SPORT
Athletics Carnival
The weather cast a shadow over preparations on Wednesday, 23 July, with heavy rain forcing the cancellation of catch-up field events and raising concerns about the carnival’s viability. CF White Oval was waterlogged, and uncertainty loomed as staff assessed conditions and consulted with others. The outlook was not promising.
However, Thursday morning brought a welcome change. Sunshine broke through the clouds, and the frosty oval greeted early arrivals with a glimmer of hope. After a final inspection, the decision was made—the 2025 Athletics Carnival would go ahead.
The day was filled with energy, enthusiasm, and impressive athletic performances. McAuley House entered with strong momentum from the field events, aiming to secure their first Interhouse Trophy of the year. Davadi House, however, remained determined to complete a clean sweep across all categories.
Events began with a solid turnout for the 800m, followed by the 200m heats. Despite lingering puddles near the State High side of the track, competitors pushed through undeterred. The 100m heats ran alongside the arrival of Prep to Year 2 students, who brought excitement and joy to the oval with sack races, egg-and-spoon challenges, and other engaging activities.
The carnival concluded with the final 100m heats and a spirited round of relays, showcasing teamwork and determination.
A heartfelt thank you to all parents, staff, and families who helped make the day such a great success and came along to cheer on the students.
|
Runner Up |
Age Champion |
|
|
Under 9 Girls |
Mia Vedelago | Charlotte Gasparin |
|
Under 9 Boys |
Sebastian Torrisi | Alex Sunderland |
|
Under 10 Girls |
Poppy Wilshire | Georgia Robinson |
|
Under 10 Boys |
Jett Petzler | Kai Fox |
|
Under 11 Girls |
Vilana Baigent | Alanna Fox |
|
Under 11 Boys |
Matthew Stefanon | Zackary Kerridge |
|
Under 12 Girls |
Mia Howard | Havana Torrisi |
|
Under 12 Boys |
Alex Miller | Archie Reimers |
|
Under 13 Girls |
Milly Watts | Sophia Kunze |
|
Under 13 Boys |
Charlie Schnitzerling | Billy Skuse |
|
Under 14 Girls |
Taya Grace Willoughby | Milla Faguas |
|
Under 14 Boys |
Aiden McCosker | Lucas Ho |
|
Under 15 Girls |
Margaret O'Dea | Lily Tuvukica |
|
Under 15 Boys |
Alex Stevens | Kai Lang |
|
Under 16 Girls |
Holly Hart | Jessica Pradella |
|
Under 16 Boys |
Amadeau Alasmari | Jackson Pillar |
|
Open Girls |
Eliza Bonner | Jessica Ellis |
|
Open Boys |
Henry Searle | Harry Wren |
House Spirit Trophy |
Davadi |
Primary Wining House |
Davadi |
|
Secondary Winning House |
McAuley |
|
Overall Winning House - The James Armstrong Trophy |
McAuley |
Granite Belt Athletics
On Monday 18 August, a number of our students proudly represented St Joseph’s School at the Granite Belt Athletics Carnival. It was a fantastic day filled with energy, determination, and school spirit.
All students performed exceptionally well across a range of events, and we are thrilled to share that several of our athletes were awarded Age Champion and Runner-Up Age Champion titles—an outstanding achievement that reflects their dedication and talent.
A special congratulations to everyone who placed on the day. We are incredibly proud of all our competitors for their effort, sportsmanship, and enthusiasm.
Darling Downs Athletics
We wish the following students all the very best as they head to Toowoomba to compete in the Darling Downs Athletics Carnival on Monday and Tuesday, 25 & 26 August:
Milla Fraguas, Hannah Grogan, Imogen Staley, Camilla Watts, and Taya Grace Willoughby
Futsal
On Monday 4 August, two teams from our school participated in the SW Futsal Gala Day, held at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) in Toowoomba.
Our Under 9 Boys team performed strongly throughout the day and finished in 3rd place — a great achievement. The Under 11s also played well, showing consistent effort and teamwork across their matches.
Thank you to USQ for hosting the event and to all staff, students, and families who supported the teams. It was a valuable opportunity for our students to develop their skills and enjoy the experience of competitive sport in a supportive environment.
Red Lion Soccer
The girls’ team gave it their all, finishing with one well-earned win and two closely contested matches. The boys’ team delivered a strong performance, ending the day with one win, one draw, and one loss—placing them in contention for a semi-final spot next week!
Congratulations to all players for your outstanding sportsmanship and school spirit. We are incredibly proud of the way you represented St Joseph’s.
Netball & Touch Football
On Wednesday 31 July, a number of our enthusiastic Primary students proudly represented the school at the Toowoomba Catholic Primary Schools Touch Football and Netball Carnival.
The day provided a great opportunity for students to demonstrate their teamwork, sportsmanship, and school spirit while enjoying a full day of friendly competition and fun.
