From the Principal

Year 12, rites of passage and the passing of time – looking ahead and looking behind

I am writing this looking out at reassuring calm and constancy of the CM Wood Performance Centre at the end of the final day of classes for Year 12 2016. At lunch today and in the final period, Year 12 students met with current and former teachers, some from the Junior Schools, to say thank you and farewell. We had the traditional signing of shirts and dresses (my apologies to Year 12 parents, but I just don’t think these will be being sold in the Uniform Shop!) and a moving range of emotions from students and staff.

Today is the Year 12 Fancy Dress Breakfast in the Anderson Centre, followed by the Year 12’s (informal) Assembly and then the whole-school Valedictory Service – it is a very, very significant day indeed for our Year 12 students, their parents and their teachers.

While this is certainly a time of some stress and anxiety, with examinations beginning next week for our Year 12 students, it is also a time of reflection and consideration. Over the last 6 or 7 school weeks, I have been fortunate to eat lunch with (almost) every Year 12 student. During these, the students have continually fascinated with their reflections on their time at the School.

Whether here for one year or for 14, our 2016 Valedictorians can certainly discern worth from smoke and mirrors and their observations have been pithy, humorous and packed with gratitude. They have cited many different things as ‘what I have valued most at Tintern’. Most frequently these were about gratitude to their parents, their teachers or to their friends. Gratitude to parents for making it possible for them to be sitting at our lunch, or for their unconditional support. Gratitude to staff for helping outside of class time, or when it was not convenient for the teacher and gratitude to their friends and peers for the mutual support and generosity of their year level.

Their expressions of gratitude revealed an outward-looking view, not self-focussed or narcissistic. A view that recognises the importance of, and the reliance all of us have on the generosity and good-will of others. This is a view that the father of Positive Psychology, Professor Martin Seligman, would say is the first step to a fulfilled life.

Having been a terrific group of leaders through this year, our 2016 Year 12 students are now an easy group to respect and admire as they turn heel and leave us for the final time.

Factis non verbis.

Bradley Fry
Principal

Music Matters

Brianna’s Sound Design Work ‘Live’ at the Arts Centre

You may recall the story in our 25 July edition of Aspectus regarding Brianna Oldmeadow’s contribution to a collaborative digital storytelling project between the Arts Centre Melbourne and students in primary and secondary schools around Victoria.

Brianna’s work was available to listen to ‘live’ during the recent school holidays in the specially designed sound booths at the Arts Centre (see photos) but, if you missed out on hearing her work there, then simply head to www.artscentremelbourne.com.au/stories and check out her sound design of the music for ‘Revenge of Ooragnak Mountain’.

Well done, Brianna!

Save

Community Matters

Tintern Grammar Fair 22 April 2017 

Stall Coordinators needed for various year levels

Many hands make light work, and we need many hands to make our Fair work! Each year level has been allocated a stall, and each stall is best run by one or two Stall Coordinators.  Can you help? Please review the list here on the portal (http://portal.tintern.vic.edu.au/news/item/2931) to see which stalls are associated with your year levels, and get in touch with the Fair Committee if you can help by being the Coordinator for your stall.  Your assistance makes a big difference, so thankyou to our wonderful Stall Coordinators.

Do you live on a main road?

Thank you to everyone who has volunteered their home to advertise our 2017 Fair. We are looking for further sites to widen our reach. If you live on a main road and are willing to have a Billboard placed in your front yard for 6 – 8 weeks prior to the Fair, please contact the Fair committee Fair@tintern.vic.edu.au We are fortunate to have a number of Real Estate agents with connections to our school community, who generously print and erect the billboards to promote our day.

Volunteer thank you evening – Save the date Thursday 3 November 7pm – 8.30pm

The school recognises that volunteers are an integral part of our Community and the whole school values your involvement and participation. Mr Bradley Fry warmly invites all our volunteers to join him for drinks and nibbles in the CM Wood Common room on Thursday 3 November from 7pm to 8.30pm. Invitations will be emailed shortly.

Year Groups 1976, 1971, 1966, 1961, 1956 & the Hawthorn Years ‘Return to Tintern’

Our CM Wood common room came alive with chatter and laughter as our most senior Alumnae came together for their respective reunions last Saturday. Year groups 1976, 1971, 1966, 1961, 1956, and groups from the Hawthorn years were welcomed back to School. Our newly elected 2017 leadership team ably led the reunion groups around on tour joining together back in the common room with our girls Chamber choir in a rendition of the school song which nearly took the roof off!! Miss Agnes Cross (headmistress 1911-1918) who wrote the song in 1913 would be very proud. Once the formalities were over the years just melted away and stories flowed like good wine. A special mention to Betty Boslooper from YG 1937 who, aged at 97 years old was our most senior Tinternite in attendance. Betty was accompanied by her daughter Susie Wall (Boslooper YG 1968).

Happy 80^th birthday at the 1953’s Yearly Catch up

A strong bond has developed throughout the 1953 year group such that they meet every year on the last Monday of September. This year was no exception when they met up at the Mountain View hotel in Glen Waverley. Special thanks to Mrs Adrienne Snowdon (Meuleman) who organises this event every year so they can all stay connected. This year was extra special as the group gathered to celebrate them all turning 80.

Mango Fundraiser is here again

The Tintern Parent Group are continuing to offer a Mango fundraiser for the end of year. Fresh North Queensland Mangoes direct from the farm to you! Order forms will be available on the portal soon.

Community Photo Albums

The Tintern Parents Group have now updated a limited number of photo albums, large enough to hold the school photos provided by SchoolPix. They feature the Tintern Grammar Logo printed in silver on the front cover and come complete with 10 transparent 30cm x 30cm sheet inserts, plus a CD holder insert which holds 8 discs. These quality-made, customised, “buckram” binders and inserts are offered at a saving of $20, as they retail for $90. Cost per album is $70 (GST inclusive) Albums come in Navy and Burgundy and samples can be viewed in the uniform shop. Please contact the Community Relations office on 9845 7877 or email communityrelations@tintern.vic.edu.au to order your copy.

Community Committee dates

• Tintern Parent Group (TPG) – Next meeting: Thursday 10 November 7.30pm CM Wood Common Room President: Jessica Adam
• Friends of Music (FOM) – Next Meeting: Tuesday 15 November 7.00pm CM Wood Common room President: Tim Oldmeadow
• Friends of Young Farmers (FOYF) – Next meeting: Please contact the Community Relations Office for next meeting details. President: Joy Ashfield              
• Friends of Equestrian (FOE) – Next Meeting: Tuesday 18 October 7.30pm Kennedy Cottage, Community services. President: Gabby McCallum

Sport Matters

Spring has sprung

The EISM ‘Spring’ sporting season is now underway for both Year 7 and Year 9 students and a variety of sports are on offer.

