St Joseph's Nudgee College

February 20, 2009

The 16 members of the St Joseph's Nudgee College 2008 Senior class who received an OP 1 or 2 were invited back this week to receive special presentations at the College Assembly.

Five students, Rod Hetherington, Dom Shipperley, Johnson Xie, Robert Sandona, and Matt Rys received an OP 1.

A further eleven students, James Alexander, Jack Callum, Justin Case, Blane Delbridge, Christopher Griffiths, Hairuo Hu, Benjamin Kleist, Tim Lien, Damian Riggall, Luke Thomas, and Peter Timms received an OP 2, and another eight an OP 3. 

Dean of Learning and Teaching Mr Sean Riordan said the College was excited by the results in a year where about ¼ of the College’s OP eligible students received a score of 1 – 5 and 77% received an OP 1 – 15.

"The 2008 results were very pleasing and are right up there with results from previous years,” he said. “We congratulate all the boys, especially the five who received an OP 1."

Also pleasing were the students marks in the Queensland Core Skills Test with 56% of students receiving an A or B and 88% an A, B or C.

In addition to the 191 students who received an OP, 219 Level I and II Certificates were issued in various Vocational Education Courses, something Mr Riordan believes is one of Nudgee College’s biggest strengths.

"We fully appreciate that not every student is going to want to follow an academic path once they leave school. They may want to do a trade, work on the land or go into hospitality. Nudgee College offers a curriculum that can assist boys to achieve irrespective of their interest area, whether they require learning support, or come from Indigenous communities and overseas," he said.

Mr Riordan also believes that the 2008 OP 1 results, in particular, demonstrate how any student can achieve academic success at Nudgee College, regardless of their background.

"Rod was a boarder from rural Queensland, Dom was a top sportsman, Johnson was an international student, while Robert and Matt were local Brisbane boys. All worked very hard throughout their time at Nudgee College and have received the highest possible reward for their efforts," he said.

OP1 recipient Dom Shipperley addressed the assembly and urged all students to find a balance throughout their time at Nudgee College by setting goals, enabling flexibility and working with efficiency.

"Balance is that extra element that allows us to succeed when we might not have and to have fun and enjoy the journey that is school life," he said.

"I have found it is not the time you spend studying or doing homework but the quality of your effort and focus when you are sitting down. When you sit down to work make sure you are 100% focused on it. Avoid distractions and just do it."

Dom's sentiments were echoed by another special guest at the assembly, 2007 Young Australian of the Year Tania Major.

Tania encouraged students to do as Dom suggested and find a balance that allowed them to take advantage of the many opportunities Nudgee College offers.

"You need to focus while you’re here as your time at the College really is very short," she said.

"Give things a go. Knock down the gates you’ve put up, get out there and do it, give it a go. I’ve found the biggest successes in life come from breaking down your own fears."