2016
2015
WINTER
Welcome to the Winter Grammarian for 2016. This year, we have brought together students, teachers, volunteers, parishioners, parents, and many more members of the Bunbury Grammar community to tell their stories. Our School is not an island, but a community that is thriving and constantly evolving as new families join us, current students graduate and new experiences involve our students in the wider community. We are delighted to showcase the team of people that contribute to running a successful Rottnest Swim, the importance of Grandparents in our students’ lives, the myriad reasons our beautiful Gelorup Chapel is chosen for worship and the friendships and experiences our students draw from their camping experiences. We hope you enjoy reading about our wonderful School community and all the ways in which it contributes to making our School flourish! Francesca Arnott :: Editor
Around The School
Building Role Models 2 From the Head 4 From the Board 5 School Ball 6 Community Leader 8 Art Refurbishment 10 School Play 12 Our Community 14 Boarding 16 Grandparents’ Day 18 Gelorup Parish 20 Challenge and Extension 22 Young Writers’ Day 24 From the Chaplain 25 Round Square 26 Community Lunch 28 Year 6 30 Careers Breakfast 31 Languages 32 Easter Egg Hunt 34 Library 36 TEDxBunbury 37
Staff Fundraiser Staff Community Choir
38 39 40
Camps
Music Camp Year 4 Camp Year 5 Camp Year 7 Camp
41 42 44 46
Sport
Primary Swimming Secondary Swimming Cross Country Rottnest Swim
48 50 52 54
OGA
Grand Grammarian 56 OGA News 58 40th OGA Anniversary 63 Reunions 64
Photography Staff, students, Ashley Kershaw, Francesca Arnott Margaret Paterson, Matthew O’Brien, Ben Duff and Cassandra Budge Proofing Ashley Kershaw, Francesca Arnott, Margaret Paterson and Cassandra Budge Design Bronwyn Rogers Design Studio | www.bronwynrogers.com
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We are all a reflection of our community Preface
Building role models for the future I have to tell you, I’m proudest of my life off the court. There will always be great basketball players who bounce that little round ball, but my proudest moments are affecting people’s lives, effecting change, being a role model in the community. – Earvin “Magic” Johnson Jr A community is like smoke - intangible, warm, it carries messages, and sometimes it even makes your eyes sting - but above all it is real. It’s a Pre-Primary and a Year 12 student sharing a high five on the cross country course, a Boarder helping up a friend who’s just been dumped by a wave, current and former staff members gathering together or communicating on Facebook, or Old Grammarians offering advice and support to our current students and each other. It’s our School entering student teams in local sporting competitions, welcoming students and visitors from further afield to our unique bushland campus, sharing the School Chapel with the Gelorup Parish, building a production family in primary or secondary,
transitioning students in our Year 7 Centre, taking part in the Meelup Run and even raising funds for those less fortunate than ourselves. It’s a hug from your friend when a test result goes wrong, or a pat on the back when you’re directly in front of a goal and manage only a point. It’s picking yourself up and then helping someone else get to their feet – offering your strength in order to share the load. It’s treasuring a newborn baby, or sharing moments of grief at someone’s passing – remembering the good but also caring for others in their difficult times. Community extends to teachers doing yard and bus duty, to parents and staff coaching and mentoring sporting and co-curricular teams, to parents and friends holding social functions, and to the School Board making considered and wise decisions to progress our School. It’s the formal and informal networks that promote new ideas, generate enthusiasm and coordinate the effort and skill needed to get things done. It’s the Chaplain, Nurse, Counsellors, Heads of House, teachers and staff that are present in students and parent interactions
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every day – consistently being there and offering a friendly smile. It’s every single one of our friendly community who say hello to each other, to you and to all visitors. Our School is made stronger by our volunteers, our donors, our partnerships with other organisations and our students, parents and staff working alongside each other with the same goals in mind. By valuing each and every person for their contribution we are accepting them into our community, making a place where they feel welcome and protected – providing the web needed to catch someone who has taken a fall, suffered a loss or is feeling bewildered. By celebrating the successes that demonstrate learning and service, both individually and collectively, we gradually build role models that will lead us into the future. Opening your heart and your home (or School) builds community. It’s being there, in the truest sense of the word, when you are really needed. We are all a reflection of our community, a community that encourages us to flourish, and we thank you for being part of ours. Ashley Kershaw :: Marketing Manager
From the Head
Future Minded
In 2002, I read an article that explained how 60 percent of the jobs that will exist in 2017 did not exist at that time. The article explained that the world is going to be a very different place in a few decades and that young people are going to need to be adaptable.
In 2016 I have read journals that explain that young people are going to need to be adaptable because most of the jobs that will exist in twenty years’ time do not exist today. Déjà vu! In 2016 the stakes have risen, as it is not only adaptability that is more important, but also the ability to be creative, innovative, persistent, team savvy and emotionally intelligent.
While the world has changed and the number of very different and interesting jobs has certainly expanded, I do not believe we have come close to replacing 60 percent of the jobs as was the prediction in the article. While we didn’t know that “Uber Driver”, or “Blogger”, or “YouTube Artist” would be something you could do as a job, I think most of us are doing jobs similar to what could be done in 2002 – but with more technology.
It is important that the School continues to have high expectations of every student’s strengths and continues to adjust its operation and its emphasis to develop skills that enable students to extract the best from life. It is equally as important for students to have high expectation of themselves. There are positive steps that everyone can take towards helping to develop fulfilling lives and our students can be guided in this direction. The first step is to identify strong attributes and then develop them.
What are the jobs that didn’t exist in 2002? In schools we did not have a Senior Mentor, nor a Head of Positive Education. We did not have people whose job it was to integrate effective learning technology into the classroom, or use social media to connect with alumni.
Character strengths should be harnessed when in difficult situations, but knowing and using character strengths takes practice and thought. The School has instilled a better understanding of positive psychology among our students and community because we believe it is a crucial - Around the School 4 -
factor in making a difference in students’ futures. Creativity and innovation do not occur without deep thinking and engagement in learning. The School has implemented a wellresearched system of operating in the classroom that makes the thinking a student uses more visible to the teacher. While subtle, it is different to what has happened in the past and important to students’ futures. We are in an unusual time in education because Western countries are moving to emulate Eastern education systems of strict systematic testing regimes and rote learning; conversely Eastern countries are moving to emulate Western education systems where creativity and innovation flourish. I believe too much emphasis is placed on ranking and testing, and our School continues to work towards a future where expectations are high and they result in young people leaving school who are creative, innovative, persistent, team savvy and emotionally intelligent. Mr Michael Giles :: Head of School
From the Board
Commitment to Service Vale Mr Val Lishman. For he was surely one of the most significant people in the history of the medical profession in Bunbury, and in the history of this School. I had the honour of attending Mr Lishman’s funeral with Mr Giles and a contingent of staff and students from the School recently. Others will write in this issue of the contributions made by Mr Lishman. I speak from the perspective of the Board of Governors in saying that he has probably made the single-most important contribution to the ethos and values of the School and, in particular, to the Board of Governors. Mr Lishman was an inaugural member of the Board, and the second Chairman. He served two terms as Chairman, over a total period of 21 years as a member of the Board. Much of that time was spent in the very early years of the School, and no doubt he was called upon often outside of Board meetings to participate in the enormous range of issues and decisions which would have arisen in the development of a new school.
If I was to choose a single word to describe Mr Lishman’s contribution, it would be service. Service above self. Mr Lishman’s life was about serving others who needed or asked for help. Mr Lishman was always there to serve others, even when it took him away from the family he loved so much. At Mr Lishman’s funeral, Father Brian Newing compared Mr Lishman’s life with the School’s motto – “Fide et Opere.” “By Faith and Work.” Mr Lishman had a strong faith and a strong work ethic. “Fide et Opere” could well have been the code by which he lived. Mr Lishman’s presence and influence is visible in work of the Board of Governors today. In part, that is through other members of the Board carrying on his legacy as a result of their personal involvement with Mr Lishman, but also because the sense of service to others which Mr Lishman embodied is so much a part of School life. The Board held its AGM in April. Three Board members finished their terms and two Board members were appointed. A third appointment will be made shortly. The Board extends its grateful thanks to the retiring Board
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members, Mr Tim Partridge, Mr Wayne Edgeloe and Mrs Anne Lee Steere. All of them have made significant contributions to the Board with professional expertise and personal commitment. The Board welcomes Ms Maria Cavallo and Mr Kent Lyon to the Board. Mr Lyon has been a co-opted member of the Board’s Risk committee for some time. I look forward to working with them. In closing, I encourage all students of the School to look for role models and mentors in the community from whom they can draw inspiration. Mr Val Lishman was such a person. There is real value and joy in modelling the character strengths of those around you in whom you see strength of character and excellence. Mr Simon Jacob :: Chairman of the Board
School Ball
Moonlight Serenade An avenue of sparkling trees on either side of the red carpet leading into the Italian Club hinted at the theme for the evening. Guests were received in the foyer by Mr and Mrs Giles, Mr O’Brien, Mrs Chiera and Mr Goerling. After a warm welcome from our School leaders, our performer for the evening, Anders, delivered an outstanding mini concert. This set
the tone for a beautiful evening that was the result of the efforts of an efficient, hard-working Ball Committee.
who were resplendent in their traditional clan kilts. Macushla Quicke, in a white and silver gown, was named Belle of the Ball.