Year 7 girls are playing Softball, Tennis, Soccer and Volleyball, whilst Year 7 boys are involved in Hockey, Tennis, Indoor Cricket and Volleyball.

Year 9’s are in their third season of sport this year and girls are participating in Volleyball, Hockey, Badminton, Table Tennis and Ultimate Frisbee, whilst the boys are engaged in Volleyball, Indoor Cricket, Indoor Soccer, Touch Rugby and Netball.

This week the Senior School will hold girl’s and boy’s House Swimming Carnivals both of which are a mix of traditional swimming events and fun novelty events designed to engage a large number of participants, whatever their ability. It will be the first opportunity for our new Senior House Captains to test their organisational and inspirational skills.

News from Boys’ Middle School

A very big welcome back to all and I must admit there was a palpable feeling of excitement when the boys returned after their Term 3 holidays; maybe it was just their refreshed outlook after a holiday, or potentially that there were some warmer days with a bit of sunshine, or even that they were entering the last term, either way it was great to see them all and to hear about any adventures that they went on during their two weeks.

Although I’m a massive sports fan, I know that many boys are not and try not to overemphasise sporting achievements, sportsmen or women, etc. unless it is worthwhile and can be used to highlight something valuable. Over the holidays we saw a number of events that I believe are worth sharing with our boys as a way of helping them to understand and learn some key values. Firstly, was the fact that the Western Bulldogs managed to win the AFL premiership after waiting 62 years since their last. It was an amazing result considering they finished 7^th on the ladder but highlight to the boys that persistence, determination and belief are huge factors and so important to have in whatever journey of life we are on. Secondly was the act by Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge who handed his Coach’s medal to Robert Murphy, the almost 300 game Bulldog captain who is out injured and missed the premiership. This demonstrated an amazing amount of compassion, respect and integrity on behalf of Beveridge.

Other key things that our boys can learn from our sports men and women are:

• Hard work pays off: Talent is great, be it on the sports field or in the classroom, but what really sets the ‘stars’ apart is hard work, consistency and practice.
• Accountability: Understanding their own role in the greater community. An old saying is that a good team is greater than the sum of its parts. Meaning that no matter how good the individual players are, a team of average players that works together well will outperform a team of individual champions. As an individual, understanding this and being accountable to this is so important.
• Learning from mistakes (failure): AFL footballers are under greater scrutiny now than ever with the explosion of the internet, statistics, video replays, etc. What this does provide them with is a fantastic opportunity to learn however, from their mistakes. If they are coached (guided) right then they can turn any mistake into a great learning opportunity and this can also be said of school. It is so important that boys understand that failing (not achieving a desired outcome) is ok! That this is how we best learn and improve. It is crucial that they develop the attitude to wanting to succeed and being able to take on constructive feedback when offered.

Celebration Evening

On Monday 10^th we had our annual Celebration Evening at Robert Blackwood Hall at Monash University. It was a wonderful evening that highlighted many of the achievements and successes of our students throughout the year. In particular we were able to show our appreciation and best wishes to our Year 12 students who are about to embark on their exam period.

Sport

It was fantastic to see the effort of our boys in sport during the first two weeks of term. The results were fantastic with many of our teams having victories against traditionally strong schools. Year 8/9 indoor soccer won 3 nil, touch rugby 13 – 1 and indoor cricket 188 to -45 (negative 45). With our Year 7s our A volleyball team had a straight sets win whilst our indoor cricket team had a massive win 157 – 18. A really pleasing fortnight of scores. For more information please head to our Sport page on the Portal.

Maths Talent Quest success

It was fantastic for our school to recently have two students entered into the National Maths Talent Quest for 2016 after being adjudged best in Victoria in their respective categories. These students were Ashleigh Dowling (Year 8 girl) and Eddie Yu (Year 9 boy). Ashleigh was recognised with a participation award at the National level whilst Eddie was recognised with a Highly Commended for his project on Mathematical Thinking and it’s Limits. A wonderful result and highlight of the very strong ability of some of our students.

Indigenous Trek

Orientation Day Number 2

Taekwondo, Team Building and Circus were the main events for our second Year 7 2017 Orientation Day. The boys rotated through these activities, learning how to juggle, Roundhouse kick, and work in a team to solve initiative problems. The focus was on getting to know each other and working together, with prizes given for those who had made an effort in these areas. The boys are forming friendships and everything is in place for a wonderful 2017 Year 7 experience.

by Anthea Watkins, Year 7 Boys Level Co-ordinator

Save

Save

Year 8 Academic Training Day

Preparing for the Academic Challenge Day in October had a particular focus on the ‘impromptu’ on-minute speech. This event is a feature of this event; students are told of the theme for the round, then choose a number which reveals a one-word topic for them to discuss, with no preparation time. Another unique characteristic of this occasion is that students work in a team with one other member of their school, while the other 6 members of the team are pairs from 3 other schools. Students are required to be collaborative with strangers of like-mind, working on challenging tasks all of which have a time limit in what is truly an Academic Challenge Day.

by Anthea Watkins, Year 7 Boys Level Co-ordinator

Save

The blessing of a skinned knee

The Melbourne Cup holiday sees the commencement of our Junior School Camping Program. Our Year 5s will depart on Wednesday for their 2 night “Surf camp’ at Phillip Island, our Year 2 ‘Dads and Lads’ evening is on Friday 4 November while our Preps and Year 1s will have a Pyjama Party on Friday 11 November, held at school.

The camping program will conclude when our Year 3 & 4s have their wonderful camp at Camp Manyung, Mt Eliza, on Wednesday 16 – Friday 18 November.  Whilst our camps are always fun, they can prove to be a new experience for some boys, and I would encourage you to see me or your son’s class teacher should you believe some form of modification to the program is needed for him…I am very conscious that every boy has a different approach when it comes to camps. In previous years, I have written the following regarding camps, and I again refer to it, as I believe it most important with regard to our Camping Program.

Dr Leonard Sax, in his book Why Gender Matters, mentions the book of child psychologist Wendy Mogel who says that “…shielding children from injury makes them more risk-averse….letting them explore their world – at the cost of a few scrapes and cuts – builds their character and gives them self confidence.”

Camps are a wonderful avenue for us to ‘direct’ a boy’s natural bent for risk taking in a controlled environment, or as Sax says, “…supervised is better than unsupervised”, whereas he believes that girls need more risk taking experiences such as climbing trees,  and ‘getting dirty’.

Our camping program is a very important part of our school life, for not only does it promote fun and memorable experiences, it allows us to channel the natural energy of boys into meaningful and kinaesthetic activity. However, just as we recognise that academic development occurs at different rates, it is important to do so for social and emotional development. Many children find time spent away from home exciting and natural…others can find it very challenging. We cater for academic development through set, modified tasks, and we do the same for our camping program. Should you feel that your child requires modification to the camping program arrangements, please do not hesitate top contact me.

