At Holme Issue 42 - January 2026 by Info-Design Online

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S PEN:

A Year of Optimism and New Beginnings

The beginning of a new school year always carries a particular kind of magic - a blend of anticipation, renewal, and possibility. At Fairholme, this sense of beginning is felt deeply. It is woven into our traditions, our faith, and our shared belief in the potential of every girl who steps onto our campus. As we welcome 2026, that spirit feels especially vibrant.

During our staff preparations last week, each staff member selected a single word to guide their approach to the year ahead. Their uplifting words reflect the depth of care, professionalism, and purpose that define the Fairholme team. My word was Optimism. Optimism is not simply a feeling; it is a discipline and a choice. I do not mean a fleeting or naïve optimism, but the steady, Fairholme kind. The kind that grows from gratitude, courage, and the knowledge that we are held by a community that believes in us.

Our students have returned to campus with the energy and enthusiasm that make Fairholme feel whole again. To our new students across all year levels, and especially our Year 7s, we extend a warm welcome. Your Fairholme story begins now - a story that will be shaped by friendship, challenge, discovery, and joy. And to our 229 boarders, including those who have

travelled from across Queensland, interstate, and overseas, we are so glad you are here. The boarding community remains

‘As we step into 2026, we do so with optimism in our hearts and purpose in our steps. May this year be marked by growth, grace, and the unmistakable spirit of Fairholme - a spirit defined by courage, connection, and extraordinary possibility.’

- Dr Leigh Hobart

at the heart of our college, enriching us with perspectives and experiences that strengthen the fabric of who we are.

The holidays also brought extraordinary opportunities for some of our girls, including those who travelled to Cambodia as part of our service and cultural immersion program. Their experiences - from working alongside local communities to learning about Cambodia’s history and resilience - reflect the values we hold dear: compassion, service, and global awareness.

Their stories have already begun to inspire others, reminding us that learning extends far beyond the classroom.

We also celebrate the outstanding ATAR and QCE results achieved by our 2025 graduates. Their success is a testament to their hard work, the dedication of their teachers, and the unwavering support of their families. It is also a powerful reminder of what is possible when young women are encouraged to strive, to question, and to believe in their own capacity. We welcomed many of these Old Girls back to campus this term at our Commencement Assembly as we recognise their scholarly achievements - a moment of pride for them, their families, and the entire Fairholme community. The physical landscape of our college has also embraced the spirit of new beginnings. Over the holidays, our new C Block was installed - a remarkable feat that saw a tired three classroom building replaced with a modern, double storey learning space featuring six classrooms and two staff rooms. Watching the new structure being craned into place was a moment of awe and excitement, symbolising our commitment to providing contemporary environments for our girls. With new technology, fresh spaces, and thoughtful design, C Block stands as a tangible expression of our optimism for the future.

Our recent MMG survey results further affirmed the strength of our community. Families and students from Years

6, 9, and 12 provided overwhelmingly positive feedback, particularly in areas such as academic programs, wellbeing, boarding, communication, and overall satisfaction. Parents highlighted our strong sense of community, supportive staff, and the quality of educational opportunities. Students spoke of their friendships, their teachers, and the positive learning environment for which Fairholme is known. We are humbled by this feedback and grateful for the trust placed in us. It will continue to guide our planning as we shape the next chapter of our college.

This semester marks the beginning of our work on Fairholme’s new Strategic Plan - an exciting opportunity to dream boldly and think deeply about the future. This process invites us to honour our heritage while preparing our girls for a rapidly changing world. It fills us with optimism because we know that when this community comes together with purpose, extraordinary things happen.

As we step into 2026, we do so with optimism in our hearts and purpose in our steps. May this year be marked by growth, grace, and the unmistakable spirit of Fairholme - a spirit defined by courage, connection, and extraordinary possibility.

Welcome to a new year at Fairholme. A year of beginnings. A year of hope. A year of optimism.

