Success Recognised at Colin Thiele Awards Assembly

Earlier today, our 2025 Colin Thiele Awards Assembly was staged inside the PLHS Gymnasium – dozens of Year 7-11 students were acknowledged for their outstanding achievements in a range of learning areas and specialist programs.

These awards honour the life of Colin Milton Thiele AC (1920~2006), the acclaimed author of over 100 children’s novels including the award-winning Sun on the Stubble (1961), Storm Boy (1964), February Dragon (1965) and Blue Fin (1969). After serving in the Australian Army and RAAF in World War II, Mr. Thiele became a highly respected English and Geography teacher at Port Lincoln High School (1946~1955) – it is a little-known fact that his first publication was in fact a geography textbook.

We were again delighted to have many families in attendance to witness their children receive their well-earned awards. As the audience assembled, they were treated to a set of guitar instrumentals performed by Year 11 Music students Cooper Hale and Aidan McMillan, before proud young Barngarla woman Jamelia Bilney (Year 9) officially opened the proceedings with a heartfelt Welcome to Country.

Today’s event was confidently compered by our recently-elected 2026 School Captains Max Stanley and Airlie Hartwich. After introducing themselves and outlining their vision for next year, they invited Mr. Craig Akehurst to the podium to deliver his success-themed Principal’s Address.

As we have offered throughout the year, the recipients of today’s awards were invited to join their accompanying families for a catered celebration in the Staff Room.

Congratulations to our 2025 Colin Thiele Award winners (listed/pictured below) and thank you to all who contributed to the success of today’s event.

Colin Thiele Awards: These awards for Year 7–11 students are determined by the teachers and leaders of each learning area. They recognise students who have achieved outstanding results across subjects from each of the curriculum areas at Port Lincoln High School. They are given to students who uphold our school values of Responsible, Respectful and Inclusive.

The Maths and Science awards were announced by Miss Rebecca Paterson:

Mathematics Colin Thiele Awards:

• Year 7: Charlie Densley
• Year 8: Isla Wilson
• Year 9: Zoe Bell
• Year 10: Ella Scholz
• Year 11: Ruby Gamlin

Science Colin Thiele Awards:

• Year 7: Cooper Meyers
• Year 8: Lil Lohmeyer
• Year 9: Lucas Dixon
• Year 10: Tanayah D’Agostini
• Year 11: Lainie Bell

The Languages, HASS and English awards were announced by Mr. Hayden Bennett:

Languages Colin Thiele Awards:

• Year 7: Alexander Pietrala
• Year 8: Frankie Woolford
• Year 9: Jordy Parker
• Year 10: Zoe Allan
• Year 11: Dakota Taferner

HASS Colin Thiele Awards:

• Year 7: Dalton Middlemiss
• Year 8: Frankie Woolford
• Year 9: Emma Lienert
• Year 10: Tanayah D’Agostini
• Year 11: Sophie Flogdell

English Colin Thiele Awards:

• Year 7: Ayama Henning
• Year 8: Isla Wilson
• Year 9: Zoe Bell
• Year 10: Marley Coleman
• Year 11: Maya Kennedy

The Arts awards were announced by Ms. Caitlin Randall:

Visual Arts Colin Thiele Awards:

• Year 7: Charlie Densley
• Year 8: Ronin Law
• Year 9: Noah Connolly
• Year 10: Tanayah D’Agostini
• Year 11: Zoe van-Overdijk

Performing Arts Colin Thiele Awards:

• Year 7: Zuri Cupples
• Year 8: Lucy Hatzimanolis
• Year 9: Lucas Dixon
• Year 10: Evie Gamlin
• Year 11: Jasmine Tiller

The Technology awards were announced by Mr. Craig Curtis:

Technology Colin Thiele Awards:

• Year 7: Dalton Middlemiss
• Year 8: Frankie Woolford
• Year 9: Byron Phillis
• Year 10: Oli Stevens
• Year 11: Elke Russell

The HPE, Food, Integrated Learning, EIF and AIF awards will be announced by Miss Tayla Helbig:

HPE, Food & Integrated Learning Colin Thiele Awards:

• Year 7: Lincoln Stelzer Linn
• Year 8: Harry Nagel
• Year 9: Angus Rodda
• Year 10: Ella Day
• Year 11: Airlie Hartwich

EIF & AIF Colin Thiele Awards:

• Stage 1 EIF: Maya Kennedy
• Stage 2 AIF: Elke Thomas

The Inclusive Education awards were announced by Mr. Jack Yeoman:

Inclusive Education Colin Thiele Awards:

• Year 7/8 Channel: Matthew Kapnistis
• Year 9/10 Channel:  Damien Warren
• Year 11/12 Channel: Phillip Hutchins

The Aboriginal Students of the Year awards were announced by Deputy Principal Mrs. Lesley Warren and presented by Ms. Shantelle Pickett:

Aboriginal Students of the Year: These awards recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from each year level who show excellent attendance, are committed to their studies, display outstanding commitment to the ethos of the school and an exceptional contribution to the school and wider community.

• Year 7: Leo Warrior
• Year 8: Mavis Coleman
• Year 9: Jordy Parker
• Year 10: Zerah Coleman
• Year 11: Mylee Bilney

The One Heart Awards were announced by Ms. Ally Linn and presented by Miss Claire Window from One Heart Church:

One Heart Awards: These awards are presented to a student in each year level who has demonstrated exceptional resilience and perseverance in overcoming challenges to successfully engage with their studies.

• Year 7: Amelia Miller
• Year 8: Skyla Long
• Year 9: Hannah Broadwood
• Year 10: Ciara Calgaret
• Year 11: Zoe van-Overdijk

The Josh Williams Memorial Award was announced by Mr. Shaun Thomas:

Josh Williams Memorial Award: In 1988, Port Lincoln High School’s Year 9 Pantomime was a production of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. The star of the show (playing Willy Wonka) was a young man by the name of Joshua Williams. Not only was Josh a wonderfully charismatic and talented performer on stage, but he was also a gifted writer – by the end of Year 8, he had written his first novel. Tragically, as a fifteen-year-old Year 10 student, Joshua Williams suffered a fatal asthma attack. The Josh Williams Memorial Award was established to both honour Josh’s memory and to recognise an outstanding Year 9 Pantomime student each year.

• Year 9: Lucas Dixon

The Mat Steele Memorial Senior Drama Award was announced by Mrs. Helen Marks and presented by Mat’s mother Ms. Kerri Trengove:

Mat Steele Memorial Senior Drama Award: This award honours the life of Mat Steele, whose passion for the performing arts as a career pathway was an example to his fellow students. It is awarded to a senior Drama student in recognition of their achievements and potential for a career in Drama.

• Year 11: Rebekah Turner

The ADF Long Tan Leadership & Teamwork Award was announced by Mr. Craig Curtis:

ADF Long Tan Leadership & Teamwork Award: These awards started in 2006 to recognise students who demonstrate leadership and teamwork within both the school and the broader local community; at the same time, they recognise those who display strong values, such as doing one’s best, respect for others and “mateship”, characteristics that are integral to Australian society.

• Year 10: Kynan Letton