The photographers were kept busy capturing special moments, while many more were created in the photo booth in a more informal manner.
Congratulations to the Year 12 students who were excellent hosts, and to the Year 11 students who conducted themselves with such aplomb. Grateful thanks must be extended to the group of parents that assisted with flower arranging, dĂŠcor and a myriad of other tasks.
Ms Jennifer Ley, our guest of honour, was also the chief adjudicator when selecting the recipients of the range of prizes awarded to both Year 11 and Year 12. Beau of the Ball was shared by Matt and Owain Howes,
Mrs Tina Maree :: Ball Organiser
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Art DepT
AWESOME ARTSPACE
Open, spacious, airy, bright, fresh, bigger and easier to move around are some of the descriptions being used to praise the newly refurbished Art Department. The old Food Technology room has been fabulously remodelled into a wonderful drawing studio and flexible work space. Having a space dedicated to drawing is pretty awesome and watching the students standing at their easels doing some great large drawings is equally amazing. The two main studio areas have been remodelled into three studio areas, with the addition of a fantastic sculpture room and a very professional kiln room which is twice the size of the old kiln room. There are two new large kilns with a state of the art exhaust system. Fantastic! New tables and stools, painted walls, large monitors in all rooms, an Art Technician room and new art office have certainly added to the overall positive artistic energy of the Art department. A huge thanks to all involved in making the Art Department a more pleasant place to create art in for all. Ms Caroline Cooper :: Art Teacher
‘overall positive artistic energy’ what do you enjoy most about using the newly refurbished Art rooms?
Hannah, Year 9 :: Fresh rooms, easy access to things and a good atmosphere.
Rajindra, Year 10 :: It looks brighter and happier. Looks more organised. More space. More freedom.
Connor, Year 9 :: We have more space and are not cramped in one room. More people can sit at the tables so no one feels left out and it’s awesome.
Hayli, Year 11 :: I enjoy that there is so much more room to spread out and work. Love the new equipment. Emma, Year 10 :: I really like how there is more room to do everything and separate areas for different art activities. You know where everything is. Ben, Year 8 :: Love the new tables and chairs. Also the new monitors. It’s great! Georgia, Year 9 :: I enjoy all the new things that have been done to the art room. The clay room makes it easier to do sculpture in. New tables and chairs make it easier to do art work. The large monitor makes easier to see what the teacher is demonstrating. Aarush, Year 9 :: I do like the new refurbished art rooms. There is more space and it is easier to find things. Shelby, Year 9 :: I like the colours compared to what they used to be. It’s very modern and feels like a welcoming room. Sophie, Year 10 :: There is more space and more opportunities because of the new technologies that we have been given. Meg, Year 10 :: Better space, organisation, desks and stools, areas to move around in.
Lucca, Year 9 :: I like how high the new tables and chairs are in P3. Candace, Year 9 :: I like the new look and updated TV monitor which allows the whole class to see. The new tables are also a huge improvement, especially in P3. Emily, Year 9 :: I like the space, it is really light and has nice atmosphere. More storage and room to work in. David, Year 11 :: More relaxed, happy and comfortable. Vivienne, Year 10 :: Lots of space to move around, not as cluttered. Room is nice and bright and good to be in. Riley, Year 10 :: More spacey and less cramped. Tharushi, Year 10 :: Very nice. Drawing studio look fantastic and the kilns are pretty cool. Nimisha, Year 10 :: More organised and more space. Looks nicer and have better resources. Tiffany, Year 10 :: I like the new chairs which are comfy. A lot more organised and it is modern. Shanae, Year 9 :: It’s very modern and fresh.
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SCHOOL PLAY
Macbeth Mayhem There is something beautifully unique about a shared experience. It creates a special bond, one that is strong and resonates with an understanding gained from achieving a goal with another person. In the School production, we call it the production family. The bonds created between cast members is everlasting. Not only forged through success but often strengthened via shared failure and the determination to overcome obstacles. If you come across a cast member from this year’s production of Macbeth, ask them about the infamous line of Banquos… The production family is not exclusive to members of a current cast. It is also those that have come before us, whose productions lie in the past. Those who come back to help put on the show, even though their time at Grammar was many moons ago. During the devising of Macbeth, we were very lucky to have the involvement of such people. Many were able to offer
their assistance, now with a professional understanding of the Arts industry. The set for this year’s show consisted of projection mapping, which is a technique where images and video are projected onto objects on stage, allowing the actors to walk amongst the set scene. This is an extremely technical task and required a lot of trial and error before the final effect was achieved. We were extremely fortunate to be able to call upon many of the production family to make this possible, including Josiah Wilkinson (2010), Sarah Pantlin (2011), Tiffany Blight (2012), Bonny Twigg (2014) and Allira Scott (2014). Some even offered to help via video link from Melbourne! At one point, a set of dresses that were ordered online were not received in time for opening night. With a quick message via the magic of the internet, we suddenly had past cast members shipping their own white dresses from across the state to be used in the show! It is these kinds of unselfish acts that herald the - Around the School 12 -
special connection shared by the production family. I would also like to acknowledge the industrious efforts of Sophee Kerimofski, Bronte Greenhalgh and our stage managers, Maddy Wright and Savannah Lysaght. Sophee, Bronte and Maddy have been involved in the maximum number of productions a student is capable of participating in, and for all four students, Macbeth was their last. They have all contributed much to School productions, not only through their acting but also by their inventive ideas and considerate manner in which they have cared for other cast members. We also farewell David Menzies who has served several years in the technical side of the production. It is with great hope that one day these students will return to assist in future productions. “I wish you well and so I take my leave, I Pray you know me when we meet again.” - William Shakespeare. Mr Jason Bancroft :: Drama Co-ordinator
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Mauretta Dickie
(nee Johnston) Former Student
I think the School is pretty fantastic! I have fond memories of the House system and a strong sense of belonging to the best group, Knight House, and I have been fortunate to make lifelong friends from my school days. I appreciate the education that the School provides not only in the classrooms but also encouraging an individual’s passions, instilling integrity and honesty. The strategic planning and expansion of the School exceeded my expectations and the state of the art refurbished classrooms impressed me with their great technology capacity; hence our children are also now enrolled in the school and enjoying the unique BCGS community experience.
John Clarke Former Staff
john Jeffreys Former Staff
I taught at Bunbury Grammar from 1979 to 2007. What I liked about the School was that there was throughout my time a sense of equality, no student being superior to any other. My favourite memories come from my earliest days at the School. Coming from South Australia with little teaching experience, accompanied by my wife Kathleen and our one year old son Nathaniel, I was very nervous. At once we were made welcome. We stayed with the Headmaster Tony Brooker, his wife Jenna and their daughters while we looked for somewhere to live, and even before the school year began, we met the other staff. It seems a clichĂŠ to talk of a school family, but the staff became our family. Teaching in a young school was challenging and demanding, but together, I believe, we achieved something remarkable: a School better than I have seen elsewhere, before or after. - Around the School 15 -
I have been involved with the Bunbury Grammar community from 1975 to the present - with my wife Kerry in the boarding community for 8 years, as a teacher from 19752003 and as Deputy Headmaster from 1982-1999. I am a Special Life Member of the OGA and have attended student reunions each year for as long as I can remember. After retirement I was instrumental in starting the COGS (Crusty Old Grammar Staff). I could write a book of my memories. From a teaching perspective having one of my students, Andrew Walter, being awarded the Subject Exhibition in Economics in 1978 was memorable. This was the award I received in 1960 when I matriculated in Year 12. Andrew has gone on to an esteemed academic career in Economics. In 1983, taking a group of Grammar students on a tour/work party to Wesley High School [where I was Headmaster in 1980 and 1981] at Salamo in the Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea, thus linking together the two schools that have been major parts of my career as an educator.
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‘Being able to live in a community with your friends is the best thing about Boarding’ Boarding
Making Memories Semester 1 in Boarding has been busy with early morning bus trips to the Beach, visits to Fremantle Markets, Sculptures by the Sea Exhibition and the Boarding Easter Egg Hunt—just some of the many activities held every week. We asked our Boarding students what their favourite memories are from 2016 so far
Miss Diedrichs :: Beach and surfing sessions have been a favourite activity so far in Boarding. The welcoming atmosphere that Keith and I have been provided as we settle into the community has been the best. We have sincerely appreciated the students’ and residential staff’s friendliness and support which they have given us. We love our new home.
Jade :: My favourite activity was going to Adventure World. The best thing about being in Boarding this year is spending time with friends. Luke :: The best thing about being a Boarder is that it is really fun and it’s fun in your unit. It also teaches you a bit of responsibility by doing duty and not being with your family. Emily :: The Easter egg hunt was my favourite activity this year as we were all doing something together. I enjoyed the activities that bring the whole of Boarding together like socials. Jake :: The Boarding treasure hunt was my favourite because everyone was trying to find the eggs. Issi :: The Easter egg hunt, trips to Fremantle Markets and Cottesloe and going surfing and to the beach have been my favourite activities. Becoming closer with the people in my unit and in Boarding in general has been the best thing about Boarding so far.
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Kasey :: My favourite thing is when we get to go to the beach in the mornings and on weekends with all my friends. Tara :: My favourite Boarding activity was the Adventure World trip because, living in Margaret River, we rarely get to go there. The best thing about being in Boarding so far this year is meeting so many new people because being a Year 7 student I had never met most of them before. Brendan :: The Sculptures by the Sea was my favourite activity because I wasn’t in for all the other weekend activities. The best thing about being in Boarding is having a good Unit. It’s fun to have good Unit Leaders. Hayden :: Adventure World was my favourite activity because it allowed us to meet the new kids. Being able to live in a community with your friends is the best thing about Boarding.
Grandparents’ Day
A Whole
Lotta Love In Week 10 of Term 1, I had the pleasure of joining our Year 1 students, teachers and grandparents for our annual Grandparents’ Day. A new year and some new families have joined our community. It was a special event with grandparents and grandchildren learning equally from each other. It was heartening to again observe the wonderful relationships between grandchildren and their grandparents as stories on unique and memorable artefacts were shared from the past, along with an understanding of current and future technologies. Grandparents hold an important place in children’s lives and there are many studies that focus on the positive impact grandparents have on children’s development. My grandparents did many wonderful things with me when I was young. I was taken fishing to Coogee Beach in NSW, I went bowling, to the movies, out to dinner, had nights to stay and they were often keen spectators at football and cricket matches when I was growing up. My matchbox car collection, which is sadly no more, grew only through the great sponsorship of my grandmother. I was told jokes and stories - some were funny but some also of family, they were verbal historians.
My grandparents had wisdom and the messages they gave have stayed with me; “Do what you believe is right,” “Treat people, how you would like to be treated yourself,” “Don’t listen to doubters,” “Help people in need,” “Things WILL improve,” “Work hard and the rewards will come.” These are just some of the small but powerful messages they gave me. They were the closest adults with the most time to give. Now, my own parents have become grandparents and have done the same for our children. Grandparents provide a link in families so the young can see the generation change. As a child, I watched my parents in their relationship with their parents. Today I see my parents as grandparents to our children and watch the parent-child relationship that is evident when we are in their home. This is one important way of how we learn positive relationships. Through these relationships across generations we understand respect for our elders. Our Grandparents’ Day was a very special day and an invaluable learning experience for our children. Personally, I will always have fond memories of those childhood relationships I had with my grandparents. Mr Martin Tait :: Head of Primary
“It’s interesting that I had such a close relationship with my grandfather. Because your parents always judge you: they say, ‘You shouldn’t do this, you shouldn’t do that.’ But with your grandparents you have a feeling that you can say anything or you can do anything, and they will support you. That’s why you have this kind of connection.” Novak Djokovic
Gelorup Parish
‘There is joy in this congregation!’
Our Place of Worship
We asked our congregation, what brings you to worship at Gelorup Anglican Church?
“There is joy in this congregation!” “Both our sons attended here. Geoff Chadwick used to be our neighbour!” “To find peace and guidance at the end of a busy week.” “Gelorup Church is our favourite place to worship. We love our small community here, everyone is very friendly and welcoming. We enjoy the variation in services, the combination of presentations, group activities, special celebrations and having our services led by different people each week (Geoff, Doug, Cam and Marion). It is great to see so many new families and children attend our church.”
“We attend Gelorup Anglican Church for the community spirit and friendship. It is also a very important time to enable reflection in our busy world. It gives us a chance for peace and tranquility and time to gather our thoughts in prayer and worship and to re-establish our Christian ethos and beliefs when they could get lost in the happenings of the world around us.” “The feelings of acceptance, community belonging and support.” “I commenced attending when a near neighbour of the school and have continued even though I now live in Bunbury. I enjoy the fellowship of the Gelorup Parish and count members of the congregation as friends.”
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“Proximity to home. The very human people and clergy. I also like the very tasty tea and cakes after the service.” “Fellowship, fun, friendship, children, worship, music, morning tea and catching up on news. The church family and being able to worship in this beautiful Chapel is such a privilege.” “Friendly relaxed congregation who like to worship in a thoughtful way.” “The Chapel is a light and airy, comfortable worship space. The high windows at the front, the large cross, the colourful windows are all conducive to worship and meditation. I like the style of worship, the inclusion of children and the friendly and welcoming congregation.”
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Challenge and Extension
Timely Challenges In an inter-school da Vinci Decathlon students work together in teams of eight to solve problems from 10 disciplines; Mathematics, Science, English, Drama, Art and Poetry, Engineering, Philosophy, Code Breaking, General Knowledge and Cartography. Our Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 teams excelled, not only in final placings, but also in their abilities to listen to each other, to respect each other’s ideas and to strive towards common goals – relationships at work!
Cameron, Year 9 :: I took part in the creative Engineering, Maths, General Knowledge and Code Breaking which I found quite difficult, but still enjoyable.
Mrs Jane Kirkham :: Challenge and Extension Co-ordinator
Lauren, Year 8 :: The day of Da Vinci was filled with many exciting and team building challenges with the most enjoyable being the general knowledge where we were all working together and trying to come up with answers which were quite amusing.
Alexander, Year 7 :: I really enjoyed meeting all the other students from the other schools, oh, and coming second was great too.
Jordan, Year 8 :: I enjoyed exploring my mind and limits, while learning new exciting things and working against the clock. Halle, Year 8 :: The General Knowledge caused many laughs as we were posed with somewhat curious questions.
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Tara, Year 7 :: I enjoyed the da Vinci Decathlon because the whole team worked together to help each other answer the sometimes challenging questions about the world’s great explorers. Emily, Year 8 :: Taking part in the creative producers had at first terrified me as I thought I hated working under pressure. I found, though, when I did take part in it that my brain immediately adapted to quick thinking and the team and I were able to come up with a unique idea we probably wouldn’t have thought of if we had been given a longer time period to complete the activity. We used the first idea that popped into our heads instead of second guessing ourselves.
‘I hope to be like him when I get older.’ Young Writers’ Day
A way With Words Youth Literature and Young Writers’ Days are some of the busiest on our Library calendar and Term 1 was no exception. Students from schools around Bunbury brought the wider community into our Library to work alongside author Phillip Gwynne on their writing. Mrs Evelyn Dowley :: Librarian Here’s what some of the students thought of their day with Phillip!
Georgina, Bunbury Senior High School :: Philip Gwynne was a funny, humorous and inspirational author and I will definitely be using some of his techniques in my writing. Phillip was incredibly honest and open about his writing and how it relates back to his life. I enjoyed the whole experience and am hoping to use the ideas and tips from the day in more of my writing.
Danika, Childside School :: I found the day very educational and fun. Mr Phillip Gwynne was very inspiring and humorous. Thank you for holding these days. I came last year as well as this year and I am enjoying every second of them. Aditi, Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School :: We’ve had the first Youth Lit day of the year, and I already know the rest are going to be great! Phillip Gwynne really explained everything clearly and helped everyone expand on their writing knowledge. I had heaps of fun. I can’t wait for next term. Caleb, Bunbury Catholic College :: I had a lot of fun writing under the guidance of Phillip. He was funny and engaging which made it very easy to learn from him and he gave excellent advice when we shared our work.
Brianah, Collie Senior High School :: I thought the day was educational, inspiring and interesting. I hope to continue for many years to come. - Around the School 24 -
Charnte, Grace Christian School :: I thoroughly enjoyed the day. I found it a really eye-opening experience. Sam, Grace Christian School :: I really enjoyed the day and I think Phillip Gwynne is a very inspirational man and I loved and enjoyed writing stories. I hope to be like him when I get older. Larissa, Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School :: Uh… what else to say except that the day was amazing?! Phillip Gwynne shed a new light on writing for me. It was inspirational and really encouraging. Sage, Boyup Brooke DHS :: The Young Writers Programme was a fun and enjoyable day. Phillip Gwynne is awesome and I can’t wait to read his books. You have inspired me. Thank you.
From the Chaplain
The Trinity + Relationships
Curiously, human beings tend to behave like the god they believe in. If we believe there is no God then we live as if there is no God. If we believe God is a mean judge then we become mean judges ourselves. If we believe God is an isolated individual then we begin to live like isolated individuals. Christianity says that God is a community of three bound into love by one. This idea is called The Trinity. It is a tricky idea but it is important to know what it means. The idea is that God as Father, God as Son (Jesus) and God as Holy Spirit are so united in love that each of them cooperates completely. The separate individuals do not overpower the
group, and the group does not overpower the separate individuals. So, if we take this belief seriously, and live like the God we believe in, then we will be bound in complete love and co-operation. No one of us would try to overpower the group and neither would the group overpower the individuals. Surprisingly one of the best ways I’ve heard this described comes from Alexandre Dumas’ novel The Three Musketeers. In that novel the main characters are bound by an oath which reads: All for one and one for all. In The Trinity, all are for one and one is for all. Our challenge is to do the same. We long to build strong and healthy relationships with others but don’t always get it right. Sometimes we smother others, and sometimes we neglect them. Sometimes we manipulate the crowd to get our own way, and
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sometimes we let the crowd lead us astray. Sometimes we are arrogant and sometimes we are timid. We are challenged to find the middle ground between these things. Nevertheless, to be human is to live in community. To be human is to live in the image of God – to experience that divine love which binds us together and sends us out at the same time. The same is true of schools. Good relationships form the basis of good teaching, good pastoral care and good administration. Here at Bunbury Grammar we work hard at getting this right. We do this not just because we want to be a good school; we do this because to build community is to build in the image of God. Father Geoff Chadwick :: Chaplain
Round Square
The experiences I had and memories I made couldn’t be contained in a 1000 page novel’
Homesick for Colombia
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It was challenging being surrounded by Spanish conversations the majority of the time, but many of the people I met also spoke English and found my Australian accent very entertaining.
At the end of 2015, I spent ten incredible weeks in Colombia, South America. Three months on another continent, in another family and surrounded by a foreign language was something I’d never imagined possible. The experiences I had and memories I made couldn’t be contained in a 1000 page novel, or be repeated or equalled in a classroom, and are something I will treasure for the rest of my life. When I got on a plane at Perth airport, so many thoughts were running through my head: I thought of all the people I was going to leave behind at home, imagined what having my birthday in another country would be like, and prayed I wouldn’t get lost in LA airport. But no amount of wondering and excitement could prepare me for a 36 hour journey to the other side of the globe, and a journey to becoming more independent, mature and confident in myself.
Whilst I was in Colombia I was shown many parts of the beautiful, diverse country from the capital, Bogota, which has a population of eight million people and horrendous traffic-jams, to the flat plains and farmlands of Los Llanos. We spent a week lounging on beaches in the colonial coastal city Cartagena, and took trips through the lush mountainous regions with waterfalls occasionally blocking the narrow roads. I even spent a week sleeping in hammocks in the jungles of the Amazon! I miss the feeling of zip-lining across the Amazon river, the thrill of catching a baby alligator, playing soccer with the local children in the Amazon and watching them shimmy up palm trees. I miss the upbeat Latino music, riding horses through tropical palm plantations, dancing with friends at rooftop parties and trying to communicate
I was reunited with my exchange, Daniela, who stayed with me earlier in the year. My gorgeous host family took me in as their Australian child, and tried in vain to turn me into an accomplished linguist. My Spanish was, and is, terrible, but the Latino culture is so welcoming, and I immediately felt at home. Everyone wants to talk to you, dance with you, introduce you to big-city life and show you the country. - Around the School 27 -
with the Spanish-speaking maids using hand signals and just dissolving into laughter. I miss meals with my host family, the stunning view of the mountains and city lights from my bedroom window and all the amazing people I met along the way – I even miss the daily bus trip to school, dodging potholes and swerving motorcyclists. I’ll never forget the sheer gratitude that radiated from members of a poor community we built houses for, or seeing the huge wealth gaps reflected in daily life: shining shopping malls and mansions five minutes down the street from lines of tin shacks with no water or electricity. I didn’t have time to miss home whilst in South America, but now that I’m back in Australia, I’m homesick for Colombia. This amazing opportunity to explore the world and a different culture at such a young age is unique and has changed my perspective on the world. I strongly recommend a Round Square exchange to anyone - it’s not something you want to miss out on. Amber Anderson :: Year 11
Community Lunch
Out of Africa Community Lunch during Term 1 saw animal costumes and African prints everywhere in the Bunbury Grammar quadrangle as students made the most of the African themed lunch. Our Student Executive organised a visit from Akwaaba Drumming workshops who led our Year 8, Year 9, Year 11 and Year 12 classes in a drumming workshop throughout the day. Our Pre-Primary students even joined in the fun at lunchtime!
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Year 6
Edible Science With the reshuffling of our Primary Teaching areas the former Year 4 and 5 classrooms have now been transformed into a Specialist Area and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Learning Hub, which will continue to be developed over the next few years. As part of our new STEM centre, we have created a cooking area where we have enjoyed exploring healthy foods and are about to embark on an edible science topic! In Term 1 students had a lot of fun preparing and cooking our own pizzas. We also made a Trooper’s afternoon tea, like the ANZACs would have eaten in the Gallipoli trenches, of Hard Tack, Bully Beef and a strong cup of tea or clear soup.
what our students think about our new STEM cooking area ...
Daniel :: I don’t cook that much at home, so I find cooking at school gives me good experience and new skills. Alexandra :: The food we cook is really good and I also like eating the left overs! Aisja :: I really like cooking and having a good time creating yummy things. Maisy :: I love being able to cook with my friends – it is really fun.
Mrs Kate Holdman :: Year 6 Teacher
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Luc :: I love cooking healthy things and eating them. Jessica :: I love the room to move around and the experience of cooking at school. Sofiya :: I love cooking and getting to eat the things we make. Sam :: I loved putting the stuff on the pizza and making hard tack. Mrs Kate Holdman :: We are looking forward to creating more delicious things throughout the rest of the year!
Careers Breakfast
Do What You Love Every year the Careers Breakfast is a great opportunity for our senior Secondary students to sit down with professionals from across our South West community and ask them about their chosen professions. We asked our professionals what advice they gave to students about pursuing a job in their chosen field and why events like the Careers Breakfast are worthwhile.
chance to ask questions about the lifestyle and also get a better idea of potential careers. Education requirements are the most important. Most students don’t understand the far-reaching effects failing a subject can have on any career they choose and their future. There is also the fun factor in being in the ADF; travelling the world, being able to play sport and do PT during working hours are just a few examples.
represent what the job involves, it is much wider-ranging. A large part of being a Member of Parliament involves talking with the people who come into your electorate office, and trying to help resolve issues at the local and personal level. I hope I was able to give the students a good idea of what the work of an MP involves, and a sense of the challenges and rewards of serving your community, whether that be in local or State Government, or in voluntary roles they may take on in the future.
Hon. John Castrilli MLA Member for Bunbury
Mr Adam Jackson Australian Defence Force
I think the breakfast is important because, for the Australian Defence Force, it is a chance for the students to see an ADF member in a different light. Most people in the wider community see the ADF as a strict and disciplined organisation and I think being able to sit down and talk informally to a serving member gives them a chance to understand the ADF as a whole. It also gives them a
It can be useful to talk face-to-face when thinking about career paths, because sometimes questions pop up that you hadn’t even thought of before. It’s a good way for students to hear about a job in an informal way with no pressure to ask the “right” questions. No matter what employment path you choose, taking an active role in your community whether it’s through volunteering, sport or civic roles, is bound to help you in your overall career path. The images of Parliamentary debates that people see on TV don’t accurately
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DR Keith Mowat Clinical Psychologist
It’s a good opportunity for students to get an inside perspective on what certain careers can be like. Try to have as many experiences including travel and work and take this with you into your career. Find out what is involved in the training and ask yourself if this meets your expectations. I enjoyed just meeting the students, they were a really nice bunch and had lots of intelligent and honest questions.
Languages ‘I truly felt like part of their family’
Tokyo Travelling
During the December holidays, three Bunbury Grammar students travelled to Japan on exchange as part of an immersive trip to experience the culture and language of the country firsthand. It was awesome to visit many of Japan’s famous places, including ancient temples and markets. Travelling by train for most of the way was definitely a highlight. There was always plenty of time for souvenir shopping. Visiting famous locations such as Akihabara (Tokyo’s Anime district), Kinkaku-ji (The Golden Pavillion) and Kobe Port Tower was often surreal, however the best experience was experiencing a homestay with a Japanese family. Living with a Japanese family enabled us to practise speaking the language all day. The similarities and differences of school and home life in Japan were amazing to see. Some of the activities we did included skiing, mochi making and school sports. At school in Akashi, being a foreigner is enough to cause rock-star like treatment from the students, which was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. The people we met were all incredibly kind, with the host family even giving us gifts for staying there. I truly felt like part of their family. Joshua Hislop :: Year 12
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Community Event
Easter Egg Hunt The day was finally here!
On Wednesday 24 March 2,000 mini Easter eggs, 25 sets of colourful bunny ears, 20 baskets and 400 hollow Easter eggs could finally be let loose from the Marketing offices without fear of being eaten by curious staff members or hungry Marketing staff looking for a snack. Our inaugural Primary Easter Egg Hunt had arrived and it looked a little bit like rain outside. Tents were set up, signage laid out and as the School bell rang our Year 6 Primary leaders, combined with some very eager helpers, put their bunny ears on and prepared to hop off to different locations around the Primary School. Thankfully the clouds held off, the crowds descended on us and at 4.30pm with a map and Easter egg basket in hand around 300 children from all over Bunbury took off in search of our bunnies!
Our bunnies did a brilliant job of handing out eggs and ticking off maps while Mr Tait had the pleasure of awarding students with a Golden Ticket for outstanding behaviour. Once our Easter egg hunters had found all our bunnies they made their way back to receive a final chocolate egg. Our wonderful P&F dished out delectable hot cross buns and hot drinks to patiently waiting parents and by 5.30pm it was all over and time to go home. Thank you to all of our students and staff members who helped us run such a successful event, and to the P&F for keeping the crowds warm and fed. The sense of community, laughter and smiles were a great start to the Easter long weekend. Miss Francesca Arnott :: Media Co-ordinator
Library
Busy Being
Bookish
Term 1 in the Library has seen many exciting and interesting visitors to our shelves.
‘The Kraken’ to our Year 6 classes. It was great to see lots of discussion and participation from students in these classes engaging with what Jenny had to say.
During Week 3 the wonderful Mrs Jenny Doust from The Literature Centre visited our School to workshop a selection of picture books. Jenny presented ‘The Greatest Liar on Earth’ to our Year 4 and 5 classes and
Fast forward to Week 5 and we welcomed students from all over Bunbury to the Youth Literature and Young Writers’ Days. Author Phillip Gwynne inspired our emerging young authors through creative writing sessions. Phillip is the author of the exciting and
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sometimes humorous series, The Debt, as well as many other titles. The Library staff welcomed Quinn Shortland to complete his work experience as a Library Helper. He worked consistently through the day accomplishing a variety of Library tasks. His assistance was truly appreciated – thank you, Quinn. Mrs Evelyn Dowley :: Teacher-Librarian
TEDxBunbury
Human Flourishing “there was an air of excitement in the Auditorium as the lights dimmed and the first speaker took the stage”
This April a small team of students and staff volunteered their afternoon to assist at the TEDxBunbury conference hosted at our School. All 100 tickets were sold out and there was an air of excitement in the Auditorium as the lights dimmed and the first speaker took the stage. Over the course of six and a half hours, eight speakers explored the theme of the day – Eudaimonia (also known as human flourishing) by sharing their own stories of how we can better ourselves and each other. Sasha Milne encouraged us to think about ‘what is time and how can it build a united community?’ Neville Ellis spoke about how human wellbeing is intimately connected to the health of all living things, and Shaun Nannup shared his experience with the healing power of being connected with the stories of our ancestors. With entertainment from Mista Mista, the Philharmonic South West Quintet and a capella group Out of the Blue, TEDxBunbury delivered an entertaining, enlightening and unexpected experience.
Here are what some of the student volunteers thought of the experience...
Selena, Year 12 :: The experience was extremely rewarding - to see the technical aspects of an organised event was very interesting. It was also inspiring to see local people have such aspirational and fascinating subjects to speak about and to see how passionate some of the speakers were of their chosen subject. I found Rachel Wotton’s talk ‘Open Your Mind to What Goes on Behind Closed Doors’ extremely intriguing as it’s an aspect of life that is so normal to the everyday person, yet we constantly subside what it would be like for the minority who are born with or suffer through disabilities. It was an eye-opening talk, it made me realise how easy most of us have it, being able to walk, talk and be healthy without a second thought, yet there are so many who are unable to even do the necessities by themselves. Macushla, Year 12 :: I personally enjoyed the talk about time (by Sasha Milne) because as a Year 12 student, never having enough time seems to be a constant and daily struggle! I really found it - Around the School 37 -
interesting to her Sasha talk about how time is a powerful resource and the fact that as people, we want connection and we fear change. “There is no better time to start than right now.” Grace, Year 12 :: I liked being a part of a team and being able to help out the wider community. I enjoyed being able to listen to the talks, they opened up my view and allowed me to see the world differently. I now appreciate the large amount of time and organising that goes in to making these events such a positive and successful experience. I really enjoyed the last talk by Sasha as I found it very interesting and it opened up a pathway of thought for me that I have never considered before. It was engaging and her way of speaking was very enthusiastic and I found this very refreshing. Viveka, Year 12 :: I got to meet new people and saw how a TEDx conference worked and how much effort was put into it. I really enjoyed Neville Ellis’ talk on climate change and the effect it had on people when it changes their land. It gave me a new insight and perspective on climate change that I haven’t heard before and was glad I did.
Staff FUNDRAISER
LIVE LOUDER
‘whilst extremely challenging, [it] enabled us to fleetingly experience what it is like to have to persevere at something’ ... ‘it made us all think of how a cancer patient has to selflessly endure difficult treatments and other life challenges’
The weekend of Saturday, 2 April saw several Bunbury Grammar staff participate in the Walk to End Women’s Cancers, which was a 60km walk over two days around Perth. This year our team for Live Louder was made up of Mrs Kate Steward, Mrs Rachel Brogan, Mrs Meredith McCarthy, Mrs Susan Devereaux, Mrs Tammy Duff, Mrs Kate Holdman, Mr Ron Miffling and Mrs Candice Carlisle. Throughout the second half of last year and the beginning of 2016 our team worked tirelessly to raise a minimum of $2,000 each for the Harry Perkins Cancer Institute in Perth. In total, we raised $16,500 which was an amazing effort. The walk, whilst extremely challenging, enabled us to fleetingly experience what it is like to have to persevere at something, which at times was extremely uncomfortable. It made us all think of how a cancer patient has to selflessly endure difficult treatments and other life challenges, even though during the tough times it would be easier to give up. Throughout the walk many of us had to draw on our resilience and our character strengths of bravery, perspective, teamwork and hope to get us through, but we also felt a huge amount of gratitude, humility and love for those who travelled the road with us. A huge thankyou to Mr Dennis Devereaux, who rode nearly the whole walk with us and looked after us all in our hours of need, and to both Ron and Dennis for being expert chefs at our fundraising sausage sizzles. As much as we all enjoyed the team challenge, we could not have achieved our fundraising targets without the generous support of the wider Bunbury Grammar community who have supported Live Louder for the past two years. Together as a community we have contributed over $26,000 to help find a cure for cancer, which we are sure has touched all of our lives in some way. From the bottom of our hearts we would like to thank you for all of your support and helping us achieve our goals of raising vital funds and completing the walk to increase awareness of women’s cancers. We could not have done it without you.
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Mrs Kate Holdman :: Teacher and Live Louder Team Member
Staff
An
Inspirational in Memoriam
nature
The School community was greatly saddened by the passing of Chris Gibbs, a longstanding and well-respected former teaching staff member. Chris was one of the very best – he inspired generations of students through his passion and commitment towards his subject and the environment, and his impact on the thinking and understanding of so many others has been huge. Chris was a unique operator in the classroom, always looking for ways to engage his students and for better ways to present his work. Students are perceptive and quickly related well to him, realising that he was the genuine article. In addition, Chris was a consummate team player, sharing his ideas and thoughts with other staff members and hoping others would do likewise.
Babies
People mattered to Chris, and his gregarious nature, his openness and honesty, his lively sense of fun and adventure and his boundless energy endeared him to others. Who will forget his role in running the Year 9 Camps, his
Josephine Stewart welcomed a perfectly healthy baby boy to the world on Saturday, 22 September. Benjamin Andrew Stewart weighed 3.6kg, is 53cm tall and has amazing locks of black hair.
contribution to the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, his recycling programmes, his singing and his annual bonfire nights! In more latter years Chris’ love of travel took him to many different parts of the world, including teaching in Serbia, driving a motorbike through the foothills of the Himalayas and walking the Camino de Santiago a number of times. He lived a full and meaningful life. It is no small coincidence that he was usually the first teacher former students would look out for at any School reunion, and he had that unique ability to remember names, faces and shared experiences. He was also a wonderful raconteur of stories and past histories. Chris’ friendship and love of life will be greatly missed, and we pass on our best wishes to his family, in particular to his children Rob, Lauren and Alex. Mr Andy Cowan and Mrs Cherry Cowan
Melinda Golinski and her partner Greg, along with big sister Ava, were all delighted to welcome the safe arrival of Andrew James Golinski on 12 February.
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‘The best part is when all the harmonies come together’ Community Choir
MORNING SONG The Bunbury Grammar Community Choir was formed in 2010 to provide opportunities for members of our community to come together and share the joy of singing. 8am on a Monday is not the optimal time for singing (particularly in winter!) yet week after week, singers meet in the Chapel to sing songs in a variety of styles and to enjoy the magic of making music together. Members were asked “why do you go to choir?” and “what are the best things about choir?” - their responses are enlightening! Amanda, Parent :: I go to choir because it is fun and a great way to start the week. I like learning something new and challenging myself plus it is lovely to be doing something with my children. It also helps out with answering Spicks and Specks questions! Bree, Year 9 :: I go to choir to do what I love; to sing! The best thing about choir is singing different songs, with different people and hearing the sounds that are in tune and following the notes. Thomas, Year 8 :: I like going to choir because everybody is very nice there, and we sing really cool songs. Declan, Year 5 :: The best thing about choir is performing, especially at the Eisteddfod. And the Mars Bars!
John, Teacher & Accompanist :: I love music, particularly harmonising voices… choral works of all sorts. I enjoy playing and it is a privilege to be able to support choral productions and listen to how they are put together.
Jamie, Year 10 :: I go to choir because I like being part of the group, and we can achieve something very awesome without having to practice or study for hours. The best part is when all the harmonies come together.
Maddy, Year 12 :: I enjoy hearing Mr Hansen bust out his bass notes!
Henry, Year 2 :: The best thing about choir is going to music camp and learning to sing ‘Danny Boy.’
Breanna, Year 9 :: I go to choir because I love singing and it’s a chance to harmonise and mix with like-minded people. I enjoy competing in the Eisteddfod as a choir, it’s great teamwork and builds community spirit. Hellen, Parent :: I go to choir because I enjoy singing and it’s great to be able to be involved in something my daughter’s involved in as well as part of the School community. Music is a great way to relax! Miranda, Year 8 :: I just love to sing with my friends! - Around the School 40 -
The best thing about choir is watching relationships develop between primary students, secondary students, teachers, parents, boys, girls, serious musicians and those who simply want to sing for fun. That all of these different individuals can come together and produce a beautiful sound – well, that just makes my day! Mrs Lynette Fahie :: Teacher and Conductor
Music Camp
‘The night was full of fun and laughter’
Starting With A Bang What country did the pop group ABBA originate from? What is Eminem’s real name? Would you have won the Music Camp quiz? Term 1 was once again a very busy time for musicians at our School. As always we started the year with Music Camp. This year we packed up the bus and headed up to Camp Cooloongup in Baldivis for the first rehearsals of the year for our Senior Concert Band, Intermediate Concert Band, Senior Strings, Community Choir and Big Band.
Our first night began with games. The bands, choir and strings musicians formed teams and played against each other in the music quiz. Between each round we played some team games. The night was full of fun and laughter with the band taking out first place. Rehearsals started the next day with each group spending hours learning new pieces, which sounded better and better after each session. After rehearsals the real fun began when the camp people brought out a 25-metre water slide. This was definitely
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the highlight of the trip with everyone competing to see who could slide the furthest. We would like to thank all the staff and parents that contributed towards making this year’s Music Camp a brilliant one. We appreciate all that you do for us. Thank you so much for an awesome first Term. This year is looking like another awesome one for Music, so look out for upcoming performances! Gabrielle Cumbers and Angela Wheeler :: Music Captains
4 Year 4 Camp
Playing in Pemberton
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Liam G :: It was the best camp ever. We went to the Yeagarup Dunes and we ran up and then slid down. Santina :: I liked the chocolate treasure hunt because it was at night time and we had to use torches to find the chocolates. We got to eat the chocolates after and my team came fourth. Bede :: At camp I liked when we met a man who grew up in Pemberton. He told us all about the history of Pemberton. Jaden :: The frog hunt was at Big Brook Dam. It was really muddy and slippery. We found four frogs and it was really good fun. Savannah :: The tram ride was really beautiful and fun. It went through the forest and we saw lots of tall karri trees. We stopped at the Cascades and we got to walk around the river. Olivia C :: We went to Understory Art in Nature which is a bushwalk where there is art that people have made. My favourite piece of art was the ladders that Pete, our guide, made.
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5 Year 5 Camp
making memories ‘I enjoyed this because I was with my friends & it was a brilliant start to our camp’
Holly :: On the first day of camp we went to Elizabeth Quay. We played in the water jets and played chasey in the water. I enjoyed this because I was with my friends and it was a brilliant start to our camp. Alan :: My favourite memory was the ghost tour by far. I liked it because it was really informative about the crematorium’s uses, past and present. In the past they burnt people but only when wind was blowing away from the city. A couple of years ago, they baked bread in the crematorium. Kathleen :: My favourite memory was my team’s archery name: We Don’t Know. I also enjoyed the Tour de Freo which is when each team has to get from place to place on time and buy lunch. Tom :: My favourite thing was going for a swim in the morning because the water was nice and cool.
Daniella :: Archery was definitely my favourite memory because I got three bullseyes and it was my first time doing archery. I was in a group with Emma and Nicole and at the end we won. All the teams did a good job. Our prize was a high five from a senior gold medallist.
Ella M :: My favourite memory was the scary historical night tour. It was probably one of the scariest nights of my life! I also loved Tour de Freo. We had to walk around the whole prison, it probably was an hour and a half. I also loved getting ice-creams. The shopping centre was so awesome because we got anything we wanted. I loved Camp. Laura :: I liked the night tour because we had a fun guide. He scared our group, it was awesome! - Camps 45 -
Emma :: I have two favourite memories from Year 5 camp. The first one is going down the beach every day and the climbing when I raced the boys up and down. Patrick F :: My favourite memory from Year 5 camp was going to the beach and finding starfish and stingers. Georgia :: My favourite part was when me and my friends got grasshoppers, it was very funny. Hannah :: I enjoyed all of the camp but I especially loved being able to wake up and be able to go to the beach every morning and seeing my friends every day. Rowan :: I felt like I fit in and everyone was so kind and supportive to me and especially to all others, that’s why I like year 5D and 5M.
7 Year 7 Camp
Learning Curves ‘everyone was positive and supportive throughout the entire camp’
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As part of transition to Secondary School, our Year 7 Camp is held early in the year and focuses on friendship activities to ensure the students feel a part of the School community. Some highlights from our Camp were... Mikayla :: My favourite activity was the bushwalk and camping because when we were bushwalking we had to work as a team to find our campsite where we would stay at for the night. Jarrah :: The best thing about Year 7 Camp was being with our classmates and getting to know them better and also making new friends.
Luka :: My favourite activity on Camp was building the raft because we got to experiment with each other’s ideas to make one big raft. We got to learn things about our classmates and do cool things with them. George :: My favourite activity was the bushwalk. It involved teamwork because everyone worked together to create a path to make it the shortest path as well as finding out where to go. Sari :: I think the best part about being on Year 7 Camp was when everyone came back from their activities and we played cricket or footy. Everyone just talked about what they did.
Isadore :: The best thing about being on Year 7 Camp was that everyone was positive and supportive throughout the entire camp. I had a lot of fun.
Zac :: I loved surfing, it involved teamwork because you had to look out for each other and you also have to try to get out of the way when someone is coming at you. My favourite part of camp was that I made lots of new friendships and all the fun stuff I did with my old friends.
Maia :: I quite enjoyed camping because we all had to make tents in pairs with people we didn’t really know that well and we had to cook our own dinner together and take leads from other people. My favourite part was the eating of our pasta.
Heinrich :: Raft building was great because we all worked together to create our rafts, then we raced each other in the sea but the middle of the race we swapped boats. When we finished we had to disassemble all the boats as a team.
Grace :: Kayaking was my favourite activity. We had to work together because there were two people in the back of the kayak so you had to work together to keep the boat going. I liked kayaking because it involved beautiful scenery, although it was really cold!
Mackie :: Surfing was the funniest activity and it was really fun with my classmates.
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Emilija :: My favourite part of Year 7 camp was meeting new people and spending time with friends when we had free time.
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Primary Swimming
Record Setting Wilson ‘with infectious enthusiasm and zest exhibited by all’ The Primary Interhouse Carnival was held during the fourth week of the first Term. Well done to all of our students for their fantastic energy and exemplary behaviour during the Carnival. It was again a memorable event and so many families expressed their enjoyment at the completion of the carnival. I thank all parents and families who attended the event, as their support certainly added to the day. Well done to the many courageous dads and male teachers who managed to show their talents with synchronised swimming, as it was most entertaining. The final event of the day was the novelty relay involving parents, students and staff which was again very popular with infectious enthusiasm and zest exhibited by all. Congratulations to Wilson for winning the shield for a record sixth time. I thank every member of staff for working so hard on the day and in particular Mr Dunbar for organising another superbly run carnival. Mr Martin Tait :: Head of Primary
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w secondary Swimming
Wilson
WINNERS ‘thunderous applause and celebration from the sidelines’ The Secondary Swimming Carnival once again saw many displays of sporting prowess. The competition between Houses was strong, but the support for swimmers and the enthusiasm showed in participating and cheering on their fellow students was even more wonderful to see. Knight’s winning streak at past Carnivals was officially put to an end when Wilson House pulled ahead and took home the House shield - to thunderous applause and celebration from the sidelines. Well done to all swimmers who took part and to Wilson House for their much deserved win!
Cross Country
Braving the RAIN ‘the few showers didn’t seem to dampen anyone’s enthusiasm’
The weather was perfect for running, and the few showers didn’t seem to dampen anyone’s enthusiasm. The runners were well supported by a good number of parents from both the Primary and Secondary School community. Plenty of teachers took the opportunity for a “gallop” which also added to the positive atmosphere of the afternoon. Wilson House were victorious in the Cross Country this year by a narrow margin! Having taken out the swimming as well, this puts them in a strong position for the overall Interhouse Trophy at the end of the year. After a few lean years, it was great to see the jubilation amongst the Wilson students and staff. Congratulations to all who showed courage and perseverance to run their best race and in particular to Knight House who won the Trophy for the highest percentage of students participating. Mr Iain Dale :: HOLA Health and Physical Education
House results 1st - Wilson Average place 19.85
2nd - Knight Average place 19.94
3rd - Redding Average place 22.16
4th - Goldsmith Average place 24.13
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Outstanding individual runs by the following students earned them the medals BELOW: YEAr 7
Boys - Alby Kongras Boys RU - Ross Paoliello Girls - Charlotte Churcher Girls RU - Olivia Pether YEAr 8
Boys - Josh Tait Boys RU - Charlie Dickie Girls - Maddie Townsend-Hyde Girls RU - Felicity Pirie YEAr 9
Boys - Lewis Evans-Thompson Boys RU - William Jackson Girls - Hannah Phillips-Prescott Girls RU - Emma Barrett YEAr 10
Boys - Joshua Wigmore Boys RU - Louis Tunstill Girls - Annika Keall Girls RU - Emily Graham YEAr 11
Boys - Bailey Taylor Boys RU - Luke Broekman Girls - Mirrante Ryder Girls RU - Kate Mellett YEAr 12
Boys - Bryte Townsend Boys RU - Joshua Kirkham Girls - Kimmy Tait Girls RU - Areti Scholtz
Rottnest Swim
Challenging the Channel
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‘It was an inspiring, humbling experience. I could not believe how many people out there who did not have a child in the event were willing to crew for such an arduous event!’
The Rottnest Channel Swim is a massive undertaking that would only be made possible with the help of many members of the Bunbury Grammar community. This year 25 swimmers took on the challenge of the swim, supported by crews, kayakers and parents. Here are some thoughts from the day from a variety of people involved...
Mrs Julie Williams, Parent :: This is our fourth time involved in the Rottnest Channel Swim through BCGS and we will hopefully be back for a fifth. I would like to say a big thank you to Mr Bob Marshall for coordinating and managing this huge event for the children at the School and thanks to the teachers for giving up their free time for our children to have this opportunity.
Cameron Roth, Swimmer :: The idea of completing such a large swim really appealed to me because I knew it would be a day that I looked back on and was proud of. I wanted to challenge myself, and according to my family it really wasn’t that bad. I would always recommend trying the Rottnest Swim. Swimming through the ocean isn’t as bad as it sounds, especially if you compete in a team of four. It’s a great day out, and it is so fulfilling when you finally run up the shore to the finish line. Amber Anderson, Swimmer :: Nothing can compare to the ecstatic feeling of crossing the finish line with your team, and that’s what motivates me to keep coming back for more every year. It’s a wonderful experience to share with friends; I’ve become so close to the girls I’ve swum with in the past, and it’s so rewarding. It would be impossible for the swimmers to achieve their goal and cross the Channel without the support of all the parents, teacher and friends, so I’m extremely grateful for all their efforts. - Sport 55 -
Mr David Marren, Parent and Kayaker :: My daughter Elsemieke knows that I like a challenge of this nature and so she volunteered me for this role. Even if she had not, I would gladly have taken it on as I like to give back to the larger community ... as I feel that everyone should set goals and strive as best they can to achieve them as it helps us build a better world. The role of paddler is a great opportunity to be on the front line of the event and requires only a moderate amount of skill (balance) and a kind voice/attitude to help the swimmers along in what for them is quite a gruelling but very rewarding event. Mrs Tina Maree, Parent and Staff Member :: It was an inspiring, humbling experience. I could not believe how many people out there who did not have a child in the event were willing to crew for such an arduous event!
Co
Richard Healy (05) is currently living in San Francisco working as a concept artist for Telltale Games. Most people aren’t aware his job exists. “I am the initial artist for any kind of project, be it film, video games or illustrations. I listen to the directors, writers and art directors and represent that visually.” Video games were always Richard’s dream but little was known about the industry. From School, he took a short course in animation (traditional 2D plus 3D) at the Fremantle Film and Television Institute before studying a Bachelor of Arts at Curtin where he experienced a broad range of techniques. After Curtin and a series of exhibitions, Richard headed overseas, undertaking some intensive studies in Illustration at the Academy of Art in San Francisco. His commitment was rewarded when he secured a job at
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Crystal Dynamics as they began pre-production for Rise of the Tomb Raider. “Landing the job at Crystal Dynamics has been a stand out for me. It was a top company, in an industry that I wanted to work in, making a game that I also enjoyed. I felt very lucky to have the opportunity as it was extremely competitive. Producing character, environment and prop concepts, was a great eye opener to how the industry worked.” Richard then moved to Telltale Games, drawn by their involvement with IP’s such as the Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Borderlands and Minecraft video games. He is still passionate about oil painting, exhibiting regularly and picking up other freelance concept art work on films and illustration. “My aim is to strike a balance of all the creative endeavours and I would also be interested in teaching at some level.” Richard’s artistic talent was already obvious at BCGS. He - OGA 57 -
designed sporting uniforms, shirts for the Cloudstreet Drama Production, plus the poster and website for the Shortcuts short film competition in which he also enjoyed considerable success. “Some of my best memories are with my friends making short films for the Shortcuts Film Festival; a huge collaborative effort between people designing, directing, filming and editing. It really was fun!” When asked for his advice Richard says, “it’s important to always be drawing and observing, and to put in the hard hours.” “Start with traditional means as you can always learn a new programme. A good portfolio is what will get you the job, although a degree can set you on your way. The video games and film industries are very collaborative, you must work with the writers and directors to produce readable images that can then be passed onto the artists and 3D modellers. Communication is vital.”
OGA
OLD GRAMMARIANS’ ASSOCIATION
NEWS
Weddings Wes Jilley (03) 01 and Jill Magee married on March 4, 2016. The ceremony took place on the Jilley farm under the tree where Wes had proposed. The area of the Farm is called the ‘Block’ and has been in the family since 1900 (pictured below). The couple had a short civil ceremony with Wes’ cousin Sarsha Wetherell (nee Kitchen 88) as celebrant and Jill’s mother read Jill’s favourite Irish blessing. The reception took place in an old machinery shed near the Jilley farmhouse as the shed had so much character and family history!
Tracey Donaldson (nee Flynn 07) 04 married Travis in the beautiful Ferguson Valley on 24 October 2015. Chris McRae (06) 06 was married to Rebecca McGowan in a ceremony at St Kieran’s Tuart Hill on 19 December 2015 followed by a reception with family and friends at Carilley Estate Winery in the Swan Valley. Former student and Staff member, Sue Adams (80) married John Demarte in September 2015. Sue is now Assistant Dean of the All Saints’ College Junior School.
OGA NEWS
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Photo credits: 01 and previous page Life Photography Dunsborough, 08 Maternal Moments
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ENGAGEMENTS
BIRTHS
SNIPPETS
Ashleigh Sharp (07) 03 graduated from Curtin University with a Bachelor of Arts (Art) in 2011 and a Certificate III in Education Support in 2012 from Central Institute of Technology. She then completed a Graduate Diploma of Education in Early Childhood Studies at Edith Cowan University in 2013. She is now teaching kindergarten at Kambalda West District High School. Fiancé Ruben Wills (07) graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Architectural Science) in 2013 while simultaneously studying a Diploma of Project Management at the Central Institute of Technology. Ruben and Ashleigh moved to the Goldfields at the beginning of 2014. Ruben started up a record label - Eleven13 Records - with his business partner and has been selected as a feature artist for the West Australian Music Industry’s Sounds of the Goldfields project.
Kate Baker (nee Edgeloe 07) and Kaylis Baker son of Jasmin Baker (nee Hutchinson 76) welcomed their first child, Norah Jade Baker 08 at St John of God Hospital, Bunbury on 4 April 2016. Kate and Kaylis are loving parenthood, despite a few sleepless nights. Kate continues her work with Monadelphous as a Project Engineer.
Elizabeth Hynes (07) 07 has been living in Albany for five years and her love of horses hasn’t diminished. Two years ago she joined the 10th Light Horse Albany Troop and she has been involved in many special events with her horse Spark. Elizabeth considers it to be a huge privilege to be riding in the reenactment troop, in honour of the Lighthorsemen who fought in WW1. In 2015 Elizabeth and their Troop president travelled to Perth to ride with the Giants.
Sophia Giumelli (nee Golding 03) 09 is living on a dairy farm in Benger with her husband Michael and their children. In April 2015 Sophia launched their hand-made gelato business Double Handful Premium Gelato. In September they headed to Sydney to be named Runner-up Australian Dairy Farmer of the Year, before returning to scoop Gold and Silver Medals at the Perth Royal Show and 2016 has seen the birth of their fourth child.
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Two times World Equestrian Games Bronze Medallist, Sharon Jarvis (96) was honoured to receive the Wally Forman Foundation Scholarship at the 2015 WAIS Awards Night last October but soon had to draw on all of her courage and determination when she required major surgery for a broken leg requiring four months off riding. Back in the saddle less than a month before the ParaEquestrian qualifiers for Rio, Sharon
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performed brilliantly with three wins in Sydney. In February she was honoured to be elected as Equestrian Australian’s ParaEquestrian Rider’s Representative. Current and former students competed in the Open Water Series Swim at Busselton on Saturday, 30 April. Nicholas Blackburn (10) 02 a former Bunbury Grammar Rottnest Channel Swim team member is Events Co-ordinator for WA Swimming. Nicholas was delighted to see current student Tahlia Jensen (Year 11) win the Under 18 2.5 kilometres event. Liam Williams (Year 9) finished second in the 1.25 kilometre event. Jacob Dubois St Marc (15) has deferred studying a Bachelor of International Security Studies at Australian National University in Canberra until 2017 while he completes a Gap Year with the Australian Defence Force.
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Andrew Bradshaw (83) caught up with OGA Special Life members Mr John and Mrs Kerry Jeffreys. Andrew recalled attending Boarding the same year as Mr Chris Gibbs. Andrew is currently farming in Tambellup. Lieutenant Fiona Simmonds (99) 05 visited the School to be involved in the Back to School Seminars. Fiona, a Maritime Geospatial Officer – Meteorology, has been employed with the Royal Australian Navy for 14 years and enjoyed imparting her expertise and knowledge with our students. Doug Kirke (02) has been working and living in Paraburdoo for Rio Tinto as a paramedic for the past six years. He is married to Andrea and they have two children, Ben, 4, and Emma, 10 months. Doug is looking forward to settling back down in the South West in the near future. He is currently studying to obtain his intensive care - OGA 61 -
paramedic certification in the next 12 months and looking to work with the RAC rescue helicopter team. Vanessa Mackean (nee Nield 00) is living on a farm in Kojonup with her two sons and husband. Darren Jenkins (98) and his wife Michelle paid a visit to Bunbury Grammar during November 2015 to catch up with former teacher Iain Dale and Judy Wall and speak to Mr Dale’s students about high-performance sport. Darren is a professional Ironman triathlete who competes at international level around the world. Our Enrolments Officers caught up with quite a few former students at the Dardanup Bull and Barrel Festival including Andrew Smith (77), Robert Lorrimar (11), Madeline Abbot (11) and Mia Vukelic (03) with her young son, Taj Henrik Vukelic Fotu born on
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SNIPPETS CONT... 29 August 2015. Robert Lorrimar (11) graduated from UWA after studying Finance and Accounting and now works for a financial advisor in Perth. Madeline Abbott (11) studied Creative Advertising and Graphic Design at Curtin University. Since graduating Madeline manages two Veronika Maine stores in Perth. The McCutcheon family has been rapidly expanding. Helen Grimm (nee McCutcheon 94) now has three daughters including a set of twins. Sister Elizabeth (96) has two daughters and brother Alistair (98) has a son and twin daughters.
In Memoriam Former Student Sarah Twomey (nee Matthews 00) recently founded Healthy Hips Australia increasing education and support services for those impacted by hip dysplasia. Sarah is an occupational therapist and mother of two girls with the condition. Passionate to help with their mission, after witnessing its ongoing affect on his two granddaughters, Dr Bruce Matthews joined Sarah to form the inaugural Board of Directors.
We have been saddened by the loss of the following people from our school community
David Adamthwaite, father of Gina (98), Lee (99) and Mandy (02). John Alderson, father of Clare (84). Diana Blechynden, mother of Lara (86), Simon (88) (deceased), Mathew (89) and grandmother of Monti (10), Georgina Nadin (Year 9) and Nicola Nadin (Year 6). Arnold Bode, foundation parent, father of Carole (77), Peter (79) and grandfather of Brendan Conner (01). Chris Gibbs (former Staff), father of Robert (99), Lauren (00) and Alex (04). Helen Hu, mother of Catherine (89) and Christopher (91). Val Lishman, (former Chairman of the Board), husband of Jean, father of Michael (76), Jacqueline (79), Jane (82), John (82) and Sarah (84), grandfather and great grandfather. Mavis Littlefair, mother of Stephen (82) and Helen (85). Anthony Pocock, father of Leonie (79) and Jan (Staff), grandfather of Mackenzie Gumley (Year 11). Colin Rigg, father of Andrew (88) and Ainslie (92).
STAFF Snippets COGS (Crusty Old Grammar Staff) have attended morning tea gatherings in Terms 1 and 2, for the opportunity to gloat about globe-trotting experiences and to sympathise with their successors at the chalk face/white board. COGS commenced several years ago at the instigation of particularly crusty ex staff who remembered the halcyon days of 1970s when they all fitted around one table in the library for staff meetings. Gatherings are always held on the first Wednesday of each term. New members are most welcome and are invited to contact the Jeffreys by email at jjeffrey@iinet.net.au.
Congratulations to Tanya Wutchak (Former Staff) and husband Peter whose medical practice was awarded the 2015 Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) National and Western Australian General Practice of the Year at the RACGP conference awards ceremony in Melbourne in late 2015. Tanya is the Practice Business Manager for their medical practice and was previously a Japanese teacher at BCGS!
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John Sutherland, father of Tim (87). Boyd Trott, father of Linda (79). Ben Ward (85), brother of Carey (82).
Reconnecting after 40 Years
OGA 40 th Anniversary On a sunny afternoon in February about 100 former students, teachers and Headmasters gathered at the Tony Brooker Pavilion to celebrate the OGA’s 40th Anniversary. Amazement and surprise was felt by the group who boarded the bus for a tour of the School. How it has grown! The School Bell, lovingly restored by the OGA, was rung by inaugural Headmaster Dr Eric Speed, along with current and past Heads of School Dr Bruce Matthews and Mr Michael Giles. A stirring welcome speech by President Mr Trevor Jackson was followed by School stories and memories from OGA members in the orange ‘Hot Spot’ chair; much to the entertainment of the crowd. Time was spent trying to find yourself in the historic photos in the Archives display organized by Mrs Kerry Jeffreys and Ms Greta Cleghorn. Tasty food and the anniversary cake were served by committee members. A rousing rendition of the original School Hymn ‘Fide et Opere’ led by Roy Hansen resonated over the School playing fields. Visitors came from as far as Dubai and Switzerland for a highly enjoyable night of reminiscing and reconnecting. Sally Barrett (83) :: OGA Committee Member
40 Year Reunion
Classes of
75, 76, 77 the best of mates, 40 years on! “Wow!” “Amazing! Good to be back” “We all look the same!” “You’ve gotta be kidding!” “Thanks for talking me around” “Glad I came” “Fantastic” “Fabulous time” “So wonderful to spend time with old classmates” “How wonderful to share such joy! “So many fond memories and laughs” “Remember the things we got up to?” “Another great catch up!”
2016 Reunion Dates
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Year 14 Breakfast Class of 2014
Saturday, 30 July 2016
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Got
10 Year Reunion Class of 2006
News?
Saturday, 13 August 2016
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20 Year Reunion Class of 1996
Saturday, 27 August 2016
Moved? Email your change of address to oga@bcgs.wa.edu.au
Tell us about it!
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30 Year Reunion Class of 1986
Saturday, 10 September 2016
We love to hear what former students and staff are up to! Email your updates to oga@bcgs.wa.edu.au
Going digital? Get the Grammarian delivered straight to your in inbox! Email oga@bcgs.wa.edu.au
For more information contact Ashley Kershaw at ashley.kershaw@bcgs.wa.edu.au
BCGS1399 WWW.BRONWYNROGERS.COM
BUNBURY CATHEDRAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL Phone (08) 9722 6000 | Facsimile (08) 9722 6190 5 Allen Rd Gelorup, WA 6230 | PO Box 1198, Bunbury WA 6231 www.bcgs.wa.edu.au | Email administration@bcgs.wa.edu.au
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