Marking 180 Years with a message of growth and gratitude

Faith Lutheran College has marked a significant milestone in its 180th anniversary year with a whole-college event that brought students, staff, and community together under the theme “faith is like a mustard seed.”

Founded in 1845, the College grew from humble beginnings, a small Lutheran school founded by pioneering families, into a thriving ELC–Year 12 community. That legacy of starting small and growing strong was reflected throughout the anniversary gathering, which united learners from the Early Learning Centre to Year 12 for a special Chapel service focused on the biblical message of the mustard seed.

Drawn from Matthew 17:20, the passage reminds believers that even faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains, a symbol of how something tiny, when nurtured, can lead to remarkable growth.

Following the service, students took part in symbolic planting activities across both campuses.

Each student received a packet of sunflower seeds, generously packaged and donated by Seeds of Hope, a Barossa initiative dedicated to spreading hope and connection throughout the region. Families are invited to plant the seeds now, so they bloom at the beginning of the 2026 school year, a visible reminder that what begins small can grow into something bright and extraordinary.

Commemorative trees were also planted at both the Junior School and Middle & Senior School. These will serve as lasting markers of the anniversary year, places where future students may sit, reflect, and remember their role in the ongoing story of Faith Lutheran College.

Principal reflections highlighted a legacy of community involvement, including the 26 trees planted 40 years ago in the central courtyard, one for each student in the first year of the secondary school. Today, new trees have been added, continuing that tradition for the next generation.

The event was both a celebration and a reminder: that Faith Lutheran College’s story has always been founded in small beginnings, steady growth, and the support of a community that believes in what can flourish with care, courage, hope and faith.

Anniversary celebrations have continued throughout the year, honouring the past while looking forward with confidence and gratitude.