Ruby Archer

Ruby’s HSC Drama major work was selected by NESA for its originality, sophistication, and confident theatrical voice. Her script, An Extremely Melodramatic Prologue, showcases a sharp blend of satire, research, and personal insight, marking her as an emerging writer with a distinctive creative style.

Drawing on her long-standing love of Shakespeare, English comedy, and satire, Ruby blends historical research with contemporary teenage experience. Through humour and exaggerated melodrama, the script explores universal themes of confidence, creativity, family pressure, and the anxiety of choosing a future career. While deeply entertaining, the work also reflects Ruby’s own journey as a young writer navigating expectations, ambition, and self-belief.

A highlight of the project was Ruby’s extensive research process. Using her logbook to decode Shakespearean language and investigate his life and family, she carefully dismantled historical detail before rebuilding it into an original and engaging theatrical work. This thoughtful balance of scholarship and creativity underpins the script’s success.

Reflecting on the process, Ruby describes learning to embrace feedback as one of the most challenging yet rewarding aspects of the project. Supported and inspired by her teachers and the wider Stella Maris College community, she developed not only a strong major work, but also the confidence to pursue her future goal of studying media at university and continuing to write and develop scripts.

Kate Naylor

Kate Naylor’s HSC Dance major performance was selected by NESA for its expressive use of movement, space, and dynamics. Her work explores freedom, fluidity, and individuality through a technically controlled yet emotionally expansive solo performance.

Her choreography makes deliberate use of space, time, and dynamics to suggest movement that extends beyond physical boundaries. Changes in level and direction create a sense of openness, while varied timing, from slow, sustained phrases to moments of building tension, all enhance the emotional depth of the performance. Fluid, airy, and continuous dynamics allow the movement to flow seamlessly, reinforcing the central theme of freedom and release.

For Kate, the most rewarding aspect of the project was the opportunity to choreograph a performance that fully expressed her lifelong passion for dance. Having danced since the age of three, she embraced the creative autonomy of the major work, describing it as a rare chance to communicate her love for movement in its purest form.

Balancing multiple dance pieces alongside academic commitments presented challenges, particularly knowing this would be one of her final solo performances. Through careful time management and reflection, Kate ensured each work received equal attention and refinement.

Guided by the long-standing mentorship of her dance teacher, Ms Rochelle Jones, Kate developed not only technical confidence, but also the courage to take creative risks. Selected by NESA, her performance stands as a compelling celebration of movement, expression, and personal growth.

Sara Trimboli

Sara Trimboli’s HSC Visual Arts major work was selected by NESA for its technical excellence and emotionally nuanced exploration of family and identity. Her series of hyperrealistic charcoal portraits offers a powerful reflection on responsibility, connection, and belonging within a large family.

Deeply personal yet universally relatable, the work reflects the complex balance between individuality and togetherness that exists within family life.

Each portrait represents a different emotional reality, from the joyful burdens carried by parents to the subtle dynamics between siblings. Through carefully chosen objects, clothing, and expression, Sara highlights the distinct personalities within her family, while a symmetrical composition reinforces the sense of unity that binds them together. The use of chiaroscuro and meticulous realism enhances the emotional depth of the works, drawing viewers into moments of quiet reflection and connection.

Working in her preferred medium of charcoal, Sara embraced the patience and discipline required to achieve hyperrealism, describing the process of bringing each family member to life on paper as the most rewarding aspect of the project. While deciding on a concept initially proved challenging, she ultimately discovered that simple, honest ideas can create the strongest impact.

Guided and supported by her Visual Arts teacher, Ms Silburn, Sara developed a body of work that not only demonstrates technical skill, but also captures the emotional weight, love, and responsibility that shape family relationships. Selected by NESA, Weight of the Famiglia stands as a compelling exploration of identity formed through connection.