From the Resource Centre

Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival

One hundred Holy Spirit College students from Years 7-11, accompanied by six staff members, attended the Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival on Friday, 18 July. Students enjoyed a full day of author presentations, and eight Art students also attended an Artist Workshop. This annual festival is the biggest of its kind in regional Australia and presents an amazing opportunity for students in a regional centre to listen to and work with authors, illustrators and performers as they discuss their career, their work and the artistic/literary techniques they employ.

Lisa Fuller is a Wuilli Wuilli woman who lives in Ngunnawal lands (Canberra), where she is currently completing her PhD in Creative Writing. Lisa is an award-winning writer, seasonal academic, freelance writer, editor and literary agent. Her debut YA novel, Ghost Bird, is a gritty and intense story that shares strong indigenous connections and won multiple awards, including the Queensland Literary Award’s Griffith University Young Adult Book Award and the CBCA Honour Book. With an extensive writing toolkit to share, Lisa is a champion for her culture and how to write the stories within it.

Nick Earls is an international best-selling author of 28 books for adults, teenagers and children. Five of his books have been adapted into stage plays and two into feature films. His most recent book is the novel Empires. In his entertaining and energetic session, Nick posed the question…‘Why, when we have so many options, should we make room for the recreational reading of fiction in our lives?’ Nick Earls takes a journey through his own reading history and its impact on his writing, looking at how reading works and why we should be doing it.

Kate Ceberano has barely drawn a breath since being awarded Most Promising New Talent at the Countdown Awards in 1984. Releasing 30 albums over 40 years, leading to 4 ARIA awards from 20 nominations, including 9 nominations for Best Female Artist, 11 Platinum and 8 Gold albums and dozens of other major awards, Kate Ceberano is a creative tour-de-force and the voice of a generation. Her stunning recent book, Unsung, embodies the woven fabric of her life. Kate spoke about her book and took us on a journey through her career. Students felt inspired by her tale of courage and determination as a trailblazer in an exceptionally challenging industry. Kate is the quintessential essence of how commitment, hard work, determination and believing in yourself can take you on an incredible life journey.

The Poetry SLAM! Competition was hosted by Joel McKerrow, an Australian performance poet. Individual students and teams of up to four took part in a free workshop with Joel before the competition to refine their skills. The performances were very professional, with topics ranging from climate change to self-image to relationships.

During breaks between performances, students took advantage of Eat Street with multiple food venues and entertainment and the pop-up bookshop, where they were able to purchase books and have them signed by the authors.

Reader's Cup

This year, Holy Spirit College entered teams in both the Year 7/8 and Year 9/10 annual Reader’s Cup Challenge. Mirani State High School hosted the Year 7/8 teams on Tuesday, 10 June, and the Year 9/10 teams on Tuesday, 22 July. Teams from schools throughout the region competed by answering four rounds of questions based on set novels that the students had read and analysed during Term 2.

The HSC Year 7/8 Team included Olivia H, Zoe H, Matilda J and Holly T. The Year 9/10 team included Meeka A, Michelle R and Henry M.

Both teams performed very well and are to be commended for their analysis and comprehension skills. The teams were presented with certificates at the conclusion of the competition.

Annette Williamson - Resource Centre Coordinator

Respect in Every Step March

Last term, 32 students and 2 staff took part in the inaugural Rotary Mackay Region: Respect in Every Step March to end domestic and family violence. This march was the first of its kind in Queensland. In a wave of purple shirts, colourful signs and powerful slogans, our school marched alongside over 1000 students, local residents and community groups, starting from St Patrick’s College and ending at the Blue Water Quay. The streets echoed with one collective chant:

“What do we want? RESPECT!”

“When do we want it? NOW!”