There are a number of personal characteristics that assist our boys in ensuring they have a happy and successful camping experience.

In this week’s Assembly, I will be handing out, and speaking to, the list below….10 simple and achievable rules for developing independence. Boys who cope best on camp are those who possess independence and responsibility…those who can look after themselves, find their hat, pack and unpack their suitcase, set a table, use a knife and fork, shower, apply sunscreen, wake up early and read quietly without waking others, eat with courtesy, and wait their turn…these ‘skills’ assist everyone in a group in a ‘home away from home’ situation. Independence on camps doesn’t mean not feeling homesick…it means being able to do basic tasks without always requiring adult assistance. Staff are always willing to assist and guide and care for our boys….but we all have a duty to promote independence in our boys. The coming weeks may be an ideal time to practice the rules mentioned.

Save

Save

Reading Stars!!!

My STARS reading group has been working studiously to develop their skills in the 12 different reading strategies over the year. The boys have worked with a variety of text types such as narratives, poems, reports and biographies. Recently we have been focusing on the strategy ‘Finding Word Meaning in Context’ and the discussions have been extremely valuable for increasing vocabulary, understanding word usage and discovering synonyms. When asked about the STARS program, Arya stated that he found it to be fun and educational and Oliver said that he has learnt a lot from the stories as well as improving his ability to answer the questions. Isaac likes the fact that he has learnt new words by reading the stories and Kristian enjoys the mixture of non-fiction and fiction texts. All boys agree that the STARS program has helped them tremendously with their reading.

by Sue Sparkes, Year 3 class teacher

The UNSW ICAS Writing Competition 2016

Selected students from Years 7, 8 and 9 achieved outstanding results when they participated in the International Competition and Assessment for Schools (ICAS) Writing Competition run by the University of New South Wales. It is an annual competition entered by students from Australia and overseas. All students receive a certificate and an individual student report indicating which questions they answered correctly, their total score as well as their average compared with the rest of the students in the State. The student report is also useful for highlighting student strengths and weaknesses in skills, and comparing their progress with previous results. Further personal details regarding individual student performance can be obtained from http://www.eaa.unsw.edu.au. Select Get Student Results from the top left corner of the screen and then enter your TAP-ID and Password (PIN) which are found at the bottom of the letter accompanying the certificate.

The best results were as follows:

Year 7

DISTINCTION:

• Joshua Choong
• Oscar de Jong (English Medallion winner for the highest score)
• Zoe Liew
• Sarah Thompson

Year 8

DISTINCTIONS:

• Ashleigh Dowling (English Medallion winner for the highest score)
• Zoe Forbes (English Medallion winner for the highest score)
• Amanda Samarasekara (English Medallion winner for the highest score)
• NB These students achieved an identical score!

Year 9

HIGH DISTINCTION:

• Kate Swain (English Medallion winner for the highest score)

DISTINCTIONS:

• Sean Chisholm
• Molly Fleming
• Meaghan Hynson
• Jasmin Liew
• Nicolani Susanto
• Kaitlyn Woodhill

Congratulations to all students who participated in this year’s Writing Competition.

Chris Millgate-Smith
Head of English

Mandy Cooke

I am writing with some sad news as Mandy Cooke has given in her resignation from her position as ELC Coordinator and Pre-Prep Teacher, effective end of Term 4 2016. We are very thankful for all that Mandy has done in her time at Tintern.  She has provided very skilful  leadership, has been a wonderful teacher and given tremendous support to all our families. As a colleague she has worked across the school with great enthusiasm and expertise during her 6 years at Tintern. 

Mandy will be sorely missed.  We wish her all the very best for the future.  She is planning to do some further post graduate study. In the next month or so you will have a chance to say goodbye and thank her for her wonderful contribution and commitment to Tintern over the years.

Year 6 Beyond Selfies Program

The Year 6 students have been enjoying a great opportunity not only to explore the elements of photography, but to communicate to others a true story of themselves. This is directly to combat how perception of self can depend on the opinions of others when posted online, and how responses can particularly affect self-esteem and body image. The students are indeed fortunate to be exploring these ideas.

As a conclusion to these lessons, the final self-portraits will be exhibited in the Colebrook Wing outside the Year 6 classrooms from Wednesday 19 October in Week 3 of Term 4. We warmly welcome you to view the portraits after 3.30pm on any day and if possible, speak with the photographers themselves about their intentions and messages.

Eastwood Primary School Twilight Market

Pre-Prep visit Infant Assembly

We had a delightful time in Assembly this week.  Our Pre-Prep girls came to visit to see what it is like in the Junior School, along with Miss Cooke and Miss Martin. There were a number of special items in Assembly with Maya Dass playing fantastically well on the cello and some Year 2 girls giving an interesting report on the Swimming Program. Our story this week was about Spring and the beauty of our environment, especially Tintern.  The days are getting longer and warmer, people are out and about and there is a buzz of excitement in the air…… it’s Springtime in Melbourne.

Pre-Prep visit Infant Assembly

We had a delightful time in Assembly this week.  Our Pre-Prep girls came to visit to see what it is like in the Junior School, along with Miss Cooke and Miss Martin. There were a number of special items in Assembly with Maya Dass playing fantastically well on the cello and some Year 2 girls giving an interesting report on the Swimming Program. Our story this week was about Spring and the beauty of our environment, especially Tintern.  The days are getting longer and warmer, people are out and about and there is a buzz of excitement in the air…… it’s Springtime in Melbourne.

News From Year 12

Our Celebration Evening on Monday 10 October was a wonderful night and one that I know all Year 12 students will remember for many years to come. For many students the idea that in a few short weeks coming to school every day would be a thing of the past, really hit home. There was a mixture of emotions with everything from joy, excitement and pride to sadness and some anxiety. It was great to hear both of our inspirational school captains, Genevieve Barclay and Michael D’Addazio, speak about their time at Tintern Grammar and how important the school has been in their lives. It was also very pleasing to see the whole year level come together for a great performance of the Year 12 Leaving song, led by Annie Chou and Genevieve Barclay.

Over the last few days the Year 12s have been busy with final classroom revision lessons, assemblies, uniform signing, their final breakfast and finally the Valedictory Service. I hope during this time they take a moment to stop, reflect and enjoy their final few days as a Tintern Grammar student. Personally, I would like to congratulate the students for getting to where they are today, despite the fact that for many of them, the journey has been a difficult one. I would also like to thank all Year 12 students for embracing the changes that occurred this year and for the most part maintaining a positive attitude throughout and supporting me through my first year as Year 12 co-ordinator. I have been so impressed by the work ethic, enthusiasm and good nature that so many students have consistently demonstrated.

On Tuesday 22 November, the Year 12 students will be farewelled for the last time at the Valedictory dinner. It is an occasion when students, families, guests and staff gather together to celebrate the achievements of the students and the completion of their secondary education. Students and families will sit together with other families and by now students should have signed their guests up for a table. If they have not done so already can I ask that they do this in the coming days?

Finally I would like to wish all students good luck for the examination period and the other exciting endeavours that lie ahead. I look forward to hearing updates on your journey in the years ahead.

by Jennifer Tsai Bove, Year 12 Co-ordinator

News From the Careers Department

At this time of the year the Careers staff are busy providing final support for our Year 12 students as they complete their last days of school at Tintern. The focus over the next month should be on their examinations and there is a two week period when students cannot change their preferences on the VTAC system. This year there has been greater interest in interstate and overseas applications that reflects the increasingly broader and more global perspectives of our young men and women. The Year 12s are exploring a range of options that include tertiary study, apprenticeships, internships, Gap year programs and entering the world of work.

Our Year 9 students have also been busy organising their Work Experience placements for June 2017 and they are required to finalise these arrangements by the end of Term 1 next year.

CareerNews Number 15 – October 2016

The latest edition of CareerNews is now available and an index of the newsletter includes a particular emphasis for Year 12 students:

Reminder

1. Year 12 and VTAC
2. Where can I get assistance during ‘Change of Preference Week’?
3. University of Melbourne News
4. Indigenous Students: Think your Way
5. What if I don’t get a high enough ATAR to get into my desired course?

All the editions of the CareerNews can be found on the Careers Portal page.

News from Girls’ Middle School

Term 4 is off to a flying start and it has been terrific to see students and staff return from the September break revived and ready for what is always a busy but enjoyable term. At this time of the year we begin to reflect on the year to date and it still surprises me how quickly time flies. With Year 12s saying their goodbyes as they prepare for their end of year examinations and life after school, it is heartening to hear them reflect positively on their time at Tintern and laugh as they share their memories of the Middle School…which seem like a lifetime ago to them, but it feels like it was only yesterday to staff!

On 5 October, all Prep – Year 12 girls and staff joined together for a wonderful assembly to recognise, congratulate and celebrate the Year 12 Girls as they come to the end of their school journey. During the assembly we heard reflections from Annie Chou, Anna Harvey and Tamara Molnar about their experiences at Tintern and we enjoyed looking at a slideshow that showcased 13 years of memories. Our Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 girls presented the Year 12 girls with a card. Also at this assembly, our Year 12 Co-ordinator Jen Tsai Bove spoke with great passion to our Year 12 group. I wanted to share with you some of the words from her speech that I feel capture how we feel as staff about students at this exciting time of their life “I would like to share with you two examples of Tintern school Life that have been significant and important to me. The first is the Year 12 formal. Now, I am sure that many of you know how much I like a pretty dress and a great pair of shoes, but that is not why I like the year 12 formal. For me, seeing how you have grown and developed from eager little Year 7 students, into mature and sophisticated young ladies and thinking that somewhere along the way, we at Tintern have helped you to develop in some small way into the wonderful young women you are today is very special. The other reason I would like to reference the formal is because I want you as young women in a ‘looks obsessed society’ to remember that what you look like, does not and should not define who you are.

For me a great example of Tintern school life that I believe really demonstrates that the importance of attributes over appearance was the two world challenge expeditions I took part in. I loved that there as many, if not more girls who were willing to take on this enormous challenge. I loved that girls were willing to leave the nice clothes, hair straighteners, make-up and mobile phones at home and embrace another culture another way of life. I loved seeing girls covered in mud, walking in the rain and still having the time of their lives. I loved that you were not only willing to accept the challenges that were thrown your way but face them head on. I loved seeing young women take on important leadership roles and doing things that mattered. I loved seeing young women thrive when times were tough and home seemed like such a long way away. Whether or not you went on the World challenge is irrelevant. These are things that all of you have done in some way at some time while here at Tintern. These are the things that should define you, and these are the things that all of you are capable of.

So in summary my key messages for today are; reflect on your time, experiences and relationships at Tintern. Think about how they have helped shape you now, and how they will shape your future. Respect yourselves and take pride in who you are – not just in what you look like. Finally, show the world what strong, independent, competent and valuable young women. Do things that you love but also do those that scare you – you will probably surprise yourself.”

One of the exciting things about Term 4 is that we continue to welcome our new Year 7s for 2017 as they take part in their orientation program. Their second orientation day was held in the first week of term and there was great energy and enthusiasm as the girls participated in a range of activities including taekwondo and circus skills. Our next orientation day is being held on Thursday 17 November. On this final orientation day girls will spend the whole day at school and will be placed into their 2017 Pastoral groups and House groups.

It was great to see so many families at our 2016 Celebration Evening. The night was most enjoyable, not only as we recognised the achievements of our Middle School Award recipients but also as we celebrated and reflected on the many aspects of school life our girls participate in. Our Middle School Captains, Kim and Kate, summarised the highlights of the year so far and I have every confidence that in our remaining weeks there will be more ‘highlights’ added to the year. The Year 7s can look forward to their ‘Night of the Notables’ next week, Year 8s their Performing Arts Night and ‘Days for Girls’ and Year 9s their forthcoming exams and summer expeditions. Next Thursday and Friday we have many girls performing in the 9/10 Production – The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13¾  in the CM Wood Centre with performances beginning at 7.30pm, I hope to see many of you there.

9/10 Production – The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13¾

“I’m not blind, deaf and dumb. You’re going to have an affair with her aren’t you?”

“IT’S NOT MY FAULT I WAS BORN WITH TOO MANY HORMONES WAS IT?”

“There a new girl at our school… I might fall in love with her”

There really is something for everyone in this play. The secret diary of Adrian Mole- aged 13 and 3/4. I’m sure everyone remembers it as that weird book that talked about things that no one really talked about? Well now it’s the weird play that talks about things that no one really talk about. Tintern’s own Vince Di Mitrio produced a play that everyone, whether they are in it or have seen it, love it. We, as the cast are looking forward to showing you all this amazing production to anyone and everyone we can, so please just humor us and come see it. It is truly an odd play that is a real must see.

by Elissa Wright, Year 9

Hoop Time Basketball

Congratulations to the Junior School Girls’ Hoop Time Basketball team (below) who progressed to the second round of the competition.  They played courageously and did us proud with a ‘can do’ attitude.  Well done to the girls and the commitment to this sport.

Elise Barlow

Lucy Fairhurst

Grace Jenkin

Charli Kilworth

Aleisha Paul

Reese Stephens

Gen Gough

Next issue of Aspectus

Due to the mid-term break the next Aspectus will be sent out on Wednesday 2 November.

