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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24 Sep 2026
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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 Diocese24 Sep 2026
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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
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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.
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