Embracing Embarrassment

February 27, 2024

Traditionally each new Head Girl addresses the community during the Commencement Assembly. However, this year marked a historic moment as Head Girl, Rachel Yap, took a bold step in breaking the norm by getting everyone on their feet – not for a typical speech, but for an impromptu dance party. 


‘For the next 20 seconds, I just want you to feel so embarrassed that your face turns beet red. So, everyone get on your feet right now and either copy the dance moves we’re (Lottie, Sruthi, and I) doing onstage or do your own thing and groove with the person next to you,’ Rachel exclaimed, setting the tone for a memorable and unconventional Commencement address. 


‘Congratulations, you just did your first embarrassing thing for the year. And you survived! So, what’s stopping you from joining volleyball even though you can’t catch without falling over, or taking your singing career out of the shower by joining the choir?’ she continued. ‘We are so lucky that Fairholme offers us countless academic and extracurricular opportunities, so if the fear of looking silly or getting embarrassed is about to stop you from signing up for an activity, just think back to this moment and sign up anyway.’ 


Rachel’s unconventional approach wasn’t just about creating a memorable moment; it carried a deeper message about overcoming fears and embracing opportunities. In her speech, she encouraged her peers to step out of their comfort zones, emphasising the wealth of opportunities the school provides. 


‘I have definitely grown with Fairholme in terms of the people I love being around and the opportunities that it has presented,’ Rachel shared. ‘I’ve discovered that I like more arty things and music and drama. I love being creative with the extracurricular activities like choir and drama, but also planning activities like Galentine’s Day.’ 


As someone who has worn the Maclaren tartan since the early years, Rachel expressed her desire to give back to the school. ‘The Head Girls have always been people I look up to, and being here for so long, I really wanted to give back to the school. I think Head Girl is a great way to do that,’ she said. 


Rachel touched upon her role as one of the Arts leaders in Year 9, emphasising the importance of involvement and contribution. ‘It was fun being involved in the school and putting ideas forward,’ she added. 


Looking forward, Rachel envisions bringing the school closer together. ‘You don’t have to be friends with everyone, but being supportive of their differences is crucial. It’s about embracing individuality and creating a space where every person feels valued and accepted. Together, we can build a safer place for everyone,’ she stated. 


By envisioning a closer-knit school, Rachel advocates for a community that thrives on mutual respect and understanding. The emphasis on support echoes her commitment to creating an atmosphere where everyone feels encouraged to pursue their passions and explore new horizons. Through this vision, she hopes to create a nurturing environment where students can confidently step out of their comfort zones, just as she prompted the entire assembly to do with an impromptu dance. 


The inspiration for Rachel’s unconventional commencement address stemmed from her desire to encourage her peers to try new things. ‘I started writing it on the holidays, and I knew from the start that I wanted to talk about trying new things, but every year we talk about that,’ she explained. 


‘So, I thought getting people up to dance and consciously doing something that they will remember the moment more and that they can do something out of their comfort zone, and everyone survived.’ 


Outside of her academic and leadership pursuits, Rachel enjoys reading and spending time with her energetic Border Collie. Her proactive approach to balancing her workload while seeking support from friends reflects her commitment to personal wellbeing and academic success. 


With aspirations to attend university and pursue a Bachelor of Arts and Creative Writing, Rachel dreams of becoming an actor. ‘I really love being able to experience new things through acting, to connect and tell stories,’ she said. 


For Rachel, coming to school is a sanctuary. ‘Even if I am stressed or not feeling well, as soon as I step through the gates I immediately feel better, I feel at home,’ she concluded, reflecting on the sense of belonging and comfort that Fairholme College provides. 


In breaking the mold of traditional Commencement addresses, Rachel Yap’s speech serves as a testament to the vibrant spirit and forward-thinking approach that defines Fairholme College. Her message resonates not only with her peers but with anyone seeking to break barriers, embrace embarrassment, and seize opportunities.

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Leading with Heart: Miranda Mann, 2026 Head Boarder

By Sarah Richardson • November 24, 2025
As we welcome a new year, 2026 Head Boarder Miranda Mann talks about her ambition for her time in the role, reflects on her formative years and looks to what the future holds beyond the tartan. Miranda represents the sixth-generation of cattle graziers from Hillgrove Station, north of Charters Towers. With a deep connection to the land and a heart full of compassion, Miranda brings a grounded, inclusive, and community-focused ideal to the Head Boarder role in 2026. Beginning at Fairholme in Year 7, when she first arrived from her family’s historic Brahman cattle station, established in 1861, before the founding of Townsville. The transition from rural life to boarding school was significant, but it was the unwavering support of her fellow boarders and the dedicated boarding staff that helped her find her place. “An experience that has shaped me to who I am today is the support I received from fellow boarders and staff during tough times,” Miranda reflects. “It’s a great feeling when you know the people around you care for you and want you to succeed. That drives me to do the same for others, because the impact can be significant.” As Head Boarder, Miranda is most excited about working closely with students and staff throughout the year, especially during key events that bring the community together. “I want to make the most of my time left at Fairholme, it’s going to fly by,” she says. “My goal is to leave an everlasting impact by building a more connected and respectful boarding environment. I want every girl to feel comfortable and to enjoy the boarding space even more than they do now.” Miranda’s hope is that her leadership style is rooted in empathy and action. She encourages younger boarders to embrace every opportunity: “Get involved with others and join in on activities around the boarding house, even something as simple as a game of touch. It really makes the term more enjoyable and creates everlasting memories. And don’t be afraid to try new extracurriculars, even if you haven’t done them before.” With her strong sense of community, deep appreciation for her roots, and a genuine desire to uplift those around her, Miranda Mann is set to make 2026 a memorable and meaningful year for the Fairholme boarding family.

