THE class of 2018 is reaping the rewards of 13 years of learning and hard work with the Higher School Certificate subject results issued on December 13.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
They joined thousands of year 12 students across the NSW who will now consider their future options armed with their final examination and assessment achievements.
Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) results will be issued on December 14.
Local high schools held breakfast gatherings for students on Thursday providing them the opportunity to share their achievements and be congratulated on their outstanding results.
St Joseph’s Regional College
Dedication, focus and balance were the three key priorities for St Joseph’s Regional College’s top HSC subject achievers.
Two students were ranked HSC All Rounders achieving a Band 6 in five or more subjects.
Hannah Garvan topped the year in ancient history, biology, advanced English, PDHPE and music, an accelerated course she completed last year.
She hopes to take a gap year in 2019 and settle in Northern Ireland for 12 months working at a children’s boarding school before returning and taking up intensive tertiary study in medicine.
Emily Shelley top scored in ancient history, advanced English, geography, maths and religion.
“It was unexpected to get a band 6 in everything,” Emily said. She hopes to study international relations and journalism at the University of NSW.
“You really have to put a lot of hard work into it (the HSC). But anyone can do it. It also comes down to how you are feeling on the day of the exams, you have to be prepared."
College captain and student of the year Elizabeth Pike, who placed first in modern history for the Diocese, said receiving the results was a great relief.
With each assessment I set a personal goal and I achieved it. You just can’t doubt yourself – you’ve got to believe in yourself.
- Eve Pollard
“Hard work pays off in the end,” she said. She too will pursue studies in international relations and journalism after a 12 month gap year in Thailand at the Regents Pattaya International School. She will help 1400 students at the school learn to swim, drawing on her five years’ experience on Hastings beaches with Wauchope-Bonny Hills Surf Club.
Eve Pollard, who placed first in the Diocese for Aboriginal Studies, said her approach to finishing the HSC was all about balance.
“My work ethic got me through. I’m not the most intellectual person but I set myself goals and I worked hard to meet them,” she said.
“With each assessment I set a personal goal and I achieved it. You just can’t doubt yourself – you’ve got to believe in yourself.”
Eve will study primary teaching at the University of Newcastle’s Port Macquarie campus.
College principal Jim Dempsey said the results are a testament to the students and teaching staff.
“We have many students who have achieved phenomenal results and many others who have achieved their individual goals which has enabled them to continue on with their plans for further study at university,” Mr Dempsey said.
Other students who achieved a first place in a subject in the Lismore Diocese were Julia Cutajar (food technology and hospitality); Georgia Instrell (information process and technology); Hudson McCarron general maths) and Ruby Carew (French).
Six subjects ranked above the state average for the school while Kye Eichmann, Samantha King and Matisse Bird had major works acknowledged.
St Columba Anglican School
SCAS students have celebrated the results of a year of hard work with dux, Bridget Gaul, happy with her final marks.
“I went very well and am definitely happy with the fact I got lots of band sixes. It has been a tough year and the last few weeks have been a big struggle with exams but I am so glad I kept going and all my hard work has been worth it,” Bridget said.
The night before results were issued, Harley Coleman found out he had been accepted to the Conservatorium of Music in Sydney.
“Last night I found out I was accepted to the Conservatorium which is incredible. For next year they only took 19 people in the country for jazz and to be included in that is unbelievable,” Harley said.
“My results today have also been really great and I am pleasantly surprised with a few of them because I wasn’t always happy with my marks throughout the year. However I am pleased I was able to pull it all together for the exams.”
Emily Brown received a 96 for dance and a 94 for entertainment studies and said she was blown away when she found out.
“For me it makes all the hard worth it when you are able to get some really great grades in the end.”
Brandon Green said it was a sweet moment to get the confirmation his hard work was worthwhile.
“I expected the stress of the year – and it absolutely was – but the thing I didn’t think about was the fact it was all really rewarding,” Brandon said.
“We all were able to achieve so many great things and to think that is now over is a little sad.”
MacKillop College
Port Macquarie twins Isobel and Tom Berryman pulled off a rare double when the HSC results were released on December 13.
The MacKillop College students both achieved top bands in all their HSC subjects to be simultaneously declared prestigious state All Rounders.
The pair join MacKillop College classmate Hannah Cutmore on the elite All Rounders list after Hannah received full marks for her Extension 2 English major work to rank fourth in the state.
The Berryman twins said they worked hard for their marks and helped each other to their shared success. While Isobel studied Extension 1 English, Tom studied Extension 1 mathematics, so between them they had the core subjects covered.
Isobel topped the Lismore Diocese, which covers the North Coast from Port Macquarie to Tweed Heads, in Extension 1 and Advanced English and achieved Band 6s in biology, mathematics, studies of religion II and dance. Isobel was also nominated for HSC dance showcase Callback.
Tom achieved Band 6 results in mathematics, physics, PDHPE, studies of religion II and advanced English.
The twins said they worked together and motivated each other.
“We have a very supportive family,” Isobel said. “We also had wonderful teachers and the atmosphere of MacKillop College is very encouraging.”
The twins are now looking toward the future and university, although they are yet to settle on their courses.
They will learn their ATARs on Friday, December 14.
Hastings Secondary College
The executive of Hastings Secondary College congratulates all of its students on their amazing HSC results.
The school boasts 72 students who have achieved in the top Band 5 and 6 of the state.
Whilst the HSC is important, it does not define our children. We are proud of all our students, some of which have had some challenges to face, but we got them through.
“The HSC is a small part of our students’ journey in their pathways of life,” a campus spokesperson said.
“Whilst the HSC is important, it does not define our outstanding students. We are proud of all our students, some of which have had some challenges to face, but we got them through.
“These are the defining life moments that make us all proud to serve in the teaching profession.”
The college congratulates Tom Preen, dux of Port Macquarie Campus and Rani Parsons, dux of Westport Campus.
Distinguished achievers are James Jackson, Tanisha Palmer, Samet Portakaldali, Thomas Preen, Grace Rogers and Dorothee Steinbach.
Congratulations to Thomas Preen who made the HSC All-Rounders list.
What else is making news?
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox from the Port Macquarie News. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, SIGN UP HERE.