Dux Through the Years

Each year, Moama Anglican Grammar recognises a student who has achieved
outstanding academic success as the Dux of the School. Here’s a look at our past
Dux recipients and where their journeys have taken them since graduation.

2024

Ella Bowler

She has commenced her studies in Law and Biomedicine at Monash University and is thoroughly enjoying the course so far. Reflecting on her time at Moama Anglican Grammar, her fondest memories revolve around the friendships she formed—not only with her peers, but also with her teachers. She cherished the opportunity to perform at various musical events throughout her schooling and embraced multiple leadership roles along the way. She recalls always having fun, both inside and outside the classroom, and attributes that to the strong relationships she built and the many opportunities the school provided. These experiences played a significant role in shaping her confidence and enthusiasm as she embarks on her university journey.

2023

Sophie Fritsch

After graduating as the Dux of 2023 at Moama Anglican Grammar, she is now in her second year at Monash University in Melbourne, pursuing a double degree in Science majoring in Chemistry with a minor in Mathematics and Engineering, with a current interest in nuclear engineering. She resides at Mannix College, the only affiliated college with Monash, where she also serves as a student leader. Her leadership role involves providing pastoral care and guidance to the 50 students on her residential floor, as well as supporting the wider college community of approximately 350 residents. Over the summer holidays, she completed extensive training in areas such as First Aid, mental health and suicide response, responding to disclosures of harm, and critical incident management preparing her for the demands of her role. With her parents now based in California, she is currently considering the possibility of finishing her degree overseas, with hopes of transferring to a university such as UCLA or Berkeley. She reflects on her time at Moama Anglican Grammar as foundational to her personal and academic growth. The school taught her resilience and compassion and encouraged her to strive for excellence in all pursuits. The strong relationships she formed with both peers and teachers helped build her confidence and leadership skills—qualities that have flourished in her university life where she actively participates in both social and academic initiatives.

2022

2021

Jenna Park

Currently in her fourth-year a of Veterinary Science at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, she has developed a strong passion for livestock particularly sheep and cattle and is committed to working in rural Australia after completing her degree. Reflecting on her time at Moama Anglican Grammar, she credits the school for instilling in her the values of hard work, determination and a solid academic foundation that prepared her well for university. It also taught her to stay true to herself and to value genuine friendships and meaningful connections with others. Since graduating, she has embraced opportunities to travel internationally, visiting Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka. These experiences allowed her to immerse herself in diverse cultures, languages and cuisines while also exploring breathtaking landscapes through hiking and sight-seeing. Outside of her studies, she remains actively involved in the community. She continues to play hockey with the Hockey Ducks in Wagga and recently joined the CSU Bushpigs women’s AFL team where she and her teammates made it to the first round of finals this season.

2020

Saxon Komiyama

Saxon is currently in his second year of the Doctor of Medicine program at the University of Melbourne. He is one of the recipients of the Rural Pathway to the Doctor of Medicine. Out of 6,000–7,000 applicants, Saxon secured one of only 15 available slots. This pathway is designed for domestic students from rural backgrounds who are committed to completing their medical education entirely in a rural setting and contributing to the medical workforce in rural and regional Australia.

2019

Daniel Chu

Daniel is currently in his second year of the Master of Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Melbourne. He also completed his Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Melbourne. Originally from China, Daniel joined Moama Anglican Grammar in Year 7. At the time, he had limited English skills and could only use simple phrases. However, with the support of his friends and teachers, he was able to overcome these challenges. Although he initially received a very low NAPLAN result in Year 7, he steadily improved with the guidance and encouragement from the school community.

2018

Alyssa Hunter

After graduating, she moved to Melbourne to study a Bachelor of Biomedical Science, followed by an Honours year in Pharmacology. Alyssa is currently living in Ballarat with her partner Wade and their cat Kiko while completing her placement at Ballarat Hospital as part of her third year of Medicine. She feels fortunate to have found lifelong friends during her journey and to have developed a passion for science, a passion she hopes will continue to lead her to exciting opportunities. She reflects fondly on her time at Moama Anglican Grammar, crediting her experience to having exceptional teachers, particularly in Years 11 and 12, where small, close-knit classes made a lasting impact. She also cherishes the wide range of opportunities she had to participate in activities such as school productions, debating, the National Youth Science Forum, and the Brain Bee Challenge.

