Meet your 2025/26 Co-Curricular Captains!
William C – Pipes Captain
I’ve been involved in piping at Oxley since Year 7 – I first started receiving lessons on a practice chanter in Term 3.
Having the opportunity to travel to Scotland for 5 weeks to play in the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Year 9 had a huge impact on my independence, learning to live and care for myself on my own. On this trip I also played in, and won, the Scottish National and the World Championships for my grade, which was an incredible feeling.
As captain for 2025/26, I plan to get the band learning new material, as we have mostly been playing the same things for a while now. By learning new things, I hope to make the Pipe Band more fun for its existing members and for new and upcoming members of the band. I also plan to increase the bands competitiveness, to improve the skill level of our members by having goals to strive towards achieving.
Did you know… the Pipe Band is Oxley’s most busy co-curricular besides sports, performing at a wide range of events such as Tulip Time, ANZAC Day, Brigadoon and even some contests. We also perform throughout the year at the most number of events within Oxley, from Open Days to Speech and Foundation Nights.
Sophie C – Tennis Captain
I have been playing tennis since I was 6 years old, and I played in competitions around NSW until Year 7, when I joined the Oxley tennis team.
The most rewarding aspect of playing tennis at Oxley has definitely been forming strong friendships with students from different years in my team and helping each other grow and get stronger. Tennis, particularly playing in competitions, has taught me resilience and how to stay grounded and in the moment.
My main goal for 2025 is to get more involvement in the tennis program and to do more group training with all the different teams. I hope to promote the Oxley Tennis program by talking in assembly and talking to newer students in the younger years!
Did you know… tennis dates back to the 12th century France, where it was originally played with bare hands and no rackets!
Archie C – Cross Country Captain
Since starting my Oxley journey in Year 7, I have always been keen to put my best foot forward to be involved within the cross country team. Whether it be turning up to trainings on cold winter mornings, or putting 110 percent effort in at carnivals, I feel confident in saying I have always strived to try my best and learnt from my many mistakes, which has put me in good stead for this position.
It’s no secret that cross country isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, drawing on a lot of mental determination and physical resilience. I feel as though this level of mental and physical training has helped me grit through challenging times such as intense study periods during exams and tough footy training sessions.
I am excited to be taking a lead role within the area of cross country this coming year. I would really encourage everyone to have a go, whether you like being competitive or just have having a slow jog with your friends. It is a good way to keep moving over winter and Mr Bevan is always happy to see people at run club every Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
Did you know… the first international cross-country event was organized in 1898 by Harold Hardwick, bringing a team from England to France.
Molly D – Basketball Captain
I’ve been playing Basketball since I was little and have been involved in basketball at Oxley since my start here.
The most rewarding part of playing basketball, aside from the obvious big wins, would be the sportsmanship and resilience that I have learnt from it. For instance, shaking hands with the oppositions, win or lose, teaches great sportsman and respect that all sport players should have.
My main goal as captain this year is to liven the environment, bringing fun to all games, and encouraging and supporting all teams.
Did you know… women’s basketball was introduced one year after the men’s version, in 1892.
Chloe D – Equestrian Captain
Horses have always been a part of my family’s life and I have been riding properly since I was 7.
I believe that the thing that I have gotten the most out of Horse riding is the discipline, patience, persistence and resourcefulness that one needs to be a good rider. Horses don’t speak English so communicating exactly what you want the horse to do is extremely difficult. Horse riding is a sport completely unlike all others and requires more work than most sports as you are not only having to focus on your own athletic abilities but equally that of your horse.
My main Goal this year as captain is to create a greater sense of unity among all riders in the school as horse riding is sport where one trains predominantly by themselves. I plan on doing this by creating more training days and more frequent events where we come together as a team as well as encouraging anyone who has a horse to come and ride. I would also like to encourage more representation at interschool competitions especially among the primary and younger senior years so that they can get the most out of their school equestrian years.
Did you know… Equestrian is the only Olympic sport where men and women compete directly against each other on equal terms across all 3 events.
Imogen G – Athletics Captain
I have been involved in Athletics since Junior School.
I have really enjoyed getting to know the other years at the ISA carnivals and working with different years in different events e.g. relay teams.
My main goal as Captain this year is to get as many people involved in the Athletics Carnival whether you are good at it or not!
