Year 10 student Lachlan Corte continues to impress and inspire the St Patrick’s College community with his remarkable craftsmanship, work ethic and optimism.
Despite being vision impaired, Lachie approaches every challenge with determination and a quiet confidence that consistently leads to extraordinary achievements.
His latest project—a beautifully detailed timber jewellery box—highlights his exceptional woodworking skill and precision. Lachie created the piece at Vision Australia’s Sensory Campus in Kensington, where he attends each Wednesday to hone his craft in an industrial level workshop.
Lachie also recently completed a week of work experience on the docks in Melbourne, building and repairing boats as part of a busy shipwright team. Under the expert guidance of Ferdi Darley, Lachie quickly proved himself to be capable, adaptable and highly motivated.
He learned to operate tools and machinery through demonstration and hands-on practice, soon progressing to working independently without constant supervision. His tasks included polishing metal strips using a range of powered brushes, sanding the underside of a boat with a handheld orbital sander, and assisting with both workshop tasks and on-site jobs at the yacht club—on land and on the water.
The feedback from Ferdi was exceptional. He praised Lachie’s attitude, skill level and willingness to tackle anything asked of him. He described Lachie as a “lovely young man” who excelled throughout the placement.
In even more exciting news, Lachie has been accepted into the VDSS Certificate II in Furniture Making at The Gordon Institute in Geelong for next year. He will attend the external VET course every Wednesday in 2026, and he is absolutely thrilled about taking this next step in pursuing his passion.
Acting Principal Carol Roberts said Lachie’s achievements exemplify not only his own extraordinary character, but also the values at the heart of St Patrick’s College.
“Lachie’s journey demonstrates incredible effort, dedication and resilience,” Ms Roberts said.
“His success also reflects St Patrick’s College’s commitment to nurturing an inclusive community grounded in justice, where every young man is supported to flourish. We are immensely proud of him.”
Lachie’s story is a powerful reminder that with passion, perseverance and the right support, young people can exceed every expectation. His future is unquestionably bright, and the College community looks forward to witnessing the many achievements still to come.