Celebrating Peer Support in Boarding

By Sarah Richardson • November 24, 2025
Friendship, connection, and a beautiful handover afternoon tea. At the beginning of this year, our Boarding Wellbeing Audit highlighted one message loud and clear: strong peer support is one of the most powerful influences on boarder wellbeing. In response, we set out with intention to strengthen and expand the ways our older girls walk beside and uplift our younger ones. In Term 2, we introduced our Middle Sisters program: a group of dedicated Year 11 Boarders who stepped in to support our Year 7s as the Year 12 academic demands increased. Over the past three terms, the Year 7s and Year 11s have shared plenty of laughs, chats, and practical support, building bonds that have enriched daily boarding life. Wanting our Year 8s to experience the same connection, we extended the initiative to include Year 10 Boarders who were interested to take on a similar role. This group has done a wonderful job running relaxed, group-style mentoring over shared dinners—something the Year 8s have thoroughly enjoyed. A big thank you to Year 11 Boarder, Bella Quinn, who has taken the lead in organising our next group of peer mentors. She has brought together our current Year 9s, who will step into mentoring roles in 2026, supporting today’s Year 7s as they move into Year 8, continuing the cycle of connection and care. Bella hosted a lovely afternoon tea to mark the handover. It was a chance for our Year 11 Middle Sisters to introduce their Year 7s to the new Year 9 mentors who will walk alongside them next year. The Cameron Room was filled with chatter, laughter and the beginnings of friendships that will carry through many years of boarding life. It was a reminder of what makes our community so special: girls supporting girls, encouraging one another, and finding strength in connection.

Back-to-Back State Champion

By Sarah Richardson • November 19, 2025
Fairholme Year 6 student, Eden Broksch, has once again shown her incredible talent and determination, taking out the State Championship title in the Tetrathlon for the second consecutive year. Competing at the Queensland Representative School Sport State Track and Field Championships in Townsville, Eden shone across all four Tetrathlon events: 100m, Long Jump, Shot Put and 800m. The competition, held over two days, began with the 100m and Long Jump. Eden admits the first day didn’t quite go to plan. ‘At the end of the first day, I was in about 12th place,’ she shared. But day two brought a remarkable turnaround. After a strong Shot Put performance, she surged up the leaderboard. ‘After the Shot Put, I moved up to fourth place. I was pretty confident I could place in the top three if I finished with a good run in the 800m,’ she said. What followed was a determined and inspiring final effort. Eden ran her heart out in the 800m — her favourite event and that final burst was enough to secure the overall win. ‘I ran a personal best time in the 800m and ended up winning overall by just a couple of points,’ she explained, smiling. This victory also means Eden will once again don the maroon colours, earning her place on the Queensland team for the second year in a row. ‘It feels so good,’ she said. ‘I love going away with the team, it’s so much fun and one of my best friends is also going too, which makes it really enjoyable to share the experience.’ In the lead-up to nationals, Eden has been training with enormous commitment and energy. ‘I’m running usually five days a week, two throws training sessions, two long jump sessions and I also play touch football,’ she explained. Shot Put and the 800m remain her favourite events, but her love for combined disciplines continues to grow. She’s already looking ahead to the future. ‘I love competing in the combined events. I don’t just have to focus on only one event, I can do multiple. I hope to move from the tetrathlon to the heptathlon when I’m old enough.’ Eden is also a true all-round athlete. This year alone, she has represented Darling Downs in Orienteering and both Queensland and Darling Downs in Cross Country, all while representing Fairholme in touch football, netball and gymnastics as well. Her passion for sport extends beyond competition — she treasures the friendships she has forged along the way. ‘I’ve made lots of great friends through athletics from all over,’ she said. As Eden prepares for the School Sport Australia National Championships in Canberra at the end of the month, her goals are clear. ‘I want to improve on last year’s score and achieve another personal best in the 800m.’ Congratulations, Eden! Fairholme is incredibly proud of your grit, talent and wonderful attitude. We’ll be cheering you on as you take on the national stage once again.
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