From the Head of Barker

Barker Robotics -

Gracious Professionalism

Our Hall of Fame Award in the FRC Robotics program was announced in 2021 but actually presented to Barker at the International Competition Finals held in Houston, Texas, in April 2022 when the COVID restrictions eased sufficiently to allow international travel to resume.

Barker is the only school outside of the US to be admitted to the Hall of Fame. The citation for our award listed the many achievements of Barker Robotics since its modest inception at the School in 2013. Notable amongst these achievements is the spirit of “gracious professionalism” demonstrated by Barker and which is a trait highly valued by the FIRST Robotics Competition. Gracious professionalism manifests in a culture that surpasses excellence in design and performance in competition. It is the willingness to share ideas with other teams and alliances, to offer support to others where there is a need (irrespective of whether they are competing against us), and a willingness sacrificial to enable others to grow. Doesn’t this sound a lot like “Honor Non Honores”? Over the past few years, the Barker FRC Team has supported the establishment of robotics in China, Brazil, South Africa and India, as well as other schools in Australia. Our team leaders, Jeser and Daiane, and their OBA alumni coaches have created robotics experiences for our Darkinjung and Ngarralingayil Barker children, thereby opening a new world of engagement and possibility. Teams from around the world who travelled to Houston for the World Championships trace their origins back to the contributions of Barker. Gracious professionalism was also evident during the competition. Notwithstanding the fierce matchplay and tactical battling, the 4613 Barker Redbacks were again generous in their support of others, openly sharing technical and strategic advice to anyone who visited them. A few technical issues struck our Alliance in the quarter-finals where we lost 1-2 in a best of three matches. Barker Robotics has grown significantly and now involves hundreds of students from Junior School to Year 12 in three different styles of experience. We have created a new VEX Robotics lab as well as a marvellous new space for FRC activities in the former Hornsby BMW Showroom, where we will be able to replicate a full size field and have room for design work, machining, coding and planning. I am so grateful to our community of parents, students and staff for making this happen.

Fittingly, we were honoured by the Their Excellencies, the Governor-General and Mrs Hurley, who presented the Hall of Fame Award in a memorable ceremony at Admiralty House in May. Joined by students and families who were present at the start of our whole Robotics journey, the ceremony was a beautiful celebration of all that has been accomplished. Robotics is much more than electronic gaming. It combines careful design, construction, team play and character forming application to detail under rigorous, even stressful circumstances. Australian students can match the best in the world if we give them an opportunity. More than that, Barker students demonstrate gracious professionalism in the way they approach each challenge. These are qualities of good character that have long been synonymous with the Barker Way, and that will carry all our students into their future.

Phillip Heath AM Head of Barker College