As the march concluded, the community gathered to listen to a powerful presentation of speakers, including the Premier of Queensland, the Mackay Police Commissioner, and the Mayor, as well as multiple community group representatives. This was followed by a sausage sizzle and market stalls. This event was not only impactful in raising awareness but also empowered students to take a stand to create change. Even after the event ended, its message marched on - respect in every step. Thank you to all who participated in this event, and to Mrs Croton and Mrs McLoughlin for organising this opportunity.

For more information and support ?

https://www.1800respect.org.au/violence-and-abuse/domestic-and-family-violence

Information about the program: https://rotaryclubofballinaonrichmond.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Mackay-Region-Rotary-Clubs-DFV-Activation.pdf

Mackay and Whitsunday Life article: https://www.mackayandwhitsundaylife.com/article/a-rally-cry-for-change34567665

Talia K (Year 12) - Z Club Secretary

QUT eSportsAble Pop-Up Session

On Tuesday, July 15, HSC proudly hosted a QUT EsportsAble Pop-Up Session, providing students with an exciting, hands-on experience into the world of competitive gaming, digital careers, and live eSports broadcasting.

Held during recess, the short but impactful session drew enthusiastic interest from students across all year levels. They had the chance to dive into a fun mini-Rocket League tournament, and several brave volunteers even jumped on the microphone to try live casting — delivering play-by-play commentary in true eSports broadcasting fashion.

This high-energy session was led by QUT's amazing team — Steven Window, Thilini Alahakoon, and Thomas Panitz — who shared the mission of EsportsAble, a national initiative designed to create safe, inclusive, and skill-building eSports programs for young people. Students also learned how to participate in workshops, access teaching resources, and compete in future tournaments by signing up for the EsportsAble Academy.

The pop-up session is directly linked to the upcoming Mackay Regional Tournament taking place at CQU (Central Queensland University) on August 30–31. HSC students are invited to register individually or form teams of six to represent our College at this growing competitive stage. The winning team earns an all-expenses-paid trip to Brisbane to represent Mackay at the Qld State EsportsAble Championship. As part of the registration process, students must sign up for the EsportsAble Academy with parental consent, which will grant them access to training sessions, gameplay improvement resources, and digital career insights offered by QUT.

This collaboration between HSC and QUT is another step forward in our mission to provide inclusive, student-led opportunities that celebrate all interests, especially those in the fast-growing eSports space. We're excited to keep building a safe and inspiring environment where students can explore passions, develop new skills, and connect with real-world pathways in gaming, IT, Media, and more.

Lona Ulsame - eSports Coordinator

F1 in Schools - Regional STEM Challenge Success!

On Thursday, July 24, four outstanding teams from Holy Spirit College competed in the F1 Regional STEM Challenge, held at the Mackay Showgrounds as part of the Whitsunday STEM Challenge. The event brought together young minds from across the region to showcase their skills in engineering, design, and teamwork through the exciting world of miniature F1 racing.

We are thrilled to announce that our Year 9 Professional Team placed 1st overall in their division! Their hard work, innovation, and collaboration earned them a well-deserved spot at the upcoming State Championships. This is a remarkable achievement and a testament to their dedication and STEM excellence.

Our three Year 7 Cadet Teams also impressed judges and spectators alike with their creativity, enthusiasm, and problem-solving abilities. Each team demonstrated the core values of STEM learning and represented our school with pride.

Congratulations to all students and staff involved! We look forward to cheering on our Professional Team as they prepare for the next stage of competition.

And of course, none of this would have been possible without the support of Triple Velocity's amazing sponsors: CMR Recycling, Payne Print & Sign, and the Holy Spirit College P&F Association. Thank you for helping make this opportunity a reality for our students.

Year 7 Cadet Teams :

• Tim G & Griffin H (Black Speed)
• Benjamin G & Lachlan T (Super Speedsters)
• Hudson F & Lincoln S (Subsonic Demons)

Professional Team :

• Harrison V, Alistaire U & Jayden B (Triple Velocity)

Christine van der Linden - F1 in Schools Coordinator