Dr Leigh Hobart | Principal

Songwriter of the Year

The incredible talent of Year 9 student, Giaan Zammataro, has captured national attention with Giaan announced as the 2025 Australian Children’s Music Foundation (ACMF) National Songwriting Competition – Young Songwriter of the Year.

Not only did Giaan take out first place in the Years 7 – 8 category, she also won the overall APRA AMCOS Award for her powerful original song, ‘to the kid’. In this Q&A, we chat with Giaan about her songwriting journey, the inspiration behind the song, and what this outstanding recognition means to her.

When did you first discover your love of music?

I’ve grown up with music. My older siblings also did music when I was very young, which meant that music has always been a big part of my life. As I watched them perform in musicals and concerts, I was so intrigued by the sound, words, and the costumes that I knew I had to also get involved. So I did, performing in my first ever eisteddfod and first musical

when I was 4 years old, which led to many more after that. I love the buzz I get from performing and making audiences happy.

Have you been writing your own original songs for long?

I have always tried to write my own songs as I have been inspired to become an artist. My brother and I used to make up funny little songs when we were little, and a couple of years ago I wrote a song for my sister’s 21st. However, I actually only started writing proper songs like ‘To The Kid’ in about Term 2, 2025.

Are there any musical influences that have shaped you?

I have had so many mentors along my musical journey, starting off with my singing and music like Mrs Julee-anne Bell, and Mrs Jane Iszlaub in Kingaroy, who gave me great roots in performing. I then enhanced my musical abilities when I came to Fairholme and began lessons with singing teacher Ms Alana Scott, and guitar teacher Mr Craig Gibbens. Mr Gibbens particularly has helped me with my guitar skills in many of my own songs, which I am very grateful for. These people have all been so supportive and I owe them so many thanks. I have also always loved listening to artists such as Taylor Swift, as her lyrics are so poetic and have definitely been an inspiration to my songs, inspiring me to write lyrics in a deeper way.

What inspired the song ‘To The Kid’?

‘To The Kid’ was originally created as a joke for my uncle as he was told the only great thing he could do in life was ‘paint lines on the road’, hence the first line of the song. He went on to become very successful in life. Over the years I have come in contact with people that have been mistreated or less fortunate, and I wrote the rest of the song to recognise and help these types of people know that we care for them and listen to them. Each line is someone’s story, and I hope that listeners can connect with the lyrics. I also wrote the melody in a way that would be at ease and peaceful, not in anger, but in calmness and understanding.

How long did it take you to write the piece?

To write the piece’s lyrics, it took me roughly 20 minutes. This is probably the shortest a piece has ever taken, and I think this is because I was thinking of the people’s stories, and it came very easy to transfer them into short song lyrics. I wrote the chords and melody shortly after which took about an hour, and then it took me a few weeks to come up with strumming patterns and fingerpicking. It felt like quite a long time before the song started to flow. Mr Gibbens was very supportive and patient while I was trying to work this out. He gave me great advice like ‘you can write a thousand songs and only one of them will be good.’ You just have to keep persevering.

How did it feel when you found out you’d won the Songwriter of the Year competition?

It felt super surreal. I had only found out about the competition a few days before it closed and only entered the night before it was due, so it was a very last-minute decision. I did not have any great hope that I would even place in the competition, and I just thought of it as a great experience. This meant that when my mum told me over the phone, I did not believe her, and I was in a lot of shock. It was a huge relief to hear that what I had

created was actually good, and that all the judges loved it. I was so grateful that mum encouraged me to enter, and it was a great realisation that the song was not as bad as I believed!

If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?

If I could collaborate with any artist, it would be Taylor Swift 100%. This is because her lyrics and melodies are so incredible, and I really look up to her as a songwriter. She tells stories in a way that is so unique and is so intelligent with

how she organises her pieces. However, if I couldn’t collaborate with Taylor, my second choice would be Keith Urban because of his insane guitar skills. I would love to hear his guitar riffs underneath some great lyrics and vocals. He is also so inspiring as he grew up in Caboolture and has gone on to play in bands and be a soloist. If I ever got to collaborate with him, I would really value his experience in the industry and what I could learn from him as well.

