At A.B. Paterson College, we proudly celebrate this special occasion as ‘Working in Schools Day’, a time to honour not only our incredible teachers, but every member of our community who works tirelessly to support the growth and learning of our students.
From the classrooms to the offices, playgrounds to performance halls, we say a heartfelt thank you to our entire A.B. staff for the passion, teamwork, and spirit you bring to our College every day.
Here are the Platinum Award nominees for our upcoming Celebration of Sport Evening on 7 November!
A huge thank you to our event sponsor, All Properties Group, and Nathan Simon for supporting this announcement.
Best of luck to all nominees, we can’t wait to celebrate with you soon!
Winners will be announced at SOPO Southport on Friday 7 November, presented by All Properties Group.
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE — don’t miss your chance to be part of this special event.
Sara Eade | Head of Co-Curricular Sport
A select group of Year 10 students recently attended the Bond University Entrepreneurship & Innovation Experience Day.
They met up with A.B Paterson College alumni, Amity Fielding, who shared her experiences of studying Entrepreneurship at Bond University.
Students were accompanied by Mrs Anne Wood, Head of Academic Academy and Ms Sharon Hunter, Academic Academy assistant.
During the day students:
Anne Wood | Head of Academic Academy
Technology Week 2025 was an action-packed celebration of creativity, innovation, and hands-on fun across the secondary school. Students immersed themselves in a range of exciting tech experiences, exploring both the digital and the practical sides of technology.
The week kicked off with students stepping into virtual worlds using VR headsets, competing in Alien Catch and Beat Box
challenges that tested their reflexes and imagination. Competitive spirits soared as others raced head-to-head in a thrilling Mario Kart tournament on the Nintendo Switch.
At a more relaxed pace, students showcased patience and creativity in crafting their own colourful finger puppets through hand stitching. To wrap up the week, the Drone Obstacle Challenge had students expertly navigating drones through an indoor course, combining precision and skill. Finally, the Crack the Code Challenge tested students’ problem-solving abilities as they deciphered emoji codes to earn a sweet reward from Food Tech.
Technology Week 2025 truly highlighted the curiosity, teamwork, and enthusiasm of our students — proving that the future of tech is in great hands!
Karen Justin | Assistant Head of Technology
Congratulations to Jinyu Yan (Year 9) and Mia Xu (Year 7) for their outstanding achievements in the recent A.B. Paterson College Public Speaking Competition, placing 1st and 3rd respectively.
Their success, alongside earlier accomplishments by Matilda Grant and Emelia Wedemeyer, contributed to the College being awarded the Secondary Aggregate Award—a reflection of the exceptional talent and dedication of our students.
Congratulations the 55 students who proudly represented the College throughout the year. Their participation has not only brought recognition but also fostered invaluable public speaking and life skills.
Matt Stopel | Acting Director of Co-Curricular Activities
Our Senior Vocal and Choral students had an unforgettable experience in an inspiring, hands-on workshop led by Jason Barry-Smith from Opera Queensland.
Through this session, they discovered the artistry, discipline, and emotion behind professional performance - lessons that will echo through every note they sing.
We are proud to continue our enriching partnership with Opera Queensland, bringing world-class music education and creative inspiration into the heart of A.B. Paterson College.
We were treated to a wonderful concert in the LPAC recently as our Year 4-12 singers who took to the stage to perform in the Vocal Festival! It was a wonderful weekend of singing!
Congratulations to all singers and well done to Christian (Year 4), Alex (Year 4), Ella (Year 4), Flynn (Year 5), Arleena (Year 5), Leo (Year 6), Amelia (Year 6), Apple (Year 6), Chanuga (Year 7), Colette (Year 7), Mitchell (Year 8), Charlie (Year 8), James (Year 9), Milly (Year 10), Chloe (Year 11) and Aliyah (Year 12) who were awarded the Adjudicator's Choice Awards in their year levels!
A big thank you to our adjudicator, Jason Barry-Smith, from Opera Queensland, our accompanist, Lexene Marquenie, and our College Vocal teachers.