Charlie G – Swimming Captain
I have been swimming since I was very little, however only started swimming competitively in Year 6.
The most rewarding part of my involvement in my activity is helping others in achieving goals and personal milestones.
My main goal as captain is to get as many people involved in swimming as possible and create an encouraging and supportive environment.
Did you know… swimming engages all muscle groups, so it’s basically a full body workout!
Sam H – Cricket Captain
I have played cricket throughout my schooling career and have been a member of the Oxley Firsts since Year 8. The 2025/26 summer season will be my second year captaining the Oxley team, and I look forward to what is hopefully a strong season as we carry a team with only one change from the previous year.
The most rewarding part of my role is being able to influence the younger boys of the team. The Firsts team has three Year 9 and two Year 10 boys, who I have the privilege of mentoring throughout the season. Outside of cricket, it has developed my character and built my patience, respect and gratitude for the boys who turn up every week and put in their best efforts.
I was lucky enough to captain the team last year, and that has allowed me to shift my goals for the current season. I had already built strong connections with all the members in the team, which has allowed me to shift my main focus for this year to preparing the younger members to thrive in the years to come. By giving my best tips and trying to showcase what I believe makes a good leader, I hope to leave a good structure and formality for the team once I graduate.
With the most experienced team Oxley has seen in many years, I and the rest of the team hope to put Oxley in the spotlight and prove ourselves in ISA Division 1.
Harry K – Football Captain
I’ve been playing football at Oxley since Year 7 and have been involved in the First XI since Year 9. I’m very passionate about what I do. I’ve been playing Football for my whole life and been involved in numerous representative teams.
Additionally, I have been involved with coaching junior teams and refereeing for the last few years. These experiences in making connections with younger players and having the opportunity to help facilitate the same growth and passion I grew to have for the sport is very rewarding.
As Captain this year I aim to build on our football community and have the best season for all our teams to this date. I aim to increase support for all our teams by encouraging increased viewership of our games and most importantly ensure the sport is enjoyable for all. I want to emphasise that no matter whether you have played football all your life or are starting this year, Oxley football has a place for everyone. Sport is such a great way to stay healthy both physically and mentally and in my (non-biased) opinion football is most certainly the way to go.
One thing about Oxley Football that you may not know is the First Team has never won a grand final. Yet…
Mollie K – Cross Country Captain
I have been involved in cross country since Year 7, when I started at Oxley.
I really love racing at ISA and CIS, it is very rewarding each year to see my personal improvement after training and have a chance to push myself.
I hope that cross country becomes a sport that so many people can get involved in because it is great baseline sport for all the other ISA sports we are involved in at Oxley. It is also a great team sport, and many of the connections made through the sport are so important.
Did you know… many people don’t know about the team aspect of cross country – as it is normally considered very much an individual sport, when the connections made are so strong because of the gruelling nature of the sport. Overall, racing as a team is a great yet unknown aspect of the sport that is definitely overlooked!
Ella L – Netball Captain
I have been playing netball for Oxley since Year 5, but have been playing the sport since I was little.
Although the 2026 netball season is yet to begin, I enjoy representing Oxley and playing a sport I have loved for years. It has given me so many friendships across year groups, and it’s great to see how the team has improved together over the last few years.
My main goal is to get participation rates up, as I think sport is something that can be enjoyed by all abilities, and is a fun way to improve fitness and make friends. I also would love to see more support for junior teams.
Did you know… netball is played by more than 20 million people worldwide!
Aston M – Athletics Captain
I’ve been doing athletics for many years now, from Little As in Singapore, Little As at Eridge Park to high school athletics here at Oxley.
I would say making it to CIS Athletics this year was the most rewarding, coming back from injury.
My main goal as athletics captain this year is to be the best role model to everyone, to encourage them to give it their best. I would like to get as many students as possible to participate in all different events, and to make sure that they have fun along the way.
Max M – Basketball Captain
I have been playing basketball since I was around 8 and have been in the Firsts for 3 years.
The most rewarding part of playing basketball is the isolation you feel with just yourself and the sport as well as interacting with friends. It has influenced me mentally and socially as I put many hours into it a week bringing me enjoyment but also tiredness.