2017

Lachlan Chumbley

Lachlan Chumbley graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering and had the opportunity to study abroad in both Malaysia and Canada during his degree. He is now working in the field of automation and robotics, contributing to major food and beverage companies such as Cadbury and Coca-Cola. Recently, Lachlan also celebrated a personal milestone, 10 years with his high school sweetheart, whom he met during his time at Moama Anglican Grammar. Reflecting on his school years, Lachlan says MAGS taught him to have fun, try new things, and work hard when it mattered most. He recalls the school camps and the unforgettable trip to Sri Lanka as some of his favourite highlights, filled with laughter and meaningful memories. Sports days also stand out, especially the fun of dressing up in bold, creative outfits during the later years. Lachlan remains incredibly grateful to the dedicated staff and community at MAGS for creating a learning environment that was both supportive and inspiring.

2016

Ryan Mulcahy

After finishing his studies at Moama Anglican Grammar School in 2016, Ryan moved to Sydney to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Sydney. Upon completing his tertiary studies in 2019, he entered the workforce, initially working in banking, then management consulting, before securing his current role at GrainCorp as a Commercial Manager within the "Agri-Energy" division. In this role, he assesses the feasibility of establishing a renewable fuel industry domestically, focusing on agricultural commodities that can be processed into Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and Renewable Diesel (RD). He collaborates with some of Australia's largest companies, including Ampol, Qantas, and IFM Investors, to help decarbonise Australia’s heavy industries while creating new markets for Australian agricultural producers. He reflects on his time at Moama Anglican Grammar as formative, crediting the school with instilling a strong work ethic, a passion for learning, and strong communication skills. These attributes, developed during his time at MAGS, have enabled him and many of his peers to face both professional and personal challenges with confidence. He fondly recalls all six years he spent at MAGS, particularly the staff’s willingness and patience in guiding and challenging him throughout his education, the remarkable pace of the school’s development during that time, and Marin House’s athletic dominance. However, the memories he cherishes most are the simple moments, such as playing downball and markers up with friends.

2015

2014

Mackenzie Downie

Since graduating in 2014, Mackenzie moved to Melbourne to complete a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne, majoring in Media and Communications. She then went on to complete a Master of Marketing Communications at the same university, which she undertook while working as a tutor and Senior Residential Advisor at St Hilda’s College. In 2020, she was offered a position in the MECCA Brands Graduate Program. Mackenzie has now been with MECCA for a little over five years and currently holds the role of Brand Marketing Manager (Hair and Body). Her fondest memories at Moama Anglican Grammar include participating in the school play Oz: The Road Home and joining the 2011 Habitat for Humanity Service Trip to the Philippines.

2013

Patrick Mulcahy

After completing his studies at Moama Anglican Grammar, Patrick pursued a double degree in Commerce and Science at Monash University, majoring in Applied Mathematics, Econometrics, and Business Statistics. His early career involved various analyst roles before joining the Rural Bank graduate program at Bendigo and Adelaide Bank. Over three years, he gained experience across the organisation, eventually focusing on ESG and sustainability. Patrick now works in Canberra with ABARES (Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences), a division within the Federal Department of Agriculture. In this role, he models farm financial performance, with a particular focus on identifying and supporting regions impacted by drought. He credits Moama Anglican Grammar for laying the foundation of his career. The school nurtured not just academic achievement but a genuine passion for learning and understanding. Rather than learning for the sake of it, Patrick was encouraged to grasp core concepts deeply and reflect on their relevance, a mindset that continues to shape his approach to work and life today. Some of his fondest memories include spending time with friends, playing markers up on the oval, and the occasional mischief of getting in trouble for tackling. He recalls his time with Mr Young in Year 12 especially well — being taught three out of five subjects by him, including one class where he was the only student. Patrick enjoyed the one-on-one support and problem-solving sessions in one of the school’s old portable classrooms, experiences that left a lasting impression.

2012

2011

Maddison McSwain

After graduating from Moama Anglican Grammar, Maddison McSwain moved to Melbourne to complete a Bachelor of Professional Communication at RMIT University. Her career has spanned the travel, marketing, and mental health sectors, with a growing passion for supporting mental wellbeing. Maddison has travelled extensively, with recent highlights including the Coachella Music Festival in the USA, the Singapore Grand Prix, and a European summer through Greece, Spain, and Portugal. During her school years, she embraced a wide range of co-curricular opportunities, including public speaking, debating, and performing arts—experiences she credits for building her confidence and communication skills. Many of her closest friends today are those she met during her time at Moama Grammar. A Year 9 excursion to Italy sparked Maddison’s love for travel, and she holds fond memories of school camps, sports days, and performing in school productions. One particularly memorable (and cheeky) moment was when her Year 12 class rode bikes instead of running during the Cross Country event.