Latest news with #RachelByrne
The Advertiser
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
The Hunter high school named Australian School of the Year
IF you ask Hunter Sports High principal Rachel Byrne what makes her school stand out, she'd tell you that when young people feel safe, they excel. The high school claimed was named Australian School of the Year for the second year at the Australian Education Awards. The awards, which recognise excellence at schools across all states and territories and all education sectors, were held in Sydney on Friday, August 8. Ms Byrne said that where young people feel safe, they feel trust and can explore and take risks in their learning. "The award is such a great acknowledgement of us reimaging education and doing things differently for kids while adapting to a dynamic, complex world that our young people are moving into," she said. After winning two years in a row, Ms Byrne was proud of her staff and students. "I think winning it last year was amazing. It was just like a dream come true, and to win it back-to-back is surreal," she said. The school has a focus on personalising pathways, moving away from a traditional school where you have six-year structures from year 7 to 12, Ms Byrne said. "We've worked really hard on making sure we offer a pathway that's going to meet our students' needs. We run about 15 different year structures and not necessarily aligned to year groups or age," she said. "I've created what we call an academy structure where we have different pathways and opportunities for students, which is based on needs, interests, passions and strengths. Each academy has a different lens and focus." Ms Byrne said Hunter Sports High had seen outstanding academic growth in NAPLAN results and had been in the top 24 of schools over the last eight years to have improved HSC results. Recent student wellbeing data revealed the school was above state average in every criteria, and 20 per cent above state average in connectedness and sense of belonging. "It continues to blow me away in regards to the success we're having when we get young people in a learning environment that they want to be in," Ms Byrne said. Hunter Sports High School was also named winner of the Secondary School of the Year (Government), and principal Rachel Byrne was nominated for Principal of the Year (Government). Central Coast Grammar School was nominated for Best Co-curricular program and Non-Government Primary School of the Year. IF you ask Hunter Sports High principal Rachel Byrne what makes her school stand out, she'd tell you that when young people feel safe, they excel. The high school claimed was named Australian School of the Year for the second year at the Australian Education Awards. The awards, which recognise excellence at schools across all states and territories and all education sectors, were held in Sydney on Friday, August 8. Ms Byrne said that where young people feel safe, they feel trust and can explore and take risks in their learning. "The award is such a great acknowledgement of us reimaging education and doing things differently for kids while adapting to a dynamic, complex world that our young people are moving into," she said. After winning two years in a row, Ms Byrne was proud of her staff and students. "I think winning it last year was amazing. It was just like a dream come true, and to win it back-to-back is surreal," she said. The school has a focus on personalising pathways, moving away from a traditional school where you have six-year structures from year 7 to 12, Ms Byrne said. "We've worked really hard on making sure we offer a pathway that's going to meet our students' needs. We run about 15 different year structures and not necessarily aligned to year groups or age," she said. "I've created what we call an academy structure where we have different pathways and opportunities for students, which is based on needs, interests, passions and strengths. Each academy has a different lens and focus." Ms Byrne said Hunter Sports High had seen outstanding academic growth in NAPLAN results and had been in the top 24 of schools over the last eight years to have improved HSC results. Recent student wellbeing data revealed the school was above state average in every criteria, and 20 per cent above state average in connectedness and sense of belonging. "It continues to blow me away in regards to the success we're having when we get young people in a learning environment that they want to be in," Ms Byrne said. Hunter Sports High School was also named winner of the Secondary School of the Year (Government), and principal Rachel Byrne was nominated for Principal of the Year (Government). Central Coast Grammar School was nominated for Best Co-curricular program and Non-Government Primary School of the Year. IF you ask Hunter Sports High principal Rachel Byrne what makes her school stand out, she'd tell you that when young people feel safe, they excel. The high school claimed was named Australian School of the Year for the second year at the Australian Education Awards. The awards, which recognise excellence at schools across all states and territories and all education sectors, were held in Sydney on Friday, August 8. Ms Byrne said that where young people feel safe, they feel trust and can explore and take risks in their learning. "The award is such a great acknowledgement of us reimaging education and doing things differently for kids while adapting to a dynamic, complex world that our young people are moving into," she said. After winning two years in a row, Ms Byrne was proud of her staff and students. "I think winning it last year was amazing. It was just like a dream come true, and to win it back-to-back is surreal," she said. The school has a focus on personalising pathways, moving away from a traditional school where you have six-year structures from year 7 to 12, Ms Byrne said. "We've worked