Welcometo our New Staff

We warmly welcome our new staff members who will be working across the campus in a range of roles, as well as our current staff who are moving into exciting new roles for 2026.

Welcome to:

Robert Anderson Head of Sport

Daniel Cross Maths Teacher

Sarah Gall Specialist Arts Teacher – Piano

Melissa Giles Kindy Teacher

Brittany Graham Head of English

Emma Harrison PE Teacher

Olivia Martell Sports Coach

Luka Hill Year 3 Teacher

Rebeca McGovern Step Forward to Teach Scholar

Jade Moon Specialist Arts Teacher – Speech and Drama

Rebecca Moore Science Teacher

Patricia Munoz Science Teacher

Tiffany Story English Teacher

Sandy Sullivan Junior School Teacher Aide

Current staff moving into new roles:

Ted Lucas Acting Head of Faith and Service

Katrina Bailey Head of Powell

Andrea Hohn Acting Head of Powell Middle School

Matt Collyer Acting Head of Teaching and Learning

Andy Cockerill Acting Head of DepartmentLearner Analytics

Lis Irwin Head of Junior School PE and Sport

Simone Millers Community Engagement Officer –Events

Welcome back:

Meg Middleton Deputy Head of Middle School

Meet our Head of Sport

We Welcome Mr Rob Anderson

We are delighted to welcome Mr Rob Anderson as our new Head of Sport, bringing with him a wealth of experience across teaching, coaching, and sport administration throughout Queensland.

Mr Anderson joins Fairholme with a strong connection to the College, both professionally and personally.

‘What initially drew me to Fairholme was the culture of the College,’ he says. ‘I’ve seen it firsthand through my daughters coming through the school, but also through previous roles, watching how Fairholme performs and how the girls participate confidently in both local and statewide sport. That was a real attraction for me.’

Mr Anderson is energised by the strength of sport at Fairholme and looking forward to contributing to building and growing the program.

‘The girls are already tapping me on the shoulder, introducing themselves, asking what we’re doing this year and how things are going to look. That’s exciting - when students are invested and engaged, it creates a positive, energetic environment that makes Fairholme a great place to be.’

‘My focus is on increasing participation while also lifting performance to the next level. By working closely with our teachers, coaches and High Performance Coordinators, I’m keen to see what we can achieve.’

Looking ahead, Mr Anderson sees a bright and rapidly growing future for women’s sport in Australia.

‘Elite women’s sport has boomed over the past five years, and I only see that momentum continuing especially with Brisbane2032, a local Olympics on the horizon. There are more opportunities than ever for young women to pursue professional and semi professional pathways, and our role as a school is to provide the strongest possible foundation to support them in whichever sporting path they choose.’

We warmly welcome Mr Anderson to the Fairholme community!

CLASS OF 2025 Congratulations

It is with immense pride and joy that we congratulate our 2025 Seniors.

The ATAR results release marks the culmination of years of hard work, resilience, and determination.

Each one of our 121 Year 12 students have achieved something remarkable, and we celebrate every outcome. Almost half of the cohort received early course offers and many have already embarked on exciting next steps - whether travel, GAP year adventures or starting employment.

These results reflect countless individual success stories and the breadth of opportunities here at Fairholme. Students completed over 60 qualifications across The Arts, Humanities, five Sciences, three languages, four Mathematics courses, University Headstart programs, and more than 25 VET program qualifications. Many have secured places at leading universities in fields such as Medicine, Law, Engineering, Education, Psychology, and more, most at their first-preference destinations.

Beyond academic success, this group of wonderful students has contributed richly to the life of Fairholme College. They have devoted themselves to the Leadership Committees, supported charities, completed service projects, excelled in sport, and performed in concerts, dance, and drama productions.

Such experiences have shaped them into well-rounded individuals and have contributed to their wonderful results.

Within the 2025 results, we are incredibly proud to note that 11 students applied to enter medicine programs at universitys all over Australia and all 11 have received offers.

