Principal's Message

By Mrs Fiona Godfrey, Principal

As we begin Term 2, I would like to welcome our new students, staff and parents. I hope that your time at Radford College is happy, productive and successful. I also hope that our ongoing families have had a restful and enjoyable holiday period.

Major Events

Captains tell the Story of Yungbali on Foundation Day.


This recent holiday period was bookended by two of the College’s biggest annual events.

Excitingly, on the last day of Term 1, the whole college managed to come together for the first time since 2019 for our customary Foundation Day gathering. This is a special service that is traditionally acted out on our foundation day. It is the ‘Story of Yungbali’, told through the lens of the Ngunnawal people, which is centred around the story of creation and the great flood, both of which form the basis for Genesis, the first book in the Old Testament.

So how does all of this fit in with Radford’s Foundation Day? Well, our Foundation Day celebrates our beginnings, our creation, our Genesis. So, it is fitting that a College that bases it values on its Anglicanism, Christian traditions and beautiful Canberra surroundings, would create a story with all these elements. And it is told through the lens of the Ngunnawal people, because they are the people on whose lands we now meet.

The service combined student-led music, dance and drama to provide a highly entertaining and thought-provoking start to Foundation Day. It was fitting that College Chair, Ms Vicki Williams, was in attendance to conclude the service and send our Secondary School students out for a day of House-based activities to contend for the Bishop’s Cup.

The first day of Term 2 saw the whole College come together once again under perfect weather conditions for our traditional Anzac Commemorative Service. This service was held in the Turning Circle to take advantage of the flagpoles around which the service was conducted. I had prepared my speech during the holidays, and this year it centred on my husband’s grandfather and father’s involvement in WW1 and WW2. Unfortunately, I became unwell over the weekend, so my husband Dennis stood in for me and gave a personal account about his family’s military involvement for Australia.

Mr Godfrey speaking at the College's Anzac Commemorative Service.


From all accounts, our guest of honour this year, Air Vice Marshall Head of Air Force Capability Wendy Blyth AM, gave a highly interesting and informative presentation about the Gallipoli campaign. We are so fortunate to have such high ranking and wise officers within our community upon which we can involve in events such as this.

Uniform Requirements

Last term, in what was our final assembly for Term 1, our Acting Assistant Principal Students, Mr Scott Corbett, spoke to the students at length about the need for everyone to return to College properly attired, fulfilling all uniform requirements. Mr Corbett spoke passionately and forcefully about the fact that we want our students to have pride in their College, and that pride extends to the way they present themselves every day.

To that point, we need our students to adhere to the uniform guidelines, including:

  • Hair style and colour (including both boys and girls tying back their hair if it is long enough to touch their shoulders);
  • Length of skirts;
  • Boys' ties (must be done up properly);
  • Shirts (must be tucked in);
  • Correct shoes and socks; and
  • Jewellery.

Mr Corbett, heads of houses and classroom teachers will be making a concerted effort from the beginning of term to ensure we get consistency across all students regarding uniform regulations. This will extend to detentions and discussions with students and parents for students who do not comply. I strongly believe that teachers should not have to spend their time checking uniforms given the College’s expectations with respect to uniform are communicated upon enrolment.

Please read an article Mr Corbett has written, which has more detail about our uniform requirements and the reasons for them.

Winter is Coming

As they say in Game of Thrones – “Winter is coming.” And as the days continue to shorten and much cooler weather is around the corner, it is a timely reminder to do two things to protect you and your children from serious illness.

Firstly, continue to make sure you and your children are fully vaccinated against both COVID-19 and influenza. The annual influenza vaccination should occur from April onwards to provide protection for the peak of the influenza season, which is generally June to September in most parts of Australia. Influenza vaccines can be co-administered (given on the same day) with any COVID-19 vaccine.

Secondly, refrain from sending your child/ren to school if they show any symptoms of illness, and please keep them at home until symptoms have ceased.

If any parent has questions regarding this advice, or any other health questions, please contact our School Nurse, Sophie Davies, by emailing nurse@radford.act.edu.au.

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