Tuesday 30 July 2025
Ten exceptional students from across the Sandhurst Diocese have been awarded the 2025 Bishop Joseph Grech Youth Scholarship, honouring the legacy of a much-loved bishop known for his deep connection with young people. From cultural immersion programs and mental health advocacy to environmental action and interfaith understanding, each project reflects the courage, compassion and faith that Bishop Joe championed. Hosted in Shepparton, the awards ceremony offered a powerful reminder of the impact young people can make when supported to lead with purpose.
There are few people who could walk into a room and leave every soul in it feeling seen, inspired and completely alive in their purpose. But Bishop Joe Grech was one of them.
“Bishop Joe would walk into a room, give as many people a big hug as he possibly could,” said Kate Fogarty, Executive Director of Catholic Education Sandhurst.
“And then he’d always make sure he left with this really profound message, 'God does not make rubbish. Every single one of us is precious'.”
It’s this belief in the God-given dignity and potential of every young person that lives on through the Bishop Joseph Grech Youth Scholarship, an annual initiative honouring his legacy of connection, courage and service.
This year, 10 students from across the Sandhurst Diocese were awarded scholarships to bring to life projects that reflect Bishop Joe’s own values: faith in action, justice through education, and a deep love of culture and community. From Indigenous immersions to mental health advocacy and sustainability, these students are shaping a future Bishop Joe would have cheered for with arms wide open.
Here are their stories.
Pictured (L-R): Rahni, Abbey and Victoria.
Rahni Lawless – St Mary of the Angels College, Nathalia
Immersion Program: Ardyaloon, Western Australia
Rahni was one of eight students selected for a cultural immersion with the Bardi and Jawi people in northern Western Australia, a trip paused due to COVID and now revived.
This is a unique journey which will allow students to engage with First Nations communities on their traditional lands, where cultural heritage and history are deeply preserved. Students will learn directly from Elders and Traditional Owners and will also have the opportunity to spend time interacting with young First Nations children who attend the One Arm Point School.
“With my scholarship money I'm going to Broom, and from Broom we are going to Ardyaloon. We'll connect with the elders of the land and Aboriginal students at the school. I think this is a really great opportunity... we get to experience lots of different things.”
Abbey Sheahan – St Mary of the Angels College, Nathalia
Immersion Program: Jungai, Rubicon Valley
Returning as a student leader to the immersion she once experienced as a Year 9, Abbey is supporting younger students as they connect on the lands of the Taungurung people, located in the Rubicon Valley of Victoria.
Jungai has strong ties to nearby communities and a long-running relationship with local indigenous leaders who provide invaluable insights into the land and its first people. As a student leader, Abbey will connect with the land more deeply whilst also completing a range of hands-on programs that inspire, empower and motivate. She will work alongside elder Aunty Aurore, camp leaders and staff to help create an immersion experience that develops teamwork, independence and connection to the natural environment and learn the importance of sustainability.
“The highlight will be learning about the Indigenous culture. I also get to connect with my peers, and I hope the younger kids will also be able to connect with their peers and teachers a bit more.”
Victoria Kakono – St Mary of the Angels College, Nathalia
Immersion Program: Anglesea
Victoria will support her peers during the Anglesea immersion, helping them engage deeply with Wathaurong Country and culture.
As a student leader, Victoria will connect with the land more deeply whilst also completing a range of hands-on programs that inspire, empower and motivate. She will work alongside Wathaurong elders, camp leaders and staff to help create an immersion experience that develops teamwork, independence and connection to the natural environment and learn the importance of sustainability.
“I'm looking forward to being a leader to help other students to connect with the community, and to be part of Aboriginal aspects of everything including activities at the campsite."
Lily Boyer – Marian College, Myrtleford
Program: Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk Excursion
Lily is organising an excursion to one of the closest cultural trails to her school, a hands-on opportunity to deepen spiritual and cultural awareness.
The Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk features a series of stunning contemporary Aboriginal sculptures lining the Wagirra Trail from Kremur Street to Wonga Wetlands. Fifteen sculptures created by local Aboriginal artists have been installed along the five kilometres of trail.
“This trail was the closest to the school which means we can all go in one day to gain a better understanding of Aboriginal heritage in our area. There's 15 sculptures along the trail and we will have an Aboriginal elder take us along the walk and explain all the sculptures.”
Neve Pethybridge – St Augustine’s College, Kyabram
Program: Indigenous Artwork and Awareness
Neve will work alongside an Aboriginal elder and fellow students to create an art piece for her school, aiming to inspire cultural understanding from a young age. This will be a good first step in helping the College community engage more deeply with Indigenous history and work towards justice and reconciliation for First Nations people.
“My project is getting our students to work with an Aboriginal elder to create a piece of art that we can display in the school. I like painting and hope to put some good ideas out there and work with them to get it done."
Liam McManus – Marian College, Myrtleford
Program: Shepparton Interfaith Excursion
Liam’s project brings religious education to life with a class trip to explore different places of worship and faith traditions in Shepparton.
By visiting places like the Uniting Church, Sikh Temple, Encounter Christian Church, Church on Pine, Bethel – House of God, and the Albanian Islamic Centre, Liam hopes his year 10 classmates will gain a deeper understanding of how different religions express their beliefs and values.
“We're going to go around to all the different places of worship and experience different religions because we talk about it a lot of school but we don't really get a chance to actually see it."
Poppy Ferguson – St Joseph’s College, Echuca
Program: Australian Catholic Youth Festival, Melbourne
With a strong sense of leadership and faith, Poppy is eager to attend the Australian Catholic Youth Festival and explore how her values can shape her role in school and beyond.
“It includes a three day event, which has worship, bible readings, sermons. It's just a really good opportunity for me to get to know people, to deepen my faith, and to see how I can apply my values and my belief to any and all parts of my life such as leadership opportunities in my school.”
Zrinka Saric – Catholic College Wodonga
Program: Australian Catholic Youth Festival, Melbourne
For Zrinka, the Australian Catholic Youth Festival is an opportunity to combine her love of music with her passion for faith, while encouraging more young people into ministry.
“I leaped at the chance because I love music so much. I’m really excited to find all sorts of new music to use at church at school masses. The goal is to bring a team of people from Catholic College Wodonga along with me. I'm very much trying to get the youth back into church.”
Charlie Isaac – St Augustine’s College, Kyabram
Program: Men’s Mental Health Awareness
Charlie is using his scholarship to break down stigma and encourage meaningful conversations among young men. The scholarship will go towards engaging an external provider to present to senior students at St Augustine’s College about the importance of sharing emotions, supporting your mates and raise awareness about men’s mental health issues.
“Men's mental health is something that is very close to me. I plan to get a guest speaker in to talk to a year 9s, 10s, 11s and 12s about positive ways that they can cope with mental health. There's a stigma around boys can't really talk about their feelings. You've got to live with yourself for the rest of your life, so you might as well make it a positive place.”
Lily-May Sharpe – St Augustine’s College, Kyabram
Program: School Recycling and Garden Project
Inspired by Laudato Si’, Lily-May is launching a sustainability project that turns bottles into garden produce. Not only will this create less pollution on the school grounds, but it will also provide a funding avenue to fund specific environmental studies and practices. This will show the reduce, reuse, recycle principle in action to be a greater advantage that the whole school community can take advantage of.
“I'm using my scholarship to buy bins for our school that are for bottles and cans that we can take to the recycling units, and then putting that money back into the school through the school garden."
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In closing the event, Kate said what many were surely thinking...
“Year in and year out, this day never fails to deliver a really inspirational and aspirational set of stories. There is nothing that means more to us in Catholic education than seeing young people formed not just as great intellects, but as courageous companions walking with their peers and working with their communities to make the world a better place.”
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