The Altera Terra - December 2022

CONTENTS

PRODUCED BY HAILEYBURY RENDALL SCHOOL

6057 Berrimah Rd

Berrimah NT 0828 Australia

EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES

marketing@haileybury.vic.edu.au

For more information about Haileybury Rendall School visit haileyburyrendall.com.au

FOLLOW US

@haileyburyrendallschool

@haileyburyrendallschool

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF COUNTRY

The community of Haileybury Rendall School acknowledges and pays respect to the Traditional Custodians of the Land on which it is based, the Larrakia People, and pays respect to the Elders – past, present and future.

From the Principal

Haileybury Rendall School, Darwin, Australia is a school like no other. A glance through the articles in this stunning magazine will leave you wondering how any school could provide such colour, energy, passion and opportunity within a single year. A detailed read of all the articles will provide clues to help you solve the mystery of our unparalleled educational experience.

We are a vibrant school community of around 880 students from our Early Learning Centre through to Year 12. In our fifth year we have more than doubled our opening enrolments from 2018 and next year we are poised to continue this growth towards 950 students as strong Middle School numbers push up into Senior School. This year we had 85 Indigenous boarders living and learning on site from remote communities across Australia. Our students are supported by dynamic and talented staff across all areas of schooling.

Our impressive academic results, that saw us as the leading NAPLAN Primary School in the Territory and had 20% of Year 12 VCE students achieving an ATAR over 95, are the pride of Northern Australia. Academic excellence is the cornerstone of a brilliant HRS education but, as the pages of this magazine show, we aim to do everything well.

From the whole school musical, Australian Boarding School of the Year, incredible and testing outdoor adventures, community spirit, social justice, sporting talent to being a thriving Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Education — these are a few successes that scratch the surface of life in our School.

There is plenty more to come from Darwin’s number one school — but for now please read on and enjoy a glimpse of 2022.

Andrew McGregor Principal

A sense of pride

Ned Leahy School Captain

To me, being a leader at Haileybury Rendall School is important to help improve culture and build a welcoming environment within the School. It has been the aim of the School and the leadership team this year to build school spirit by improving past events for more participation and effort from students. It is key to have a strong leadership team who bring in new ideas as well as build off past years work, and it is crucial to work as a team in order to implement as many new ideas as possible.

I have learnt over the years that valuable qualities in the leadership team include communication, teamwork, and flexibility, all of which are necessary to work cohesively when planning events for the School.

A highlight for me would be seeing the invested competitiveness of all the houses this year. In many events such as handball, debating, or singing, every house gave it their all and made for some very heated competitions. It was great to see the involvement and contribution of each student wanting to compete for their house. I hope the School sees a continuation of this next year and improve house spirit in the years to come.

Although the year has flown by and is almost finished for myself, I look forward to hearing of the continuing efforts of the leadership team putting on events to create a stronger community.

Elyse Temple-Smith School Captain

Having the opportunity to be School Captain was an invaluable experience. I feel it pushed me into a safe area of learning and growth. There were many lessons learnt, notably the importance of relationships in a leadership role. Being able to meet and spend time with the Junior and Middle School students at events like the World’s Greatest Shave and throughout the school was a fulfilling aspect of my role. Being able to watch many students come out of their shell and become more involved in events throughout the year highlights the sentiment that what you do has a much greater impact than what you say.

I’m excited to see the leadership teams next year capitalise on that even more. The inclusion of events such as the International Women’s Day March and Walk for Reconciliation were amazing to see and really opened a more diversified experience for Haileybury Rendall School students that we had not yet experienced.

In leaving Haileybury Rendall School I, and many other students, have an overall feeling of pride and excitement. By uniting a team of charismatic teachers and passionate students, I look forward to watching the addition of more events and changes that continue to fulfill goals in the Reconciliation Action Plan. Building upon a uniting, safe and motivating culture for all students and fulfilling our motto “Every student matters every day”.

AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION AWARDS

Rising success

It is a great achievement to celebrate our School as more than just classrooms and computers, and this year proved to be a big year for Haileybury Rendall School in the awards sector.

In June, the School was awarded Excellence in the Provision of Indigenous Student Health & Wellbeing at the Indigenous Education and Boarding Australia Awards evening.

Over the past year, the School has created a Health and Wellbeing Framework, developed protocols in relation to COVID, and have endeavoured to set a best practice example of this with the school being recognised by the Centre for Disease Control.

We also congratulate our very own Makayla Noble-Webster (Year 10) on her Exceptional Contribution to the Community by an Indigenous Boarding Student accolade.

The award winners were formally announced in a special ceremony during the 5th National Indigenous Education & Boarding Symposium dinner in Newcastle, NSW.

Similarly, in August Haileybury Rendall School received their first award for Australian Boarding School of the Year at the 2022 Australian Education Awards.

This much sought-after award was acknowledged at a ceremony held in Sydney amongst other great schools from across the country.

In presenting the Boarding School of the Year award to Principal, Andrew McGregor, the judges recognised our high-quality Teaching and Learning program, strong wellbeing support and unique activities program.

Our focus and commitment to creating a culturally safe program that respects, supports and welcomes students from different cultures also contributed to the success at the awards ceremony.

“As the only independent boarding school in the Northern Territory, Haileybury Rendall School has a vision to be a great world school and to be the school of choice for families in northern Australia and internationally,” said Mr McGregor.

Furthermore, with the recent completion of a new state-of-the-art boarding facility that rivals those seen around the world, the community is excited to offer more students the opportunity to be part of a truly unique boarding experience in the NT.

Young people from across the north of Australia can live on campus and make

the most of the many educational and unique extra-curricular opportunities available every day at the School. The arrival of international students will also bring different life experiences and perspectives that will enrich our community and help the School continue to grow.

The joy of the night was equally shared with our Victorian counterpart, in recognition of the brilliant Primary School program. Haileybury in Melbourne was named Primary School of the Year – Nongovernment for the fourth time.

“Primary school years are the start of a young person’s educational journey,” said Scott Doran, Haileybury Vice Principal Community Engagement & Advancement.

“They are the formative years and the foundation that can spark a lifelong love of learning, so to be recognised as Primary School of the Year – Non-government is a tremendous honour for Haileybury.”

Haileybury’s Primary program has been built on strong programs that support student learning, promote resilience and help children discover their sense of curiosity and individuality. Our Explicit Teaching Model has been integral to the growth and success of our students and has been shared widely.

When you think of the Olympics you probably have swimming and athletics on your mind. But have you heard of the Ethics Olympiad?

We have, and we’re proud to say that our Junior School team were awarded the bronze medal earlier this year!

The basis of an Ethics Olympiad is to discuss age-appropriate ethical cases with another team. Both teams analyse the given case, discuss their stance, and rebut arguments posed by the opposition. During the competition, scores are awarded to teams by tertiary academics and expert teachers. Medals and prizes are presented to those teams that demonstrate academic rigour and in-depth analysis of several ethical case studies.

The day involves teams connecting via Zoom and working together to determine the most ethical answers to set questions. Rather like an athlete would prepare for a sporting event, ‘Eth-letes’, with the support of their coaches, practise training their minds to make conclusions, based on careful analysis and judgement.

Schools from all around Australia compete in this event, with 23 schools participating in the Junior Olympiad run for primaryaged students.

Two Junior Haileybury Rendall School teams were entered into the competition and it’s needless to say that both teams gave performances that blew us away. Our very first entry into the competition placed third and fifth overall.

The students loved it so much they have already registered for 2023.

In November, our Middle School students undertook the same exercise, competing against other teams in the Middle School Olympiad. Two teams were shaped for the event from ten Year 9 students volunteering to participate. The students secured fourth and fifth place up against strong competition in the Northen Territory.

Earlier, in August our Middle School ‘Eth-letes’ took part in an intensive training session, with expert speakers Zooming in from across the globe, providing students with advice on how to approach the competition.

