It was a delight to welcome Young Haleian and 2025 Endeavour Award recipient Ruairi Avern (2018-23) to campus in August to speak with the current Year 7 students.
Since leaving Hale, Ruairi has followed his passion for motorsport and gone from strength to strength, winning the 2024 WA Karting Championship and State Titles before signing with one of Australia’s most successful motorsport teams, Sonic Motor Racing. In 2026, he is competing in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge, continuing to pursue his ambition of racing at the highest level.
Alongside his racing career, Ruairi is studying engineering and is an ambassador for the mental health charity Zero2Hero, continuing to model Hale’s motto of Duty well beyond his school days.
Ruairi spoke passionately to the students, encouraging them to stay curious, try new things and not worry about being the best. His own journey is testament to the opportunities that can come from giving something a go and having the confidence to pursue an interest.
When Ruairi received the Endeavour Award, he spoke about the importance of support from his school community, “I know the pathway is possible and with the right support, I will make it happen. Winning this award will make a real difference to me. Every contribution helps me get closer to the grid.”
For Ruairi, the Endeavour Award was about more than financial support. “Having support from the Old Haleian community gives me confidence and motivation to keep pushing through the challenges that come with this sport,” he said.
His return to campus was a great opportunity to share that journey with the current cohort of Year 7 students and demonstrate where curiosity, perseverance and a willingness to explore new opportunities can lead.
Endeavour Award nominations for 2026 are now open. The award supports Young Haleians who have demonstrated a strong commitment to, and achieved significant progress or success in, their chosen field of endeavour. Click here for further information.
