Both said the lure of being role models to their fellow students gave them real purpose to take on the task.

“I always wanted to be a school captain – improve the image and do things for the school,” Thomas said.

No stranger to challenging tasks, Stacey has long been in Tenterfield’s public eye.

Earlier this year she was awarded the Tenterfield Young Sportsperson of the Year during the Australia Day celebrations.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to provide a safe and happy school in our roles,” Stacey said.

Having only been elected on Wednesday, the pair has been thrust into the role, but say they never second guessed themselves for the position when given the chance.

There is little preparation or training to take on the job of representing hundreds of peers, but they say watching and learning from their predecessors should hold them in good stead. 

“We’ve worked with the previous captains throughout the year – helping with different fundraisers,” Stacey said.

“Both of them did fantastic jobs so they are big shoes for us to fill.”

A large part of the captains’ legacy is in the good deeds done – with local fundraising initiatives a way of making a mark as a school captain.

“We do a lot of fundraising – we helped this year with the Red Shield Appeal, raising money for the tennis courts and our purple day for epilepsy,” Stacey said.

“Every year we try and mix it up and help with different charities – every bit contributes.”

Having previously worked with one another on the SRC (student representative council) they look forward to working with the other school representatives.

“Hopefully we can work well with the other leaders, it has to be a team effort,” Thomas said.

The next big item on the agenda will be the visit of year 6 students from the area who will take part in a fun day.

“It should be fun to help out with that,” Thomas said.

Shouldering the role of school captains, the two have set personal goals for their own futures once 2014 ends.

“I really want to do well and go to a good university,” Thomas said. “Outside of school I’m involved in basketball and squash. I’d be interested in going and studying engineering.”

Stacey, a little less decided, said she had considered a few possibilities.

“I would really just like to get good grades – I’m really interested in science so going into the medical field could be an option, or the defence force,” she said.

“I have an uncle in the defence force that has been encouraging me to join.

“I’m going to continue with my physie and dancing – I’m doing jazz, tap and ballet at the moment and would like to continue to improve.”

Having started dancing when she was two, Stacey has had a fantastic couple of years travelling to America to represent Australia with the Dance Force Ballet Company and competing at a national level for physical culture where she placed fourth in the nation.

She hopes she can bring some of those attributes to her latest role.

“A lot of students don’t see or take opportunities that are there, it’s a good opportunity to help people realise their potential,” she said.

Thomas said that it would be vital to be approachable.

“We know we have to be positive and always willing to help,” he said.

Neither of the young pair seems worried about their extra commitments and how they will impact on their schooling, with both holding strong goals for their school year.