‘Achieving a 100 per cent acceptance rate for our aspiring medical students is a deeply rewarding outcome,’ said Mr Tom McCormick, Head of Senior School. ‘Watching their commitment over many years culminate in this next step toward a career in medicine has been a privilege.’

Fairholme has a longstanding commitment to supporting students who aspire to medical pathways, and our 2025 results reflect the consistency of that approach. Support begins early through our Year 10 Pathways program and is strengthened through initiatives such as interview preparation, UCAT tutoring, and our dedicated medicine pathway group.

The acheivements of our Class of 2025 are a testament to our students’ dedication and the strong partnerships between staff, parents, and the wider community.

It is an honour to work alongside each of our students, and as they begin their next chapter, we wish our 2025 Seniors every success and happiness.om fellow boarders and staff during to

Commencement Assembly

It was wonderful to welcome back some of our 2025 top academic achievers to celebrate their outstanding accomplishments.

We warmly congratulate our 2025 Fairholme College Dux, Proxime Accessit and Ordine Tertia:

College Dux: Ariel Qiu

Proxime Accessit: Crystal Deng

Magna Cum Laude award recipients:

Chloe Carmody

Caitlin Croft

Lainey Currie

Elizabeth Frame

Carys Goodger

Gracie Mack

Victoria McCumstie

Lara McPhie

Charli McWhirter

Katie Seaby

Geneva Searle

Milla Stankiewicz

Freya Statham

Mia Stewart

The ATAR results release marks the culmination of years of hard work, resilience, and determination.

Ordine Tertia: Freya Statham

Indianna Hitchcock

Brooke Hurford

Sanjana Nathan

Such experiences have shaped them into well-rounded individuals and have contributed to their wonderful results.

Hannah Packer

Nicole Pascoe

Charlotte Thomson

Georgina White

A special congratulations to Katie Seaby for English, Freya Statham for Literature, Lara McPhie for Literature, and Chloe Carmody for Modern History, who each achieved perfect (100%) subject scores.

Yas Lethbridge

Matilda Lockwood

These results reflect countless individual success stories and the breadth of opportunities here at Fairholme. This year, students completed over 60 qualifications across The Arts, Humanities, five Sciences, three languages, four Mathematics courses, University Headstart programs, and more than 25 VET program qualifications, showcasing the richness of learning at Fairholme.

Many have secured places at leading universities in fields such as Medicine, Law, Engineering, Education, Psychology, and more, most at their first-preference destinations.

We are proud to share that:

Ariel Qiu

Leah Roberts

> 46% of the cohort achieved an ATAR 90 or above

> 24% of the cohort achieved an ATAR 95 or above

> 4% of the cohort achieved an ATAR of 99 or above

Warmest congratulations to our:

College Dux: Ariel Qiu

Proxime Accessit: Crystal Deng

Ordine Tertia: Freya Statham

A special congratulations to for Literature, for Modern History, who each achieved

These achievements are a testament to our students’ dedication and the strong partnerships between staff, parents, and the wider

It has been an honour to work alongside each of our students, and as they begin their next chapter, we wish our 2025 Seniors every success and happiness.om fellow boarders and staff during to

Create YourOwn Mix in 2026

Our Seniors have officially unveiled their 2026 leadership theme, ‘Create your own mix in 2026!’ - a powerful and uplifting invitation for every Fairholme girl to reflect on the values that will guide her year ahead. Launched in true Fairholme style, the reveal featured plenty of energy, music and dancing, complete with a fun DJ battle that brought the theme to life.

Just like creating a mixtape, this theme is about discovering what values matter most to you and why. Throughout the year, our Senior Class of 2026 will introduce a focus value each term, with the aim of supporting all girls on their individual journeys of self-discovery. At its heart, ‘create your own mix’ encourages every Fairholme girl to feel supported in her wellbeing, valued and respected, committed in all that she does, and empowered in her decisions and sense of identity.

Taking Learning Global

Fairholme Year 10 students Georgie Cussons, Amelia Taylor, Anna Le Lievre and Claire Longmire are making the most of their exciting exchange at Oakham School in the United Kingdom, where they will spend six weeks fully immersed in British school life. From classroom learning and social events to sporting fixtures, the girls have wasted no time settling in and making the most of every opportunity.