really hard on making sure we offer a pathway that's going to meet our students' needs. We run about 15 different year structures and not necessarily aligned to year groups or age," she said. "I've created what we call an academy structure where we have different pathways and opportunities for students, which is based on needs, interests, passions and strengths. Each academy has a different lens and focus." Ms Byrne said Hunter Sports High had seen outstanding academic growth in NAPLAN results and had been in the top 24 of schools over the last eight years to have improved HSC results. Recent student wellbeing data revealed the school was above state average in every criteria, and 20 per cent above state average in connectedness and sense of belonging. "It continues to blow me away in regards to the success we're having when we get young people in a learning environment that they want to be in," Ms Byrne said. Hunter Sports High School was also named winner of the Secondary School of the Year (Government), and principal Rachel Byrne was nominated for Principal of the Year (Government). Central Coast Grammar School was nominated for Best Co-curricular program and Non-Government Primary School of the Year. IF you ask Hunter Sports High principal Rachel Byrne what makes her school stand out, she'd tell you that when young people feel safe, they excel. The high school claimed was named Australian School of the Year for the second year at the Australian Education Awards. The awards, which recognise excellence at schools across all states and territories and all education sectors, were held in Sydney on Friday, August 8. Ms Byrne said that where young people feel safe, they feel trust and can explore and take risks in their learning. "The award is such a great acknowledgement of us reimaging education and doing things differently for kids while adapting to a dynamic, complex world that our young people are moving into," she said. After winning two years in a row, Ms Byrne was proud of her staff and students. "I think winning it last year was amazing. It was just like a dream come true, and to win it back-to-back is surreal," she said. The school has a focus on personalising pathways, moving away from a traditional school where you have six-year structures from year 7 to 12, Ms Byrne said. "We've worked really hard on making sure we offer a pathway that's going to meet our students' needs. We run about 15 different year structures and not necessarily aligned to year groups or age," she said. "I've created what we call an academy structure where we have different pathways and opportunities for students, which is based on needs, interests, passions and strengths. Each academy has a different lens and focus." Ms Byrne said Hunter Sports High had seen outstanding academic growth in NAPLAN results and had been in the top 24 of schools over the last eight years to have improved HSC results. Recent student wellbeing data revealed the school was above state average in every criteria, and 20 per cent above state average in connectedness and sense of belonging. "It continues to blow me away in regards to the success we're having when we get young people in a learning environment that they want to be in," Ms Byrne said. Hunter Sports High School was also named winner of the Secondary School of the Year (Government), and principal Rachel Byrne was nominated for Principal of the Year (Government). Central Coast Grammar School was nominated for Best Co-curricular program and Non-Government Primary School of the Year.
Irish Times
6 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
‘Do it for your daughter, mother, sister, friend': Cancer survivor urges public to join fundraising run
When Rachel Byrne began to experience extreme tiredness, she assumed it was due to her busy work and home life. But on January 19th last year she unexpectedly found a lump on her breast and, conscious of the importance of early intervention, she contacted her doctor immediately. Two weeks after seeing her GP, she had a mammogram and ultrasound and was then told she would also need to have a biopsy done on both the lump and her lymph nodes. Still hoping the tumour might be benign, she was devastated to discover she had cancer – stage-three HER2-positive oestrogen-positive breast cancer – and not only would she need chemotherapy, but radiation, targeted therapy and a mastectomy too. READ MORE 'It was brutal,' said the Dublin woman, who is married to Neil and has two children. 'I went from being an active and busy person to having no energy. It really floored me. 'Losing my hair was also very hard as I didn't recognise myself in the mirror and initially wore a turban, but once the summer came I had to take it off and that is when it hit home. 'I really struggled with having my breast removed. That was the hardest part – I felt like I had lost my femininity. 'But the oncologist, surgeons, doctors and nurses were amazing, so kind, caring and supportive, and thankfully I didn't need further chemo after the surgery.' The sales developer, still on sick leave and 'trying to recover, both mentally and physically' from her ordeal, is waiting to see a plastic surgeon about having a breast reconstruction. Although she has suffered with anxiety and depression, she said was 'working hard' to build up her confidence. Despite everything, she remains positive and said she was 'proud to be an ambassador' for Breast Cancer Ireland's Very Pink Run, which takes place in various locations across the country at the start of September. She will be taking part and is urging others to either sign up to participate or donate what they can to help raise vital funds for breast cancer research. 'I'm so grateful to have come through it all and still be here, and hope to live the happiest life with my family and friends,' she said. 'I'm very proud to be an ambassador for this year's Very Pink Run and would encourage everyone to get involved in any way they can. 