Whitsunday Anglican School

SENIOR INTERSCHOOL VOLLEYBALL GRAND FINALS |
For the second consecutive year our Senior Boys and Girls Volleyball teams earned their place in the Mackay Interschool Volleyball Grand Finals - an achievement that reflects the dedication, resilience and talent of our students.

Inside Ron Bourne Hall, the atmosphere was electric - nerves, excitement, anticipation, energy and an overwhelming sense of pride and passion for our teams and our School.

Our Girls team faced a challenging start, going down in the opening set before responding with courage and determination to level the contest in the second. The third set was an absolute nail-biter, with both teams battling fiercely for every point. While our Girls ultimately fell short of the title, their skill, composure and potential were there for all to see. Their performance was one they can be incredibly proud of.

The Boys also took some time to find their rhythm, trailing for much of the opening set. Then came a turning point. A surge of momentum lifted the team, and they carried that confidence and belief through to the final whistle, securing a memorable Grand Final victory.

Thank you to Mr Wheaton, Dr Sunner, Mrs Bennington and Mr Nixon for their support and a big thank you to the many members of the greater Whitsunday School Community who came along for the experience.

Congratulations to our students who represented Whitsunday with pride. A round of applause for our Whitsunday Volleyball coaching staff who are not only fantastic coaches, but they are also invaluable mentors and role models.

We are incredibly fortunate to have Mrs Suzanne Weatherhead, Mrs Val Allen, Mr Shamus Stayt and Ms Nadya Millecam guiding and supporting our Volleyball programme. Collectively, they have empowered, encouraged and enabled our students to grow both as athletes and as young people.

With the Mackay Interschool Volleyball season now complete, our focus turns to the Australian Volleyball Schools Cup (AVSC), taking place on the Gold Coast in December.

Whitsunday Volleyball is in an incredibly strong position for the future, with former National Volleyball player Mrs Suzanne Weatherhead leading the programme. Mrs Weatherhead brings an extraordinary passion and love for the game, complemented by an outstanding depth of technical and tactical knowledge. Her leadership places our Volleyball programme in very capable hands and provides an exciting platform for continued growth and success.

What a season it has been! Congratulations Whitsunday!

JUNIOR SCHOOL INTERHOUSE SOCCER – A Fantastic Celebration of Sport ⚽

Our Junior School Interhouse Soccer Competition was a wonderful celebration of teamwork, enthusiasm and Whitsunday spirit, with Ambrose, Barnabas, Charles and Trinity taking to the field and giving their very best.

At the close of the competition, Ambrose and Barnabas finished level on points, with Barnabas ultimately claiming top honours thanks to a superior goal difference.

A special thank you goes to Mr Song for his wonderful support throughout the competition, and to Brodie, one of our passionate football students, who did an outstanding job officiating the matches while encouraging and supporting our future football stars.

Finally, a huge shoutout to our Junior School teachers who gave their time, energy and enthusiasm to help bring the event together. Their commitment to providing these opportunities is a wonderful example of how cocurricular experiences contribute to the development, confidence, and enjoyment of our students.

⚽ Well done all!

JS BOOK WEEK - Lunch Time Fun | The Book Week fun continued throughout the day on Friday with a special ''play picnic'' organised by Librarian Mrs Wilson and ''Where's Wally'' scavenger hunts by Mr Shield!

Students enjoyed a picnic under the trees and had the opportunity to play a variety of instruments, completed puzzles and mazes around the Book Week theme and worked together to find the Wallys hidden throughout Junior School.

INTERSCHOOL DEBATING | The Mackay Interschool Senior Debating Competition was hosted by Whitsunday this year, with our School entering three teams. The grand final was contested between Whitsunday and HSC, with students debating the topic: "That global superpowers do more harm than good in world affairs."

In each round of the competition, teams received an unseen topic and had one hour to prepare their arguments before presenting them to an audience. They had no access to technology - only a dictionary, writing materials, and the power of collaborative thinking.

In the recent Final, the students demonstrated an impressive general knowledge of history, current affairs, and international relations, and ultimately persuaded the audience that, indeed, superpowers are more aptly interpreted as “supervillains”.

Speakers from both teams expressed their gratitude to our Booth House Boarding students, whose enthusiastic support and attendance made the grand final all the more memorable.

Congratulations students!

JUNIOR SCHOOL BOOK WEEK 📖⭐ | We love Book Week at Whitsunday! Beaming smiles radiated from our students, teachers and families who joined us on Friday to celebrate the The Children's Book Council of Australia Symphony of Stories Book Week 2026.

Thank you to all our students, teachers and families for coming together to celebrate the joy of reading and champion its importance in our lives. 📚✨

INTERSCHOOL VOLLEYBALL - Senior School | Congratulations students, staff and families for a wonderful season thus far! The semifinals concluded this in week, in what's described as a celebration of Whitsunday Volleyball!

Well done to both our Boys and Girls WAS Red teams who are now in the FINALS, to be held this coming Wednesday at Ron Bourne Hall.

Congratulations students! We'll be cheering for you!
🏐

SURF LEAGUE | 🌊☀️ What a glorious day at Sarina Beach for the Secondary School Surf League last week.

Against strong competition from across the region, our students put their lifesaving skills and athletic talents to the test. A special congratulations to:

U13 Male Champion - Flynn
U15 Female Champion - Gabrielle
U15 Male Champion - Hayden

Well done students!

OUR FUTURE CRICKET STARS | Our Whitsunday Junior School cricketers were treated to a truly unforgettable experience at the Blast Cricket Clinic on Thursday, where they had the incredible opportunity to interact with Australian Test heroes Travis Head, Beau Webster and Alex Carey, watch a professional net session and witness bowling legend Scott Boland in top form.

It was a fantastic opportunity for our students to see their cricketing heroes up close and be inspired by the very best in the game.

Adding to the occasion, it was wonderful to see our Head of Junior School, Mr Mark Warwick, getting involved and showing his own batting prowess while proudly supporting his students.

A brilliant day of cricket, inspiration and connection - and one our future stars will remember for many years to come.

🎭✨ SPLENDOUR IN THE ARTS IS NEXT WEEK! ✨🎶

The countdown is on! In just one week, Whitsunday Anglican School will come alive with music, drama, dance and visual arts as we celebrate the incredible creativity and talent of our students from Kindergarten to Year 12.

📅 Friday, 28 August 2026
📍 Whitsunday Anglican School
🎟️ FREE – all families and members of our wider community are warmly invited.

Evening Program
🕔 5:15pm – P&F Hospitality
🎶 5:45pm – Opening Performance in the Ron Bourne Hall
🎨 Then explore exhibitions and performances across the School, showcasing the exceptional work of our students across The Arts.

Whether you're coming to enjoy the performances, admire the exhibitions or simply support our talented students, Splendour in the Arts promises to be a wonderful evening for the whole family.

Mark your calendars, invite your family and friends, and join us next week as we celebrate the creativity, passion and artistic excellence of our School community. We can't wait to welcome you!

OLD SCHOLAR SPOTLIGHT | Grace | Class of 2017

From the Whitsunday classrooms and sporting fields to working on the national stage with Rugby Australia, Grace’s passion for sport has taken her on an exciting career journey.

After graduating in 2017, Grace moved to Brisbane to study a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Sports Management. She gained valuable experience with the Mackay Cutters before interning with the Gold Coast Titans, which led to a full-time role across Events, Community and Football Operations.

In 2022, Grace joined Rugby Australia and moved to Sydney in 2023. Today, she works as the Community Promotion Lead, managing national community engagement initiatives and tours, including opportunities for junior players to connect with current players and rugby legends.

Grace recently returned to Whitsunday while on tour with Rugby Australia, delivering a clinic to current students — a wonderful full-circle moment!

Reflecting on her time at Whitsunday, Grace credits teachers such as Mrs Hayhoe and Mr Brandon, her love of PE and her involvement in Touch Football and Rugby Sevens as important influences on her career.

Her advice to students considering a career in sport, marketing or communications? Get involved, gain experience and take every opportunity to learn about the industry.

We’re proud to see where Grace’s passion for sport has taken her and loved welcoming her back to Whitsunday! 👏

Grace is pictured with Mr Martin, on her recent visit to Whitsunday.