Good afternoon everyone, and thank you for joining us as we come together to celebrate the end of another remarkable year at ELTHAM College. Standing here now, it’s impossible not to think back to the very beginning of the year, when I spoke about the power of belonging and the importance of being part of One Team. Today, as I look around at our students, staff, families, and community members, I can recall just how deeply those values have been lived and embodied over the past months.
This year has been defined by moments of connection—large and small—that have strengthened our community. You have supported one another through challenges, celebrated each other’s successes, and continued building a culture where every individual feels valued. You might have been part of an uplifting House Music performance, run your heart out at Cross-country, thrown with all your might at Athletics Carnival, Swum with gusto during House Swimming, or played a vital team role for one of our many school sports teams. Maybe you took your first steps on stage as part of either the Drowsy Chaperone or the wonderful production of the Wizard of Oz, or possibly you performed with others in one of our many musical performances and soirees. You might have welcomed others into one of our many Co-Curricular clubs, or just helped a mate when they needed it.
Our founders imagined a school where hearts and minds could grow together; your efforts this year have honoured that vision and carried it forward with purpose and pride.
I want to congratulate our students for the way you have contributed to this inclusive culture. You welcomed new faces, worked collaboratively, and showed kindness in countless ways—often beyond the view of teachers or parents, but always deeply felt by those around you. You demonstrated that belonging is not just something we feel—it is something we build.
To our staff: thank you for your unwavering commitment to guiding, supporting, and nurturing every learner in your care. You model respect, empathy, and integrity daily, and those qualities ripple outward, shaping the tone of our entire school.
And to our parents and families: your engagement, encouragement, and partnership are indispensable. You help sustain the warmth, generosity, and collective spirit that make ELTHAM College feel like a true community.
Of course, we also know that maintaining a strong sense of belonging is not always easy. Sometimes, it is tested—by careless words, unkind actions, or the quiet spread of gossip and rumour. When these moments arise, our response matters. We must remember that every one of us is human, capable of making mistakes, and equally capable of learning from them. Understanding, forgiveness, and the belief in each person’s ability to grow are central to who we are as a community.
At the same time, culture is upheld by courage: the courage to speak up when something isn’t right, to challenge behaviour that undermines others, and to protect the culture we have worked so hard to create. When we do this—respectfully, constructively, and with compassion—we strengthen our unity. We show that our commitment to community is more than words; it is action.
This year, you have shown that One Team is not merely an ideal but a lived reality: a community where differences are celebrated, contributions are valued, and relationships are built on respect. You have demonstrated that belonging is both a privilege and a responsibility—and that our collective strength remains far greater than the sum of our individual efforts.
As we conclude the year, it feels entirely appropriate that we finish not just with the formality of Flagpole, but also with a community event—an opportunity to come together once more, to celebrate what we have achieved, and to enjoy the simple pleasure of being part of something larger than ourselves. Events like this afternoon’s remind us why we do what we do: because community matters. Because belonging matters. Because each of us plays a role in shaping the culture of ELTHAM College.
One person who has done much to help shape our Culture is Mr Jim Grant our outgoing chair of the ELTHAM College Board– many of you will have enjoyed hearing him speak, or have been gently encouraged by his ability to recognise achievement with generosity. I know no greater advocate for the College, or supporter of its people, and I’d like us all to acknowledge his commitment to this community as both a previous parent and long-standing Board member – on behalf of us all- thank you Jim.
Finally, I’d like to thank all of you for your contributions, your kindness, your resilience, and your commitment to one another. I could not be more proud of what we have accomplished together, nor more hopeful for what lies ahead.
I wish you all a wonderful and restorative break, and I look forward to seeing you in the new year as we continue to grow—together—as One Team.
Thank you.
The final part of this assembly is the lowering of the flags. We do this to symbolise the end of the school year, just as we raise them at the start of each year at our commencement Flagpole ceremony.
So please, if you able, stand as we join together to sing the College song, as our Captains lower the flags on the 2025 school year.
Richard Lisle
Principal/CEO
Presented at the Flagpole Assembly, 10 December 2025
