Staff Insights
By Mr Christopher Bradbury, Principal
The investiture of our 2026 Secondary Student Leaders this week provided the opportunity for staff, students, parents and carers to come together to celebrate the enduring value and importance of leadership. It was a moment to affirm the vital role our student leaders play in shaping the positive culture and future direction of Radford College.
I would like to congratulate our Year 11 students on their appointment to leadership positions for the coming year. They have been entrusted with great responsibility by their peers and teachers and we look forward to seeing them embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Leadership is not just about power and influence but also about accountability and responsibility. It is not for the faint-hearted, and if you are to do it well, it requires hard work.
In my address to the school community at the leadership induction, I took some time to share the following:
- The easy bit of leadership is to use your gifts for the betterment of oneself. The hard bit of leadership is to use your gifts for the betterment of others.
- The easy bit of leadership is to wear the badge. The hard bit of leadership is to deserve the badge.
- The easy bit of leadership is to do what is popular. The hard bit of leadership is to do what is right.
- The easy bit of leadership is to deal with policy. The hard bit of leadership is to deal with people.
- The easy bit of leadership is to enjoy its success. The hard bit of leadership is to endure its failure.
- The easy bit of leadership is to follow consensus. The hard bit of leadership is to follow conviction.
- The easy bit of leadership is administration. The hard bit of leadership is inspiration.
- The easy bit of leadership is to judge others. The hard bit of leadership is to judge yourself.
Without strong leadership, problems grow and opportunities are squandered. Schools, in particular, need to ensure they don’t become complacent and rather strive towards continuous improvement.
Leadership is necessary to drive positive change. Leaders solve problems. While we often call people leaders based on position, in reality, everyone is capable of leadership. At Radford College, we believe that through our academic, sporting, cultural, global and service experiences, we help young people develop the skills to lead themselves and others.
In my address to the school community at the leadership induction, I also shared the following fundamental characteristics of strong leadership:
A leader must have courage. The status quo is powerful, even when it's wrong. Leaders need to challenge the status quo. They are responsible for outlining where improvements can be made and have the vision to lead the way.
A leader must have the character to keep going when it's tough. When it's new and different, the going gets tough. Risk-taking is very often accompanied by making mistakes. Leaders need to be driven to keep going, even in the face of resistance. Leaders must have the character to keep the team going when it gets tough and embrace challenges as rich learning opportunities.
A leader must have the ability to collaborate with others. Leaders must assemble strong teams. A leader never achieves anything on their own. You're not leading if others don't follow. Great leadership is galvanising and leveraging the people around you, and in the process, harnessing humility and empathy.
A leader sees possibilities. See the possibility of success by building strength in capability: 'We've never tried this, why don't we ... '. Leaders solve problems though building capability and culture.
Steven Spielberg’s iconic 2012 film, Lincoln, is a fascinating study in leadership. There is a great scene in the film where a conversation occurs between Thaddeus Stevens and President Abraham Lincoln. Stevens, a radical Republican, is exasperated, believing the president is moving too slowly in his effort to free the slaves and enshrine their rights in the U.S. Constitution. At one point, the congressman urges Lincoln to heed his 'inner compass'.
Lincoln’s response is full of wisdom, self-understanding and leadership savvy:
'A compass, I learnt when I was surveying, it'll...it'll point you true north from where you are standing, but it's got no advice about the swamps and deserts and chasms you'll encounter along the way. If in pursuit of your destination, you plunge ahead heedless of obstacles, and achieve nothing more than to sink in a swamp, what's the use of knowing true north?'
During the Civil War, Lincoln was criticised from all angles. He was moving too fast for some and not fast enough for others. But he kept his own counsel and understood that vision and conviction must be tempered by practical action and attention to detail – in other words, the swamps and deserts of real life.
The easy part of leadership is often in the beginning. That’s when the adrenaline is racing and there is that sense of excitement. Likewise, the completion of a project is not the most challenging, because that’s when you can finally celebrate some wins. However, the toughest part is the middle, the ditches, distractions and surprises along the way. Leaders need to work out how to achieve their vision by navigating those challenges and ensuring the right balance of good judgment and effective timing.
With the pooled wisdom of our community and our ‘true north’ – grounded in Truth, Compassion, and Wisdom – our student leaders can navigate the deserts, ditches, and swamps together.
By Reverend Dr Katherine Rainger, Senior Chaplain
A point in time, such as the start of a new school term, often lends itself to personal reflection. There are also benefits to daily examining daily how we are travelling, what we are noticing, what we might need and how we are relating to others.
This week, I encountered 2 texts that made me think about the approach and attitude I bring to any given situation. The first text comes from Psalm 116, verses 12–14, which was read in my church on Sunday:
What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord; I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.
The writer of the Psalm uses a question and answer to make their point. It is worth pausing at the question, 'What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me?' Each of us might bring a unique answer. Do we return our love, time, attention, patience, skills or talents? Or something else.