Amber Sharp (Year 9) noted that, “The Zoom training day helped us prepare for the competition as we learnt key ethical theories and how to structure our arguments.” Head of Humanities, Joe Hosier said that seeing so many students wanting to participate was fantastic.

“This event promotes higher-order thinking skills, which is crucial for those Year 9 students embarking on a VCE Humanities pathway next year,” Mr Hosier said.

Mr Hosier enjoyed working with our ‘Eth-letes’ and building on their ethical standpoints and critical thinking.

Great minds of the ethically inclined

Celebrating identity & heritage

Haileybury Rendall School is proud to rest on Larrakia Land and to uphold the mission and priorities of our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

The aim for our reconciliation journey is to celebrate the diverse identities and cultural heritage of our staff and students who have come to our school from more than 30 different communities across Australia.

We aim to meaningfully embed practices and strategies which fully value the cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Our sub-committees have worked together to oversee exciting projects. These were very successful and the shared commitment by people in these groups was powerful and tangible.

Our reconciliation journey will be a continuous one, however, 2022 has been punctuated by the operation of the Principal’s Advisory Committee. This committee consists of our Indigenous staff providing a cultural lens to the Principal. It is also the forum which provides the committee with their voice to the School.

This year has seen the completion of our significant Indigenous Employment Strategy. This strategy provides guidance in the recruitment, retention and professional growth of Indigenous staff. It will ultimately help create a more culturally sensitive workplace. This group will also be responsible for implementing the strategy over the next few years.

Our Whole-school Curriculum audit into the Australian Curriculum’s Cross

Curricular Priority – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures – was also completed.

This will provide opportunities for staff professional development in the near future. It also will provide powerful insights for our students into the real history of Australia and the development of greater respect and understandings of the world’s oldest continuous living cultures.

The RAP Working Group decided early in the year to have a different and culturally appropriate approach when organising our National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week celebrations. NAIDOC Week activities were organised entirely by our Indigenous staff.

One of the highlights of the week was an open-air assembly of the entire School. This included a Welcome to Country by Senior Larrakia Elder, Aunty Bilawara Lee and the performance of the Garamilla Dancers.

We also were privileged to experience an inspiring speech by Northern Territory Minister, the Honourable Ngaree Ah Kit. The event concluded with a Smoking Ceremony, which included the entire school community and was overseen by Trent Lee and Tony Lee.

There is discussion about ways to restructure the RAP Working Group to ensure sustainable growth into the future. We will aspire to develop a model of Collective Leadership and develop the supportive culture of the group, so we can continue to enact our Reconciliation Action Plan and engage more of our School community with its actions.

"The School has grown rapidly, and we have many diverse opportunities on offer for our students. The 2022 RAP Working Group is the largest since the inception of RAPs at the School."

A new chapter for boarding

Each part of the Haileybury Rendall School program has been carefully designed to live up to the School’s motto that ‘every student matters every day’, and the boarding facilities are no exception to the rule.

Earlier this year, a new, purposebuilt boarding house was officially opened on Thursday, 18 August, and was designated the name Madjirra House (the Larrakia word for 'bird'). The building complements the existing accommodation, with light and bright communal spaces encouraging

connection, modern kitchen areas allowing students to cook and interact over dinner, plus single and dual bedroom options. All bedrooms feature single beds, study desks, personal storage and air conditioning.

With over three years of planning preceding the build, followed by two years of construction, the boarding house was developed with student comfort at the forefront, and many of the aspects were influenced by current boarding students’ opinions.

Outdoor spaces have been landscaped based on student feedback, with socially interactive areas such as fire pits, basketball rings, wellbeing spaces and gym equipment.

During the evening, spaces utilised for study and homework support from teachers are popular and also used for pastoral gatherings.

The Wellness Centre in the new building will soon offer programs including mindfulness practice (Dadirri), yoga and Tai Chi, alongside programs aimed to improve the health and wellbeing literacy of students.

Deputy Principal, Felicity Pearson is thrilled to be a part of the Haileybury Rendall School boarding program and the dedicated spaces, support and student wellbeing that comes with it.