From the Head of Senior College

Celebration Evening

As has been previously mentioned, our Celebration Evening was indeed a wonderful celebration of all the wonderful achievements of our secondary students from Years 7 – 12 and in particular a wonderful farewell for this year’s Year 12 class of 2016. I know that many of the families who attended felt that this year’s Celebration Evening was most certainly one of the very best we have had. I would have to agree that items such as: the Combined Orchestras’ performance of Carmen Vitae; the combined Choir performance of Mozart’s Laudate Dominum, with its fabulous solo by Heidi Ruckert; and, the School Musical cast singing the rousing signature song Oklahoma!, would all qualify as highlights of the evening.

On behalf of all members of the Tintern Grammar Community I would like to congratulate all students who were recognised with awards and I am delighted to publish the names of those students who received “Special School Awards” – the recipients of these awards are not shown in the program as we keep these awards as closely guarded “secrets” until they are announced on the evening.

Special School Awards

June Ward Trophy for Commitment to Sport – Madeleine Wright, Year 12

Pinnacle Trophy for Commitment to Sport – Corey Robinson, Year 12

Sylvia Walton Trophy for Excellence in Sport – Gary Haasbroek, Year 12

The Pierre De Coubertin Award for Olympism – Anjali Lobo, Year 12

The Mei Lyn Wong Award for the Dux of the School, 2015 – Stefani Sharp, Year 12 2015

Elizabeth Ann Walker Art Award – Aimee Bush, Year 11

The Helen Neyland ICT Award – Natasha Bigg-Wither, Year 11

The Young Farmer’s Award – Daisy McMillan, Year 11

The Friends of Young Farmers’ Award (The David Wilkinson Award) – Maya Watt, Year 11

The Tintern Parent’s Group Awards – Jake Hill & Tamara Molnar of Year 12

The Marisa Sibson Award – Nikki Cazaz, Year 11

The Lyn Bartold Performing Arts Award – Ryan Tierney, Year 12

The Friends of Music Award – Corey Robinson, Year 12

Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Awards – Victor Tran, Year 10 and Genevieve Barclay, Year 12

The International Students Awards – Bill Chen & Fei Wang, Year 12

School Awards – Nick Elliott, Anna Harvey, Rhys Kaigg, Heidi Ruckert & Sam Sharwood, all of Year 12

The Caltex All-Rounder Award – Corey Robinson, Year 12

The Wendy McComas Award – Rachael Merritt, Year 12

The Chairman’s Awards – Anjali Lobo & Rory Shepherd, both of Year 12

The Emma B Cook Award – Genevieve Barclay, Year 12  

The Sylvia Walton Award – jointly to Michael D’Addazio & Ryan Tierney, both of Year 12

Student Leadership Team for 2017

I first take this opportunity to thank our School Captains, Vice-Captains, School Leaders, International Student Leaders and House Captains for 2016. They have all worked wonderfully together and we are thankful for their many contributions to the School.

At Celebration Evening the new Senior Student Leadership teams for 2016 were announced to the audience and I have great pleasure in publishing their names below:

House Captains, 2017

Butterss/Cross: Caleb Fitzpatrick & Amy Richardson

Dann/Watt: Karly Rosenbrock & Nick Spencer

Gordon/Grant: Nick Harrison & Chloe Pearce-Schmidt

Mansfield/McKie: Daniel Smith & Lucy Wheeler

Somner/Stewart: Robyn Dolphin & Mackenzie Smead   

International Student Leaders, 2017: Eddie Wang & Vicky Wang

School Leaders 2017: Adele Bicknell, Patrick Kenna, Daisy McMillan, Jayan Pillay & Grace Power

School Vice–Captains 2017: Mitchell Lacey & Louise Smith

School Captains 2017: Sienna Gerin & Angus Maynard

Co-Curricular Leadership Positions

Year 11 students have recently been given the opportunity to apply for the various available positions of Co-Curricular Leadership and I will publicise the names of successful applicants towards the end of this term when decisions have been made.

Tintern Grammar Fair 2017

Tintern Grammar Fair – your chance to get involved

The Fair Committee is in progress making fun plans for a great community day next year, as part of our school’s 140 years celebrations. Now is the opportunity for our parents and guardians to get involved too!

Here are just a few ways you can help right now:

• Offering donations of goods or services
• Joining the Fair Committee as the Stage & Entertainment Coordinator
• Become a Stall Coordinator for your year level (see below)
• Sponsoring a specific stall
• Do you live on a main road? Could we please place a Fair Advertising Board in your front yard in the weeks leading up to the Fair next year?

If you can assist with any of these items, or even just to share your ideas, get in contact with the committee at Fair@tintern.vic.edu.au or call our Fair Convenor, Amanda McKenzie on 0419 313 279.

Stall allocations to year levels:

Mandy Cooke

I am writing with some sad news as Mandy Cooke has given in her resignation from her position as ELC Coordinator and Pre-Prep Teacher, effective end of Term 4 2016. We are very thankful for all that Mandy has done in her time at Tintern.  She has provided very skilful  leadership, has been a wonderful teacher and given tremendous support to all our families. As a colleague she has worked across the school with great enthusiasm and expertise during her 6 years at Tintern. 

Mandy will be sorely missed.  We wish her all the very best for the future.  She is planning to do some further post graduate study. In the next month or so you will have a chance to say goodbye and thank her for her wonderful contribution and commitment to Tintern over the years.

The UNSW ICAS Mathematics Competition 2016

The International Competition and Assessment for Schools (ICAS) Mathematics Competition run by the University of New South Wales is an annual competition participated by students from Australia and 20 countries globally. Tintern Grammar had students from Year 7 to 12 take part and some exceptionally commendable results were obtained: 7 Certificates of High Distinction (top 1%), 51 Certificates of Distinctions (top 10%), and 93 Certificates of Credit (top 30%). All students receive a certificate and an individual student report indicating which questions they answered correctly, their total score as well as their average compared with the rest of the students in the State. The student report is also useful for highlighting student strengths and weaknesses in skills and processes and progress compared to any previous results. Further personal details regarding individual student performance can be obtained from http://www.eaa.unsw.edu.au. Select Get Student Results from the top left corner of the screen and then enter your TAP-ID and Password (PIN) which are found at the bottom of the letter accompanying the certificate. The best results were as follows:

YEAR 7

HIGH DISTINCTION: Oscar De Jong, Oliver Huang, Sayani Kaluarachchi

DISTINCTIONS: Adam Choong, Joshua Choong, Amelia Kenny, Matthew Cobb, Joel Dunn, Alexander Higgins, Angelique Argyros, Freya Bryson, Mitchell Gerin, Jonah Fleming, Zoe Liew, Holly Whitfield, Alana Lawson

YEAR 8

HIGH DISTINCTION: Ashleigh Dowling

DISTINCTIONS: Matthew Xu, Charlotte O’Callaghan

YEAR 9

HIGH DISTINCTION: Nicolani Susanto

DISTINCTIONS: Eddie Yu, Ron Chen, Daniel Boss, Aidyn Malojer, Olivia Adkins, Jasmin Liew, Madeline Jones, Gemma Bettes, Bianca Gerin, Molly Fleming, Brayden Stokes.

