswain) (Banksia)

Bronze medal winners

U15 Men’s Single Scull

Jay Erwin (Jarrah)

U17 Men’s Double Scull

Oliver Hoorweg (Acacia)

Lincoln Uren (Wandoo)

U19 Women’s Coxed Quad Scull

Coco Guenther (Banksia)

Amelie Brennan (Banksia)

Zara Turner (Boronia)

Zoe Hickey (Acacia)

Charles Kendall (Coxswain)(Acacia)

U19 Men’s Coxed Quad Scull

Rohan White (Kurrajong)

Angus Scott (Acacia)

Connor Malouf (Huon)

Hamish McKee (Jarrah)

Izzy Faris (Coxswain) (Karri)

U16 Women’s Coxed Quad Scull

Natalia Constanzo (Banksia)

Lara Clews (Karri)

Phoebe Fox (Banksia)

Rosie Humphries (Jarrah)

Kate Kristiansen (Coxswain) (Huon)

U17 Women’s Single Scull

Isobel Egan (Kurrajong)

U17 Men’s Coxed Quad Scull

Lincoln Uren (Wandoo)

Ben Beswick (Boronia)

Charlie Knight (Banksia)

Hugo Ryan (Huon)

Jackson Thew (Coxswain) (Wandoo)

U19 Women’s Double Scull

Bonnie Hardy (Karri)

Amber Smith (Karri)

U19 Men's Double Scull

Josh Miller (Karri)

Euan Greig (Huon)

ACT Head of the Lake – Sunday 18^th February

The double header regatta weekend was completed with the ACT Head of the Lake.

A highlight of the regatta was Radford's success in the 3^rd, 2^nd and 1^st Schoolboy Coxed Quad Scull events.

Radford crews competed in their school year categories representing the College well to achieve fantastic results with three gold, two silver and three bronze medals.

Congratulations to the following students:

Gold medal winners

Schoolgirl Single Scull

Zara Turner (Boronia)


Schoolboy Year 8 Coxed Quad Scull

Jay Erwin (Jarrah)

Junyou Wang (Jarrah)

Liam Judd (Jarrah)

Victor Cumpston (Kurrajong)

Martin Koch (Coxswain) (Jarrah)

Schoolboy Coxed Quad Scull

Rohan White (Kurrajong)

Angus Scott (Acacia)

Connor Malouf (Huon)

Hamish Gaden (Karri)

Izzy Faris (Coxswain) (Karri)

Silver medal winners

Schoolgirl Year 10 Coxed Quad Scull

Lucy Mihaljevic (Jarrah)

Hanna Koch (Jarrah)

Isobel Egan (Kurrajong)

Gigi Hickey (Acacia)

William Huang (Coxswain) (Banksia)

Schoolboy Single Scull

Connor Malouf (Huon)

Bronze medal winners

Schoolboy Coxed Quad Scull

Ben Beswick (Boronia)

Hugo Ryan (Huon)

Oliver Hoorweg (Acacia)

Charlie Knight (Banksia)

Jackson Thew (Coxswain) (Wandoo)

Schoolboy Year 9 Coxed Quad Scull

Zi You Qiu (Boronia)

William Fraser (Acacia)

Darcy Barlow (Huon)

Charlie Vyver (Acacia)

William Huang (Coxswain) (Banksia)

Schoolgirl Year 9 Coxed Quad Scull

Natalia Costanzo (Banksia)

Lara Clews (Karri)

Phoebe Fox (Banksia)

Rosie Humphries (Jarrah)

Isabel Pragasam (Coxswain) (Jarrah)

Futsal Semi-finals

Congratulations and good luck to the following Radford teams playing Semi Finals this weekend!

• U10 Girls Division 1
• U10 Girls Division 2 Raptors
• U10 Girls Division 2 Hawks
• U10 Open Division 2 Raptors
• U11 Open Division 1
• U12 Girls Division 1
• U13 Open Division 2 Falcons
• U14 Girls Division 2 Raptors
• U15 Open Division 2
• U18 Open Division 1 Falcons
• U18 Open Division 2 Raptors
• U18 Open Division 3 Hawks

Upcoming Trials

The next major regatta for the rowing program is the NSW Schoolboys Head of the River in Sydney and takes place 24-25 February 2024.