“We are a unique and distinctive school. We have a genuine intent to serve families living in communities across Australia by providing young people with outstanding educational opportunities and experiences,” says Felicity.

“At the core of everything we do is the unshakeable belief in our young people. Creating a welcoming environment for students to engage in two-way learning and to enjoy cultural, physical, psychological and spiritual safety ensures our students can achieve their potential."

Madjirra House is just one prime example of how Haileybury Rendall School is forging ahead as a world-class centre for young people and their education. We look forward to welcoming more Australian and International students into the boarding houses in 2023 and beyond.

The littlest things bring the

jbiggest oy

Childhood is one of the most enjoyable phases of life, and Ms Arnie Reyes is making the most of that feeling. Alongside being a deeply supportive, enthusiastic and passionate educator, Arnie was also an Outstanding Early Childhood Teacher finalist in both 2021 and 2022 at the Northern Territory Education and Care Awards. It is her fourth year as an Early Childhood Teacher and at HRS. She has shared with us her journey of becoming an Early Childhood Educator and why this area of the School is so significant.

Where did your journey as a teacher begin?

When I graduated senior year, my alma mater offered for me to work as an assistant teacher in one of the preschool rooms. I worked part-time from 8 am until midday and went to university in the afternoon. Unfortunately, I was not able to finish my degree back home. I always loved being with the children and it gave me

that sense of belonging every day that I worked with them. My dad passed from an aneurysm when I was in my third year of university and after a year my mum also had an aneurysm, which made me decide to pause my education and work full-time to support my family. I came to Australia as an international student from the Philippines after spending my childhood in Manila.

Where did your passion for Early Childhood Education come from?

I think it came from my personality. I love being around children. I think I connect best with these age groups. It fulfills me to see that when I teach, I could see so many discoveries that I can be a part of, and it fills me with this warmth inside that I get to impart knowledge that the children will carry throughout their lives.

What is your favourite part of educating?

I love interacting with the children. Learning from them, helping them to understand their emotions, supporting them, building, and seeing the connection between what they learn and how they can use it or connect it in their lives. I love how we get to share things that we like and love, and finding out that we share the same interests.

Do you have a favourite moment from your time as an educator?

I think for me every day is a favourite moment. There was one time a parent asked me when he was picking up; the children were outside playing, and I was sitting with one group on the veranda playing a banana game. He stood there and just blurted, “I don’t know how you can do this every day for 8 hours?” and instantly I replied, “This is my happy place. I get to be 5 years old again every day!” and we both just laughed but it was truly and sincerely how I felt when he shot me that question.

Why do you consider Early Childhood Education so important?

Early Childhood Education is important because we are a part of the critical development years of the children. As an early childhood teacher, I feel that it is vital that we lay a strong foundation for the

They also learn and share in various cultures and traditions especially with having a close relationship with our boarding students.

What do you enjoy outside of work?

I love to sing. Don’t hand me the microphone because I won’t let it go! I also love dancing. I was a part of our school’s dance troupe when I was in my junior and senior years. I love to cook for my family and friends. I love having walks along the jetty and foreshore in Nightcliff. I also thoroughly enjoy reading children’s books … it transports me back to my childhood without a care in the world. I also love BTS (Bangtan Seonyondan), karaoke, double cheeseburgers with extra pickles and onions and ice-cold Coke!

What is an achievement you are most proud of?

Finishing my tertiary education and having a degree is one of my greatest achievements. I promised my parents that I would finish my studies however long it took. Finishing my studies gave me the capability and means to fulfill my duty and obligation to my beautiful son. I could not have been nominated as one of the top three finalist in the Education and Care Awards if I had not taken that leap of faith seven years ago to continue my education. Being a teacher has given me a full-time job in one of the most prestigious schools in Australia

Weaving the magic of art

Art classrooms are frequently a gateway to magnificent creativity and wonder. Students who may not have known about their talents can suddenly blossom into outstanding artists.

Head of Art, Anne McMaster is an inspiring teacher to many and has helped students flourish in their artwork.