YEAR 10

HIGH DISTINCTION: Hollis Huang, Gavin Choong 

DISTINCTIONS: Rita Chen, Victor Tran, Holly Fryer, Mae Eadie, Ruby Wensor, Kevin Xu, Olivia Ma, Daniella Cosentino, Emma Scealy, Peter Cobb, Elizabeth O’Dell, Annabelle McKenzie, Brianna Oldmeadow.

YEAR 11

DISTINCTIONS: Edward Wang, Alison Yang, Sabrina Wang, Maya Watt.

YEAR 12

DISTINCTIONS: Corey Robinson, Simon Pywell, Alan Wu, Madeleine Tillyer, Nadia Penman, Michael Gao, Maksis Darzins, Keely McGovern.         

Congratulations to all students who participated in this year’s Competition!

by Gary Collins, Head of Mathematics

Save

Save

Save

University of Melbourne Mathematics Awards Ceremony

On Saturday 8th October, Hollis Huang of Year 10 received an Outstanding Award for his performance in the 2016 University of Melbourne Mathematics Competition. This placed him in the top 25 of all the exceptionally gifted mathematics who competed in the Intermediate Division of this competition. In reference to the magnitude of this achievement, the head organiser, Professor Tony Guttmann, stated “we congratulate you on your achievement as only the most able are successful at this level”. Pictured is Hollis with guest speakers and presenters, Dr Norman Do (Monash University School of Mathematical Science) and Professor Jamie Evans (University of Melbourne School of Engineering).

Matthew Xu, who also won a Certificate of Merit for the Junior Division, placing him in the top 50 competitors, was unable to attend the formal presentation ceremony.

by Gary Collins, Head of Mathematics

Year 2 Integrated Studies

This term Year 2 are investigating mixtures in their unit All Mixed Up. We have started combing various ingredients and are using annotated drawings to record what we can see and smell. We have started with dry ingredients and will move on to adding liquids. We will also be thinking about whether we can separate the mixtures after they have been combined.

by Jen Sloane, Year 2 Teacher

Save

Save

Indigenous Trek

This year we took part in the Indigenous Trek with Tintern, our Trek took us from Uluru through the Olgas, Curtain Springs and Kings Creek cattle stations, Glen Helen Resort and Gorge, Hermannsberg (Ntaria) and finally Alice Springs. Joining us on our trip were trip organiser and teacher, Ms Eggleston, Mr Woolhouse and our bus driver and cook- Dazza (Darren) and Joy.

We began our Trek at Uluru Airport and made our way to our campsite Ayers Rock Resort for the first 2 nights resort. After a brief rest at our campsite to drop off our gear we went on a trip into Kata Tjuta National Park to the Indigenous Culture centre. After looking around at all the artwork, tools and sculptures made from wood by the aboriginal men and women we went to a lookout spot to watch Uluru at sunset. After a spectacular show of Uluru changing colours through different stages of sunset, we headed back to camp for our first night. After a great sleep in our swags we headed off to view the sunrise at Uluru. This was a beautiful display of colours and showed the great natural beauty of the area. We then headed off to Kata Tjuta (also known as the Olgas), which is a large rock formation near Uluru. We trekked around the amazing scenery there and took in the picture perfect views. The next day we headed off to Cave Hill, which is pretty much just a cave on a hill. This site is one of the most important cultural sites in the Northern Territory for the Indigenous people. There were some paintings inside of the cave that were over 20,000 years old so we had to be careful moving around the cave. Our local Indigenous guide told us about the story of the Seven Sisters and their journey. The Indigenous don’t tell stories just for the sake of telling them, they tell them to teach life lessons to the younger generations coming through. We spent the night at the Kings Creek Cattle Station, which is a massive station with a couple of thousand head of cattle on it. The next morning we travelled to the nearby Kings Canyon. Here we did a rim walk that was both strenuous and picturesque. The next day we detoured into Gosses Bluff, which is the world’s 3rd largest comet impact site. We then proceeded along The Mereenie Track which provides an alternative scenic route from Alice Springs to Kings Canyon and Uluru. We stayed the night at Glen Helen Resort which sits on the side of a river that flows into a beautiful waterhole nearby. During our stay at Glen Helen we experienced not only cultural things about the Northern Territory but more of its stunning beauty from sunrise to sunset. We did a lot of swimming in the river and Glen Helen Gorge, as well as enduring another challenging walk to Ormiston Gorge where we swam in the gorge and invented a new game with paddy melons. Glen Helen also opened a new aspect of the trip that we hadn’t really ventured into yet; spending great nights in the little shop/pub where we really got to know each other playing pool with Dazza, listening to live music and just sitting around talking. It was a really good experience to be hanging out with a group of people we wouldn’t usually hang out with and we personally learnt a lot about each other.

Our next destination was Hermannsberg or as it is called by the local Indigenous people, Ntaria. In Ntaria, another new and challenging experience came knocking. This challenge wasn’t a physical challenge, but mental. Ntaria isn’t exactly what you’d call a visually stunning place but it doesn’t need looks to take your breath away. After a look around the heritage centre, we had a chat with one of the Heritage centre guys who talked all about how Ntaria came about and the Lutheran Mission as well as the local indigenous people and their culture. After spending a night listening to dogs bark at each other we ate breakfast, loaded onto the bus and headed to Ntaria School. Ntaria School was the mental challenge I mentioned before. It was a truly amazing school, not only the way it’s run and the kids that were in it, but the staff and of course the principal- Cath Green. Before we split up into different classrooms Cath gave us a really great speech about how she’s been there for 8 years and how she’s seen the school grow but what was really amazing was how she said straight up to us that even though she’s been there almost a decade she doesn’t understand the Indigenous culture. We think we know about the culture but really we only know the surface. We can see the soil on the surface, but there are thousands and thousands of metres of soil and rock below that we don’t know anything about and it’s exactly the same in a sense of what we know about Indigenous culture. We know the surface but the thousands and thousands of years below we know nothing about and we will never understand. After Cath’s short but touching speech we found ourselves in separate classrooms teaching kids of all ages. At the breaks we played footy with the young kids and they were really into it; running around tackling each other and ripping off their shirts. It was really good fun and we really enjoyed it. What really touched me was towards the end of the school day when the bigger kids came out to kick the footy and I found myself the only white kid standing around 10 Indigenous kids. Now that was really special, for the very first time in my life I was the minority race and not only was it confronting in a sense of feeling it was a moment of reflection of what it must be like for them when they go to schools where white people are the ‘dominant’ skin colour. Upon returning to camp, Dazza informed us it was going to rain so we set about preparing ourselves for the rain. After a wet night we packed up our swags for the final time, loaded the bus and set off for Alice Springs.