The writer's own answer looks further into the grace of God who brings healing, presence and wholeness, captured in the word 'salvation' and the invitation to call upon the name of the Lord. The Psalmist brings a personal response to their relationship with God that also involves the community around them.
The second text I encountered this week was For A Leader by John O’Donohue. This blessing is full of imagery to challenge and provoke reflection on how we relate to ourselves and others. I wonder if there is an image that particularly resonates with you today?
May you have the grace and wisdom
To act kindly, learning
To distinguish between what is
Personal and what is not.
May you be hospitable to criticism.
May you never put yourself at the centre of things.
May you act not from arrogance but out of service.
May you work on yourself,
Building up and refining the ways of your mind.
May those who work for you know
You see and respect them.
May you learn to cultivate the art of presence
In order to engage with those who meet you.
When someone fails or disappoints you,
May the graciousness with which you engage
Be their stairway to renewal and refinement.
May you treasure the gifts of the mind
Through reading and creative thinking
So that you continue as a servant of the frontier
Where the new will draw its enrichment from the old,
And may you never become a functionary.
May you know the wisdom of deep listening,
The healing of wholesome words,
The encouragement of the appreciative gaze,
The decorum of held dignity,
The springtime edge of the bleak question.
May you have a mind that loves frontiers
So that you can evoke the bright fields
That lie beyond the view of the regular eye.
May you have good friends
To mirror your blind spots.
May leadership be for you
A true adventure of growth.
News
By Mrs Jane Smith, Assistant Principal Student Engagement
Semester 2 is always filled with important programs and events that are key to our student education program. Character education, including respectful relationships and digital safety, underpins our curriculum during mentor time and year meetings. These include teacher-led activities and collaboration with external providers such as Consent Labs, Menslink, Red Frogs, Paul Dillon’s presentations on drugs and alcohol, St Vincent’s Sleepout, Respect Collective and the ACT Police.
Last term, we warmly welcomed our new Year 6 students, who will form the 2026 Year 7 cohort. As part of Orientation Day, they enjoyed the entrepreneurial and imaginative offerings at Year 7 Market Day. Year 8 was victorious in the Battle of the Years sport competition and our Year 9 students will embark on their camp to Cooleman Plains in Week 3 of Term 4.
Our focus for Year 10 is creating a memorable celebratory event that marks the end of their lower Secondary School experience. This year, we have a very special event planned for Year 10 students and their parents, with drinks and dancing in the Great Hall at New Parliament House.
Year 11 students continue to engage with their senior studies with grace and grit, and we were excited to induct our 2026 Prefect body this week. Year 12 milestone events to conclude their time at Radford will include a final walk as a cohort to the water park on Black Mountain Peninsula, their final Chapel, Guard of Honour, Graduation and Formal at the National Arboretum.
The Heads of Year and Mentors play a critical role in knowing and caring for individual learners, as well as in building a strong, cohesive sense of community across the College. The team includes: Dr Rebecca Barlow (Head of Transition), Mr Brett Lamson (Head of Year 7), Mrs Jane Lilley (Head of Year 8), Mrs Rebecca Hunter (Head of Year 9), Mr Jeremy Hawkes (Head of Year 10), Mr Brad Davis (Head of Year 11) and Ms Ashlee Turner (Head of Year 12).
They all play a pivotal role in creating structure and support for our students in order for them to meet academic excellence goals and their personal best outside the classroom.
They mentor and teach skills and strategies that help our young people understand their strength of character, navigate challenges, build respectful connections and support each other, so that all members of our community thrive within and beyond the College grounds.
We are further supported by the work of our excellent College wellbeing team, which includes Psychologists Ms Jacqueline Walker and Ms Sophie Chang. Another valued member of the team is Counsellor and Social Worker, Ms Gretel Burgess, who runs lunchtime initiatives for our students, including drumming and craft.
Mr Chirag Mehta is known to all our students in his role as Attendance Officer and Mrs Melissa Johnston as she welcomes students to the wellbeing space in the Morison Centre. Our team is ably supported by Miri (the Ngunnawal word for dog), who is always available for some quiet time and a pat for students and staff alike.
By Miss Hayley Oldfield, Head of Houses
Radford's 2025 Performing Arts Carnival (RadPAC) transformed the Collegians Centre into a dazzling celebration of TV and movies. With sub-themes ranging from comedy to fantasy, action, musicals, animation, country and western, Christmas classics and children’s TV and film, every House brought incredible creativity, talent and teamwork to the stage.
The lead-up to RadPAC was a blur of rehearsals, costume planning, choreography and collaboration and the results truly shone. A new addition this year – karaoke – proved to be a crowd favourite, adding a fun and interactive twist that had the whole audience singing along.
The standard across all performances was exceptionally high, making it one of the closest competitions yet. After much anticipation, we are thrilled to announce that Kurrajong is the winner of the 2025 RadPAC House Cup! Their imaginative interpretation of animated TV and films, combined with energy and precision, earned them top honours. Congratulations, Kurrajong!
