A HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Nudgee College opens its doors to show prospective boarders the high level of care and education they can expect as students.

FROM THE UNWAVERIN G support of staff who treat the boys in their care like family, to the bonds among brothers that last a lifetime, there is something truly special about Nudgee College boarding.

To experience Nudgee College life for yourself, you’re invited to attend the Open Day on Saturday 20 May, 2023. From a dedicated Q&A session for boarding families to student-led tours, this event provides the perfect opportunity for prospective families to immerse themselves in all Nudgee College has to offer. Families unable to travel to Brisbane on this day are also always welcome to tour the College at a time convenient for them.

Year 9 student Xavier Doherty, who started boarding at Nudgee College when he was in Year 7, says his favourite thing about boarding is always being surrounded by his friends and having people to talk to.

“You’re never alone,” he says. “There’s always someone you can rely on and someone you can trust.”

Dean of Boarding Mr Casey Brealy says that Nudgee College is so much more than bricks and mortar.

“It is the feeling of belonging. The feeling of connection. The feeling of safety. Feelings that we hope each and every boarder has each day,” he says.

In 2023, Nudgee College Boarding features one of the most comprehensive pastoral-care models in the country. The four Houses within the Boarding Village are each led by a Head of House, two Assistant Heads and a House Mother. Additionally, there are numerous supervisors from all walks of life, including a combination of teaching and non-teaching staff. The breadth of the team allows staff to form smaller pastoral groups to provide regular check-ins and ongoing support. The network of care for the boys also extends to psychologists, registered nurses and kitchen and laundry staff, all of whom are dedicated to supporting the boys through the ups and downs of day-to-day adolescent life. With 24/7 active supervision, as well as strong leave processes and structures to account for boarders’ whereabouts, our duty of care and the safety of the boys is always our priority.

To register for Nudgee College’s Open Day, or for more information about the college, visit nudgee.com

Lifelong network

ANDREA AND TRADER WILSON have always wanted their children to “follow their own path”.

It’s a message their Year 11 son Lachlan and daugher Mia, who is in Year 8, are comfortable with as they progress through their schooling as boarders at The Rockhampton Grammar School (RGS).

The Wilson family live on Kaiuroo in the Central Highlands’ Mackenzie district, located about 90 kilometres north of Dingo, Queensland. Kaiuroo is one of four properties in an aggregation that includes grain, cattle and irrigation on the Mackenzie River.

Lachlan had an outstanding year in 2022. Not only did he place first in Year 10, Lachlan won 13 awards at the school’s speech day ceremony. He topped seven subjects and his many additional awards included Outstanding Boy Boarder.

Andrea still recalls Lachlan calling home with the news.

“We knew he had a good year, but we were all so surprised. Lachlan called and said, ‘They read out so many awards I can’t even remember what they all are’.”

At the completion of Year 12 next year, Lachlan is hoping to study for a Bachelor of Biomedicine degree at university in Melbourne.

Andrea and Trader are fully supportive of whatever careers their children want to pursue. “We manage the property we live on. We don’t own it, so they’re not going to inherit it,” Andrea says.

Trader says sometimes there’s an expectation put on children that they are coming home to the property after school, whether they like it or not. “There are big opportunities in the agriculture industry, but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. There are certainly a lot of different facets to the industry now compared to what granddad did 50 years ago,” Trader says.

Andrea says they have always encouraged their children to look at something else and boarding at RGS has helped broaden life’s bigger picture.

When the family relocated to Central Queensland just over three years ago, it was the first time they had to consider sending their children to boarding school.

“In our previous jobs we had always lived close to town so we never had to think about boarding school, but when we moved Lachlan was starting Year 8. We had to make a choice and I didn’t want to be too far away from him,” Andrea says. “Trader went to boarding school so he was accustomed to the idea, but I wasn’t.”

Andrea and Trader have adjusted to their children being away at boarding school, with the proximity to RGS allowing them to catch up at least once a month.

Trader says every parent just hopes their kids fit in at the start and find friends at school. >

Lachlan says he felt immediately welcomed when he started boarding at RGS, despite some initial reservations before leaving home.

“There are a lot more opportunities at school. Being a boarder, there are no restrictions if you can get there or not. It’s all here for you,” Lachlan says.

Younger sister Mia admits she doesn’t see too much of her brother at school, as they keep busy with their own interests, but she has also made some great friends and likes the different opportunities available as a boarder.

Boarding school has also taught Lachlan and Mia independence: whether that be washing their own clothes or making sure they meet their study and co-curricular commitments.

“When the kids are in boarding they learn about being independent and they are more dedicated to their studies when they have to do homework and prep,” Andrea says. “At home they would probably say they are going to ride their horse because they don’t have any homework. And that would probably go on for three days.”

Outside of the classroom, Lachlan also finds time to finetune his talents on the piano. Lachlan’s parents gave him an old keyboard when he was 10 or 11 years old and he started teaching himself by watching YouTube. “It’s just fun playing the piano. I still practise a lot when I’m home from school. I’m not super helpful on the property when I go home but I do drive the tractor a bit,” Lachlan says.

Mia, who also enjoys music, prefers kicking the football around with friends after school and when she’s back home you’ll find her in the yards or riding her horse or motorbike.

While Lachlan and Mia are enjoying the now ‘normal’ busy lifestyle and endless opportunities of boarding school, they still both enjoy their ‘quiet’ time when they head home to Kaiuroo for long weekends or school holidays.

Andrea and Trader have also welcomed the extended family network that comes with being a boarding parent. Trader says at boarding school the kids might be from everywhere and from all walks of life. “It’s a network for the rest of your life. You always know someone, somewhere.”

Conveniently located in one of Queensland’s largest regional centres, The Rockhampton Grammar School is proud to be the school of choice for generations of families throughout Central Queensland, North Queensland, the Northern Territory and overseas. Talk to us today about starting something special at The Rockhampton Grammar School: rgs.qld.edu.au