When we arrived in Alice we went straight to the wildlife centre. The wildlife centre was like a zoo, only it was for both flora and fauna. On our walk through the ‘Zoo’ our guide taught us all about the different birds and reptiles as well as the trees and flowers. It was really interesting to learn the names of all the animals, trees and plants we’d seen over the trip. After our tour we headed to Desert Palms where we stayed the next 2 nights in cabins with beds. Before we went to bed for our first night in Alice, we shook hands with Dazza and thanked him for driving us around and teaching us about the people, flora and fauna of the Northern Territory and also being a great mate to us all. After a great sleep in our beds we packed our bags and headed out on a guided tour of Alice Springs where we visited the botanic gardens, Royal Flying Doctors Service, The Women’s Museum and the Alice Springs reptile centre where we got to learn more about individual snakes and lizards as well as holding them. After that we headed to Anzac Hill where we had a chance to view Alice from above as well as pay our respects to the men and women who served our country before us. After Anzac Hill we split off in groups for lunch and a chance to go shopping which ended our day in Alice on a positive. The following day after a very much needed sleep in (some of us through breakfast) we packed our bags for the final time, said our good byes to Joy and headed for Alice Springs airport where we concluded our trip.

All in all the trek showed and taught us about the cultures, beauty, fun, ugliness and harshness of the outback, from the wide scrub plains to the jagged edges of the MacDonnell Ranges it really did take us on a trek.

by Angus Bicknell and Mitch Wooller

Under the Sea

As part of our Integrated Studies topic of Under the Sea, the Prep boys have been looking at floating and sinking, culminating in the creation of an ocean in a bottle. The boys had to do a lot of investigating to determine what they could use as the clear liquid at the top. Suggestions ranged from plain water to dishwashing liquid. Our final product was Baby Oil, which was perfect! The next task was to find something which would float on water but sink in oil. The boys were very surprised that wooden objects floated in the oil. Our boats ended up being made from milk carton plastic, and they do actually look like they are floating on the water! We also made some very cute little clay sea creatures to live on the bottom of our bottle.  

by Claire MacDonald, Prep Teacher

Key Dates Term 4 2016

Duke of Edinburgh (Year 10 – 12) Adventurous Journey – Major Mitchell Plateau

During the recent September holidays a group of 17 students and 4 staff members explored the magnificent area of the Grampians for a Duke of Edinburgh Silver and Gold journey. For many students, this was their qualifying journey and they had to plan and manage themselves independently for the 4 days. The teachers were there as back up, to provide pastoral care and general safety.

Below are two reflections from Ada Chen (Year 11) and Joel Williams (Year 10). Ada is an international student, new to Tintern this year, and this journey was her first experience of hiking and camping. Joel is an experienced outdoor education student and leader. I hope you enjoy reading their reflections.

by Anne Bortolussi, Co-ordinator Duke of Edinburgh program

Duke of Edinburgh Gold Qualifying Journey Reflection

On Sunday 18^th September, I arrived at Tintern Grammar at 9am and headed to the farm to help pack the trailer with packs, food, fire wood and group gear. The trip was supposed to take 3 and a half hours of driving, however, we did not arrive at Halls Gap Caravan park until around 3.30 pm to due stops along the way for bus driver breaks. After arriving we quickly set up our tents. My tent buddies were Jack and Hollis. After the tent went up we started the camp fire. That night all we had a camp-oven dinner, which everyone helped prepare.

The people in on the hike were Abi Baker (Knox School), Ada Chen, Angus Maynard, Belinda Rees, Eliza Mignot, Elizabeth O’Dell, Emily Cowin, Erin Hynson, Hollis Huang, Jack Read, Julia Doupe (Yarra Valley Grammar), Karly Rosenbrock, Miranda Molnar, Patrick Kenna, Tara McAsey and Tash Bigg-Wither. Before we went to bed, we all has a meeting about what the plan would be for the next day.

The next morning we got up early and ate some breakfast which was delicious. We packed our day packs and walked to the Indigenous Cultural Centre, Brambuk. In the centre we watched videos on the scientific history and Indigenous stories of the landscape and read about the history of the local area. We had lessons on how to throw a boomerang and Jack won a boomerang to take home. We then walked to Lake Bellfield Dam and Jack and I ran across the dam wall, which was a lot longer than we expected. We had lunch below Sundial Point and then walked to the Pinnacle. It was a really good view. We could see where we had walked earlier that day and also where we were about to go. After walking through the Venus Baths, we arrived back at the campsite. It was a long 18 – 20km but it was well enjoyed with great views throughout the day.

That night we went to the supermarket to get some food to cook for dinner. We all had burgers and a brownie for dessert and it was a group effort to prepare. It was all delicious and then the group sat around the fire talking. We all went to bed ready for a big day and the first part of the Major Mitchell Plateau.

On our second morning we ate breakfast and dried our tent in the sun before we packed up the trailer to drive to the Sheep Hills carpark. On the way to the carpark we got a little lost but we found our way by checking the amp more carefully and giving better instructions to Ms Constable who was driving our bus. We got our packs out of the trailer, said goodbye to the other group and started walking 14kms to the Jimmy Creek campsite. The 10 students in my group were Jack Read, Angus Maynard, Patrick Kenna, Emily Cowin, Erin Hynson, Eliza Mignot, Hollis Huang, Julia Doupe, Abi Baker, and teachers, Ms Ord and Jannick. We walked along a fire track management road all day so the view didn’t change much. We came across a dead deer that smelt really bad and we found a big D bolt which we tied to people’s packs as a fun game which lasted most of the trip. I was ‘Navigation’ person that day which was I found easy as we were on the same path all day but it was fun to gain more experience in that field. When we finally arrived at the Jimmy Creek campsite we set up our tent and Angus, Jack, Yannick and I played boomerang. We went for a swim in the creek which was very cold but it felt good to be clean and not smell like the dead deer. For dinner Jack and I had gnocchi, which was nice and filling followed by pudding. After we washed up and everyone when to bed, Angus, Jack and I stayed up and talked about the day and Emily and Erin joined us for a while before we all went to bed.