Rachel Newcombe | Assistant Head of Performing Arts
The Queensland Open Water Championships were held on Saturday, 25 October, in Coolum on the Sunshine Coast.
Several A.B. Paterson College Swimming Club athletes either competed for the first time at this event or stepped up to a new distance.
Congratulations to all swimmers on their efforts and achievements at this year’s Championships.
Liam Du Feu | Swimming Head Coach
Congratulations to Tobyn O’Hara (Year 10) on his incredible performance at the 2025 World Triathlon Championships, held from 15–19 October in Wollongong!
The excitement kicked off at the opening ceremony, setting the stage for an unforgettable week of competition. In the individual race, Tobyn faced a tough field of 89 athletes. Despite a challenging swim, he powered through with determination, storming back on the bike leg to record the 4th fastest cycle time of the event! The run was gruelling, but Tobyn pushed hard to secure an impressive 27th place finish overall.
The highlight of the week came in the mixed relay, where Tobyn and his team delivered a thrilling performance to take home the bronze medal!
Competing in the 16–19 age category — despite not yet being 16 — Tobyn’s achievements are truly outstanding and a testament to his talent, perseverance, and competitive spirit.
Well done Tobyn — what a fantastic effort on the world stage!
Matt Stopel | Acting Head of Co-Curricular Activities
Congratulations to Liam Grimmer (Year 10) who also represented Australia in the World Triathlon Championship in the 16–19 age category - an incredible achievement despite just turning 16 years of age!
Against an experienced field of over 80 athletes, Liam showed true grit and determination, overcoming a rough start in the swim. Despite the setback, he pushed through to finish strong in both the ride and the run.
Liam's achievements are truly outstanding and a testament to his talent, perseverance, and competitive spirit.
Well done Liam — what a fantastic effort on the world stage!!
Matt Stopel | Acting Head of Co-Curricular Activities
Scarlett Zhong (Year 5) represented the Queensland Schools Team at the National School Championships in Ballarat over the past few days.
Scarlett delivered an outstanding performance, achieving significant personal best times across all her events. She also earned a bronze medal in the 4x50m Medley Relay and placed eighth in the 50m Breaststroke.
After returning to the Gold Coast at 7:00pm on Wednesday evening, Scarlett was back in the pool training at 5:45am the very next morning—an incredible display of dedication and commitment.
Congratulations, Scarlett—an exceptional achievement!
Liam Du Feu | Swimming Head Coach
We are thrilled to officially invite you to the upcoming Celebration of Sport Evening on Friday, 7 November.
Celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of our Brumby Athletes in 2025 at SOPO Southport!
Join us for an unforgettable evening featuring the presentation of our Platinum, Major, Minor, and Representative Awards. Enjoy an inspiring guest speaker, exciting games, competitions, and fantastic prizes — all part of a fun-filled night honouring our sporting stars.
Please find attached your official invitation. RSVP can be done through the link in the invitation or via the link below, we hope to see many of you there!
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE — don’t miss your chance to be part of this special event.
Keep your eye on the Celebration of Sport Connect page for more details.
We are also seeking sponsorships, prizes, and donations for the event. If you’re interested in contributing, please reach out to Sean Tobin stobin@abpat.qld.edu.au
Sara Eade | Head of Co-Curricular Sport
If your son or daughter is entering into Years 7, 10 or 11 in 2027, s/he is eligible to sit the ACER Scholarship test for the A.B. Paterson College Scholarship Program for academic or music scholarships.
Make sure you download the Scholarship Candidate Information Form from our College Webpage located at A.B. Paterson College | Scholarship Overview (abpat.qld.edu.au).
If you would like your child to sit the ACER Scholarship test on Saturday, 14 February 2026, please register online at https://scholarships.acer.org/intro/3410
This page will allow you to access the ACER website where you can make your registration. More information about the College’s Scholarship Program is also available on the College website.
Registration will close on Wednesday, 4 February 2026, at 4pm. Registrations cannot be accepted after this date and time.
