To stress less during his Year 12 studies, St Columba's Catholic College Springwood student Oliver Smuhar committed up to three hours of an evening to creative writing. As a result, Oliver has self-published his first novel, The Gifts of Life, all before doing his HSC exams!
The aspiring journalist started writing the fantasy novel in January 2017 and finished at 486 pages six months later.
“I have always enjoyed writing as a kid and one day I mentioned to my mum and dad that I wanted to write this novel and they liked the idea,” Oliver said.
“It was a huge commitment, especially when I had assessment tasks for school to complete and at times I felt it was a bit crazy, but it was also a good project to focus on instead of getting stressed out about upcoming exams.
“The biggest headache was all the paperwork attached to getting the book self-published, but it was good to see what it is like to have responsibilities like in the adult world,” Oliver said.
Oliver was inspired by the classic novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding and J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, as well as the experience of travelling to Europe.
“The main character is a lot like myself and my friends and family also played a big part in forming the other characters throughout the book,” he said.
“The book is about a world called Oberon, which is similar to Australia. It is about a 16-year-old boy, Perry Caduca, who lives in a city called Kelton Whide. “Together with his best friend Faith, Perry attends the annual Ascension Ceremony to celebrate the switching on of Kelton Whide’s beacon. It is here that they are made aware of their super powers.
“Something sinister forces Perry to abandon his home city and go on a journey which results in him and his friends being forced to fight for their survival. As it becomes more dangerous, their powers begin to mutate. The only resolution comes in finding the Gifts of Life, truth that has the power to change the world.”
St Columba's College Assistant Principal Carol Muscat said the school is very proud of Oliver, especially as he managed to write his fantasy novel during his HSC year.
“It is an enormous achievement for anyone, but especially for a student who was also completing Year 12,” Ms Muscat said.
“I hope this inspires other students to follow their dreams and persevere. Always set high expectations for yourself and never give up.”
For more details about Gifts of Life or to purchase it visit www.oliversmuhar.com
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
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07 Nov 2026
From Facebook
Yesterday our Year 12 students officially finished the HSC exams. Congratulations to all of you! Georgina Jelovic from the Blue Mountains Gazette joined us at the College to speak to some of the Class of 2026 about their plans for the future. Read the article to hear from Sam, Rohan and Niamh. Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese07 Nov 2026
From Facebook
This afternoon Mrs Mulhall loaded TWENTY THREE generously packed bags into her car for delivery to Valley Heights Bunnings for the annual ‘It’s in the Bag’ campaign run by Share the Dignity. Our staff have donated all the bags and their contents and worked together to make sure each of the bags has all of the required items plus some additional goodies too. The collection period starts today and runs until 22 November, so there’s time if families in our community would like to contribute their own bags. All completed bags can be dropped off at any Bunnings store. Learn more about Share the Dignity and It’s in the bag at their website: https://sharethedignity.org.au/what-we-do/its-in-the-bag Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
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07 Nov 2026
From Facebook
Yesterday our Year 12 students officially finished the HSC exams. Congratulations to all of you! Georgina Jelovic from the Blue Mountains Gazette joined us at the College to speak to some of the Class of 2026 about their plans for the future. Read the article to hear from Sam, Rohan and Niamh. Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
07 Nov 2026
From Facebook
This afternoon Mrs Mulhall loaded TWENTY THREE generously packed bags into her car for delivery to Valley Heights Bunnings for the annual ‘It’s in the Bag’ campaign run by Share the Dignity. Our staff have donated all the bags and their contents and worked together to make sure each of the bags has all of the required items plus some additional goodies too. The collection period starts today and runs until 22 November, so there’s time if families in our community would like to contribute their own bags. All completed bags can be dropped off at any Bunnings store. Learn more about Share the Dignity and It’s in the bag at their website: https://sharethedignity.org.au/what-we-do/its-in-the-bag Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
05 Nov 2026
CSPD students strike gold at NSW All Schools
Eighteen gold medals marked another outstanding year for Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) schools at the 2026 NSW All Schools Athletics Championships, with students building on the Diocese’s strong tradition of success against the state’s best athletes.
31 Oct 2026
From Facebook
We are so proud of the way our students (and steers!) represented St Columba's at Australia's largest youth livestock event, the Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza. Thirteen students have just returned from three exciting days in Scone. They took part in competitions and spent valuable time with industry professionals and agriculture students from across the state. Congratulations to the following students who placed in their parader classes: ⭐Summah G (Y8) 5th ⭐Ivy J (Y7) 3rd ⭐Eva B (Y12) 4th The students, whilst working hard, thoroughly enjoyed their time at the event. They competed against the best of the best, networked with leaders in the industry, and had the opportunity to consider future career options. The College sincerely thanks Ms Sibbald and Mr Watson for all their time and work at the event, as well as the parents who travelled to Scone to support their children as they do what they love.
