Make A Mark Australia was honoured to join our Patron, the Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO, during a visit to Marist College Canberra for a special gathering of students from Marist and Canberra Girls Grammar School who recently returned from their immersion trip to the Solomon Islands.
During their visit earlier this year, the students spent time at two of MAMA’s partner schools – Mercy School in Burns Creek and Amoana Christian Academy in West Honiara. These schools are vibrant centres of learning and community, each supported through MAMA’s education and empowerment initiatives. The immersion allowed the students to experience firsthand the power of education to connect lives, strengthen communities, and nurture understanding across cultures.
The students shared their heartfelt reflections from their time in the Solomons – stories of friendship, resilience, joy and gratitude. They spoke of classrooms filled with song, playgrounds alive with laughter, and the generosity of the communities that welcomed them.
The students also shared how the experience deepened their sense of global citizenship – recognising that, while their worlds may look different, the hopes and dreams of young people are profoundly the same.
Dame Quentin listened intently to each student’s reflection and responded with warmth, wisdom and encouragement. She spoke about the importance of service, of seeing and understanding others with empathy, and of nurturing the values that lead to meaningful lives.
In a memorable moment, she reflected on what she described as “the journey to the centre of one’s self” – the lifelong process of learning who we are through how we serve, care, and connect with others. Her message resonated deeply with the students, many of whom shared thoughtful questions about leadership, purpose, and making a positive difference in the world.
At its heart, the morning was a celebration of the power of education to inspire connection – across oceans, generations and experiences. The students’ immersion journey and today’s conversation with Dame Quentin both reaffirm Make A Mark Australia’s belief that education is empowerment, and that when young people engage with humility and curiosity, they not only learn about the world, but also discover their own place within it.
As the students continue to share their experiences with their schools and communities, they carry forward a powerful reminder: that making a mark doesn’t always require grand gestures – it begins with kindness, understanding, and the courage to see the world through another’s eyes.
We extend our deepest thanks to Dame Quentin for her ongoing patronage and inspiration, and to Marist College Canberra and Canberra Girls Grammar School for their continued commitment to global learning and service.
Make A Mark Australia 