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
-
17 Jun 2026
Try a Career Day @ CathWest Loyola Campus
Year 10, are you curious about trying a career...? Register for CathWest's 'Try a Career Day' at the CathWest Loyola Campus!
09 Jun 2026
Helping Your Child Learn at Home - Practical strategies every parent can use
How can you help your child learn at home without stress, conflict, or overwhelm? Join CSPD’s Learning Outcomes team for a practical parent session focused on simple, realistic ways families can support learning at home, from primary through to secondary school.
-
27 May 2026
From Facebook
Today we were delighted to welcome student ambassadors Malini and Ashlee from UNSW to the College for The Feed in the Quad. The girls were fantastic, chatting with a huge number of students throughout lunchtime and sharing their experiences and insights about university life at UNSW. Our students asked some excellent questions and were genuinely excited to learn more about future study opportunities and pathways. A big thank you to Malini and Ashlee for their time, energy and enthusiasm. We really appreciate you visiting the College and inspiring our students. You are welcome back anytime! Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
25 May 2026
From Facebook
National Reconciliation Week is held each year between 27 May and 3 June - these dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey – the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively. This week at the College, staff are wearing "I'm in" buttons and a display in the library gives students lots to explore. We have the Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese Innovate RAP available, the 'How to be a First Nations Ally' booklet from Amnesty International, and information from the Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation KBHAC. We have loads of books to read and even some First Nations artists Spotify recommendations. At St Columba's we are #AllInForReconciliation #NRW2026
Latest News More news
27 May 2026
From Facebook
Today we were delighted to welcome student ambassadors Malini and Ashlee from UNSW to the College for The Feed in the Quad. The girls were fantastic, chatting with a huge number of students throughout lunchtime and sharing their experiences and insights about university life at UNSW. Our students asked some excellent questions and were genuinely excited to learn more about future study opportunities and pathways. A big thank you to Malini and Ashlee for their time, energy and enthusiasm. We really appreciate you visiting the College and inspiring our students. You are welcome back anytime! Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
25 May 2026
From Facebook
National Reconciliation Week is held each year between 27 May and 3 June - these dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey – the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively. This week at the College, staff are wearing "I'm in" buttons and a display in the library gives students lots to explore. We have the Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese Innovate RAP available, the 'How to be a First Nations Ally' booklet from Amnesty International, and information from the Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation KBHAC. We have loads of books to read and even some First Nations artists Spotify recommendations. At St Columba's we are #AllInForReconciliation #NRW2026
22 May 2026
From Facebook
Last Friday, St Columba’s proudly celebrated Book Week in the very best way — with creativity, community spirit and plenty of fun! 📚✨ Students and staff embraced the occasion with incredible costumes and enthusiastic participation in our annual Book Week Parade. From classic literary characters to imaginative creations, the effort and joy on display made the day something truly special. We also enjoyed our annual "Book Themed Cake Competition' with some incredible and delicious creations. While Book Week is often associated with primary schools, it remains a much-loved tradition here at St Columba’s. It is wonderful to see our students and teachers continue to celebrate the joy of reading, storytelling and imagination together each year. Importantly, our Book Week celebrations also support a cause close to the College community — the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. Through this annual fundraiser, we help support access to culturally relevant books and literacy resources for children and communities across remote Australia. A huge thank you to everyone who participated, donated and helped make the day such a success. 📖 Donations to our Book Week Indigenous Literacy Foundation fundraiser via the QKR App will remain open until today for anyone still wishing to contribute. The Indigenous Literacy Foundation Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
20 May 2026
Blue Mountains teenagers dominate UTA11 races on day one
Blue Mountains teenagers Lulu Green and Odin Brennan claimed the first titles of the 2026 Ultra-Trail Australia last Thursday as they battled their way to victory in the UTAII (llkm).
19 May 2026
From Facebook
⭐SAVE THE DATE⭐ St Columba's Catholic College's annual celebration of the performing arts, Under the Spotlight, will be held on the evenings of 23 and 24 June at Blue Mountains Theatre, Springwood. Join us for a night of entertainment as we showcase the talent and creativity of students in Years 7 to 12. Tickets will go on sale soon.
19 May 2026
From Facebook
Congratulations to Chloe (Y10) on her selection for the 2026 NSWCCC 16 Girls Rugby League team! We wish her all the best at the Australian Championships, which will be held in Coffs Harbour in July.
17 May 2026
From Facebook
Odin Brennan! Lulu Green! Congratulations to you both. We are so proud of you both! Ultra-Trail Australia By UTMB UTA11 winners both from St Columba's Catholic College, Springwood Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
15 May 2026
From Facebook
Two local legends indeed! Both St Columba's Catholic College, Springwood students! Congratulations Lulu and Odin!! Blue Mountains Gazette Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
15 May 2026
From Facebook
Today at lunchtime, we welcomed Kiri and Pat from Endeavour Energy to the College as part of The Feed in the Quad. Students were excited to learn more about Endeavour Energy’s fantastic apprenticeship program, which has recently opened for applications. Kiri and Pat spoke with many interested students about the opportunities available and what a future career in the industry could look like. Thank you to Endeavour Energy for taking the time to ⚡ connect ⚡ (see what we did there?) with our students and share such valuable insights and advice. Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
14 May 2026
Music, art, movement: why creativity matters more than you think
Did you know creativity is one of the biggest predictors of how well children do in school and in life?
13 May 2026
From Facebook
We’re delighted to see the 2026 St Columba’s Art Prize featured in today’s Blue Mountains Gazette. Thank you to the Gazette for shining a spotlight on the incredible artists, students, sponsors and community members who helped make this year’s exhibition such a success. Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese St Columba's Art Prize Belle Property Lower Blue Mountains Western Sydney University Susan Templeman MP
11 May 2026
From Facebook
Today’s Feed in the Quad was a little different, with not one, but two organisations visiting the College to speak with students about their future pathways. We welcomed Josh, Zack and Lincoln from SEDA, who shared information about SEDA’s Double Diploma program and the unique opportunities it offers students interested in sport, business and hands-on learning pathways. We also welcomed Gen and Wael from Western Sydney University, who spoke with students about everything they need to know about studying at Western — from courses and campus life to university pathways and support services. It was fantastic to see so many students engaging so positively throughout the lunchtime session, asking thoughtful and insightful questions about their future options. A big thank you to SEDA and Western Sydney University for taking the time to visit the College and connect with our students today. Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese