SCHOOL LEADERS 2025

A huge CONGRATULATIONS to Marlie Borenstein and Tess Russell – our School Captains, and Jack Provan and Indiana Tucker – our Vice Captains for 2025. We are incredibly proud of all of you and the outstanding leadership skills you bring to Colac Secondary College. Your passion, vision, and commitment will continue to inspire our school community.

We look forward to seeing your leadership journey unfold in 2025 and beyond!

Marlie Borenstein’s Speech: A Vision for Leadership and Community at Colac Secondary College

As part of her application for the role of School Captain at Colac Secondary College, Marlie Borenstein delivered a powerful speech that emphasized the importance of leadership, community, and empathy. Her words reflect not only her commitment to the role but also her deep understanding of the needs and values of her peers. Here is an excerpt from Marlie's speech:

Good morning teachers and fellow peers, for those in the room unfamiliar, my name is Marlie.

Today I am not here to promise you unachievable goals. But to promise you an ear to listen, a person to understand your concerns, to hear and take action, a voice for your worries. A person who cares about your individual needs and wellbeing. And to celebrate the diversity we have here in the year level.

School Captain to me, means leadership, representation and communication but also to represent not only the school but my fellow students, your voice is important as it is a key aspect in the change around our school. I want to hear your ideas, your concerns. To help make CSC a place you feel welcomed and part of a group, part of a community. A greater place for you! I want to voice your concerns to the people who can make the change if I cannot myself.

Over the course of my schooling, I have represented my primary school as school captain and represented CSC as an active member of the Student Representative Council each year for the 5 years of my high schooling. Over these years SRC and guidance from my teachers has assisted me in learning the key skills it takes to be a leader.

These skills being, how to represent the school to the community, such as at days like ANZAC day or in Melbourne to partake in the Sister Schools program. How to organise events for the school, whether that being dress up days or Remembrance Day service. How to publicly speak, most commonly at assemblies and how to work in a group setting. However, most importantly I have learnt to listen to the ideas of my peers, I have learnt to involve our whole year level in big decisions, such as the Year 10 semi formal, or having an active say in communications with the Colac Otway Shire about youth voice.

I am also one of the only two student representatives on Colac Secondary College’s school council, where I have provided detailed reports of the senior school’s activities each term. Which has encouraged me to uphold the skill of responsibility.

I also maintain a voice in the broader community. I have taken the initiative to involve myself in youth groups to raise a voice surrounding youth troubles and accumulate a document of peer and community member ideas alike, which the SRC have recently presented to the Colac Otway Shire for them to consider when making future decisions regarding youth. I also played a key part in communications between schools around Colac to discuss potential, future partnership.

Since the age of 9 I have enthusiastically participated in many musical theatre productions with Red Door and drama performances with Act and Imagine which has led me to the pleasure of assistant teaching junior acting classes. This has played a vital part in the growth of my communication skills and confidence to speak to a crowd. Throughout my social life I have also learnt the power of empathy and openly caring for others’ wellbeing, this would be one of my

main contributions as school captain, to bring a caring nature to the role, as someone who truly understands mental health and the ups and downs of life

If I were to become your school captain my greatest aim would be to bring this cohort closer together and to really care about the wellbeing of the year level, whether that be through joint study sessions, activities throughout the school year, checking in on each other or simply just sharing ideas together, as a year level. I aim to be a friend, a leader, and a voice. I promise to always try my hardest to hear what you as my fellow students have to say, I endeavor to make our year 12, the best it can be, but this is not a task I can singly handedly do, I need your ideas, your thoughts. I am eagerly waiting to listen. To make this cohort a community, we need to work together, I am ready and willing, and I urge you to consider me as school captain to make this dream community a reality. Thank you.

Marlie’s speech highlights the qualities of a strong, empathetic leader. With her extensive experience in leadership roles and a clear vision for making Colac Secondary College a more connected and supportive community, Marlie is ready to take on the role of School Captain. Her commitment to listening to her peers and acting on their concerns is exactly the kind of leadership our school needs. We are incredibly proud of Marlie and excited to see how she will continue to inspire her peers in her new role as School Captain.

TESS RUSSELL speech - Leading with Passion: A Vision for Our School Community

Most would define a leader as someone who is confident, strong-willed and resilient. I am here today to test this assumption. Whilst I can acknowledge that these attributes are absolutely necessary in order to be a good leader, the most important factor in being a great leader is passion. Passion is what compels our actions and drives us to further our own skills, a great leader must demonstrate passion inclusive of who they represent.

From the moment I first stepped through the gates of Colac Secondary College as a little 12-year-old with a dress that hung below my knees, I have had nothing but pride to attend this school. Secondary school opened up an avenue for me to be surrounded by an entirely new and diverse group of people, the group of people I have gratefully had the opportunity to represent for the last 5 years as a member of the student representative council.

Over these years, I’ve been representative of our school as a tour guide on every open night, have attended many leadership summits and development programs as a member of CSC, and most importantly I have acted as a voice for our year level.

With this experience, I offer a unique insight into what it means to represent our cohort, and CSC as a whole. It is the collaboration with others that inspires my aspiration to be school captain. I have exhibited this sentiment through my constant devotion to not only my own personal growth in regard to my education, but also in my ability to encourage others to constantly strive to do their best.

If I were to be elected as a school captain for 2025, I would have a strong focus on fostering a community whereby we all aim to be the best versions of ourselves. And in doing this, lift each other up through the stressful times that come with being in year 12. Building a community where we all want to succeed, and want to see others succeed, is vital in supporting each other through the final year of our schooling. This of course is inclusive with

partnering and developing strong relationships with our teachers, as they are the ones who want to see us succeed most.

Last year, I had the honour of being presented with the Australian Defence Force Long Tan award, for leadership and teamwork. It was this moment that really solidified for me the importance of being a strong leader within our community, and having the ability to work collaboratively in a team.

I also had the privilege to attend the Kokoda trek in June. The knowledge I gained throughout the trek truly impacted who I am as a person, and I bring these lessons with me in my approach to leadership. It is these valuable insights from my experiences on the track that would offer a unique perspective, as a leader within our school community.

Whilst my involvement with leadership exists within our school community, it extends beyond the gates of CSC. I have become an active member of the Wye River Surf Life-Saving club, patrolling the beaches over summer, and acting as a mentor for those who wish to complete their own qualifications.

In addition to this, I have been taking part in performing through act and imagine since I was 9 years old. As a result of being up on the stage since I was so young, I have a unique sense of confidence that enables me to be able to work effectively and collaboratively as a member of a team.

I have and continue to be highly involved with the Red Door Dance and Theatre company over the last 8 years. However, my involvement reaches further than just getting up on the stage and performing. I have been involved contributing to our community through events such as band together, Christmas by the lake and most of all I am grateful to have the opportunity to assistant teach dance classes. It brings me great joy in fostering self-confidence within the youth of our community. And this experience enables me to bring back the skills I have learnt and put them to use within our school community.

Being a school captain would mean so much more to me than just a title. It would mean having the opportunity to drive change within the culture of our cohort, having the ability to encourage us all to want to succeed, and to demonstrate to you all just how deep my passion for this school is. Thankyou.

Tess's words reflect the values that define our school community: passion, collaboration, and a commitment to growth. Tess has consistently demonstrated leadership through both personal achievements and service to others. Her vision for fostering a supportive, inclusive environment in our school is a testament to her deep care for her peers and her dedication to making a positive impact. We look forward to the leadership, energy, and enthusiasm she will bring to her role as School Captain in 2025.