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Awards and achievement

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​​​​2021

July

Mrs Slater was selected to present a workshop on mindfulness and self regulation strategies for lower primary students at the annual 2021 Early Childhood Teachers’ Association ( ECTA) state Conference. She was proud to represent Durack and had a great ​time sharing practice and networking with other professionals throughout Australia and internationally. Her article on the topic will be published in the upcoming issue of the Educating Young Children’s Journal. 




June​

​​spelling bee2021.jpgCongratulations to our Spelling Bee winners, Year 6 champion Mai Khanh and Year 5 Mona.  And to our runner up for Year 6, Ryder and Year 4 Calum.  Not only that, Durack State School took home the Overall Championship​ Trophy at the Glenala State High School District Spelling Bee! The efforts of William, Angela, Ian, Susan, Miracle, Jafar, Dylan and Kelly all contributed the success of the Durack team overall.​



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Following 22 years at Durack State School Principal Beth Petersen was interviewed by ABC Radio journalist Rebecca Levingston. Beth engaged in friendly banter sharing stories about the school and the community.​




Wesley has been selected for the Queensland School Sport 11-12 Years Rugby Union State Championship.







May

Congratulations to the Durack Chess team who won the Junior School Division at Glenala State High School's chess competition.  Tiffany won Best in School (Durack) and Individual Winner of the Junior Division. ​




2020

dymocks.jpgMay​​

Dymocks Children’s Charities has awarded the school over $8000 worth of books for our school library.  Their mission is to promote a love of reading and improve literacy outcomes for all Australian children.  THANK YOU DYMOCKS!

April

Durack State School was fortunate to receive a grant from the Australian Government Local Schools Community Fund for the construction of an outdoor flexible learning space attached to C Block.  

Some school funds were added to the grant to cover the total cost of the construction.   

The provision of this grant has allowed us to install a covered area that will be utilised by our Year 4 students, our SEP students and Friendship Club for various activities. 

March

Our Music teacher was awarded with a community music grant by the Blue Fin Fishing Club.  The funds were put towards the purchase of new instruments for the school.



spellingbeechamp.JPG

Congratulations to Rellick for winning 1st place in the District Spelling Bee at Glenala State High School 2020.  Well done to all participants!





January

Principal Beth Petersen interviewed by Terry Hanson on 97.3 FM on what life is like on the first day of the school y​ear.





2019

March

spelling bee​Some of our Durack Dragons showed they are also Spelling Wizards at the District Spelling Bee at Glenala SHS with Angela first in Year 4, Louretta and Rellick 1st and 2nd in Yr 5, and Anthony first in Year 6. Well done to all the Durack team!



blue wailYr 5/6K students artwork, titled "Blue Wail" is runner-up in the Hatchery Crusaders Artwork Competition. The Yr 5 students created a picture of a breaching whale using plastic collected from their eating area to raise awareness of the effect of plastics on marine creatures.



2018

October

showcase 2018state winner 2018Department of Education 2018 Showcase Awards for Excellence in Schools.

Durack SS has received The Network Ten Showcase Award for Excellence in the Early and Primary Years in Queensland.  Our entry, Project to Practice, is a celebration of the Durack approach to the teaching of maths.


July

portrait comp​Lucy Ford who was the Winner of the Year 5-6 category in the ADFAS Brisbane Portrait Prize. Lucy wins $100 plus receives a medallion and certificate of acknowledgment.


June

regional winnerRegional Showcase Award for Excellence in the Early and Primary Years. This award was in response to our school's approach to the teaching of maths that led to last year's achievements in numeracy in NAPLAN.


p&c 2018​Congratulations to our P&C for winning the 2018 Child Friendly Excellence Awards in the voluntary section. Mrs Upton, Mr Mick and our two Mrs Nguyens represented the school P&C at the Parent and Child Expo where the award was announced.



March

math drRecognition by the CEO of ACARA - Improvement in numeracy of this magnitude, as measured by NAPLAN, is significant and worthy of highlighting and acknowledging.

ROLEM





2017

November

AleenaCongratulations to Aleena Slater who was invited  at The symposium which featured presentations by Northern Territory, international guest speakers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam, Master of Education students and Charles Darwin University academics. Aleena presented the findings around her master study on the "Connection between brain models and self-regulation". To have this work recognised internationally is a credit to Aleena.



