Introducing the 2023-24 Prefects

Congratulations to all incoming 2023-24 School Prefects.

Zoltan Reed, School Captain

What is your mission as School Captain in 2024?

As School Captain I am aiming towards enhancing the camaraderie and mateship of the School, whilst embracing the heritage and history of Knox as we progress towards our Centenary year.

What would you like your legacy to be as School Captain?

I would like to leave a legacy of being authentic as a leader and aiming to bring together all students at the school.

What do you like most about being a Knox student?

That’s a tough question. I think it would have to be the sense of mateship and brotherhood that comes with being a Knox student. Further to that, the opportunities and experiences we are afforded at Knox on a daily basis brings me so much pride to lead this amazing school.

What do you like most about the group of boys who will serve as Prefects in 2024?

Prefects all bring a unique and distinct perspective to the table; our diverse group of individuals will help us to serve all students in the School and positively impact our community. On a broader scale, the support and collectiveness of our year group will always ensure no boy is left behind and we are all together in the journey.

As their leader for the next year, what would be your message for the rest of the boys in Senior School?

I hope each student understands how much our incoming Prefects care and are here for them. More than anything, we are dedicated to promoting kindness and sense of unity to our school.

As we look ahead to 2024, it is time to get excited for what is in store for the Black and Blue.

Heath Turner, Vice-Captain (House)

What is your mission as Vice Captain in 2024?

To strengthen the connection between Years 7-12.

What would you like your legacy to be as head of the Knox houses?

Fostering a sense of family between boys in their houses, where the young boys feel like they can call the Senior members their mates.

What do you like most about being a Knox student?

The sense of belonging and community between the boys and the opportunities we are given to develop ourselves.

What do you like most about the group of boys who will serve as Prefects in 2024?

All of the boys have a great attitude towards their roles and are keen to help make a difference wherever possible.

As one of their leaders for the next year, what would be your message for the rest of the boys in Senior School?

If you embed yourself within the culture of the school you will experience a sense of purpose and belonging like nowhere else.

Henry Shepherd, Vice-Captain (Prefects and Tartan Army)

What is your mission as Vice Captain in 2024?

My mission for this year is to bring my style of leadership to the table. The style I have developed contains the elements of sticking by your values, being authentic, and simply holding the right attitude towards a task. I endeavour to instil this in not only the Prefect Team, but in all kinds of leaders around the School, whether it be on the sporting field, at Cadets, in a Co-Curricular or in the Prefect Executive itself. I have found that this style, possessed by the right character, is valuable in inspiring others and powerful in aiding in the ability to have courage in the face of adversity and make change.

What would you like your legacy to be as head of the Tartan Army and Prefects?

The atmosphere that the Tartan Army is able to produce is something that is forged over time, through building a deep sense of belonging to the group. My vision for all students in the younger years is to get involved in it early. My vision is for the Tartan Army to become something that is a continuous experience for all involved, not just as a once-off every year. This way, a deeper connection is made between the student and the spirit of the Tartan Army by the time they finish their schooling career. Another thing that I have seen over time in the functionality of a group is the ability for members to have the courage to step up, take charge, and make change. I would like to leave the Prefect Executive knowing that the next group will have a solid base to build on knowing that they have the confidence to make the necessary changes to suit the School as it moves into its second century of operation.

What do you like most about being a Knox student?

The unique thing about Knox is the sheer amount of opportunities open to students in all aspects of school life. Whether it be Co-Curricular activities such as VEX Robotics and Cadets, leadership roles within Portfolio Leadership Teams and the CoGC Advisory Board, an endless variety of sporting choices available, or the academic mentoring provided out of class hours. This is just a small sample of the broad horizons open to students such as myself. I, for one, have learnt so many invaluable skills and developed many traits as a result of immersing myself in the opportunities listed above.

What do you like most about the group of boys who will serve as Prefects in 2024?

I must say that I couldn't be happier to be serving alongside this group of boys, there really is some talent and skill within this group. One thing that I believe binds us together is the fact that many of us have known each other for a long time, some since Kindergarten, and have worked together over the years in various initiatives and capacities. I have seen time after time that this element of teamwork to be able to work together in a cohesive environment knowing each other's skills and abilities helps to achieve extraordinary outcomes and boost the functionality of the group.

As one of their leaders for the next year, what would be your message for the rest of the boys in Senior School?

I know for a fact that I wouldn't be the person I am today without being able to have the courage to not be afraid of failure, and when failure occurs, being able to turn it around to see the upsides of the effort. My message is that sometimes just having the right attitude to a task is all you need to succeed, regardless of the outcome. Sticking by your values and being authentic allows you to succeed in your own right, even if others try to disqualify or downplay your attempt. The basis of this attitude can be summed up in a favourite quote of mine by Wayne Gretzky: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”