A group of St Peter’s College students and teachers joined more than 600 South Australians at the 2026 Australian of the Year Breakfast, a celebration of leadership, innovation and community impact.
Guests heard from 2026 Australian of the Year and astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg, whose extraordinary journey from Australia to the frontier of space captivated the audience. Encouraging those present to embrace curiosity and challenge perceived limitations, Katherine shared the powerful message that “Space is not about escaping the Earth, but helping us to see it more clearly.” For the many students in attendance, her story was a reminder that ambition, perseverance and a willingness to pursue the impossible can lead to remarkable opportunities.
The breakfast also recognised the achievements of the 2026 South Australian Australian of the Year recipients – James Currie, Malcolm ‘Mac’ Benoy, Ayesha Safdar and Chloe Wyatt-Jasper – whose contributions demonstrate the impact individuals can have in creating positive change.
Below, two students share what they took from the morning and the messages that resonated most strongly with them:
Attending the Australian of the Year Breakfast was an inspiring and enjoyable experience. Hearing from individuals who have made significant contributions to society highlighted the impact that dedication, service and perseverance can have on the lives of others. One message that stood out throughout the event was that these people are not the exception, they are the example and that their contributions are made by ordinary people who choose to act and should be what everyone strives to achieve.
The most inspiring message from Katherine Bennell-Pegg was her perspective on failure. As Australia’s first astronaut under the national space program, it would be easy to assume that her success came from being naturally gifted or from never making mistakes. Instead, she spoke openly about the importance of failure and learning from setbacks. One quote that particularly resonated with me was when she said that you “wouldn’t want to be sitting next to the astronaut who has never failed before.” Her statement completely changed the way I think about failure. Her message showed that failure is not the opposite of success but an important part of achieving it. It encouraged me to focus less on avoiding mistakes and more on taking opportunities. Katherine’s story showed that meaningful achievements often require stepping outside your comfort zone and being willing to learn from experiences that do not go as planned. This mindset can be applied not only to ambitious careers but also to everyday goals and challenges.
Daniel Cao (Year 11 Student)
Katherine Bennell-Pegg’s presentation was inspiring because it showed that ambitious goals are achievable when they are pursued with resilience, determination, and purpose. Her story taught me that failure should not be seen as a reason to stop, but as part of the process of becoming more capable. I was especially inspired by her message of continual dreaming and perseverance to achieve your goals, as it made me think more ambitiously about my own future and the impact I can have. Overall, the Australian of the Year Breakfast reminded me that success comes from persistence, courage, and using your achievements to create opportunities for others.
Henry Lehman (Year 11 Student)