'It might be called a run, but you can also walk – as I will be alongside some of my amazing family and friends who helped me through the past 17 months. 'It's a really fun day out and also helps to raise vital funds for Breast Cancer Ireland who do incredible work in research, raising awareness, improving survival rates and saving lives. 'They need our help, so please do it for your daughter, mother, sister, friend or yourself. 'Also, I would urge everyone to check themselves once a month. I wasn't checking and was lucky to have found the lump just by chance, so I always wonder if I would have found it sooner if I had been checking. Early detection saves lives.' There are 3,700 diagnoses of breast cancer a year in Ireland and both men and women are at risk: one in seven women will develop the disease in the course of their lifetime along with one in 738 men. It affects people of all ages and early signs include puckering or dimpling of skin, a lump in the breast or armpit, unusual swelling, a rash, increase in size of one breast or a change or discharge around the nipple. Despite the high incidence of breast cancer in Ireland, a social-impact report from Breast Cancer Ireland has shown that, since the charity was established in 2012, public awareness of the disease, diagnosis and treatment have improved dramatically. In addition to this, survival rates have increased by about 20 per cent, with mortality rates reducing 2 per cent year on year. To date, €34.5 million has been raised to date by Breast Cancer Ireland with more than €15 million invested in funding life-saving research across 23 projects worldwide. Participation or support of the Very Pink Run, which is billed as a 'fun, family, festival style day out with music food and entertainment', will help to raise funds towards new treatments and therapies for breast cancer. Aisling Hurley, CEO of Breast Cancer Ireland, said early detection was enabling earlier diagnosis and treatment – for example, Ireland's first robotic mastectomy took place last year as a result of funding support from the charity. Despite soaring success rates, there is still more which can be done. 'Survival rates in 2011 were 73 per cent and this had grown to 88 per cent by 2023,' she said. 'Our goal is to continue increasing this figure until we reach zero deaths from breast cancer.' Registration for the run, in Leopardstown Racecourse, Dublin, on September 6th; MTU Cork on September 7th; and Kilkenny Castle Park on September 14th; is now open.
Irish Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
‘Ireland's answer to Hollows & Fentimans': The father-daughter team behind Zingibeer are chasing Gen Z drinkers
Founded by a father and daughter team in 2021, Smithfield -based ginger beer brand Zingibeer topped the €500,000 turnover mark for the first time last year, despite a challenging period which saw them forced to rebuild their distribution model. 'We want to be Ireland's answer to Hollows and Fentimans,' co-founder Rachel Byrne told The Irish Times. A former banker with AIB, she said the brand's ginger beer is 'very, very popular amongst students.' The company has sought to stand out from the pack by targeting Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) as their main customer demographic, securing strategic placements in Dublin bars frequented by college students. 'We are in all the student bars, we are in UCD, in DCU, we are in the Pav in Trinity.' And research showing that young people now are drinking less alcohol than in previous generations doesn't concern Ms Byrne; 'I get the sense that young people now are looking for a little bit more quality over quantity'. READ MORE 'Young people are more considered in their spend. 'What am I actually buying? Who is making this product? What's actually in it?'' She says this trend helps Zingibeer which is vegan, gluten-, preservative-, and sulphite-free and thus more friendly to people with allergies or dietary choices. Zingibeer is manufactured by JJ's Craft Brewing Company in Limerick, a strategic move Rachel and her father Kevin Byrne made to reduce the company's risk. 'We did look at setting up our own brewery, but when it came down to it we didn't want the risk and stress of it,' Ms Byrne said. In an effort to improve its profit margin, Zingibeer changed distributor and has looked to supply some of its product directly to on-trade customers, pubs and restaurants. That decision has boosted margins to a healthier level. The transition, however, left Zingibeer without any distribution for a number of months. Despite this, revenue at the company still grew. 'We hit €500,000 in revenue last year, that was exciting. I remember thinking, 'That's a good chunk of money'.' Revenue grew by 30 per cent to €660,000 in 2024, and the company is expecting growth of 30 per cent to more than €850,000 this year. Zingibeer's rhinoceros hornbill icon will soon be on the sides of cans, as the company looks to continue to develop its product with younger generations in mind. 'It's not a toucan,' Ms Byrne said in a reference to the use of that bird by Guinness. The company created its branding around the national bird of Malaysia, where it first sourced its ginger. Their ginger beer may have entered a relatively small market, but it is growing and they are competing in Ireland against offerings from two large global brands, Hollows & Fentimans and Crabbies. 'We are definitely second to Hollows & Fentimans in terms of volume, and we're winning in a lot of the on-trade accounts,' she said, but the brand is fighting against companies with a '10-year head start'. Being a domestic brand has helped so far, with bars being 'happy' to offer Zingibeer 'because it's Irish and because people really like it.' Outside of Ireland, the Byrnes have begun working with a Danish distributor to bring its brand to an international audience.