Also in the UK, Gemma Sullivan has begun an 11-week exchange at Bryanston School, where she is already keeping busy through her involvement in netball and the school’s swim, bike, run team. Cindy Deng is likewise enjoying her time abroad, experiencing the traditions and daily life of Rugby School during her own 11-week exchange.

Back at Fairholme, we are delighted to be welcoming international students into our community. Joining us for Term 1 are Sienna Hoffman from Bryanston School and Charlotte Campbell from Rugby School, along with Mei Kawasaki and Rio Usami from Keisen High School in Japan. Each brings a unique perspective to campus life, enriching our classrooms and strengthening the global connections that sit at the heart of the Fairholme exchange program.

2025 CAMBODIA TRIP

Fairholme students make an impact in Cambodia!

At the start of the holidays, 30 Fairholme girls from Years 10 and 11, accompanied by Mr McCormick, Mr Cockerill, Ms Masters and Ms Littleproud, embarked on an unforgettable 11-day journey through Cambodia. The trip offered a powerful blend of cultural discovery and meaningful service. Students explored the richness of Cambodian history and daily life, while working alongside RAW Impact to support generational change within vulnerable communities.

Each of the girls who travelled to Cambodia fundraised over $1,000 which contributed to the RAW Impact projects in which they were involved.

For our girls, it was an extraordinary opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute - working together to create lasting, positive impact.

Holiday Campus Upgrades

Over the summer break, the usual chatter of students gave way to the hum of power tools as our Facilities team, alongside external contractors, went to work on several projects around the College.

> The old C Block has been replaced with a new two-storey building complete with beautiful escarpment views from the top level

> Phase two of the Performing Arts Building refurbishment is now complete, with the original 1920s hallway carefully restored and the P22 classroom and staff areas upgraded

> The Dance space has been refreshed

> The Junior School Art Room has undergone a revamp

> External upgrades have been completed at the Gymnasium and Aquatic Centre.

> New House signage in the Sport Foyer

Plus, all the essential holiday maintenance carried out along the way!

Thank you to our Facilities staff who have been pivotal in bringing these projects to life.

Mia’s Record-BreakingChampionships

Congratulations to Year 9 student, Mia Geise, on her outstanding performance at the 2025 Hancock Prospecting Queensland Swimming Championships.

Representing Fairholme Aquatics Swim Club, Mia set new personal bests over the holidays in four of her five events and walked away with an impressive haul of medals and records. Her championship results included:

> 4 silver medals in the 12-14 Years Multi-Class 100m Breaststroke, 50m Backstroke, 50m Butterfly and 50m Breaststroke

> Australian Records in the Open and 13 Years and Under MultiClass 100m Breaststroke (SB16 Category)

> Queensland Multi-Class Records in the Open 100m Breaststroke, Open 50m Backstroke, and 13 Years events across 50m Freestyle, 100m Breaststroke, 50m Backstroke and 50m Butterfly

One of the standout moments of the championships was Mia’s qualification for three open finals, where she competed against some of the country’s most experienced swimmers, including two Paralympians and athletes who have represented Australia on the international stage.

In elite company, Mia more than held her own, finishing 4th in the 50m Breaststroke, 5th in the 100m Breaststroke, and 6th in the 50m Backstroke.

What makes these achievements even more extraordinary is the context behind them. Mia only returned to competitive swimming in December 2024, following an almost three-year break after undergoing her second liver transplant. Her results at this championship are not only a testament to her talent, but to her resilience, determination and unwavering commitment to the sport she loves.

Adding to the celebrations, Mia’s coach Michael (Mick) Winton was recognised for his outstanding work at the Swim Coaches and Teachers Australia Awards, held during the championships. Mick was awarded the 2025 Multi-Class Emerging Championship Coach Award, a well-deserved honour that acknowledges his dedication and leadership in supporting Mia’s development over the past year.