By Alex Timms, Sports Program Coordinator

Wednesday 14 February was the Year 2 – 12 Competitive Swim Meet, held at CISAC.

140 students from Years 2 – 12 competed in seven swimming events: 50m Freestyle, 50m Backstroke, 50m Breaststroke, 50m Butterfly, 100m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke and 100m Breaststroke.

Not only was it a fun morning for students and staff, but a lot of school records were broken.

Isabelle Merenda – 100m Backstroke – 13yo Female – 1’29.58 (2018 Record – A Lee – 1’39.00)

Victor Cumpston – 100m Backstroke – 13yo Male – 1’25.58 (2018 Record – S Phommaseisy – 1’29.78)

Louis Hayward –100m Freestyle – 14yo Male – 1’00.65 (2021 Record – B Au – 1’02.34)

Micah Tay – 100m Backstroke – 14yo Male – 1’15.55 (2021 Record – B Au – 1’17.06)

Brynten Au – 50m Freestyle – 17yo Male – 24.97 (1997 Record – J Wei Seng – 25.17)

Brynten Au – 100m Freestyle – 17yo Male – 55.43 (2017 Record – J Wright – 1’00.76)

Brynten Au – 100m Backstroke – 17yo Male – 1’07.99 (2018 Record – S Sima – 1’16.93

Congratulations to these swimmers and all the Age Group Champions.

By Monique Glavonjic on behalf of the Radford College Parents & Friends Association

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to those families that joined us at our Welcome Back BBQ. It was a joyous and memorable event, and their presence made it even more special.

We are grateful for the opportunity to connect with our school community and celebrate the start of a new academic year together. It was wonderful to see the smiling faces of both parents and students enjoying delicious food, participating in fun activities, and forging new friendships.

The support and involvement of families in our school events are invaluable. This active participation sets a great example for our students and reinforces the importance of community spirit.

We would also like to express our gratitude to the dedicated P&F volunteers, facilities team and the College which helped make the event a success. Their hard work and enthusiasm contributed to the smooth running of the BBQ, ensuring that everyone had a fantastic time.

Special thanks to Gecko Gang for their wonderful face painting, glitter tattoos and balloon modelling, GeckoSports for their fun and colourful activities, and the Radford College Foundation for their kind donation of delicious ice creams.

We hope that the Welcome Back BBQ provided an opportunity for families to connect, fostering a sense of belonging and support within our school community. We believe that strong partnerships between home and school are essential in nurturing the growth and development of our students.

We look forward to more exciting events including the Radford College Gala Ball and Radford College Long Lunch. Tickets are available now for both fantastic events!

By Ms Kath Notley, Round Square Coordinator

We have been delighted to welcome four Round Square Exchange students to Radford College from the start of this year. From Herlufsholm School in Denmark we have welcomed Maja and Zlat and Rodrigo and Caila have joined us from Markham College in Peru.

The students are being hosted by four Year 11 Radford students who all undertook an international exchange in Semester 2 last year.

As part of the Round Square organisation, students can apply for an international exchange at one of the other schools in the network and experience diverse cultures and education systems.

Currently enjoying an alpine experience is Lachlan Lloyd from Year 11 who is at Aiglon College in Switzerland, and Chloe Miller in Year 12 will be heading to Stanford Lake College in South Africa later this semester.

This past week Radford College has had the privilege to have two popular children's book authors and illustrators, Jess Racklyeft and Remi Lai, visit the Junior School.

These interactive sessions gave the students the opportunity to ask questions of the authors, learn clever ways of drawing anything from a little girl's ear to a dog's tail, and then practicing those new skills under the watchful eyes of the illustrators.

During Jess Racklyeft's session the children not only learned about the emotions associated with the different colours on the colour wheel, but also got the opportunity to draw some of the colourful and unusual animals she illustrated for her book Australia: Country of Colour. These included a green ringtail possum, a Christmas Island blue crab, a purple-crowned fairywren, a red Mount Kaputar slug, a yellow crucifix toad and - a favourite among the children - an orange dingo.

Brisbane author and illustrator, Remy Lai, taught the students about the process she follows from getting the initial idea for a book, writing the text, drawing the pictures, going through the rigorous process of editing it, and finally holding it in her hands.
The children thoroughly enjoyed her stories about the inspiration behind the dog in her book Pawcasso, her own spaniel. She also shared handy tips on how she draws the faces of her characters and her dog.

By Mrs Annette Carter, College Historian

The early Radford College maps contain additions that might be surprising to some, such as boarder accommodation and a swimming pool. The proposed locations are now occupied by the Morison Centre and carpark and the Mackinnon Senior School.

Part of an original Radford College map dating to 1985:

T.B. Millar wrote in the Radfordian that a boarding house was proposed “for which parents are pressing”. The boarding house was often raised at board meetings during the 1980s. As one board member pointed out in July 1984, “the College had always indicated that a boarding house would be built as soon as possible . . . some decision on this should be made” prompting a directive to gather details on requirements, costs, and boarding facilities in other ACT schools.

By the 1990s, the Board was investigating whether a suburban house should be purchased to accommodate “5 or 6 students” under the care of a “married teacher”. When a suitable house came up for sale, in 1992, a discussion ensued about the intricacies of the proposal, and it was resolved that a register of Radford families who were willing to have boarders would be established instead.

The evolution of Radford College's campus tells a story of decision-making and shifting priorities. While the swimming pool did not materialise, the deliberations, discussions and eventual resolution in the board minutes, unveils a persistent pursuit for a boarding house. This historical perspective sheds some light on the challenges faced by educational institutions in planning and development.

Tomorrow, Thursday 22 February, Radford College will be hosting the 2024 ACT Combined Anglican Schools Pathways Expo.

This Careers Fair will feature representatives from some of Australia’s leading universities, trade and apprenticeship providers, government and industry, gap year providers and many more.

Please see the attached flyer for more details.

Bookings can be made by visiting the Pathways website.

The Radford P&F Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday, 7 March at the R.A. Young Hall from 6pm.

All parents are invited to attend and can join the committee by completing this Nomination Form.

Click on the following links for more information on the Agenda and the Notice of AGM.

Celebrate 40 Years of Radford College with us at the Radford College Gala Ball. Tickets are available now.

This year we look forward to bringing together past and present members of the Radford College community to honour our history and celebrate our achievements.

This event is a fantastic way for Radford parents and friends to strengthen and grow their connections within the school.

Please advise us of any dietary requirements when purchasing your tickets. If booking individual tickets, please specify your seating preference (year group or collegian).

This year will feature entertainment from the ‘Capital Club Band’ plus other special guests.

We look forward to celebrating this momentous occasion with you!

For more information, send an email to radfordcollegegalaball@gmail.com

The Radford Collegians are excited to host the Radford College long lunch on Saturday, 15 June 2024.

The guest speaker for the event is Steven Bradbury, OAM, an Australian former short track speed skater and four-time Olympian. He won the 1000m event at the 2002 Winter Olympics after all of his opponents were involved in a last-corner pile-up. He was the first athlete from Australia and also the Southern Hemisphere to win a Winter Olympic gold medal and was also part of the short track relay team who won Australia's first Winter Olympic medal, a bronze in 1994.

Steven Bradbury’s talks cover an array of topics, including collaboration, teamwork, overcoming adversity, inspirational business and leadership goal setting, and being your best.

Early bird tickets are available to purchase here until 30 March 2024 at $80 per person, $640 for a table of 8, or $800 for a table of 10. The price of the ticket includes canapés, drinks and lunch.

For a sneak peek of what to expect, click here.