On campus and beyond
Please join us in celebrating our students across a number of remarkable achievements.
We are delighted to showcase the success of our students with the Westminster community. If your child has recently accomplished a significant achievement, please complete our Student Achievement submission form for inclusion in our next update.
Term 3
Academics & Curricular
Isla Church
Submitted winning entries to the Oliphant Science Awards 2024.
A submission to the Photography category, titled 'Order from Chaos', outlined the science behind each photograph and placed first for the Year 8 category.
A second essay submission to the Science Writing category, which discussed how South Australia is leading the way in Green Hydrogen Energy production, was awarded the Australian Institute of Energy Sponsor prize. This submission also placed first for the Year 8 category.
Agriculture - Sturt Grove Farm Olive Oil
Westminster's very first school-produced Sturt Grove Farm Olive Oil was awarded a silver medal in Class 8: School Extra Virgin Olive Oil at the Royal Adelaide Olive Awards. Produced by Westminster Year 10 Agriculture students and led by Isabelle Linde, the Sturt Grove Farm Olive Oil was commended for its fresh, pleasant and well-balanced flavour with notes of green apple, salad green and floral aromas.
In addition, Westminster School was awarded the prestigious Olives South Australia Prize for the Best School Oil, a significant step forward in the continued growth and success of Westminster's Agriculture program.
Chinese Language Awards Ceremony
Westminster students Katherine Ma, Maddy Gill, Sarina Setayesh and Xinxin Gibson were recognised as outstanding language learners at the 2024 Chinese Language Awards of South Australia.
Preparatory School students Frank Li, Jessica Liu and Xinxin Gibson were awarded second prize in the video competition for 2024.
Co-Curricular
Adelaide FUSE Cup Mario Kart Championship - Westminster Co-Curricular
As part of the E-Sports Co-Curricular program, Westminster students competed in the Adelaide FUSE Cup Mario Kart Championship against 36 students from six schools, each vying for a chance to attend the FUSE Cup National Championships in Gold Coast, Queensland. The team secured four of the eight spots in the semi-final, with two carrying on to the final championship. In a team effort, Kai Southern directed at another opponent, allowing Harry Alison to secure first place in the final race and progress to the National Championships.
Debate Team - Westminster Co-Curricular
The Westminster Debate team won the final against Immanuel, debating the affirmative as to why Donald Trump should be President.
Premier's Reading Challenge STEM Competition
Out of 4,592 entries across the state into the Premier's Reading Challenge STEM competition, the judging panel selected 46 outstanding entries, comprising 12 winners and 34 runners up. Awards were bestowed across four themes including STEM, Space, Nature and Green Hydrogen. Westminster students claimed 13 awards, including five winners and eight runners up.
Performing Arts
Emily Yang
Awarded first prize in the Eisteddfod Piano competition, where she played the Cat and Mouse by Copland in the category for students aged 12 years and under.
Received an honourable mention and Certificate of Performance for playing Impromptu op.66 by Chopin.
Katherine Ma
Entered the Adelaide Flute Eisteddfod and received 2nd Prize in the Grade 5 AMEB Flute section and HM in 12 Years and Under, playing 'Flight of Fancy'.
Katherine has impressively progressed through three grades, having only commenced learning flute in the Year 5 band program in 2022, and having entered the Grade 2 AMED section last year.
Maddie Scheel
Participated in her first Eisteddfod, entering 'The Lamest Place in the World' from the musical, 13, for Musical Theatre, and performed 'Dandelions' by Ruth B for the Contemporary section, and placed first in both sections.
William Zhou
Achieved a High Distinction (A+) in the AMEB Grade 1 Piano examination.
Sport
Adelle Parkinson-Need
Competed in a range of State and National championship competitions, including a State Cycling competition in which she received a silver medal in the Time Trial Championship. Adelle is preparing to represent South Australia at the National Cycling Championships.
Competed in the State Duathlon Championship, placing first in the U19 category, and achieved a personal best in the 5km run.
Aijay Willoughby
Selected as Co-Captain of the U15 SA School Girls Cricket team, travelling to Mackay to compete in two games per day in a T20 format over eight days.
Charlotte williams-Cox
Represented South Australia in the National Cross-Country Championships in Melbourne in August after qualifying first in South Australia.
Recently won Gold in the 800m and 1500m and Silver in the 200m in the Under 11's Girls State Athletics Day and will represent SA at the Nationals in Term 4.
Deakin Northcote
Represented South Australia in the Water Polo Australia National 13+U development carnival in Hobart, Tasmania.
Evelyn Junge
Competed at the South Australian State Boulder Titles and won gold for her age category. Evelyn is the number one ranked SA climber for her age and will compete at the National Titles in 2025 for the 4th consecutive year.
