From the Principal

From the Principal

20 Year Sports Partnership with Macquarie University

I’m delighted to advise that Redlands will call Macquarie University Sports grounds home for at least the next 20 years, through a long term lease partnership between the School and Macquarie, and a $7.5 million upgrade to University Oval which was announced this week. The upgrade is being made possible through a partnership between the NSW Government and AFL NSW/ACT, with the School’s contribution of the lease guarantee. It will include new lighting and seating, enhanced pavilions, and the capacity to film AFLW games to broadcast quality.

As parents may know, University Oval and the three other sports fields at Macquarie are our home grounds for our Saturday sports competitions and Tuesday and Thursday afternoon training sessions in AFL, Football, Touch Football and Rugby.

It was a privilege to be on hand for the formal announcement, where I joined the NSW Minister for Sport Alister Henskens, local member and Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello, Professor Bruce Dowton, the Vice Chancellor of Macquarie University and representatives from AFL NSW/ACT.

At the event, Minister Henskens spoke passionately about providing the best possible facilities for our students and the broader community. Specifically he said:

 “This is all about allowing our community as well as our elite sports men and women to be able to play in the best possible facilities…. When I look at our young Redlands men and women down there, this is all about them, it’s all about building things for the future [and] long-term investment, so congratulations everyone – it’s a beautiful day.”

We are also currently finalising plans with Macquarie University and Sydney FC for the upgrade of Northern Oval. Therefore our 20 year partnership with Macquarie University will see many of our students, both current and future, benefitting from these exceptional new facilities at Macquarie.

Redlands Learning Hub Level Naming – Celebrating our Alumni

This evening at a Foundation function, Redlands Chair, Glenda McLoughlin will be officially naming each of the levels in the Redlands Learning Hub to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution of the following significant alumni who graduated from Redlands between 1903 and 1920.

These remarkable Redlanders have been showcased at the western entry points on each level of the Redlands Learning Hub, with an artwork and plaque highlighting their individual achievements. You can read more about their significant contributions in their respective fields of endeavour by clicking the links above.

Uniform Redevelopment Update

Throughout 2022, we have made great progress on the redevelopment of the school uniform. It is the first time the uniform has been reviewed in over 25 years and our Uniform Committee (comprising student, parent, staff and Board representatives from across the School) has been working with leading Australian designer Jonathan Ward on developing a uniform that reflects the contemporary culture of the School and will be worn with pride by students.

Value, cost, sustainability and easy-care properties have been a central focus of the Uniform Committee. These have been addressed through the development of a trans-seasonal uniform; the use of newly developed fabrics that are lightweight, durable and comfortable; and a uniform implementation through a long transition period. The new uniform will be introduced in Term 1 2024 and during the following two year transition period, students will have the option of either wearing the new or old uniform. The new uniform will incorporate gender neutral options and honour the legacy of Redlands uniforms across our rich history. You can read more about the uniform redevelopment in the Community Engagement section of Note Day and we look forward to sharing the new uniform design with you in mid-2023.

Student Achievement

Congratulations to Yr 12 student Tate Boswarva, who has had her Textiles and Design major work selected for exhibition in Shape, the showcase of the very best major works in NSW. The exhibition will be at the Powerhouse from 3 March to 21 May 2023.

Staff Achievement

Congratulations to Secondary School HISE teacher, Rachael Riley who was awarded a prestigious Premier’s Teachers Scholarship at a function at the State Library last night.  Ms Riley will use the scholarship funds to explore the possibility of integrating Aboriginal informed pedagogies into the NSW History Curriculum, specifically, the Two-Way Learning approach that Redlands has with the Yolngu people of north east Arnhem Land.

End of Year Events

The Junior and Senior Campus Carols events are always a highlight in this week, along with the delightful and entertaining Redlands House Concert. It is so impressive to see the students, right across the School, loving their experience of music and performing in public. My sincere thanks to our dedicated and highly talented music staff for their commitment and inspiration.

As I look ahead to the final week of events, including end of year assemblies, Yr 6 graduation assembly, Preparatory School Presentation Day, Junior School Speech Day and Secondary School Speech Night, it is with deep gratitude for the opportunity to share with the school community in celebrating what makes Redlands such an amazing school.

I look forward to sharing my reflections with you at these events and to have the opportunity to give thanks to our incredible students, highly professional staff, very supportive and engaged parent body, connected alumni, dedicated Board Directors and to all friends and supporters of Redlands.

Redlands is a vibrant, dynamic and forward-thinking school community and it has been an honour to lead the School during the last three years. May you all have a blessed and peaceful Christmas with family and friends and here’s to many memorable years ahead for the School. 

Mr Stephen Webber

Photo Caption: Redlands students and I at the announcement of the long term leasing partnership between the School and Macquarie, including a $7.5 million upgrade to University Oval.