AROUND THE SCHOOLS
St. Clare’s Spirit Not Dampened SEAN DENT ST. Clare’s School turned their two-day Athletics’ Carnival into a three-day event last week and weatherwise, it was a tale of two Tullys. Thursday and Monday were brilliantly sunny, definitely days for the sunscreen. Friday started out in the morning with one of the downpours we’re famous for. But while conditions became rather miserable it certainly did not dampen the spirits of these hardy students. Modifications were made to the program to ensure student safety and by Monday afternoon, the whole list of track and field competitions were complete other than the parent relay, which was unfortunately cancelled much to the disappointment of the many parents who enjoy joining the fun of the novelty event!
This year, in a tight contest, Woomera was the overall winning house by a mere 15 points. Our age champions: 8yr Girls: Jessica 8yr Boys: Declan 9yr Girls: Madeleine 9yr Boys: Liam 10yr Girls: Layla 10yr Boys: Case 11yr Girls: Elise 11yr Boys: Jaia 12yr Girls: Eve 12yr Boys: Dean
Mission Beach held their 800m Finals last Wednesday
The upper school classes participated as they were cheered on by the lower school classes. 2019 Age Champions with generous sponsor Tegan Daniels.
Liam securing 1st place in the 9yr boys shot put
Alyssa looking to land a PB in the 10yr Girls' Long Jump with staff members Carla Lowe and Jenni Williamson looking on
2019 winning team Woomera
Music Workshops with Country Stars Strike a Chord MARIA GIRGENTI GOOD Counsel College recently had the opportunity to host music workshops with country music stars James and Briar Blundell and Becci Nethery, which students described as brilliant. Students who had a passion for music were genuinely excited and actively contributed to the writing and performing of a song before the end of the two-hour workshop. Guest entertainer James Blundell, whose career has spanned over 30 years, first rose to prominence in 1992 with the smash hit single ‘Way Out West’ with former Australian Crawl front man James Reyne. He was also the first young Australian act to sign a major record label deal in Nashville which has since paved the way for other Australian country music stars such as Lee Kernaghan, Kasey Chambers and Keith Urban. Blundell, a one-time ARIA award winner and five time nominee has also written hits for Slim Dusty, Lee Kernaghan and Jimmy Little and is the recipient of numerous CMAA awards, double platinum, platinum and gold sales awards. Late in March 2012, Blundell was named as the inaugural inductee into the Country Music Channel (CMC) Hall of Fame. Blundell was accompanied by his son Briar, a talented guitarist
who worked closely with the students and was also a hit at the workshop. Rising country music star Becci Nethery, who lives in Sydney, was born in Chillagoe and was a former student at St Monica’s College in Cairns, before she went on to complete her Bachelor of Music degree and graduate from Academy of Country Music in Tamworth in 2012. Nethery has performed at country music festivals and awards presentations all over Australia and been the opening act for Australian country music stars such as Amber Lawrence and James Blundell. Her song ‘Feels Like Home’, which Nethery co-wrote with David Carter about her hometown of Chillagoe, was recently named in the top 10 Singer/Songwriter - Song of the Year category of the Songs Alive Australia competition. She was also recently announced as a nominee in this year’s ICMA awards. She has a string of accolades to her name with the most recent being National Song of the Year at Tasmanian Independent Country Music Awards in 2018 for ‘Can’t Just Kiss You’. Last year she was also the recipient of Tamworth Songwriters Association Open/ Contemporary section winner for ‘Just Not Today.’ A number of students, along with many locals, competed in Innisfail’s Got Talent at the Canecutter Court as part of Feast of the Senses and all competitors celebrated the region’s local talent with
Page 16 Cassowary Coast Independent News, Thursday, May 9, 2019
James, Briar, and Becci, who were judges. All three artists then put on a special live on-stage performance as part of new Feast Street event held outdoors and under cover at Canecutter Court. Good Counsel College especially wished to thank Kirsty Densmore and the Feast of the Senses organisers for facilitating this awesome experience.
Good Counsel College students who participated in a music workshop with country music artists James Blundell and his son Briar. Photo by Maria Girgenti