Every year, awards nights roll around. For athletes, coaches, and administrators, it’s a time to be recognised—or to recognise the efforts and achievements of others.
But what about the person who has worked tirelessly, given selflessly, and still walks away without the trophy? It can sting. You start to question: Why not me? Was it political? A popularity contest? Or was I simply not as good as I thought?
This is where perspective matters. Instead of focusing solely on the outcome, look to the goals and standards you set for yourself throughout the year. There’s a difference between personal achievements and public achievements. When you focus on the former, awards night becomes a true celebration of everyone’s efforts, not a night of disappointment and “who should’ve won” conversations.
Let’s be honest, we all enjoy recognition. But if there were no awards nights, would your sense of achievement change? Would a trophy mean you truly accomplished everything you set out to do?
Awards are great, don’t get me wrong, but self-reward lasts longer. It prompts you to reflect more often, evaluate your growth, and keep improving year after year.
The rewards of being part of a team will always outweigh any individual accolade. Ask any player, coach, or official who has won an individual honour but missed the ultimate team success, and they’ll tell you, they’d trade it in for a premiership or a gold medal with their teammates.
It’s easy to say, but harder to truly believe. We’ve all learned the “right” answers, but do we take the right actions?
Start today by setting personal goals and focusing on achieving them. Forget chasing public victories, they’re fleeting. Depending on your sport’s profile, they might last a night, a few days, or at best a year before they fade into memory.
Celebrate the achievements of others and stay committed to ticking off your own goals each year. When you do, awards night becomes about the sport and the community, not just the prizes. You’ll sit there quietly, assessing your year honestly, and planning how you’ll help yourself and your team succeed in the next one.
Nat Titcume
High Performance Athlete Development and Sports Academies Director
On Monday 1 September, fifteen Year 6 students proudly represented Bishop Druitt College at the 2025 Barney Barselaar Cup Football Gala Day. It was a beautiful day at the Woolgoolga High Street Fields, where eight schools came together to compete in this special community event.
The Barney Barselaar Cup, hosted by St Francis Xavier Primary School, is held each year in memory of Barney Barselaar, who tragically passed away in 2008 at the age of nine. The day not only showcases football talent but also honours Barney’s memory through teamwork, sportsmanship, and community spirit.
BDC’s team had a fantastic day of football, finishing as overall champions after a series of hard-fought matches:
Game 1: BDC defeated Mary Help of Christians School 1–0
Game 2: BDC drew 1–1 with Corindi Public School
Game 3: BDC defeated Mullaway Public School 3–0
Semi-final: BDC defeated Woolgoolga Public School 2–1
Grand Final: BDC defeated St Augustine’s Public School 2–1
The team showed excellent teamwork throughout the day, with every player contributing to this well-deserved victory.
A huge thank you goes to St Francis Xavier Primary School for hosting such a meaningful and enjoyable day, and to Mr Gillon for his dedication in coaching and supporting the team.
Both the Boys and Girls Primary Basketball teams recently travelled to the Ballina Indoor Sports Centre to compete in the NCIS Basketball Championships.
With great enthusiasm and determination, our students represented Bishop Druitt College with pride and exceptional sportsmanship throughout the day.
On the day both teams went undefeated, showcasing excellent teamwork, skill, and perseverance across all games. Each match highlighted the hard work the teams have put into their training, and their success is a testament to their commitment and camaraderie.
Well done to all players and Year 10 coaches. It was a fantastic day of basketball, and we couldn’t be prouder of how our teams represented BDC on and off the court.
Port Macquarie - August 2025
12 Yrs Boys
What an incredible result for our BDC 12s Boys futsal team at the NNSW School State Futsal Championships. The 12s Boys were invited to compete in the secondary school competition in the 13 years age group, which meant they were up against some physically bigger and very tough teams. This didn't deter our boys, who showed incredible skill, determination, and teamwork throughout the day. They went on to win all six of their games, moving into the semi-final with an undefeated streak. The 12s Boys continued their winning form, taking out the semi-final and moving on to the grand final. In a nail-biting final match, our team showed incredible resilience and managed to secure the win in extra time! A huge congratulations to the team on their outstanding effort and for bringing home the trophy. This is an amazing achievement and a testament to their hard work and sportsmanship. We are so proud of you!
12 Yrs Girls
On August 26, our BDC 12s Girls futsal team showed incredible grit by competing in the 13 Girls division against four strong opponents in Port Macquarie. They played with exceptional enthusiasm and skill, using a strong low block on defense and a counter-attacking style to keep their rivals off balance. Captain, Brooklynn Graham was a standout, scoring numerous goals that put pressure on the opposing teams. The girls’ effort paid off in a thrilling 4-4 draw against the tournament's eventual runners-up, a definite highlight of the day. A fantastic effort from all the girls, who truly displayed their talent and determination.