My main goal is to make basketball enjoyable but also competitive as we have been in D3 for a few years and think we should move up. I just want everybody to look at it as socially healthy even if they don’t enjoy the sport. It also has the possibility from playing it socially to actually taking it competitive as that’s what happened for me.
Did you know… basketball requires a specific type of coordination and physical demand much different from other sports. I find that I am not coordinated in many sports even though I keep my coordination up for basketball daily.
Hamish M – Rugby Captain
I’ve been playing rugby since Year 7 at Oxley and thoroughly enjoyed every moment.
I think this past season gone was most rewarding for me. Although we didn’t win overall, the experiences of playing with my best mates and navigating through all the challenges rugby offers made the season so enjoyable and sad that it had to end.
I really want more numbers for this coming year. Rugby is a game that offers so much more than what it seems like on the surface and it’s shaped me and so many around me. I really want to see that change in younger students and get more individuals experiencing those important lessons rugby has to offer.
Did you know… rugby is known for the use of oval-shaped balls. However, this hasn’t always been the case. Initially, the balls were plum-shaped due to the shape of pigs’ bladders that they were made from.
Flynn O’B – Spoken Word Captain
I have been involved in spoken word since Year 5 at Oxley, starting out with debating, and since then branching out to a range of activities.
Before starting spoken word, I was extremely shy, with this opportunity providing me with the chance to get out of my shell, find my own confidence and improve my communication skills.
My primary goal for this year is to encourage individuals, specifically those who were once like me and are very shy, and display that spoken word isn’t as daunting as most people believe. By showing the various opportunities for spoken word, that all take place in a safe and welcoming environment, I hope to encourage new students to get involved in Spoken Word.
Did you know… Oxley’s MUNA team has qualified for the national competition, a three-day event that takes place in old Parliament house? In 2022 our team (representing India) won the entire competition.
Jude O – Mountain Biking Captain, Snowsports Captain
I started skiing when I was 5 years and have been going ever since, and I have been riding since I was very young, which evolved into a focus on mountain biking.
The most rewarding part of mountain biking and skiing for me definitively is adventuring with your friends and also when you get a good run in. I also enjoy the exercise that they provides especially mountain biking, having fun activities that are good exercise definitively help me stay fit.
In both mountain biking and snowsports, I want to grow the number of people who attend as they are some of the smallest sports in the school right now. There was a time when the attendance for mountain biking was much larger, and I want to grow it back towards that number. I also want to bring more people into the local GD Champs competition. Snowsports has never been a very popular sport since I have been in Oxley (at least in the Senior School) although I believe a lot of people do snowsports not as a sport. I think that both these sports have a great potential for them to grow, and I hope to do so.
Did you know… many snowsports resorts like Whistler, Blackcomb and Thredbo double as mountain bike resorts in the summer.
Eliza S – Football Captain
I joined the school in 2025 and enjoyed a fantastic season as goalkeeper.
The most rewarding parts of school football are the friendships formed and the privilege of spending time with such a supportive team; I especially valued the mentorship I received from older players.
As captain in 2026 my main goals are to build a team that has fun, develops together, and competes at a high level, with the aim of going one step further this year and securing the win we narrowly missed last season.
Chloe S – Outdoor Education Captain
I have been involved in the Duke of Edinburgh program since Year 8, and I hope to complete my gold award by the end of this year!
The most rewarding part has been exploring a variety of activities and challenging myself in new ways. I have played soccer and touch football, been part of the Off the Shelf team, and joined choir. These experiences have taught me to make the most of opportunities, try new things, and build connections with others. Completing hikes, spending up to three nights in the wilderness, has also taught me the importance of resilience and dedication.
My goal is to inspire more students to engage with the Duke of Edinburgh program and make the most of it. I plan to share my experiences, show the personal growth that comes from participation, and offer support and motivation. I also hope to run a clinic to help peers log their hours and give tips for success.
Did you know… during my Gold Practice in the Budawangs last year, we got lost and hiked until midnight. When I finally got back to camp, I realised I had left my tent door open and found a massive rat in my sleeping bag! My first tip: always zip up your tent door.
Ava S – Drama Captain
I’ve wanted to be an actress for as long as I can remember. The first time I realised my passion was finally transforming into some sort of talent was in Year 2 when I was chosen to star in our class film as part of a creative project. The joy and reward I felt after that is what boosted my confidence to pursue every acting opportunity I could.