It felt good to get out of the tent in the morning and after breakfast we packed up the tent and set off to the next campsite. We established a comfortable pace and everyone was having an enjoyable time. We started ascending and we were in the clouds and couldn’t see very far around us. It was a strange feeling being so high up but having no views, just cloud all around us. The hills started getting very steep and I was finding it very hard to scramble up the path. At the end of the hardest section, we ran into the other group and it was perfect timing. It was good seeing the others and getting an idea on how the areas were going to be, and what to expect at our next campsite. After a long talk with the other group, we said our goodbyes and set off walking to our lunch stop. The lunch was great because we were so hungry. After lunch, with a view of only clouds, it started to rain so we all put on our rain jackets and started to walk in the rain, clouds and wind. At some points we were walking next to a cliff and we looked down to only see more cloud. After walking on mossy rocks for a long time, we arrived at our campsite, dripping wet and cold, but very excited to set up our tents and get dry. We had an early dinner. Jack and I cooked pasta under a tarp in the rain and it was satisfying to have some warm food in our stomachs. We went to bed at 6.30pm but it rained and was windy all night so I didn’t get much sleep.

In the morning, I couldn’t hear any rain drops on the tent so I got up and looked outside and it was a blue sky. We could see around the campsite and it felt so good to see the actual sky. Most of us were in a happy mood which made packing up the tent very easy. We left camp early that morning and started heading towards Mount William. The views were fabulous and we could see all the mountains and valleys in the distance. It was such a change to yesterday’s experience and it didn’t feel like the same place. The other group had warned us about the rocks that we had to scramble down, but it wasn’t as hard as the other group had found it. Everyone was wearing different clothes because most of our clothes were wet from the night before, and most people were wearing overpants and spray jackets. It was great to reach the top of Mount William which is the highest point in the Grampians. We walked down the mountain and had lunch at a lookout with lots of waterfalls and cliffs. The last couple of kilometers felt a lot longer than they should have, but at the end of the trip everyone was getting along really well, considering we barely knew the people in the group before this trip.

When we arrived at the car park, we discovered that the other team had beaten us to the bus. This was a little sad as we wanted to get to the finish first. On the way home, we had dinner at the Beaufort Pub which was very filling. The drive back to Tintern was quiet, with not much talking and most people sleeping. When we arrived back at the Outdoor Education sheds, we all helped unpack and it was sad saying good bye to everyone.            

I highly recommend this excursion to Major Mitchell Plateau. It was great to make new friends and to gain more experience in the outdoors. In the future we can go on similar trips with friends and know how to plan, prepare, be safe and have a good time.

by Joel Williams, Year 10

Silver Practice Journey Reflection – Major Mitchell Plateau Walk 18^th Sept-22^nd Sept

This practice journey was actually my very first hike. It gave me a brand new experience of a totally different way of life. I learned to become a tougher person as well as to embrace the beauty of Mother Nature. For this journey, we decided to go to the Grampians. Then we prepared our food, borrowed camping gear from school and we were ready to go.

We arrived at Halls Gap after a long drive from school. There were several wallabies waiting for us at the campsite. We chose a flat area to set up our tents which was easier than I expected. Unfortunately, one of the tent poles snapped in the middle. Thankfully, our teachers helped us out by securing the pole with a short metal pole. The camp fire dinner was an amazing experience and I toasted marshmallows on an open fire for the first time. This was a great start for the upcoming journey.

The journey was split into two parts. For the first part, the whole group of about 20 people did a day walk from Halls Gap. For the second part, we divided into two groups walking either clockwise or anticlockwise over the Major Mitchell Plateau. As a beginner, I was placed with the group doing the easier clockwise walk.

Our second day was to be a day walk carrying a light pack. First, we visited the Aboriginal Centre in Halls Gap (Brambuk) where we saw amazing short films about the dreamtime and aboriginal culture. We learnt that people have been living in this place for thousands of years and that the Grampians were never a barren land. That afternoon our walk officially started. I knew it was going to be tough being my first hike, especially as I have always been considered unfit. Surprisingly, I found going uphill quite easy, possibly because I was born and raised in a mountainous area, or because I walk to school every day. Nonetheless, going downhill was a huge challenge for me. I didn’t have a pair of proper hiking shoes and my runners were not able to grip on the slippery rocks. This resulted in me constantly tumbling down. However, the views over the mountains were mesmerizing. The ups and downs of the mountains, the yellow fields fading into horizons and the ever-changing shadows of the clouds, all made me feel that the hard work had paid off. What made it even more wonderful was a wild emu bumped into us on the way. I even got to keep one of the emu’s feathers! We encountered a few waterfalls, too. The water was transparent but brown in colour due to tannin from the trees.

The next three days were much more challenging. The overnight hike meant we had to carry our packs all the way to our next campsite. Fortunately, my pack was relatively light. My teammates had helped me repack it without all the unnecessary stuff and taught me how to fold my tent correctly. Their friendliness and positivity encouraged me to face the upcoming challenges. Ms Bortolussi gave me some pieces of foam to alleviate the soreness caused by carrying my bag. I struggled to keep up with the pace of the group and I struggled with negative thoughts and feelings of frustration. I had a meltdown when I nearly fell down a rocky, steep hill. The whole group was so supportive and courageous that I was able to brace myself again. The rain started pouring when we reached the campsite. We had to cook dinner in the cold rain and the frustration caught up with me again.

After a lovely, long sleep, my energy bar was replenished. The pleasant, foggy weather made the place look like a wonderland. This area was nice and flat with a long easy boardwalk, which was the way I had imagined the journey to be. The vegetation in this terrain was mostly dwarf bushes. Some colourful succulents, crystal-like moss made it even better. When we met up with the other group, everyone was excited to be together after a long day. The other group told us that we would experience two steep descents but the rest of the walk should be relatively flat. For the last day, we would be crossing several creeks and the track would be merely undulating.

After saying goodbye to the other group, we were on our way to our last camp site. I was able to keep up with the group most of the time, however, near the end, when we were just 2 hours from our campsite, I was left behind again. Finally we crossed a road and arrived at our campsite. The environment was awesome and we saw a large group of wallabies. There were clean toilets and crystal-clear water fresh from a tap! A friendly man taught us how to light a camp fire on a rainy day. The weather was bad but we managed to cook delicious pasta before it got dark.

Finally, the last day arrived and we were all excited to be going home. The tracks were muddy, which was much better than rocky. (I was so over that rocky scramble!) Rather than steep rocky tracks, we had creeks and puddles. We were singing every time we crossed a creek. There were 12 creeks in total and every time we crossed one off the list, I felt a real sense of relief. With our positive vibe, we beat the other group to the bus. I was so glad that we were going back to civilization, but I also knew a part of me was going to miss this unforgettable adventure with such an awesome team.

I would not say that the journey was a highly enjoyable experience. However, it definitely widened my horizons to new aspects of life and I learnt how efficient team work can be. Without our supportive team, I don’t think I could have made it through the whole journey. It also made me appreciate modern technology. I never realized how inconvenient it could be to not have lights at night; nor did I realise how frustrating the rain was without a shelter. I am so proud that I have participated in this journey. Now I have one more thing to brag about when I go back to China.

by Ada Chen, Year 11