Karen Milburn | Head of Admissions
The 35th Annual Speech Night will be held on Wednesday, 19 November at 5:30pm in the Dunlop Multi-Purpose Centre.
Parents please note, Speech Night is a compulsory event for all students in Years 4 to 12.
Please ensure your child arrives promptly at 5:00pm to have their name marked from the roll. The evening is expected to end at 8.00pm.
Further information, detailing where students are to go for roll call at 5pm and where parents can pick them up at the conclusion of Speech Night will be available in the coming weeks.
The Speech Night program will be electronic, but can be obtained from Reception after the event.
We look forward to seeing everyone on the night!
Joanne Sheehy | Principal
Last year’s fundraising event was an unforgettable explosion of colour, community, and celebration—and this year promises to be even bigger, brighter, and bolder! As we gear up for the end of the school year, what better way to celebrate than with the return of our legendary Colour Run.
This semester Mackellar and Wright House fundraising event will be fundraising for our combined charities of Orange Sky Laundry, Young Care, Salvation Army and our Winton Service Learning program with a Monty’s Colour Fun Run supported by Australian Fundraising!
If you would like your child to participate in the Colour Fun Run, please accept the Terms and Conditions via Parent Lounge and create your child’s online profile page to start fundraising.
How Do We Fundraise?
Fundraising for our Colour Fun Run is entirely online. Follow the instructions in your child’s sponsorship booklet to create a cybersafe, online profile page at www.australianfundraising.com.au or follow the instructions on the attached registration PDF file. At the end of the fundraiser, students receive a prize for their fundraising efforts by simply raising $10 online! At the end of the fundraiser, students can mix and match up to a total of five prizes based on their fundraising total and golden coins.
Please note: Participation in the fundraising event is optional. The fundraising portal opens on Friday, 5 September. All cash donations must be converted to online donations before Tuesday, 15 November. We cannot accept any cash donations for this fundraiser.
For further information, please contact the team:
A.B. Paterson College has had an amazing response from the community for this year’s edition. The Inspire Business Directory allows the College to support parents, caregivers, and members of the broader school community, with the opportunity to promote their business.
Please take the time to have a look, you might be pleasantly surprised with some special discount offers, or the opportunity to find a new service provider from within the College community.
A big thank you to all of the family businesses who have supported the A.B. Paterson College Foundation and advertised in this year’s edition. We look forward to supporting you and your families.
Click here to view the 2025/2026 Inspire Business Directory.
Each week we will be promoting a College family business in our 'Business Spotlight of the Week'. This week the business spotlight is on Medland Orthodontics - view the slide below.
Maddi Wilesmith | Community Engagement Officer
Earth Angels was founded in 2025 by a group of Gold Coast students who wanted to connect schools, unite environmental clubs, and take real action for our planet.
Over the past few months, we have hosted community cleanups in local parks on the first Sunday of every month, where students, families, and friends have come together to care for our green spaces. These events have already removed hundreds of pieces of waste from our environment, and we would love for you to join!
Bring your friends, family, a bucket, and reusable gloves, and help us make a difference!
Our next cleanup is this Sunday from 4pm to 5pm at Harley Park, Labrador, with music and snacks provided. We recommend parking near Charis Seafoods, and everyone is welcome!
Other than that, our future cleanups are:
For more information, find us on Instagram at ‘earth_angels_gc’ and ‘earth.angels.gc’ on Facebook.
There are a number of events coming up in Term 4 that are great running events - there is something for everyone. This post is to highlight dates and to add to your calendar, with links to the websites if you are after more details.
I will be promoting these closer to each event too, but for those wanting to plan ahead, here are all of the dates and information.
Brochures attached below, as well as links to websites with more information.
NOVEMBER 9 - Mateship Run. CODE BRUMBIES for a discount thanks to Steve Jackson.
DECEMBER 5 - RECC - Run the World Relay.
For more info, refer to the flyer below.
Tennille Mitchell | Cross Country Coordinator
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