Year 12 take a leap into their future
Farewell Year 12, 2024 - pictured celebrating after their final assembly (from left) Lucy Shea, Mackenzie Dawson, Roree Moorhouse, Indyanna Wilson, Jarome Cooper, Jensen Hargreaves, Nikita Lauer, Sean Johnston, Ethan Grey and Bailey Caughey.
Image: The Riverine Grazier / Cheyenne Hurst.
By Krista Schade
Year 12 students attended their final assembly at Hay War Memorial High School on Friday, heralding the official end to their secondary schooling.
Ahead of final exams the student group were celebrated at the assembly in front of a large gathering of fellow pupils, family and friends.
“Graduates, today is your day,” HWMHS principal Ms Joanne St Hill said in her address.
“This moment is a reflection of your hard work, your perseverance and your growth over the past 13 years.
“As I look out at all of you, I see the future full of potential, and I'm reminded of a quote by Maya Angelou.
“She said, ‘You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.’
“Each of you has a unique spark, a gift you bring to the world, and it is your responsibility to nurture that spark as you step into the next chapter of your journey.
“But today is not just about celebrating your accomplishments.
“It's about acknowledging the challenges you've overcome, the late nights of studying or rushing to get assessments entered in the uncertainties about the future, the social struggles, the hard-earned victories and you've been tested in ways you could never have imagined.
“And through it all, you stood tall and you are ready to face whatever comes next.”
Year advisor Mrs Catherine Millyard echoed the accomplishments of the graduating class in her final address to the group mentioning the many challenges the year has overcome – Covid19, lockdowns and learning at home, a change of principals and deputy principals, and working with three different year advisors.
Outgoing school captain Lucy Shea presented the school with a gift, a traditional part of the final assembly.
The gift from the students was a wall plaque, displaying the HWMHS war cry.
In her presentation speech Ms Shea explained the significance of the gift.
“The Rivers Shield is presented to the winning house for the war cry competition at each carnival,” she said.
“The shield has been crfated by woodworker and ex-student Mr Gavin Robinson, and is made from timber from each of the four rivers that our previous sports houses were named after.”
The Welcome to Country was performed by graduating student Indyanna Wilson while ex-student Nicholas Harrison led the Ode to Remembrance.
Students Maggies Shields, Poppy Barnes, Josh Gardiner, Emily Caughey and Johlee Masters represented each year group in their speeches.
2025 HWMHS captains
Hay War Memorial High School senior leadership team (from left) vice captain Isobella Murray, captains Janna Negm and Johlee Masters, and vice captain Devlin Clarke.
Image: The Riverine Grazier / Cheyenne Hurst.
By Krista Schade
Hay War Memorial High School (HWMHS) has announced its incoming school captains for 2025.
At a formal investiture assembly held recently, the school introduced the 2025 senior leadership team.
Captains are Johlee Masters and Janna Negm.
They will be supported by vice captains Isobella Murray and Devlin Clarke.
The incoming captains were presented their badges by Mrs Sue Davie, sister of the late Matthew Sullivan, HWMHS school captain in 1974.
Outgoing 2024 captains, Lucy and Bailey, passed the torch to Janna and Johlee, and the team formally pledged to carry out their duties well and preserve the traditions of HWMHS.
