ECHO Issue 18, Semester 1, 2024

CHO

Editor:

Designers: Writers:

Matthew Lau

Christopher Khong

Justin Mellor

Lucas Qin

Justin Yip

Alan Wang

Chris Lu

Joel Cheok

Lucas Ho

Jayden Yap

Adrian Chiu

Matthew Tong

Byron Zhang

Jerry Jin

Photographers:

Nathan Liew

Aaron Lau

Christian Kinsella

Jason Li

Michael Huang

Mr Michael Daniel

Ken Nakanishi

Ms Louise Miller

Mr Tim Cross

Mr Subu Chockalingam

EDITORIAL

Welcome to the first ECHO of the year and the first instalment of many more Publication items to come. What a journey it has been since the year started! Although studies have kicked into high gear, since you are reading this, you’re taking a well deserved break and want to jump into a thrilling recap of the year so far.

We ushered in the new year and Term 1 with song and instrumentals. House Music was a riotous night featuring everything, ranging from Latin songs, to moving ballads, to upbeat pieces, with each house presenting at least one song under the the umbrella of “songs from movies”. Speaking of umbrellas, the night was capped off with the Prefect item, where a surprise guest made their appearance to roaring laughter. For any music buffs this is the article for you.

Following up from that we have the exciting Year 9 and 10 play ‘Danton’s Death’. A quick recap from the authors is followed by an interview with lead character, Jasper Chao, who played Danton. The famous play was given an unexpected twist; set far in the future with a cyberpunk theme throughout, this masterpiece from our very own Mr Stocker is sure to electrify you.

House Athletics is up next. A tense day for some and for others less so. As each House fought valiantly for the title, we had some outstanding performances from individuals and great participation from all Houses; a shining example of sportsmanship.

For our soldiers in green, the Cadet Bivouac is covered by CUO Jasper Lim. The three day camp tested the cadets and imbued them with skills that may come in handy later on in life. Friendly competitions were scattered throughout the camp so flip on over to find out what was tested and who won.

Following this, almost back to back, we have our annual Green Week, no less exciting than previous years. It began with votes on the Endangered Animal nomination, a quiz and Ride2School day, free pumpkin soup and finally, the highlight, Green Day. Follow the excitement throughout as we wrap up Term 1.

Finally, we round out with some extra goodies. Ever wondered what the bling on our blazers is all about? We’ve got just the article for you. We’re also bringing back the puzzle page with a custom crossword on some iconic teachers from around the school.

Finally, a big thanks to the whole Publications team who’ve been working around the clock to improve Publications this year, especially to Chris Khong and Lucas Qin for putting together this issue of the ECHO.

From the desk of the editor,

Matthew Lau, Prefect for Publications

House Music

ByChrisLu,LucasHo,AdrianChiu,JaydenYap,JoelCheok

Marking the first milestone in the house events calendar, this year ’ s House Music theme was “ songs from movies”. Despite having less time to prepare than in previous years, the conductors and arrangers did not disappoint. Preparing everything ranging from concertos and quartets to “Phat Kat” for the instrumentals and from Latin chants to rock for the chorale, the diversity made for entertaining watching.

Summons kicked off the night with their spirited rendition of “Baby Come Back”. Led by their passionate conductor Allan Wang, they showcased an impressive dynamic range, providing a striking contrast within different sections of the song. Their adept mastery of the wide vocal range in their part song, "Do You Hear the People Sing?" allowed them to achieve a delightful and harmonious equilibrium between the various parts

Steven, after recently falling from the top spot held for so many years, hoped to bounce back in this competition with a “deep” performance of “Shallow”. Their strong use of dynamics and pitch produced a well-deserved first-place performance in the unison section, a testament to their talented conductor, Nathan Bosmans. As is tradition, Steven followed this performance with another Latin song, “Jubilate Deo”, developing a suitably grand and reverent atmosphere

Clifford, off the back of their lacklustre performances in 2023, proved their desire to start 2024 on a ‘fresh note’ Led by School Captain Tommy Auwardt, their stellar performance of “You’ve got a Friend in Me” had crystal clear diction and stunning dynamics, both of which impressed the judges. They continued this strong performance with “Rolling in the Deep”, providing clapping as a rhythmic counterbalance to their melodious vocals, resulting in the best part song of the night!

Bridgland’s deep and rich rendition of “I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For” had remarkable dynamics, the echo-like quality of their singing reinforcing their struggles to “find what they’re looking for”. Following this moving piece with “Fields of Gold”, the wistful melodies ensconced audience members in a metaphorical ‘field of gold’ and evoked a sense of dreaminess in all listening

Robinson’s soulful delivery of John Legend’s “All of Me”, led by Matthew Treagus, offered a heartfelt and sincere performance described by Mr Bishop as “ a beautiful love song ” Their mellifluous harmonies moved the audience close to tears with their quiet but powerful energy. Unfortunately, the impressive volume in “How Far I’ll Go” that really showed how far they’d go had slight repercussions, with the judges commenting that they needed more clarity

Derham, motivated to break out of the mediocrity of previous years, proved to be a dominating force this year. Starting with the ironically named “Yellow”, the red house’s dulcet singing was complemented with guitar chords, creating a captivating fusion of melancholy and longing Armed with the admirable skills of the Captain of Music, Derham’s striking rendition of Mulan’s “I’ll Make a Man out of You” incorporated some unique and novel flourishes, with unexpected solos giving the audience a welcome surprise The risk certainly paid off, with the judges praising its “colour” and “interest”.

Schofield, in the hope of building on their dominant win in 2023, produced another emphatic performance in “I’m Still Standing”, impressing all with their volume. Following their unique instrumental that attracted the attention of many sleepy members in the audience, Schofield further astonished the crowd with their rendition of Adele’s “Skyfall” Although many believed Schofield to be a strong contender, their performances were unfortunately not as well received by the adjudicators.

Macneil’s traditional distinctive parabolic arrangement of students was truly pleasing to the eye, as usual. Their unified and dynamic voices in “Paradise” reminded us all of blissful childhood naivete and provided a rare moment for introspection. Their second performance of Elton John’s “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” infused House Music with a cheerful and vibrant ambience, concluding the night on a light note that left audiences feeling content and fulfilled Finally, after much anticipation from the students, adjudicators Mr Kerr and Mr Leach announced the results (which were surprisingly similar to ChatGPT’s predictions last year!) later in the night. This year ’ s House Music results are as follows:

1st. Clifford

2nd. Derham

3rd. Bridgland

4th. Steven 5th. Summons

6th. Macneil

7th. Robinson 8th. Schofield

DEATH DANTON’S

Written and interviewed by Ethan Huang and Lucas Ho

Danton’s Death was the chosen production for this year ’ s performance, featuring students from year 9 and 10 cohorts between Camberwell Grammar and Canterbury Girls Secondary College.

Set in the midst of a revolutionary upheaval, Danton’s Death transforms Büchner’s timeless play into a cyberpunk setting, with a focus on artificial intelligence, augmented reality and virtual landscapes.

This astonishing display of the drama prowess at our school is masterfully crafted by director Mr Stocker, along with Mrs Johnson, Ms Bennie, Mr. Wager and old-boy Ben Chesler.

The man behind the protagonist, Danton, is Jasper Chao, who will give us an insight into his experiences throughout the show.

What was your role in Danton’s Death and who are they?

My role in Danton’s Death was…Danton. I played the part of a revolutionary who was fed up with all the killing, and wanted to live a simple life.

What is your favourite memory of the show?

My favourite memory during the show was actually the first dress rehearsal, where I had managed to spill one of the bubble tea props. Luckily nobody realised and the rehearsal carried out as usual, and that was something only a select group of people knew that happened.

What makes this show so different from other productions?

The difficulty of understanding the plot was not an issue for just the crowds, but the cast also had just as much of an issue. I myself didn't fully understand the story until the end. The intricacies of the plot definitely make it a unique play.

Who do you think steals the show?

I think my main opponent, Robespierre, definitely stole the show. With a mix of his great acting, and Darth Vader-like cloak, he was certainly a character that I think made the show much better.

What would you say to encourage others at CGS to participate in next year’s productions?

For upcoming productions, I will say they take up A LOT of time. However, if you are in the year levels where school isn’t too serious, it is 100% worth it, just to try it out. Even for musicals, if you can’t sing (like me), it doesn’t mean you can’t have fun.

Summarise the play in one word. Justice.

DANTON’S

DEATH

House athletics

BytheWritingTeamofPublications

Thisyear’sHouseAthleticsprovedtobeanelectrifyingshowcaseof speed,talentanddetermination.Witheachofthe8Housesdelivering strongperformances,thecompetitionwasincrediblytight,keeping everyoneontheedgeoftheirseats.Awidevarietyoftalentwas displayedbothonthetrackandonthefield.

ThedebutofthePrefectRubbishrace addedathrillingtwist,withtheCaptain andthreePrefectsfromeachHouse taskedwithmanagingoneofthreebins (landfill,recycling,orFOGO)inaheartpounding4x100mrelay.Alongsidethe challengeofspeed,runnershadto ensureaccuraterubbishsortingateach handover,withanyerrorsresultingin instantdisqualification.

Theracebeganwithgreat intensity,butchaos eruptedatthefirst turnoverasseveralhouses fumbledwiththeirbins, scramblingtorecover theirrubbishbefore continuing.

Summonswasthefirsttocomeroaring throughthefinishline,butincorrect rubbishsortingcostthemthewin, allowingBridglandtoemergevictorious.

Thedayculminatedinanexhilaratingseriesofrelays,includingthe 4x100m,4x200m,and4x400m(replacingthemedley),highlighting eachhouse’sfightingspiritaseachwincelebratedthecollective effortsofallfourrunners.

Thisyear’sresultswere especiallyclose,withonly10 pointsseparatingfirstandlast place.Thefinalstandingsareas follows:

1st:Bridgland

2nd:Derham

Tied3rd:RobinsonandSchofield Tied5th:Steven,Clifford,Summons 8th:Macneil

Nextyear'sHouseAthleticspromisesanexcitingtwist(unconfirmed);the PrefectRubbishracewillcontributetobothhousepointsandfeatureits owntrophy.Getreadyforathrillingblendofathleticismand environmentalresponsibility!

Cadet Bivouac 2024

Written by CUO Jasper Lim

Bivouac in Year 9 is almost always regarded as a highlight for many cadets, junior and senior, and this year was no exception. From the 22nd to the 24th of March, CGSACU conducted their annual Bivouac camp for the first time in many years at Clifford Park, featuring an obstacle course, abseiling tower and crate stacking activities.

Kicking it off with a "Lantern Stalk" on Friday night, the cadets competed in platoon vs platoon exercises, providing them with the opportunity to use their initiative, teamwork, and communication skills to gain the upper hand.

Moving into Saturday, spirits were high as the cadets moved into the day's activities. One activity involved the park's orienteering course where cadets navigated off without the use of phones, and instead, real, paper maps. Congratulations to Section 1-3C , led by CDTCPL Anson Lim, for completing the most checkpoints on the orienteering course.

Night time came and so did the Saturday night exercise led by yours truly, involving both recruit platoons competing against the clock to find and decipher codes while moving as a section under the leadership of their Corporals and Lance Corporals. Congratulations to 2 Platoon and all its members for emerging victorious, commanded on the night by CDTSGT Owen Wu (Year 11).

The final day consisted of the Jatz Cup, complimented by a gritty but rewarding obstacle course at Clifford Park's "Challenge Valley". The Jatz Cup was made up of various activities such as a masterchef, talent show, trivia and shelter building.

Both the Staff and the Senior Leadership team were impressed by the courage and determination shown on the camp by the cadets, especially in Challenge Valley where some were pushed outside their comfort zone. Similarly, the Senior Leadership team is looking forward to seeing them this September for CGSACU's Annual camp.

GREEN WEEK

By Prefect for Sustainability, Tony Zhang

As Term 1 neared its end, the Camberwell Grammar community was gearing up to celebrate one of the school’s most beloved and inspired annual events. That’s right – Green Week! This year, despite Green Week being cut short due to Parent Teacher Interviews and Good Friday the

In the preceding weeks, the Endangered Animal Nomination polls started. Hundreds of students and staff voted on their favourites out of a group of 16 different local endangered wildlife, where ner would receive all proceeds ed throughout Green Week this Over the progress of three one ong rounds, the Orange-bellied a critically endangered bird with r than 50 left in the wild, was ually victorious. We raised and ed $5085.20 to Zoos Victoria’s ghting Extinction program.

In anticipation of a honey harvest during the term, a honey jar competition was opened, where the winner’s honey label would be placed on all of the honey jars. After being judged very carefully between the art department and Ms Massey, Middle School students Joel Hu and Tom Robertson won the competition with their simplistic design.

On the Friday before Green Week, the waste quiz commenced. Students and staff were required to answer 10 waste-related questions totalling 150 marks, along with 3 bonus questions in case there was a tie for first place. The stakes were high – the prize was a $50 voucher of the winner’s choice. At the end of the week, Haydn Hammerton (Year 12) scored the highest, receiving a total of 146 out of 150, with marks only lost on the short-answers questions. Congratulations to Haydn.

The same Friday was also the national Ride2School day. To commemorate this, students who used alternative modes of transport such as scooter, bike, and public transport were invited to enjoy a free egg and bacon roll breakfast from the cafeteria. This is in-line with the school’s Net Zero by 2030 transport initiative, encouraging staff and students to participate in active transport.

On Tuesday, students were treated to free pumpkin soup in the PAC Foyer. Being served in reusable mugs during recess, the pumpkin soup provided much-needed warmth on a cold and windy day. Fun fact, the pumpkins used were sourced from our own school garden, thanks to the Sustainability Gardening group.

And finally, to sum it up, the climax of the week – Thursday. Students, hopefully arriving to school in a splash of green, must have woken up to a shock – DEEDS seemed to have turned to a shade of green overnight! Don’t worry – it was planned.

At lunch, $5 vegetarian paella was being served to students by the canteen staff. It was especially unique since it also contributed net zero waste, since all of the cutlery and bowls could go into the FOGO bin. In the end, we managed to feed everyone who lined up for some vegetarian paella.

The grand finale marking the end of the term was our famous Green Week concert. Filled with talent such as singing, guitars, and drums the concert was an entertaining event to end the term with.

A special thanks to Ms Massey, Mr Feldt, Ms Menzies, and of course, the brilliant Mr Hone, for making all of this possible

Here at Camberwell Grammar, we proudly wear our badges on our blazers. Some of the more common badges you may recognise, but others may not be as familiar. Do you know what all of them mean?

TheBadges

Roystead: This prestigious badge is awarded to outstanding students in Year 8 for their continual efforts to uphold the school values, embodying respect, courage, learning, integrity and optimism.

AGSV: Only the most accomplished of athletes are selected to represent AGSV. This badge is awarded to those deemed skilled enough in their respective sport to be selected for this honour.

School Prefects (gold): Camberwell Grammar boasts 19 School Prefects, each with their own unique role and responsibility in running the school. This includes the School Captain, Vice Captain, House Captains and various other roles you may see at assembly.

House Prefects (silver): Each house has about six house prefects who support the running of the house, managing the various house events and supporting the house captain / vice-captain.

Scholar: Awarded to the top 10% of Year 12s academically, based on either Semester 2 Year 11 performance, or Semester 1 Year 12 performance.

Colours: Awarded for outstanding excellence and significant contribution to their respective field. Each student must earn enough points through fulfilling various criteria to be awarded full colours. Sport (unique badge for each sport)

Chinese Exchange

Hello fellow students,

My name is Thomas Douglas and I had a Chinese buddy from Nanjing foreign language school with me for two days last term.

Upon realising that my buddy’s English was non-existent, and my Chinese was enough to communicate with him, I pounced on the opportunity to improve my Chinese with a real Chinese student prior to the China trip. Things I personally added to my vocabulary while speaking with him include: ‘bao’ bag, ‘dai biao’ represent, and ‘zhe shi ni de ma ma ma?’ Is this your Mum?!. Indeed my buddy took out his phone and I ended up (unknowingly) on a WeChat call with my buddy’s Mum.

All in all, as the benefit for giving my buddy the Chinese glamping experience, (for 3 periods in all), I learnt new Chinese words, got more practice for the China trip and received two bags of Australian lollies.

Fair trade - Thomas Douglas