Radford farewells the Class of 2025

The Class of 2025’s last day as Radford College students was always going to be an emotional one, because it’s a day of lasts: the last Secondary School assembly in the Collegians Centre, the last chapel service and the last day of walking the halls and passages as senior students. Tonight's Graduation will also be the last time they’ll don their maroon Radford blazers and see many of their friends and classmates for a long time.

It’s a longstanding tradition at the College for the entire school to come out to bid the Year 12s farewell on their last day. Nearly 2000 students – from the youngest in Pre-Kindergarten to the oldest in Year 11 – formed a guard of honour through which the students passed – giving tiny and big high fives along the way.

The Guard of honour was preceded by a chapel service led by our chaplains, Rev Dr Katherine Rainger and Rev Andy Fleming, and included a very special performance of An Irish Blessing by the youngest Radford College students, which led to quite a few tears among the Year 12 cohort:

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

Held in the morning, the final assembly included a series of videos and photos demonstrating how far the group has come from their first days as Secondary School students. A highlight was watching a video taken at the Year 7 camp in 2020. Amber, Lachlan, Jeb and Anvi addressed the students for the last time as College Captains and, at times, had to fight against being overcome by emotion themselves.

'When you're in the middle of it, the days feel long, the assessments feel endless and the early mornings feel impossible. But then suddenly, you look back and realise how much you've grown, how much you've shared and how many moments – big and small – have shaped your time here,’ Amber said.

'As we move into whatever comes next – university, work, a gap year, or simply a long nap – I hope we remember that we are more capable than we give ourselves credit for,’ Lachlan added. ‘I hope we remember that effort matters more than perfection, that starting is always better than waiting and that growth comes from trying, failing and trying again.

The prefects made a point of thanking Principal Mr Christopher Bradbury, their Head of Year Ms Ashlee Turner, Careers Counsellor Mr Dale Casburn, Acting Dean of Senior Studies & IBDP Coordinator Mrs Alyssa Maier and Secondary School Administrator Mrs Ali Dunn. There was an emotional moment where the prefects paid tribute to Acting Deputy Principal Head of Secondary School Mrs Louise Wallace-Richards, who is retiring after 21 years at Radford College.

Mr Bradbury made a point of thanking the Class of 2025 in his address and referred to them as the gold standard of what a Radford College student should be.

'As I look out at you today, sitting here for your final assembly, I see something truly remarkable. I see not just students, but a constellation of future leaders, innovators, artists and compassionate citizens. I see the culmination of 13 years of learning, growing, laughing and yes, sometimes struggling, right here within these walls.'

'On behalf of every teacher, every staff member and every younger student whose life you have touched, thank you for sharing your time and your talent with us. We have loved having you.'

'Go forth. Be brave. Be kind. And never, ever forget that you will always have a home here. We are so excited to see the amazing things you will do.'

The students also heard from Astrid, who will address them later tonight as the 2025 Valedictorian.

Before departing the College, the Captains had the following advice for the Class of 2026: ‘Next year will be the year of lasts: your last Foundation Day, your last Athletics Carnival, your last RadPAC. Soak up every single moment with your friends, laugh at the little things, celebrate the big things and appreciate the everyday ones too. Your last year will go faster than you imagined, so make every day count.'