Twenty-five years after capturing the world’s attention at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, Nikki Webster has returned to the Olympic stage with her children at her side.
On 15 September, Webster joined the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Games, walking hand-in-hand with her daughter Skylah and son Malakai, both current students at The McDonald College. The moment was a poignant reminder of the lasting resonance of that original performance and the way artistry can pass from one generation to the next.
The Sydney 2000 Games remain one of Australia’s most treasured cultural milestones. When Webster, then just 13, floated into the arena suspended high above the crowd, she became an enduring symbol of youthful talent, optimism and imagination. Last night’s return carried all the emotion of that history, but with a new dimension, as her children stood beside her to create a memory that was at once personal and national.
The McDonald College has been central to both chapters of this story. It was within the College’s studios that Webster first honed her love of performing and gained the foundation that would sustain a career in music and theatre. Today, her children walk those same corridors, guided by the same values of discipline and creativity. Reflecting on the journey, Webster said: “Without the support of the College, I wouldn’t have been able to have the career that I had.”
For Principal Maxine Kohler, the evening was proof of the role the College continues to play. “To see Nikki standing on that stage again, this time with her children by her side, was deeply moving,” she said. “It’s a living example of how the performing arts can inspire across generations and of the role The McDonald College plays in helping young people find their voice and pursue their dreams. Nikki’s journey began with us, and now her children are continuing that legacy.”
The performance served as a reminder of how a single artistic moment can ignite a lifetime of creativity, and of how essential it is to maintain pathways for young performers. With arts funding under pressure across the country, events such as this highlight the importance of sustained investment in schools, programs and training opportunities that allow talent to thrive.
For Webster, that spark was lit in 2000. For Skylah and Malakai, it now finds new expression on the same stage where their mother first stepped into history.