13 Yrs Boys
Our BDC 13s Boys and the Primary Boys and Girls futsal teams traveled to Port Macquarie for Stage 2 of the Northern NSW State Futsal Titles. After winning in Coffs Harbour, the 13s Boys were invited to attend this event. The Primary teams took on the older players in the 13s Boys competition. The 13s Boys and Primary Boys were both dominant throughout the day with the 13s Boys team narrowly losing the semi final in a shootout. The Primary Boys taking out the whole competition after winning all of their games against the older teams.
14 Yrs Boys
The next day our BDC 14s Boys and Girls teams went to Port Macquarie to compete. Both teams played well all day with both teams having success against tough opponents. The 14s Boys made the semi final where they took on a really strong team, St Bede’s Catholic College who ended up winning the competition. They had a plan and made it really challenging. The Boys had some chances to score and St Bede’s had to work hard to win, just too strong 3-0.
14 Yrs Girls
On Wednesday 27 August, our BDC 14s Girls futsal team represented Bishop Druitt College with determination and pride at the Port Macquarie futsal competition. The 14s Girls opened the day strongly with a tight 2–1 victory over Great Lakes College Tuncurry, settling their nerves with a positive start. A tough second game saw a 3–0 loss to Camden Haven High School, meaning the team needed to regroup mentally before their third match. They responded in emphatic fashion, producing a dominant 6–0 win over MidCoast Christian College. The fourth game was against local rivals, Bellingen High School. Despite creating plenty of chances, the 14s Girls went down 5–1. At the end of the pool stage, BDC finished third on the ladder, earning a semi-final rematch against Camden Haven. This time, the team showed their true ability, delivering a superb 5–0 performance to book their place in the grand final. The final was a thrilling contest against Bellingen. The 14s Girls created multiple opportunities and were unlucky to hit the post several times. While the 2–0 scoreline did not go our way, the performance was outstanding, and the result could easily have been different. As coach, I could not be prouder of the girls’ efforts, resilience, and sportsmanship throughout the day. They represented Bishop Druitt College with skill and spirit, truly embodying the BDC Way.
15 Yrs Boys
It was a shaky start for the BDCV 15s Boys. They managed to hold their shape, allowing Will Parmenter to score. The opposition kept pushing and equalised right before the ending buzzer. They rallied during their second game, improving their off ball movement. The final score of 4-1 moved the team into top position. Taj Gray dominating up the front. The third game win of 12 nil secured top place heading into the semi-finals. Charlie Phillips opened the scoring with the remainder of the goals shared amongst the players. Semi-final saw the 15s Boys win 6 nil to make it into finals. The final game was fast paced with one touch passing from both sides. Charlie scored early which set the tone from there. BDC walking away as victors 6-1.
16 Yrs Girls
The BDC 16s Girls futsal team had an outstanding day at the NNSW Schools State Futsal Titles. The 16s Girls eased into the rhythm of the competition during their opening match, with a 10–0 victory. A lengthy break before their second game did nothing to slow their momentum, as they went on to record two more impressive wins. These results saw them finish at the top of their pool and secure a direct pathway into the semi-finals. The semi-final against Bellingen proved to be a true test, with the match locked at 2–2 at full time. The 16s Girls displayed composure and determination, finding the net in extra time to avoid a penalty shootout and book their place in the final against Camden Haven High School. The team can be extremely proud of their performance. Strong passing combinations, and resilience under pressure. Special mention goes to Phoebe Oliver, who stepped up to play goalkeeper for most of the day, and to Charlotte Bunny, who controlled the speed of play and scored vital goals in crucial moments. A fantastic effort from the entire team.
On Wednesday 27 August, Bishop Druitt College was proudly represented by three netball teams at the NSW Netball Schools Cup Regional Final in Port Macquarie. Each team displayed outstanding skill, determination, and sportsmanship against strong competition from across the region.
Year 9/10 Girls - Regional Champions
The Yr 9/10 Girls team played a day of dominant and composed netball, showing heart, consistency, and excellent teamwork from the first whistle to the last. Backing themselves and each other, they went through the entire day undefeated and were crowned Regional Champions. Every one of the 10 players stepped up when needed, contributing to a truly outstanding team performance.
Results:
Round 1 - Gloucester High: 24–5
Round 2 - St Paul’s College: 29–0
Round 3 - SCAS: 16–6
Semi Final - McKillop College: 21–9
Grand Final - Champions vs St John Paul College Coffs: 13–10
Year 7/8 Boys - 3rd Place
The Yr 7/8 Boys team showed true grit and determination throughout the competition, finishing in an impressive 3rd place overall. The team secured two strong wins from their three pool games before meeting St John Paul College in the playoff for Bronze.
In a hard-fought contest, the Boys rose to the occasion, finishing with a well-deserved 6–2 victory to claim 3rd place.
Year 9/10 Boys - 4th Place
The Yr 9/10 Boys team represented BDC with pride, displaying excellent sportsmanship and resilience across all their matches. In their opening game, they showed great determination, fighting back from five points down to secure a strong win.
Their skill and effort were evident throughout the day, and the team finished in a very respectable 4th place overall against tough opposition.
It was a fantastic day of netball for all our teams, and we are incredibly proud of the way each group represented BDC on and off the court. Congratulations to all players and coaches on their achievements.
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