Hunter and Finn Swimming to the Peak

Scott Kelly (centre) with his sons Hunter (left) and Finn. Picture supplied.

St Columba's students and brothers Hunter and Finn Kelly are proving themselves as a power pairing in the pool, with both of them currently ranked top 10 in Open Water in the country.

14-year-old Finn has earned medals in all Championship events since October last year, including Bronze in his first Australian Open Water Championships.

17-year-old Hunter also secured 5th place in his 5 kilometre Open Water swim, and hopes to make it to Olympic Trials being held in June.

Much like Penrith sisters Jess and Noemie Fox the brothers train together, hitting the pool as early as 5.30am each morning and returning in the evening.

The next step for the brothers is the Australian Age Swimming Championships on the Gold Coast, to be held in April. Hunter even achieved National Qualifying Times for all distances from 50 metres right up to 10 kilometres.

Hunter said: "It is great to be part of a squad, and we all push each other. I am motivated to see what I'm capable of, and getting the most out of myself.

"I'd love to make the Olympic Trials in the 800 Freestyle. I still need to take some time off, but I have a couple of months."

Finn said: "Hanging out with my friends is good fun, but I really enjoy seeing my times come down during training.

"This is my first year at the National Age Championships in the pool, so I'd like to make the final in 1500 Freestyle. That would be great."

The boys' father, Scott Kelly, was so inspired by his sons' dedication to both swimming and schoolwork that he decided to dive in himself.

"I'm really proud that they're working hard, there's no shortcuts, and they're doing everything they can to reach their potential," Mr Kelly said.

He thanked Lower Blue Mountains Swim Club for their support for Hunter and Finn, along with the boys' school St Columba's Catholic College in Springwood.

In support of his sons and their efforts, Mr Kelly is swimming 60 kilometres this month for Laps for Life, raising funds for youth mental health service ReachOut.

He's swimming in honour of Claudia Neale, an elite-level swimmer and inspiration to the brothers who was lost to suicide in 2020.

"It really hit home for me that if there was something I could do for youth mental health, to raise money, I'd absolutely do that," he told the Gazette.

"I'm not a spring chicken anymore so doing those sorts of distances is a challenge, but nothing compares to what some of these young kids are going through."

He said Claudia was an inspiration to his own boys, and he remembers Hunter and Finn seeing her swim and expressing they hoped to be as fast as her someday.

ReachOut provides information, support, and resources about mental health issues to help young Australians develop resilience and seek help when they need it.

Support Mr Kelly's fundraiser

If you or someone you know needs crisis support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

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11 Jun 2026
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This week's Blue Mountains Gazette features an article on 'Nurturing Breath', the beautiful sculpture by Terrance Plowright that has become a landmark within our College grounds. Positioned at the heart of our campus, it contributes so much to the visual landscape of the College and serves as a daily reminder of the values we seek to nurture in our community. At the very core of the Christian world view is the belief in a God of Love who is revealed in an ongoing way through the beauty and majesty all of creation. In the ancient scriptures of Judaism and Christianity, God’s Spirit is often experienced as a gentle breeze or a wind, a great creative force - the Breath of God. Terrance Plowright’s sculpture, ‘Nurturing Breath’ reminds us that God is present in each and every one of us and that our responsibility, our mission, is to nurture that presence of God and to allow the Holy Spirit to take hold of us, and to form and shape us. We encourage our community to take a moment to read the article and discover the story and symbolism behind this remarkable piece of public art. Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese Blue Mountains Gazette

09 Jun 2026
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A huge lunchtime crowd gathered in the Quad today for the latest edition of The Feed, our popular careers and pathways series. We were delighted to welcome representatives from Macquarie University and University of Sydney who spent the lunch break chatting with students about university life, study options, pathways, and future career opportunities. Both stalls were absolutely swamped, with students asking thoughtful questions and taking away plenty of valuable information about what life at Macquarie and USYD has to offer. It was also especially wonderful to welcome back Emma Hyslop (St Columba’s Class of 2023), who returned to the College as a Student Ambassador for the University of Sydney. It is always rewarding to see our graduates sharing their experiences and helping inspire the next generation of students. A sincere thank you to all of our university representatives for generously giving their time and providing our students with such informative and engaging conversations. Your support helps our young people make informed decisions about their futures, and we are incredibly grateful. Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese