Rising Above and Reaching Beyond

September 26, 2025

‘Young women can lead boldly, speak clearly and act decisively, and in doing so, lift others, not diminish them...’ - Dr Leigh Hobart


Leadership is not just a title – it is a mindset, a commitment and a daily practice. How can I leave the world a better place? At Fairholme, we see leadership in motion every day – in the quiet moments of courage, the thoughtful decisions made with integrity and the acts of kindness that ripple through our community. It is happening in classrooms, on sporting fields, in boarding houses and in the hearts of students and staff who choose to lead with purpose.


This term, we are proud to welcome our new leaders: Head Girl - Bronte Callachor; Head Day Girl - Alexandra Edwards; and Head Boarder – Miranda Mann. These young women have already shown a deep commitment to our values and a readiness to serve. Their leadership journeys are just beginning, but they are already inspiring others through their authenticity, resilience and vision.


“Empowered and strengthened by female leadership…[which is] a seat at the table…kind and courageous” – Bronte Callachor.


“Nothing great is ever achieved alone.” – Alexandra Edwards.


“It is important to bring a sense of connection and belonging.” – Miranda Mann.


Their appointments follow in the footsteps of our current Head Girls – Gracie Mack, Lucy Kilner and Katie Seaby – who have led with grace, strength and a deep sense of responsibility. Whether representing our school publicly or supporting their peers behind the scenes, they have demonstrated what it means to lead with heart and humility. Their legacy is one of kindness, courage and unwavering commitment to others.


At the heart of our leadership culture is a belief that leadership is about lifting others. It’s about listening, supporting and creating space for others to thrive. Our student leaders understand that true influence comes not from authority, but from connection and service – through actions that build trust and strengthen our community.


To further support and encourage leadership potential, we are excited to announce the launch of our Emerging Leaders Scholarship. This initiative is designed to recognise and nurture students who demonstrate early leadership promise – those who show initiative, empathy and a desire to make a positive impact through service. The scholarship will provide mentoring opportunities, leadership development experiences and financial support to help these students to grow into confident, capable leaders.


Leadership is also thriving among our staff. This term, Mrs Pam Stains and Mrs Cath Butler have presented at the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools conference in New Zealand, sharing our work on relational pedagogy – a teaching philosophy that places relationships at the heart of learning. Their presentation showed Fairholme’s twenty year journey of building trust, empathy and connection shapes not only academic outcomes but the emotional wellbeing of students and others. It’s a powerful reminder that leadership in education is about curriculum founded in care.


In Australia, leadership – especially for women – can sometimes be met with hesitation or criticism. The “tall poppy syndrome,” where individuals are cut down for standing out or striving for excellence, remains a cultural challenge. But our student leaders are rising above it. They are showing that ambition, confidence and compassion are not mutually exclusive. They are proving that young women can lead boldly, speak clearly and act decisively – and that doing so lifts others, not diminishes them.


This matters more than ever. According to the Australian Workplace Gender Equality Agency (2025), women hold just 21.9% of CEO roles and have a 21.8% gender pay gap in the private sector. By empowering young women to lead now, we are helping to shift those statistics for the future. Our Head Girls are not just leading – they are role modelling what is possible.


Leadership is not always easy. It often requires making tough decisions, standing firm in values, and choosing kindness even when it is not the easiest path. But it is in these moments that true leadership is revealed – not in titles, but in actions. We see it in the student who speaks up for a peer. In the teacher who adapts a lesson to meet every learner. In the boarder who comforts a homesick friend. These everyday acts of leadership shape our culture and strengthen our community.


As we celebrate our new student leaders and honour those who have come before them, we also affirm our commitment to nurturing leadership in all its forms. We encourage our students to step forward, speak up and lead with courage. We challenge the norms that say leadership must look a certain way and instead embrace the diversity of voices, experiences and strengths that make our school vibrant.


Leadership is happening all around us. Let us continue to notice it, nurture it and celebrate it.


Dr Leigh Hobart | Principal

More News…

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.

Celebrating one of Australia’s Best Educators: Sonya Nicol

By Sarah Richardson • November 19, 2025
We are incredibly proud to celebrate our extraordinary Fairholme Kindy Teacher, Mrs Sonya Nicol, who has been recognised as one of Australia’s most outstanding educators in the National Excellence in Teaching Awards (NEiTA). Sonya was announced as a 2025 NEiTA Apple Award Winner for Primary – one of only two primary educators across Australia and New Zealand to receive this prestigious honour. With more than three decades of teaching experience, Sonya still steps into the Kindy classroom each day with the energy, creativity, and passion of a first-year teacher. NEiTA says 'Sonya’s love for early childhood education is simply unmatched, and the impact she has made on generations of students, families, and colleagues is extraordinary,' and we couldn’t agree more. ‘I’m still in a state of disbelief and shock, however, I am humbled and honoured to receive a National Excellence in Teaching Award,’ Sonya said. ‘There are so many brilliant teachers out there doing an amazing job. It’s absolutely wonderful to be recognised. ‘For me, teaching is not a thankless profession. I have the opportunity to watch children progress, change, and develop as they progress through Fairholme.’ NEiTA Foundation Chairperson Catherine O’Sullivan said educators like Sonya illustrate the power of exceptional teaching. ‘Sonya is a talented, passionate, and a life-changing force in education,’ Catherine said. ‘As an extraordinary teacher, Sonya is leaving a lasting mark on the lives of countless students. ‘The Fairholme College community is strengthened, courtesy of Sonya’s ability to motivate, educate, and inspire the next generation of young minds. Sonya’s achievement is not only a celebration of her remarkable career, but also a reflection of the heart, dedication, and excellence she brings to Fairholme each and every day. We are immensely grateful for the joy and inspiration she shares with our youngest learners, and we couldn’t be prouder to see her talent recognised on a national stage. Congratulations, Sonya, this honour is so richly deserved.

Creative Generation Excellence Awards 2025

By Sarah Richardson • October 31, 2025
Our Year 12 Visual Artists achieved outstanding success in the 2025 Creative Generation Excellence Awards and were recognised at the Official Opening of the DDSWQ Regional Exhibition. Congratulations to the girls on their outstanding achievements: > Certificate of Excellence Award – Bron Francis, ‘Choose your path’. Bron’s work will be exhibited at QAGOMA in 2026 as part of the State’s Central Exhibition – an incredible honour! > Regional Encouragement Award – Amelia Bryant-Peterson, ‘Perspectivae Culturales de Morte’ (cultural perspectives about death) > Certificate of Commendation Award – Indianna Hitchcock, ‘Omnia ad Initium Redeunt’ (Everything Returns to the Beginning) > Certificate of Participation Award – Yas Lethbridge, ‘Perceived Façades, Assumed Expectations and Underlying Realities’ This year, from almost 500 submissions across 168 schools in Queensland, only 150 works were shortlisted, with just 40 Excellence winners (including 2 from the DDSWQ region) and 8 Regional Encouragement awardees.  The DDSWQ Regional Exhibition is on display at the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery until 16 November – we encourage you to visit and view these inspiring works.
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