Frank Li
Recently participated in the Benchmark Figure Skating Crystal Challenge held in Melbourne, took fifth place, and successfully qualified for the National Championships at the end of the year.
Iyla Wilson
Represented Australia against 14 countries at the 2024 Thailand Open Figure Skating Championships, placing 10th overall in the Southern Hemisphere.
Represented Australia at the 2024 Oceania International Figure Skating Competition and placed first in her division.
Competed at the 2024 Hollins Trophy International Figure Skating competition held in Sydney, entering in two divisions and achieving an international-level score for her new Junior division. Iyla was selected as one of ten demonstrators at a coaches training camp showcasing training by seven of the world's highest-rated coaches.
Partook in an intensive four-day training with Lorenzo Margi, an Olympic Figure Skating Coach & Choreographer, who works in Zurich with 29 European championships.
Jake Charles
Has commenced a training agreement with the SASI Canoe Sprint Squad, tracking a pathway toward becoming an elite paddler. Jake was selected for the Canoe Sprint at the recent Talent Search Testing ran by SASI and Sportsmatch at Westminster in 2022.
James Young
Travelled to Finland to train with the Australian team at the Flag Football World Cup. Due to James' age, he was unable to compete in the games, but is on track to competing in future years. Being a new sport, this event was a crucial step forward towards Australia qualifying for the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.
Jazz McKay
Made her debut for Contax at the State Netball Premier League game.
Jessica Jongejan
Selected to represent South Australia at the Australian Boxing Championships in the U15 age group.
Received a silver medal at the Australian Championships in Perth in the U15, 57kg category.
Justice Thompson
Recently received Bronze at the State Athletics Day at Athletics SA Stadium in the Long Jump, jumping a PB of 4.57m. He will compete in Sydney in Term 4 in the Under 11 Boys at Nationals.
Kai Southern
Represented Westminster at the School Sport SA Sapsasa Track and Field Championships. Competing in Shot Put and Discuss, Kai placed second in Shot Put and won a silver medal at the championships. Kai is eligible for consideration for a place on the State Track and Field team to compete at the National Titles in Sydney in November.
Lachlan Afonso
Recently returned from the National Club Championship for Trampolining where he won first place. Competing against athletes across different age groups, this was a fabulous achievement after representing South Australia back in May at the Nationals where he placed 4th.
Leila Croker
Attended the annual Independent Girls Schools Sports Association Awards, recognising outstanding student athletes. Leila was a finalist for the Sportsperson of the Year award, in recognition of her success in Track and Field (Heptathlon), and being an integral member of the Westminster Grand Final winning Premier League Netball team.
Naomi Phegan
Competed at the Australasia Handgun Championships and placed First Lady of all females across all ages in Asia and Australia, placed first for the Production Optics Lady Shoot Off, placed second in the Family division, and was appointed the 2024 Australasia President Champion.
Naomi is ranked 1st in the nation, and 6th in the world against all female IPSC handgun shooters.
Patrick Hutchins
Selected for the SANFL U17 Futures program, culminating in a showcase match at Adelaide Oval on the SANFL League Grand Final day.
Tim Alver
Selected for the SANFL U17 Futures program, culminating in a showcase match at Adelaide Oval on the SANFL League Grand Final day.
Tom Mattinson (Tommy Turbo)
A South Australian Para-Athlete, Tom recently achieved one of 14 coveted spots on the Australian Frame Running Team, travelling to Denmark to compete in the World Championships. Spanning seven days, Tom partook in a three-day training camp, four-day competition, and international classification.
Tom is one of Australia's youngest internationally classified para-athletes, earning a T71 classification after competing in the 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m races; achieving a personal best in the 400m; and clinching gold in the U16 category. Tom currently holds the world record for the 100m race.
Maddy Willoughby
Attended the annual Independent Girls Schools Sports Association Awards, which recognises outstanding student athletes. Maddy was a successful recipient of the Ashleigh Young Award for Contribution to Sport, being an integral athlete in Westminster's Girls' Cricket and Soccer teams, and extending to Coach and Mentor for a number of young Westminster athletes.
Xinxin Gibson
Competed in the National School Sports Australia Diving Championship, in which students from each Australian state and New Zealand competed. She placed 6th (highest place for South Australia) in the 11 Years Girl's 1m Springboard event. She recently also qualified for the 2025 Australian Diving Age Championships to be held in April next year in the Gold Coast.
Girls' Cross Country - State Cross Country Relay
Westminster Senior Girls' Cross Country team (Years 10 - 12), comprised of Adelle Parkinson-Need, Georgie Copping, Rosie Vowles and Tessa Ebert, won first place at the State Cross Country Relay Championships, with each team member running a 3km leg of the relay.
