ALL TOGETHER

WITH THE NEAREST high school 90 kilometres away on a black-soil road, Tom, Emma and Sophie Slack-Smith knew that one day they would need to go off to boarding school. But for the fifth generation to live on their family property at Burren Junction in north-western New South Wales — and their parents Rodney and Kate — the question was, ‘Where?’ Rodney, one of three brothers, had attended a boys’ boarding school in Sydney; Kate had lived in a town and went to a co-educational high school with her two sisters and three brothers. So when it came down to choice for their children, there were many things to consider.

“We wanted them to be as close as possible to each other. We also wanted to be able to access them. When The Armidale School (TAS) made the decision to go co-educational around the time we were having to choose a school for Tom, well, it all just fitted together,” says Kate.

Tom, now in Year 12 at TAS, admits that it took him a while before he enjoyed boarding, but he has thrown himself into many school activities with his mates: sport, cadet leadership, the two kilometre Coffs Harbour ocean swim and the Sydney City2Surf fun run, as part of a school challenge award called the Triple Crown.

“A real highlight was the service trip to St Christopher’s Orphanage [in Fiji] when I was in Year 8. Just seeing what life was like for them and being able to help, and doing it with your friends, was really good. My time at school has gone quickly, but what I’ll take with me is a feeling of being part of a community and giving everything a go.”

It’s an attitude also taken up by Emma, who is umpiring netball and cooking for the homeless as part of school initiatives for The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award.

“Even during the lockdown there were plenty of cocurricular options and clubs to do online, like cooking. >

I really like being on the farm but it’s a long way from your friends, and here you have them right with you.”

Just as she appreciated having Tom keep an eye out for her when she started boarding, Emma says it’s great being able to help younger sister Sophie as she settles in at TAS. “It’s not our home, but it feels quite like it with the others here.”

While she has only just started, Sophie enjoyed Coast Weekend, a tradition on the first weekend of term for boarders to really get to know each other.

“It’s made it a lot easier having Tom and Emma here,” Sophie says.

For their parents, it’s been greatly reassuring to have their children together, but able to pursue their own interests.

“We love that they are all on campus living together; we feel strongly that this is as close to family as we could get. While we live 400 kilometres away, it’s entirely achievable if we need to get there for any reason,” Kate says.

“For our children, being able to compete in local sport as well as rowing or rugby in Sydney has been fabulous. They see each other daily and the school is big enough for them to follow their own pursuits and small enough that everyone is known. We are excited about where the school is heading.” For more information, visit as.edu.au