30 July 2026
Welcome back to Term 3. I hope all members of our community enjoyed a restful mid-year break and have returned ready to embrace the opportunities and challenges of the term ahead.
I am pleased to welcome Mr Barnaby Eaton to his new role as Deputy Headmaster/Head of Senior School, and Mr Michael Lucas to his new role as Director of Sport and Wellbeing, Health and Physical Education. Both bring considerable experience and a strong commitment to supporting our boys.
Our return has also been marked by the very sad passing of Steve Perry, a much-loved teacher, coach, colleague and friend who served St Peter’s College with distinction for 19 years. On behalf of the School community, I extend my deepest sympathies to Steve’s family and friends and keep them in our thoughts and prayers.
At St Peter’s College, we set a high bar for ourselves and for one another. This begins with the seemingly small things: wearing our winter uniform with pride, doing up our top buttons and wearing our blazers to and from school. These details matter because they reflect the standards we choose to uphold and the way we approach each day.
Of course, these standards extend well beyond how we present ourselves. They are also evident in the way our boys embrace challenges, persevere through discomfort and make the most of the opportunities before them. This was powerfully demonstrated by our Year 10 students during their recent 21 Day Journey experience in the Ikara–Flinders Ranges. Having read their reflections, I was struck by how many described the experience as transformational.
Some boys began the Journey feeling anxious or uncertain. They questioned its purpose and knew it would challenge them. Yet they returned with a stronger understanding of themselves and a new appreciation of capabilities they did not know they possessed.
This learning will remain with them well beyond Year 10. In future interviews, scholarship applications and leadership opportunities, they will be able to draw upon a genuine example of confronting uncertainty, working alongside others and persevering through difficulty. The Journey has given them evidence that they can do hard things and that is something they can continue to leverage throughout their lives.
As we begin Term 3, I have encouraged all boys to make the most of the extraordinary opportunities available to them. We are fortunate to be part of a well-resourced environment, with access to exceptional facilities, activities, people and programs. These opportunities should not be taken for granted, including during the holidays and outside regular school hours.
There will always be a reason to stay in bed, avoid training or step away from something difficult. We will also each encounter periods when the headwind feels especially strong, when a challenge seems too great, a relationship feels too complicated or the demands before us appear overwhelming.
Growth does not generally come from avoiding discomfort. It comes when we face the difficult conversation, begin the demanding assignment, attend training when motivation is low or attempt something despite the possibility of failure. Our Year 10 boys experienced this during their Journey. By confronting their anxieties and persisting through difficulty, they discovered greater strength and capability within themselves.
My challenge to every boy this term is simple: uphold our standards, make the most of every opportunity and turn towards the challenges ahead.
Let us face the headwinds and take flight.
Congratulations to the following students on their recent co-curricular achievements:
Football: Leo Carter and Sam Hawkes (Year 9) are representing South Australia at the U14 National Championships in Victoria. Ethan Herbert (Year 12) competed at his second AFL U18 National Championships, where South Australia finished runner-up.
Hockey: Year 12 students Lochie Dolphin, Andrew Hattingh and Angus Sloane and old scholar Felix Lloyd (MAC 2025), competed at the U18 National Championships in Darwin.
Ice Hockey: Yongen Song (Year 12) helped South Australia win gold at the 18U National Championships – only the second time in the state’s history.
Rowing: Emerson Cooper (Year 12) represented South Australia at the inaugural International Rowing Challenge in Michigan, USA.
Rugby: James Jervis (Year 8) and Wesley Young (Year 9) trained with the South Australian U14 State Squad before representing Tasmania at the U14 Tri-State Invitational Tournament.
Swimming: Jayden Zhang (Year 7) competed at the School Sport Australia 13–19 Years Swimming Championships in Melbourne.
Water Polo: Year 7 students Oscar Huang, Jack Marshall, Jack Hutchinson, Harrison Maung and Remi Bizot represented South Australia at the 13U National Development Carnival in Hobart. Jack Nolan (Year 8) represented South Australia at the U15 East Coast Challenge in Melbourne.
Tim Browning
Headmaster