Westminster Middle Girls' Cross Country team (Years 7 - 9), comprised of Alex Heneker, Elise Dandie, Jolie Latta and Zoe Cook, placed fourth at the State Cross Country Relay Championships.
Girls' Cross Country - Australian Cross Country Championships
Westminster leading female student athletes, Elise Dandie, Adelle Parkinson-Need and Tessa Ebert, competed in the Australian Cross Country Championships in Tasmania. All girls performed exceptionally well over the 4km course, with Tessa coming second in the U17s, just 4 seconds behind the overall winner.
Old Scholars
Doreen Hansen ('18)
Played in the SANFL Premiership team with the South Australian Football Club in the Grand Final, achieving the win.
Kayla Graham ('22)
Played her first match for the Adelaide Thunderbirds in the Suncorp Super Netball competition.
Term 2
Performing Arts
Max Junge
Awarded the Singing Grade 7 Prize at the Australian Music Examination Board (AMEB) SA & NT Awards Ceremony for 2023 Candidates. Max is a student of Stella Panozzo.
Xinxin (Elizabeth) Gibson
Passed the Piano Theory Exam Grade 1 with 96% / A+.
Generations in Jazz
Held in Mount Gambier, Generations in Jazz is a National Big Band and Vocal Jazz competition, which attracts students from all over Australia. Big Band 1, Big Band 2, Vocal Jazz, West Direction, and Small Jazz Combo participated in the weekend-long music event.
Big Band 1 were awarded first place for their Section-Best Division 2 Band. The Saxophone Section of Big Band 1 was also awarded the Maurice Le Doeuff Best Saxophone Section for Division 2 from 27 bands, comprising of Sydney Napaampaiporn and Sarah Gomez on Alto Saxophone, Hugh Smith and Will Dyer on Tenor Saxophone, and Aidan Nixon-Burns on Baritone Saxophone.
Three students were admitted to the Division 2 Superband, including Joe Huang, Captain of Music, on Lead Trumpet, Hugh Smith on Tenor Saxophone, and Janet Wang on Lead Trombone.
Head of Music, Mike Degenhart, was awarded the Music Directors Award, one of two awards administered to educators in music on a national scale. This award recognises exceptional dedication to music, Curricular and Co-Curricular School performance, commitment to education, and breadth of quality in music across all ensembles.
Service
Zach and Sam Tucker
Surf Life Savers of Glenelg Surf Life Saving Club, father-son duo Zach and Sam Tucker, sprang into action at Kurrawa Beach on the Gold Coast. With quick thinking and unwavering courage, they rescued an unconscious French tourist, ensuring they provided the best care until help arrived. We are profoundly grateful for their heroism and indebted to the exceptional trainers at Glenelg Surf Life Saving Club for equipping Surf Life Savers with the skills to make a difference in crucial moments like these.
Sport
Adelle Parkinson-Need
Selected to be part of the South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) Rowing Development Squad.
Selected for the Junior National Sprint Championships Triathlon.
Alex Gellert
Played in the U18 Baseball Championships in Canberra representing South Australia.
Awarded MVP for South Australia in the game against Victoria.
Ava Woosnam
Selected for the South Australian U16 Basketball team.
Selected for the School Sport SA U15 State Netball team.
Dayna Harrison
Selected to represent South Australia in the U15 Australian Teams Tennis Championships held in the Gold Coast this coming June.
Gerard McGinley
Won 5th place in Australia for Discus at the State Individual Championships, throwing 39.80m.
Selected as the State U15 Boys' Captain for the Australian Little Athletics Championships (ALAC) in Adelaide.
Jedd Trantor
Selected for the SA Country U18 Basketball team.
Leila Croker
Awarded the silver medal in the U20 Heptathlon at the Australian Athletics Championships with an overall personal best and individual personal best in four events.
Meg Day
Won bronze in the Open Women draw of the 2024 Australian Indigenous Surfing Titles.
Sienna Blewitt
Awarded the silver medal at the U15 Surf Life Saving Championships two-person Rescue and Resuscitation (R&R) event.
Tessa Ebert
Awarded silver medals in the U17 1500m and 3000m at the Australian Athletics Championships.
Australian Netball team
Elouise Nordhausen, Anna Goad and Jazz McKay were selected for the Australian U17 Netball squad.
Mountain Bike Championships
Zack Sartor, Riley Harris and Charlie Kittel placed second overall in the School Sport SA Mountain Bike Championships.
Swimming SA Flipper Selection
Axel and Jordan Tucker, Bella Muldoon and Toby Sutton were selected for the Swimming SA Flipper squad. This squad is designed to nurture selected athletes who show potential with the hope to transition to the senior team and represent Australia at major international events.