Shepparton school triumphs in national Anglican song competition

By Pip Turton

May 13, 2025

All Saints co-ordinator of faith and mission Bill Boyer, Year 1 student Louise Ambrosini and Year 8 student Michael Mandoo. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

All Saints Anglican School in Shepparton has won the Victorian Anglican Songs Creative Arts Competition with a heartfelt and collaborative song that has captured national attention.

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The winning entry is now featured on the National Hope 25 webpage and the Anglican Church of Australia Facebook page.

The school’s song, Hope Renewed, was a powerful community effort.

The lyrics were written by co-ordinator of faith and mission Bill Boyer, while performing arts co-ordinator Daniel Fenby composed the music.

Students and staff from across the school contributed their voices to the recording, which was showcased during its chapel service.

It was a whole school effort with even the school dog, Harry, featured in the music video.

Incredibly, the accompanying video featuring scenes of school life and joyful performance was filmed and edited in just one day by Mr Fenby using only his iPhone.

“We thought, we aren’t ready ... we’re too new of a school to bother competing, and then we won,” Mr Boyer said.

The lyrics of the song draw inspiration directly from the school prayer, incorporating themes of faith, generosity and unity.

“We have a beautiful school prayer that speaks of a generous God and talks about hope and faith,” Mr Boyer said.

“We sat right here at this table and wrote the lyrics in about 10 minutes.

“Then Dan took them and wrote the music just as quickly.”

For Year 8 student Michael Mandoo, the experience was deeply meaningful.

“Hope is believing in everything, it doesn’t matter if you’re atheist or don’t believe in God,” he said.

“You just have to see the good.

“I felt pretty excited because all the voices were combined, and the editing was perfect.

“I was proud of myself and proud of the whole school.”

Despite being a young and relatively small school compared to the elite Anglican institutions in Melbourne, All Saints Anglican School has made a lasting impression.

“It’s helped us create our culture of who we are as an Anglican school,” Mr Boyer said.

“This will always be a memorable part of our school’s history.”

The success has inspired further creativity, with another song already produced since their winning entry.

You can watch the song Hope Renewed here: Hope Renewed – All Saints Anglican School