The most rewarding part of being in of any production, theatre competition, or drama performance in general is to see the final product after months of rehearsal. Every time I get to opening night of a show, I often stop and reflect on all the hard work myself and everyone around me has put in and just feel a massive sense of relief and pride. This has really influenced my persistence and resilience as it just goes to show, no matter how hard, lengthy, and sometimes even boring a process is, you’ll always come out at the end having accomplished something which wasn’t there a few months earlier. Going from nothing to everything in such a short amount of time within a rehearsal space is truly the most surreal feeling and I hope everyone experiences it at least once.
My main goal as drama captain this year is to continue building on the community and closeness across all drama students and encouraging students who are a bit unsure to give it a go. I believe next year’s productions of ‘Lord of the Flies’ and ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead’ will inspire students to refine their skills. I hope to get as many people as possible to come watch the shows to remind the community of the importance of the arts in building community and connections. To offer a platform to improve skills, I’m planning to create a lunch time drama help starting next year where younger aspiring and current drama students with any project. Whether it be learning your first monologue, trying to learn lines for a play, audition help, remembering blocking, I hope to make all processes of drama fun and exciting. Oxley has a strong legacy and reputation with drama, and I hope to assist in the continuation of that after the class of 2026 graduates.
Did you know… Shakespeare’s acting company literally had to compete with bears. The Globe Theatre was right next to a bear-baiting arena. Audiences would sometimes choose between Macbeth… or watching a bear fight dogs.
Hamish T – Fencing Captain
I have been fencing since the end of Year 7, for a total of 4 years now.
The most rewarding part of my fencing has been participating at the 2024 Australian Cadet championship. It was a national competition that brought together fencers from across Australia and New Zealand and gave me a national rank. Moreover, it made me a far better fencer and introduced me to higher levels of fencing. However, the event that has influenced me most as a person was becoming the fencing captain. Now that I am in Year 12, I am confidently Oxley’s predominant fencer and as such, I have directed my efforts in training more towards helping younger fencers improve. This has allowed my confidence to increase both as a fencer but as a leader and coach.
My main goal as captain is to achieve a good result in the senior team event. Last year we missed out on second by only 3 points, resulting in a fifth-place finish. The year before saw the current seniors place in 3rd at the U16s team event. In terms of recruitment, the goal is to have fencers who have quit in recent years to rejoin and bring an injection of skill into the fencing club.
Did you know… at Oxley, we fence epee. However, there are far more different types of weapons. Epee is one of the three blades seen in Olympic fencing. Points are scored with the tip of the blade, and the entire body is target. Double hits score a point for both fencers. Foil is another of the blades; points are also scored with the tip of the blade and only the torso is target. Double hits are awarded to the fencer with right of way, meaning whoever moved first. Sabre is the third blade; points can be scored with the front third of the blade and everywhere from the waist up is target. Doubles hits are also awarded to whoever has right of way.
These blades were based off of historical weapons, with epee having its roots in duelling rapiers, which is why everywhere is target and only the tip can score a hit. Foil is based off of the training blade for epee; the reduced target intended to improve accuracy. Saber is the black sheep and is modelled after a cavalry sword. If you imagine yourself on horseback, charging down an infantry man during a rout, you don’t have time to line up the point, which is why cavalry swords had edges that could cut. The limited target is due to feet being a horrible target when mounted on horseback.
Camille V – Hockey Captain
I have been playing hockey since Year 3.
The most rewarding part of playing hockey is when our team works well together, despite many new people joining each year, I think his has influenced me to ensure everyone is having fun whilst playing and feels as though they are a part of the team.
This year my main goal as hockey captain, is to ensure that everyone in my team feels bonded with each of their teammates, and that everyone has fun, I also hope that the team develops their skills.
Angela Z – Softball Captain
I started softball in Year 8 Term 4 and I have continued to play it since.
The most rewarding part of hockey is when the team plays a really hard game, and despite whether we won the game or not, it was a really nice experience as everybody got involved.
This year, I hope to improve the team and especially the new players to play to our best abilities this season. I hope to encourage more students to join softball via playing well in the season and becoming more a part of the Oxley community.
Did you know… in softball, when a batter gets walked from home base, they are legally allowed to steal to second base if both the batter shows intention and the opposing pitcher with the ball is still live.