College News – 23 October 2026

It is with a heavy heart that I share the sad news that Kim Stratford, much-loved member of the Rostrevor community and wife of our Head of Senior School, Dan Stratford, passed away last Friday following a courageous battle with cancer. 

Kim passed away surrounded by her loving family. We hold Dan and their children, Bella, Lewis and Will, in our thoughts and prayers as they navigate the incredibly difficult road ahead. 

In speaking with Dan over the last week, he has expressed his gratitude for the love and support shown by members of the Rostrevor Community. We pray that God’s eternal and loving embrace holds Kim now and always. 

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. 

Shana Bennett 

Yesterday we acknowledged and celebrated the Class of 2026’s last official day of schooling. The graduating cohort spent time with their House groups in the morning, reflecting on their journeys as they were farewelled by their younger peers. They were then treated to a morning tea on the Front Lawns before their final Liturgy together in the Chapel. At the farewell assembly, the group were celebrated by the whole of the Senior School, and the current Prefects took the opportunity to present the 2027 Prefects with their Prefect ties. The guard of honour formed by Junior School students for the Year 12s as they exit their farewell assembly is always a beautiful display of Rostrevor brotherhood, with the youngest and oldest students finding connection in this symbolic tradition.   

The Class of 2026 finished their final day of school with a catered lunch on the Front Lawns, taking time to be together as a whole cohort before they delve into their exams. While they will come together again at Presentation Night and at their graduation, yesterday was still an emotional time, being their last official day of classes and concluding 13 years of study. We wish them all the best as they now head into exams.

The 2026 Junior School Music Night was a celebration of the talent and dedication of Rostrevor’s youngest budding musicians on Wednesday evening his week. Loreto College’s Performing Arts Theatre was full of proud families and excited musicians as the audience was treated to an evening of outstanding performances across a wide range of musical genres. Thank you to the Music Department for putting on another wonderful event!

Today, Rostrevor’s youngest learners welcomed their grandparents and special friends to the College for a memorable morning celebrating the important role they play in each other’s lives. Guests joined students in their classrooms for a range of activities before gathering in the Chapel for a special liturgy. The morning concluded with a delightful morning tea on the Rostrevor House Front Lawns. Thank you to the many grandparents and special friends who joined us for this special occasion, creating lasting memories with their young people. 

On Monday, our flock of White Suffolk ewes and ram were shorn as part of our Agriculture program. Students had the opportunity to help out with and observe the shearing process whilst learning about livestock handling, wool production and the skills required to work as a shearer. Thank you to Clint Hein (father of Year 11 boarder Jack) for coming in to shear our sheep and sharing his expertise with the students. The experience provided a valuable real-world connection to classroom learning and gave students insight into an important Agricultural industry.

Last Friday evening, a group of Rostrevor College Social Justice students generously volunteered their time to support the Jupiter Supports Quiz Night, held at the Sicilia Club in support of the Little Heroes Foundation. The evening was organised by Nicole Borzillo, whose sons, Joshua and Ryan, are both proud Rostrevor College Old Collegians. It was wonderful to continue this connection with the Rostrevor community through an event dedicated to supporting such a worthy cause. 

Throughout the evening, the boys assisted with a variety of tasks, including selling raffle tickets, supporting fundraising activities and helping organisers ensure the event ran smoothly. Their enthusiasm, willingness to help and positive attitudes were greatly appreciated by organisers and attendees alike. The evening was a wonderful success, bringing the community together for a night of fun, laughter and generosity, all while raising valuable funds for the Little Heroes Foundation and its important work supporting seriously ill children and their families. 

This experience provided our students with another meaningful opportunity to put our College's commitment to service and social justice into action. Through their generosity and willingness to serve others, the boys demonstrated what it truly means to be Men for Others. A sincere thank you to Nicole Borzillo and the Jupiter Supports team for organising such a wonderful event, and to our Social Justice students and teachers Justin Chung and Miranda McGlaughlin for generously giving up their Friday evening to support this important cause. 

Rostrevor parents and caregivers are invited to attend the Catholic School Parents SA Help Me Help My Teen event to hear from one of Australia's most respected parenting authors, educators and speakers, Maggie Dent. Known for her practical, compassionate and down-to-earth approach, Maggie will share valuable insights and strategies to support parents and carers in navigating the challenges of raising children and young people. For more information, please view the flyer. 

• When: Thursday 12 November 2026, 6:30pm 
• Where: Mercedes College, 540 Fullarton Rd, Springfield SA 
• Tickets: Purchase tickets HERE 

Rostrevor College community members are invited to claim their free tickets to the Adelaide Crows AFLW game at Unley Oval on Sunday, 1 November 2026! The game will be a community event, with face painting, hair braiding, sign making, a petting zoo and the Lois Sparkling Bar available. For more information and to book tickets, please view the flyer.

