On the importance of growth

At the Stephen Jones Leadership Breakfast in February, I watched a cohort of young people on the cusp of their next adventure, the sum total of everything, and everyone, that has come before them.

As they took in the words of guest speaker Alisa Camplin-Warner AM & OLY, former Olympic and World Champion in Freestyle Aerial Skiing, they added to the rich tapestry of experiences that has made them who they are today.

As with generations of Old Trinity Grammarians, the skills the Class of 2025 have acquired are unique to their time and place in history. Advances in technology, environmental changes and the ever-moving socio-political landscape have defined their studies, and will undeniably shape their careers in the years ahead. Adaptability, and an openness to change, will be crucial. 

Like them, to remain strong in our place, and secure in our future, growth – considered, strategic and meaningful growth – is important.  

A significant upcoming Masterplan project is the redevelopment of the Bulleen Pavillion. This is an exciting project for the school to undertake and revitalise a much-loved but tired facility with one that incorporates teaching and learning spaces, event capability and state‑of‑the‑art sporting facilities for our home teams and spectators, including our female competitors and community members.

When we think about future-proofing our school, we need not only look inward, but outward. Signaled by the changing and competing priorities of Australian families, today’s Trinity sees students and staff coming from wider afield each day. We’re also seeing a landscape of independent schools challenged by the media, and affected by implications such as payroll tax and legislative change.

To support the advancement function of the school, Trinity is in the process of establishing a Foundation for the first time in its history. After a significant period of research, consultation and collaboration, Council has approved the creation of our Foundation, which will assist in funding our Masterplan as school fees and diminishing government funding and capital support alone cannot achieve our goals. You can learn more about this in the enclosed Impact Report.

We also recently held our annual Community Forum, which was a valuable opportunity for School Council and the Principal to share the outcomes of the year prior, as well as the strategic priorities for 2025 and beyond.

The essence of Trinity’s School Motto, Virilite Agite, encourages its students, and all of us, to be courageous in the face of change.

In their growth, and in Trinity’s, we can find a readiness for the future.