The Spirit Cup, awarded based on House spirit, went to Boronia.
A heartfelt congratulations to all Houses for their commitment, preparation and passion. RadPAC 2025 was truly a blockbuster event, thanks to the creativity and dedication of our students and staff.
By Ms Rhiannon Richards, French Teacher
The French Study Tour is a longstanding exchange program at Radford College. It was originally devised in 2010 by Ms Jen Bateman, Teacher Mentor and French Teacher, and has since become a highlight for our students studying French in Year 10. We are delighted that it continues to flourish.
Arriving in the French capital on 23 September, we began by exploring Paris on foot at the Montmartre artists’ quarter and beautiful Sacre Cœur Basilica. Later, we viewed the Moulin Rouge and Opéra buildings, before visiting the famous Galeries Lafayette department store. The next day, students climbed the iconic Eiffel Tower, before enjoying a scenic boat ride with lunch on the River Seine. In the afternoon, we saw the historic Pont Alexandre III bridge and visited the Musée d’Orsay, a train station turned art gallery. We also had the opportunity to view the renovated Notre Dame cathedral façade.
On our final day in Paris, we visited the Louvre, seeing the famous Mona Lisa, among other artworks, before continuing to walk through the Jardin des Tuileries and Place de la Concorde and on to the Champs-Élysées for some souvenir shopping. Students rounded off the day by climbing the 284 steps to the top of the Arc de Triomphe.
We left Paris and took in the amazing Palace of Versailles and its gardens on the way to our homestay with our sister school Notre Dame in Le Mans. Students stayed with their host families and attended school, including incursions.
For the final leg of our trip, we visited the stunning Mont Saint-Michel, the Normandy landing beaches at Arromanches, including the D-Day museum, and later, the French Impressionist, Claude Monet’s beautiful house and gardens.
We left France after an incredible 17 days, having acquired new language skills and cultural experience. We now eagerly await the visit of our French counterparts in February 2026.
Australian representatives
Four of our students recently achieved national and international sporting honours.
Billy (Year 4) represented the ACT at the Australian Futsal Schools Championships in Brisbane – a huge event featuring over 400 players in the U10 Boys division. Billy’s outstanding performances earned him selection in the Australian U10 Boys Team that will be touring the Philippines next year – the only ACT player in his age group to receive this honour.
Meanwhile, Ashley (Year 8), Samyra (Year 9) and Neev (Year 9) proudly represented Australia at the 2025 NBA Abu Dhabi Games, competing against teams from India, Turkey, Qatar, Lebanon, Japan and more. Ashley captained the U15 Australian Team, which went undefeated to claim the championship title, while Samyra was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the U15 Girls division. Neev played a pivotal role in the U15 Australian Green Team, which reached the grand final and claimed a silver medal.
Beyond the court, students enjoyed a rich cultural experience, exploring the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the NBA District and attending a New York Knicks versus Philadelphia 76ers preseason game – an unforgettable blend of sport, culture and global connection.
Well done, Billy, Ashley, Samyra and Neev!
2025 Rowing winter time trials
Once again, the Radford Rowing Program has delivered outstanding performance throughout the off-season, with strong results at the Rowing ACT Winter Time Trial series, setting a solid foundation for the upcoming summer season.
In the men’s competition, Will (Year 10) won the Men’s Open Kwiatkowski Cup, with Connor (Year 11) placing 3rd. Radford had an impressive 6 male rowers finish in the top 10 overall.
In the women’s competition, Lilly (Year 11) claimed the Cirulis Plate, followed closely by Freya (Year 11) in 2nd and Kate (Year 11) in 3rd. Radford was proud to have 5 female rowers finish in the top 10.
Congratulations to all Radford rowers and coaches for an exceptional winter season – a promising sign of what’s to come this summer!
Other sporting achievements
Towards the end of Term 3 and over the school holidays, several Radford College students proudly represented the ACT at various national championships.
At the School Sport Australia 15&U Cricket Championships, Alia (Year 10) was awarded the Spirit of Cricket Award for her outstanding sportsmanship during the tournament.
In hockey, Zalie, Elijah and Liam (all in Year 8) competed at the 2025 Hockey Australia U14 Championships in Brisbane. The ACT Girls' Hockey Team won the Play the Whistle award for the best sportsmanship on and off the field, while the ACT Boys' Team came home with a bronze medal.
In basketball, Madeleine (Year 8) and Esther (Year 8) represented Radford at the prestigious Foot Locker Basketball Australia U14 Club Championships in Perth.
And in athletics, congratulations to Elliot (Year 4), Griff (Year 6) and Adeline (Year 7) who have been selected to represent School Sport ACT at the 2025 School Sport Australia Track and Field Championships in Canberra towards the end of Term 4.
Well done to all students for these outstanding achievements – a fantastic reflection of their talent, dedication and sportsmanship.