We were also pleased to have two of our Secondary students, Maggie O'Dea and Claire Vanderwolf, attend the carnival as referees — a fantastic example of student leadership and community involvement.
Well done to all players and officials for representing our school so positively.
Over the weekend of 26 and 27 July, 15 students proudly represented St Joseph’s School and the Darling Downs region at the Queensland Schools Orienteering Championships in Kingaroy. Across three challenging events, our students performed exceptionally well, with many achieving outstanding results.
The competition included:
- Sprint – an urban course (2–3 km)
- Hagaby (mass start) – a shorter bush course (2.2–4.8 km)
- Long Distance (individual start) – a longer bush course (2.5–6.5 km)
The Hagaby and Long Distance events were held in both championship and standard divisions.
We’re proud to share that St Joseph’s School was once again crowned Champion Queensland Orienteering School, with Darling Downs also named the winning school region — a fantastic achievement!
Congratulations to:
- Margaret O’Dea – 2nd, 4th, and 4th in the Junior Girls Championship events
- Erin O’Dea – 3rd, 4th, and 4th in the Senior Girls Championship events
- Sasha Kendall – 1st in the Junior Girls Hagaby (Standard Division)
- Lucas Ho – 1st in both the Junior Boys Hagaby and Long Distance (Standard Division)
The Queensland Schools Orienteering Team has since been announced, and we are proud to congratulate Maggie O’Dea (Year 9) on her selection in the Queensland team (Junior Girls age group) to compete at the Australian Schools Orienteering Championships, which will be held in Brisbane as part of the Australian Orienteering Championships from 27 September to 5 October 2025.
Well done also to Erin O’Dea (Year 11), who has been selected as reserve for the Senior Girls Queensland team. An outstanding achievement by both girls!
Thank you to Mr Allan Lahey for his continued leadership in developing orienteering at the school, and to all the parents for their support. Congratulations to all students on a fantastic weekend of competition!
Over the weekend of 2 and 3 August, Year 6 student Havana Torrisi proudly represented the Darling Downs schools district at the Queensland Schools Football State Championships (10–12 years), held in Tingalpa.
It is a fantastic achievement to be selected for this level of competition, and we’re proud to see one of our students stepping up and giving her best on the state stage.
Well done, Havana!
Oliver Tuvukica Shines on the International Stage
Year 5 student Oliver Tuvukica, has returned from China with unforgettable memories and a trophy to match, after proudly representing Australia A in the Under 10 Futsal International Tournament, held as part of the Jiangmen International Futsal Festival.
Organised by the International Futsal Alliance (IFA), the festival brought together youth teams from Hong Kong, Macau, China, Taiwan, Nepal, and Australia, with age categories ranging from Under 10 to Open Men and Women. The event was hosted in Jiangmen, China, starting on 21 July 2025.
Over several days of intense competition, Oliver and his teammates played nine thrilling matches, culminating in a nail-biting final against fellow Australians—Team Australia B. With the score tied, Oliver delivered a spectacular header goal, pushing the game into a penalty shootout. Australia A held their nerve, winning 5–3 and claiming the Under 10 championship title.
Oliver’s performance was nothing short of phenomenal. He scored 11 goals throughout the tournament and was awarded Player of the Tournament for his outstanding skill, sportsmanship, and leadership both on and off the field.
Representing Australia was a proud moment for Oliver, but he also reminded his dad, Peceli (PT), that the Fijian flag deserved a place in the spotlight too—showcasing his deep pride in his heritage.
The experience didn’t end with the final whistle. Oliver and PT took the opportunity to tour China, exploring breathtaking sights, enjoying local cuisine, and bonding over an unforgettable adventure. Oliver even went on to play against one of China’s top futsal academies, gaining valuable experience and loving every minute of it.
Oliver’s journey is a testament to dedication, talent, and the joy of international sport.
Congratulations, Oliver—you’ve made your school, your country, and your family incredibly proud!
The 2025 Interdistrict Basketball season is officially underway, with teams from Stanthorpe and Warwick schools hitting the court in Warwick. All four teams made a strong start in their respective divisions, showing great promise and team spirit.
The Open Boys began their campaign with confidence, securing two solid wins against Stanthorpe State High and Scots PGC. The Junior Girls also impressed with a dominant performance against SSHS and are set to face them twice more in the coming weeks. Both teams are well-positioned for a successful season.
The Open Girls faced a tough start against Assumption College but showed resilience and improvement throughout the game. With support from a few Junior players and some standout defensive efforts—thanks in part to netball experience—the team began to find their rhythm. Although they didn’t come away with a win, there’s plenty of potential for growth in the coming matches.
The Junior Boys team, made up of players with varying levels of basketball experience, brought enthusiasm and a positive attitude to the court. Despite the scoreboard, the boys are enjoying the opportunity to represent their school and are keeping the spirit light and fun.
A well-earned stop at KFC capped off the evening, with students celebrating their efforts and teamwork both on and off the court.
