Our Year 10 cohort recently tackled an unforgettable adventure, hiking along Victoria’s iconic Great Ocean Walk from Blanket Bay to Johanna Beach.
Traversing pristine coastal forest, rugged clifftops, and wide expanses of golden sand, students were treated to truly breathtaking scenery. Highlights included the dramatic views overlooking Cape Otway, sweeps of untamed ocean breaking against the reefs, and the vast, rolling surf that welcomed us as we descended onto Johanna Beach.
Beyond the spectacular vistas, the heart of the trip was the outstanding effort and resilience shown by every student. Heavy packs, steep ascents, and variable coastal trail conditions tested everyone’s physical endurance. Yet, the team spirit never wavered.
Students displayed inspiring teamwork throughout the journey—sharing the load when packs felt heavy, offering steady hands on tricky descents, and keeping morale high with songs and encouragement along the way. Every challenge encountered became an opportunity to lift each other up.
This trek was far more than a physical challenge; it was a powerful test of character, camaraderie, and shared triumph. Congratulations to our Year 10 hikers for their incredible determination and supportive spirit!
Our 5-day outdoor camp was an unforgettable adventure, centred around 3 days of hiking where we carried all our gear and pitched our own tents each night. Constantly swatting away relentless bugs was definitely annoying, and we had to push through exhaustion while doing things we’d never done before, from navigating unfamiliar trail routines to managing heavy packs. Learning to rely on ourselves and adapt to whatever the trail threw at us really brought out our resilience. The highlight came on Friday when we finally reached the 12 Apostles, where taking in those breathtaking ocean views made every tough moment feel completely worth it.
Darren was appointed Principal of Sacred Heart College in January 2019. Darren has had almost 30 years experience in teaching and leadership across a number of Victorian Catholic secondary schools. These include eight years as Principal of Mercy Regional College, Camperdown; nine years as Deputy Principal and Director of Mission at Mount Lilydale Mercy College; seven years as a Chemistry, Religious Education and Science teacher as well as REC at Sacred Heart College, Geelong.
Darren has been committed to a lifetime of study and professional development. After completing his initial degree of Bachelor of Science and Graduate Diploma of Education at the University of Melbourne, he continued his study by completing a Graduate Diploma of Religious Education, a Masters of Religious Education and a Doctor of Education, all at Australian Catholic University. In 2018, Darren participated in the Enhancing Catholic School Identity programme in Leuven, Belgium.
Darren has a deep and passionate affiliation with the Mercy tradition and charism and believes that Mercy schools must be “…committed to holistic education; determined to ensure that each student flourishes academically, spiritually, emotionally, socially and physically”.
The purpose of the Catholic school is to provide “… an authentic Christian education, where students are called to embrace the essence of the Gospels, to flourish as whole human persons” and “… to provide exemplary learning experiences for the students who attend”.
Darren was appointed Principal of Sacred Heart College in January 2019. Darren has had almost 30 years experience in teaching and leadership across a number of Victorian Catholic secondary schools. These include eight years as Principal of Mercy Regional College, Camperdown; nine years as Deputy Principal and Director of Mission at Mount Lilydale Mercy College; seven years as a Chemistry, Religious Education and Science teacher as well as REC at Sacred Heart College, Geelong.
Darren has been committed to a lifetime of study and professional development. After completing his initial degree of Bachelor of Science and Graduate Diploma of Education at the University of Melbourne, he continued his study by completing a Graduate Diploma of Religious Education, a Masters of Religious Education and a Doctor of Education, all at Australian Catholic University. In 2018, Darren participated in the Enhancing Catholic School Identity programme in Leuven, Belgium.
Darren has a deep and passionate affiliation with the Mercy tradition and charism and believes that Mercy schools must be “…committed to holistic education; determined to ensure that each student flourishes academically, spiritually, emotionally, socially and physically”.
The purpose of the Catholic school is to provide “… an authentic Christian education, where students are called to embrace the essence of the Gospels, to flourish as whole human persons” and “… to provide exemplary learning experiences for the students who attend”.