What does “to live our motto” mean to you?

Trinity Year 6 student, Junior School Vice-Captain

“Life is too short to wonder ‘what if.’ Give everything a go, because the only failure is in never trying”.

Our motto serves to inspire us to have a go, to get involved and to embrace all the opportunities that we are so lucky to have here at Trinity.

Whether it be in the classroom, in sport or within the wider community, our school motto encourages us to move forward in life with a courageous mindset.

To me, this means to give everything a go and to always try my best in all that I do. It’s stepping outside my comfort zone and challenging myself, even when things seem tough. It’s showing up to school with a positive mindset every day, and its understanding that when we work together as a team, we can achieve amazing things here at Trinity.

Courage to me is also knowing that great things take time, and to not rush the process. Perseverance and consistency are key, and this is something I apply specifically in my sport of competitive swimming.

Being courageous is a choice, and it’s something that I will always strive towards.

Trinity parent, Parents’ Association member

Our family simplified the school motto – Viriliter Agite – when our boys were much younger to “you can do anything”.

I have since seen that motto in action as my sons strive to improve academically, be inquisitive, be inspired to learn new skills such as musical instruments, languages, debating, and confront new challenges. As a parent, I have also demonstrated the importance of community and service.

I have had the privilege of serving as Secretary of the Parents’ Association from 2017 to 2024 and have volunteered at the Founders’ Day Fair on numerous occasions.

What continues to inspire and amaze me is the army of volunteers, who are aligned to the same motto, giving so much of their time organising and running school functions, bringing together the breadth of the school community for no personal gain other than the reward of building a stronger and more vibrant school, and supporting our students.

Trinity staff, Outdoor Leaders’ Course Coordinator and Maths teacher 

As I started 2025 with my Year 7 form, I noted to myself, and to them, that they were born in the year I started with the green and gold – 2012. This was a year where I first witnessed the exceptional and selfless leadership shown by older students, and the model of the Trinity way of cascading mentorship.

On Year 8 camp, I met Hugh Walker (OTG 2010) and Hugh Tyson (OTG 2013, then Year 11), mentoring and being mentored by Andy Crow (OTG 2011), one of the OE “gappies”. I noticed how the staff gave the Year 11s space to lead meaningfully, where their preparation and delivery mattered.

I also met Patrick Jaffe (OTG 2016, then Year 8), who noticed my navigation watch – a rarity then – and asked if I did orienteering. This started a tradition of orienteering at Trinity and demonstrated how the agency that students are given makes a lasting difference.

I love being outdoors, whether it’s walking, cycling or paddling. Most of all, I enjoy being present in the place and time that I am in; there is so much to notice and wonder about in the world around us, and taking myself away from the noise of technology and cities creates the space for that curiosity.

Trinity alumnus

To live our motto is, at its heart, to live in community.

Trinity fostered a deep belief in the power of community and service–a value that continues to ripple far beyond the school gates.

In January, I co-led an immersion trip to East Africa with Tom Purcell. It was a powerful experience that brought together a group of alumni who gave their time, energy and care – both to one another and to the communities we visited. It reminded me how deeply the values we learned at Trinity continue to show up in action.

The OTG Water Polo Club, which I help run with fellow alumni, is a space built on belonging – where showing up for one another matters more than winning. The goal has never been medals; it’s about mateship, support, and staying connected through something we love.

Living our motto means building the kind of community we’d be proud to belong to.