It’s three in a row for Egan who were named the winning House at the 2026 Junior School Sports Day on Friday last week! Congratulations to all students who participated, and to our year level champions on their outstanding performances. The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the teachers beating the Year 6 student leaders in the relay obstacle race, much to the delight of the staff who lost the race last year! Thank you to the Junior School staff – particularly the Co-Curricular team – and volunteers who ensured the day was a success, and to the many parents who came out to support their sons.

First XI Cricket season kicked off on Friday night with a T20 victory against St Peter's College. Bowling Saints out for 87 was a great performance with the ball in our first outing for the term. Wickets were shared amongst Oscar Crafter, Archah Parisi, Oakley Reidy, Lucas Maschotta, Ryan Marsh and Jack Story. With the bat, we wasted no time making the required 88, chasing the runs in under 10 overs. Archah led the way with 62 off 31 balls.  

On Saturday we introduced five debutants to the First XI team. Congratulations and welcome to Jack Story (773), Oakley Reidy (774), Lucas Maschotta (775), Abhir Virk (776) and Ryan Marsh (777). Unfortunately, we were bested by a strong Sacred Heart team after posting 110. The team will look to bounce back this weekend with a matchup against Scotch College at home.  

Congratulations go to the First XI who came runners up in the Division 1 Open 40-Over Knockout tournament on Monday. Going down to a very strong Adelaide High School, Archah was outstanding with 137 off 88 balls. We fell only 48 runs short of Adelaide High's 253 in the game which was postponed from Term 1.  

Water Polo season started on Friday last week, with Rostrevor fielding three teams across the Senior School. The Open team couldn't have hoped for a better result in their first game, finishing with a convincing 12-3 win against Saint Ignatius College. Playing at the newly redeveloped Adelaide Aquatic centre, the team demonstrated their dominance in the pool with a mix of new and experienced players.  

Standout performances came from Miles Fotheringham with five goals, Noah Fillmore with four goals, and Oscar Hill in defence, while Jack Isaac and Cooper Douglas impressed with debut performances. We’ve also seen some great achievements from Jaden Chung and James Hosking who will continue to grow and contribute massively to this team this term. As one of the strongest teams the College has fielded in recent years according to coaches, our community looks forward to seeing what they have in store for the rest of the season.

This week, our First V and Open B Basketball teams participated in an Adelaide 36ers Pro Day event held at Gameready Performance at Thebarton. The boys had access to all the excellent facilities and resources Gameready Performance had to offer as they experienced a day in the life of a professional Basketball athlete. The day started with a two hour on-court session with Adelaide 36ers Assistant Coach Kerry Williams where the boys worked on individual skills and game simulations. They then progressed to a Strength and Conditioning session with the staff from Gameready performance using their excellent gym equipment. The day finished off with a 30-minute recovery session where the boys were able to use the ice bath and cold tub facilities. We would like to thank the Adelaide 36ers and Gameready Performance for hosting the boys in what was a fun and educational experience! 

Congratulations to our Year 5/6 Cricket team on a fantastic win against Burnside on Monday in the School Sports SA Knockout Cricket Competition. Rostrevor finished with 2/131, to Burnside Primary's 3/97, with standout players being Angus Hehir 25* not out, Tyler Stagg 29* not out, and Alec Larking 20 and a wicket.  

While it is always great to come away with a win, what stood out most was the team’s sportsmanship, positive attitude and support for one another. The Year 6 students did a wonderful job welcoming and encouraging their younger Year 5 teammates, helping everyone feel included and part of the team. 

The Year 5 students should also be incredibly proud of their efforts, holding their own on the field and contributing to an excellent team performance. A special mention goes to Max Schaefer, whose enthusiasm and commitment in the field were outstanding. His willingness to put his body on the line to stop boundaries played a significant role in keeping Burnside under 100 runs. 

A big thank you to Shane Hatchard for giving up his time to coach the team, your support and efforts are greatly appreciated. The team will now play Trinity Gardens in Round 3 for a place in the Grand Final. 

It was a fantastic weekend for the Year 5 Cricket team, who recorded their first win of the season against St Ignatius College on Saturday! After securing just one win throughout Term 1, the boys were thrilled to get their season off to a winning start. 

Under the guidance of new Old Collegian coach Ollie Juett ('25), the team has shown plenty of enthusiasm and a genuine willingness to learn and improve. It has been particularly pleasing to see the boys supporting one another, celebrating each other’s successes and demonstrating a real sense of care and teamwork. Congratulations to the entire team on a great result. We look forward to seeing their continued growth and development throughout the season!