Sixteen-year-old Darnell Andy became the school’s first Djiringanj captain after being elected alongside fellow Year 12 students Alexander Eadie, Darcy Lay and Janet King.

“It hasn’t really kicked in,” the star footballer said with a laugh.

“My actions will reflect on my Elders footsteps, so I have to do what is necessary and do the right thing.

“And through my years at this school I’ve shared more experiences than any other.”

Many of his teachers told him he had the qualities to run for the leadership role after returning to the school recently after spending time at Oak Flats High School.

“I was told at a young age I was driven to be first at everything, whether it was racing my older sister to the car or the park,” he said.

“I was very driven to be successful, and really committed to do the best I could.”

The school’s Koori Support Worker and Djiringanj man Marcus Mundy said Darnell’s return to the school in Term 3 this year brought positivity with it.

“The minute this fella walked back into the school you could feel the dynamic change and everybody relaxed,’ he said.

As a child he remembers staring into a family cabinet stacked with sporting trophies before games, wanting to add to it with his own name.

“My dream is to play in the NRL, I’ve dreamed about it since I could hold a footy,’ he said.

The night before the election he said he “almost stayed up all night” with his grandmother Aunty Glenda Dixon before speaking in front of his peers.

“I did feel comfortable on stage, it felt natural,” he said.