October

ChoirOur Choir was awarded a Gold Medal at the Silkstone Eisteddfod. An excellent performance!





VinniAn outstanding performance by Vini who received Highly Commended in the Queensland Percussive Arts Eisteddfod. Vini was the youngest student in his age category being in Y3 competing against Year 5 to 9 students.






September

Canberra primary schoolCongratulations to our school Principal Beth Petersen who was invited to undertake a World-Class International Study Tour alongside the Director General, and  20 principals and DET leaders from across the State,  to engage with education system leaders as they explored high-performing schools in both Shanghai and Singapore.







August

science challengeThe Durack team was equal first in the Inala Cluster Science Challenge. Good work!





July

Tara 2017Miss Tara McDonald was again invited to speak at QUT's Stepping Out Conference for graduating teachers. At this unique conference, Tara  offered her insights into the real world of teaching in the hope of inspiring and better preparing future teachers to enter the teaching profession.




MIA awardsThe wonderful work of Karen Tattersall and Debbie Ivey and other helpers in the Drag-on Inn and of Breakfast Club volunteer Lenore Evans was recognised  in Mission Australia's 2017 Child Friendly Excellence Awards for their contribution to families and children in the Inala to Ipswich region. Business winner: Drag-On-Inn  - Karen Tattersall & Debbie Ivy. Volunteer winner : Lenore  Evans.



2016

robo teamOur Rookie Roboteers in Year 5 competed against school teams of all ages in the 2016 First Lego League at The Cube and were thrilled and highly encouraged when they were given the Inspiration Award Year.







chessGlenala SHS Invitational: Jason was "Best Primary Student" at the chess tournament.










maths challengeMaths Challenge: Durack Teams achieve 1st and 2nd in the inaugural District Maths Challenge held at Durack SS.




Tara 2016

Stepping Out conference: Miss Tara McDonald felt honoured and privileged to speak to graduating teachers of her experiences at the beginning of her teaching career at the 2016 Stepping Out Conference at QTU.





Sharon MeiklejohnQueensland Day: Sharon Meiklejohn, received a Queensland Day Award for Service to our P&C from Premier Palaszczuk. This was a much deserved award for Sharon who worked tirelessly at our school for many, many years.


2014

August

bandThe school band wins GOLD at the Ipswich Eisteddfod.



2013

October

​Our choir wins Silver at the Ipswich Eisteddfod and our band wins Silver at the Brisbane Band Competition. Miss Salemanesa is ecstatic.


May

Excellence in Leadership awardDurack wins Regional Showcase Award for Excellence in Leadership.




2012

November

authorsYear 6 student, Dhruv, wins the  'I Became a Billionaire' writing competition, The competition attracted hundreds of entries from across Australia and NZ. Dhruv's winning story, Ghost Zero, has earned the school $1000 worth of books from a local bookshop,  and Dhruv receives $100 worth of books for his bookshelf at home. Richard Ransome, author of the Billionaire series, reads Druv's winning story at Text Publishing or on YouTube.


October

choirDurack's  choir wins GOLD at the Silkstone Eisteddfod.






​​finalsDurack is a State Finalist in the  Showcase Awards for Excellence in Leadership in Queensland State Schools.




state finalist




July

Beth PetersenCongratulations to our Principal Mrs Beth Petersen as a nominee for the Australian Primary Principal of the Year Award for Outstanding Teaching and School Leadership. It is great to see that Education Queensland acknowledges the good work that goes on at Durack.





June - July


Showcase awardsDurack is again a Regional winner in the annual EQ Showcase awards.




2011

June

​Congratulations to all our ancillary staff and to the students  - we have been proclaimed the District's Tidiest School! This shows great care of and respect for our school environment.


May

Showcase awards 2011 Regional winnerDurack SS receives a Regional Showcase Award.   The school's successful submission detailed  the innovative use of dragon motifs and themes in implementing a School Wide Positive  Behaviour Support program and went on to become a State Showcase finalist.

Read more about Durack Dragons - Safe Respectful Learners



showcase awards regional winner 2011




State Finalist 2011.jpg




February

​The efforts of three of our school leaders  late last year in producing a photo book for a competition run by Yarra Media and the makers of the movie "How to Train a Dragon" were fruitful when their book  won for the school a netbook!  Congratulations Loi, Lisa and Daniel!


2010

October

Grand Opening of the State Schools of Tomorrow project at Durack.





May

Innovative PrincipalsDurack SS Principal, Beth  Petersen attends gathering of select group of "Innovative Principals" with  Minister for Education, Geoff Wilson,  and Premier, Anna Bligh.



2009

June

​David Pritchard shone in the Qld Primary Schools Rugby League Championships in Cairns.  Playing at Centre for the Metropolitan West side, David contributed points every game of the team's unbeaten series and was Man of the Match in the Final.


Terri-Ann Cain selected in Qld Girls Touch Football team to play national finals in Tasmania.  GO Terri-Ann!





2008

November

Multicultural awardDurack State School is Winner of the 2008 Queensland Multicultural Award! School Category - Primary School: Durack State School has employed staff whose cultures complement the student population and who are committed to developing cultural awareness and delivering inclusive education.





Terri-Ann Cain starred at the 2009 Pacific Schools Games. She completed the 100m sprint in a time of 12.20 breaking the 12 years girls Australian and Pacific School record that had been in place since 1984. In the 200m she broke the record from 1982 running a time of 25.15.




August

​In the Brisbane Green and Healthy Schools Awards - 2008 Durack has won the Regional awards for Partnerships and Health and Nutrition. See our partnerships.



GH Schools







2007

September

​DGH Schoolsurack wins three Brisbane regional awards in Keep Australia Beautiful's Green and Healthy Schools program.​
We are the Brisbane winner of the Greenest and Healthiest School for 2007.


​Durack also won the 2007 Spirit Award (Brisbane Region) for our Breakfast Club, assistance to North Qld children after Cyclone Larry, Muscular Dystrophy and the orphanage at the  Ky Quang 2 Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.


Vivian BonnerMrs Vivian Bonner received the Individual Outstanding Accomplishment Award (Brisbane Region).








February

​Charlie Fetoai makes debut in Super 12 Rugby for the Queensland Reds.  Charlie won the Sporting Award in Year 7 in 1999.




2006

August

Keep Australia Beuatiful awards regionalRegional awards are announced in the Keep Australia Beautiful Green and Healthy Schools program.
​Amongst the Brisbane awards, Durack teacher, Vim Pillay,  receives an Individual Outstanding Accomplishment Award for his contributions to the establishment and running of our Breakfast Club.



2005

October

Ros RyanRos Ryan was named Regional Tuck Shop Volunteer of the Year in the annual awards presented by  the Qld Association of School Tuckshops and Queensland Health.









​Thinh  used the knowledge gained from Year 7 SOSE lessons and visits from the Brisbane City Council WaterWise Program to encourage his family to save water.  The Brisbane City Council named his family one of Brisbane's Top 10 Water Conscious families - and best in the South West Region of the city.


July

Durack Kids participate in the first Qld School Spectacular at Boondall Entertainment centre, with one Yr 7 student, Tofu, appearing as one of only two primary school soloist singers.


Albert HoltAlbert Holt, our School Elder, is honoured as Australian Elder of the Year (Male). Uncle Albert was our Principal for a Day in Education Week in May 2005. Southside Education Centre Talking Together Project - Albert Holt.





2004

October

​The Watersense Family in the Brisbane Watersense Challenge is the Lupton family of Durack who saved 10,984 litres of water in one week. Councillor Newman said the Lupton family saved the most by significantly reducing garden irrigation. School student, Sarah Lupton, convinced her family to put into practice several water saving behaviours her class had discussed at Durack SS.


​Durack is named a Centre of Excellence in Indigenous Education. The Principal, Jill Hole, is announced by EQ  as a High Achieving Principal, Indigenous Education. Later... Locally trained ATAS Tutor Matthew Thinee (pictured right) receives Pearl Duncan Scholarship to pursue tertiary studies in Education.


COFEX




August

Media Monitors Excellence in Inclusive Education Award 2004Durack was awarded the The Media Monitors Showcase Award for  Excellence in Inclusive Education.



2003

May

Qld NAtional Excellence AwardMrs Kim Thuy La  (front left) received a QLD National Excellence in teaching Award  for her work with Year 1 and in other activities in the school.




Cool School Website: The Durack SS  website was named a "Cool School Website" in Education Queensland's monthly awards in 2003.



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Last reviewed 15 July 2021
Last updated 15 July 2021