30 Oct 2026
From Facebook
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24 Oct 2026
From Facebook
The 2026 Australian Short Course Swimming Championship was held 29 September to 3 October at Sydney Olympic Park. This event served as the official selection trials for the Australian team. Huge congratulations to Year 11 student Finn Kelly won a silver medal in the 1500m and made the finals in the 800m. *Published with permission Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
20 Oct 2026
From Facebook
Yesterday, Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman MP read a speech from our very own Abby R. (Year 12) in Parliament as part of the Raise Our Voice initiative. Congratulations Abby, for having your speech selected and having your voice amplified! You can watch Susan reading Abby's speech here: https://youtu.be/1NL9BmxvRD8?si=PQmpLK__dCHXCI9F #raiseourvoice #CostOfLiving
13 Oct 2026
From Facebook
Our thoughts are with our Year 12 students begin their Higher School Certificate examinations today. We hope they are confident and calm, and know they have the support of the entire College community.
24 Sep 2026
From Facebook
A huge congratulations to Year 12 student Sam, who has received a NESA Showcase nomination for SHAPE 2026 for his outstanding Design and Technology Major Project! Drawing on his passion for snow skiing, Sam identified an opportunity to develop an innovative new product for snow skiers, taking his idea through the design and development process to create an impressive Major Project worthy of recognition at state level. SHAPE showcases a selection of outstanding HSC Design and Technology projects from across NSW, making this nomination a fantastic recognition of Sam’s creativity, innovation, problem-solving and many hours of hard work. A massive shout-out also to Sam’s teacher, Ms Jodie Cusack, whose expertise, encouragement and dedication have supported Sam throughout the development of his project. Guiding a student from an initial idea all the way through to a SHAPE-nominated Major Project is an achievement well worth celebrating! We are incredibly proud of you, Sam. What a fantastic way to turn something you love into something innovative! ⛷️ *Image published with permission. Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
24 Sep 2026
From Facebook
Today we celebrate and farewell the Class of 2026. We thank them for their leadership, friendship and service to the St Columba's Catholic College community. It is with great excitement we watch them prepare to spread their wings beyond the College and share their light with the world. Graduates, as you explore, discover and learn in the years ahead, know you will always be cherished members of the St Columba's family. We wish you tremendous happiness and peace.
24 Sep 2026
From Facebook
On 1st September 2026, our school community welcomed Miles Merrill, a dynamic and professional spoken word artist from Word Travels, to deliver a unique poetry workshop at St Columba’s Catholic College. This special session brought together a group of selected Year 9 students to collaborate with one of Australia’s leading voices in performance poetry. Our students participated in the " Slam Poetry Wordshop" which is far from your average writing class. The session kicked off with captivating live performances from Miles Merrill, which immediately sparked our students' creative energy. With a unique focus on writing specifically for live performance, the workshop provided our Year 9s with exciting new techniques to plan, structure, and truly engage with the writing and performance process. During the interactive session, each student drew inspiration from their own personal experiences, community, and identity to create and confidently perform a brand-new piece of poetry. The workshop successfully taught students powerful new ways to express their creative ideas by utilising: • Volume • Movement • Pacing • Sound effects • Sensory imagery and a range of other engaging devices We are proud of the immense creativity, vulnerability, and courage our Year 9 students showed throughout the day. We look forward to seeing how they continue to use their voices to share their stories with the world! Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
23 Sep 2026
From Facebook
On Wednesday 14th September, Year 10 Silver Duke of Edinburgh students embarked on their Practice Adventurous Journey in Glenbrook. The students plotted their route, shouldered their hiking packs full of food, water, tents and poles, and were all smiles setting off on their adventure. The Practice trip took them into Glenbrook Gorge, where rock-hopping met creek-crossing and soggy shoes, to Red Hands Cave, learning about the history of the Darug people, camping at the beautiful Apple Tree Flat to the distant sounds of “Columba” by the campfire, and finally to Tunnel View Lookout, watching the sun rise over a sleepy Western Sydney. The students progressed well as individuals and as a group, and are prepared for their upcoming Qualifying Journey in Term 4. A special thank you to Mrs Brough and Mr D'Souza for giving up their time to join the group on their expedition. Good luck Year 10 Silvers for your upcoming Qualifying Journey! Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award