All aboard the Q-Train

DENISE MCLELLAN, BOARDING PARENT AND PRESIDENT OF THE BOARDING PARENTS’ SUPPORT GROUP

The boarding parents had a fantastic night in October wining and dining on the Q-Train. This fun evening was the last event over a number of days of celebrations for Year 12s. The Q train is a dinner train that runs from Drysdale to Queenscliff and back again. If you haven’t done it, get a bunch of friends together and do it, you won’t regret it!

The experience on board the Q-Train was wonderful. The wine and food on our menu was sourced locally and was absolutely delicious.

The night was a huge success: we didn’t lose anyone at any of the stops in the dark, the atmosphere was amazing, and - if there was a dance floor - everyone would’ve been on it!

Yes, we’re doing it again next year! The boarding family network is a small but strong group with the aim of fostering connection and engagement between boarding families, as well as within the greater College community. Having a shared experience, in terms of having your children away for most of the year and missing out on much of your child’s day-to-day life, is the glue that makes our network so strong. The network is about embracing all the family members: the boarder, the parents and the little brothers and sisters left back at home!

Boarding families have a number of events over the year including rural versus regional netball and football matches, a trivia event, and lunches and activities including all the family. Boarding parents also get together for lunch on the last day of term; a great opportunity to catch up and touch base. Relationships are so important throughout all stages of life, but particularly when your child is living away from home and in the care of others.

Every boarding family will tell you they have a local family (or two) who are their ‘go-to’ for helping out with their child. Pickups, drop-offs, and running around after kids, is just something that we (as parents) do without thinking much about - when we’re the ones doing it. But when your child is living hours from home, and you can’t be the one to help day-to-day, you appreciate so much when another family does. We notice every time our child tells us someone ‘ran them around’, helped them out. It may be a little thing to the family who helped, but it means so much to us. So thank you, we couldn’t do it without you!