“We aim to bring some excitement and joy to the art room classes and I know the students appreciate that,” Anne said.

From the ELC through to Year 12, our students have many opportunities to follow their artistic talents. Inspiring art programs are delivered in many forms, and the art classroom sees an enormous range of materials, methods, projects and ideas pass though the room every day.

Bright and early on a Monday morning, the lively chatter of Year 1 students fills the art room as they explore line and shapes through the artworks of Paul Klee. The students admire his work and try their hand at creating their own shapely pieces.

After nearly an hour of developing their works of art, the Year 1’s pack up their things and prepare to head back to class. Year 10 student Rose waits outside, ready to continue with her Unit 2 Visual Communication project — refining the joining techniques of her model house. She is carefully considering how to piece together the delicate architecture.

In a nearby classroom VCE Studio Arts final artworks have been completed. Year 12 student Vina, who has created a charcoal portrait series, will spend

Ochre Class - Mural Design

Vina - Charcoal Portrait Series

Rose - Model House

the following lesson practicing writing techniques studied over the past 10 months for her final exams.

After recess it’s time for the Year 8 Ochre class. The Ochre students have recently been enjoying completing small mosaic square designs on wood panels. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable time for the class and many of them love being able to share their incredible artistic skills.

Elsewhere in the Middle School, Art elective classes for Year 7 students include pottery techniques and sgraffito pinch pots. Students are learning how to articulate their process with a written reflection.

As the bell rings signifying the end of lunch, Year 5 students wander into the room and settle at the tables, ready to utilise now familiar materials of pastel and watercolours that they have been practising with for several sessions. Their aim? To paint striking, aquatic seahorses.

As clouds begin to brew in the sky, suggesting the onset of late afternoon wet season rains, VCAL Indigenous art students get started on their last class of the day. They are completing individual designs and plans in their visual diaries in readiness for a collaborative approach to two larger scale murals to be presented in the school quadrangle area. Their designs of indigenous botanic and animal motifs will be a reminder of the vast landscape that is the Northern Territory.

At the end of the day, this is just a splash glance of what can be uncovered in art classes. Creativity is truly a fundamental life skill, and it’s clear to see HRS art classes are providing paths for students to explore this side of learning.

Year 5 - Watercolour

VCAL - Mural Design

Year 7 - Pottery

A beauty of a show

Amagnificent production of the timeless classic Beauty and the Beast was on show for Haileybury Rendall School students and families earlier this year.

The story that has entranced many generations of fans throughout the world centres around a prince who is transformed into a monster and a young woman who is imprisoned in his castle.

The story was first published way back in 1740 and Walt Disney helped turn the fairy tale into the popular classic we know and love.

Naturally, productions like this take a lot of time and effort as a record number of students signed up to be a part of the spectacular event.

Holly George, Head of Performing Arts, said strong interest in the production was extremely encouraging.

“We all became a tight-knit Beauty and the Beast community due to the hours of rehearsals families and students put into the show,” Holly said.

Once casting was announced, weekly rehearsals started after school for five months, with the show running from 16 – 17 June at the Darwin Entertainment Centre.

“Students were really well-prepared for rehearsals. Highlighting their lines and memorising their scripts early helped them focus on practicing movement and action,” Holly said.

“Their hard work during rehearsals was extraordinary, and I’m very proud of the students. During the last stages of rehearsals, we were joined by the staff and student band whose input was essential in ensuring a beautiful orchestral soundtrack to our singing.”

The Darwin audiences greatly appreciated the magnificent production at the delightful Darwin Entertainment Centre. Backdrop designs, beautiful lighting and colourful costumes were provided by both local and interstate designers.

Our students performing in the production were thrilled with the success of the night. Kavya Tayal, Year 7 played Belle and was delighted with the whole performance.

“It was so great getting to wear such amazing costumes, and extremely enjoyable getting to perform and sing in front of a large audience at each show.”

Trinity Coleman, Year 10 played the Beast and loved making new friends and learning how to sing in a musical theatre voice.

“I played the Beast, and my favourite moment was when I got to try on the intricate mask for the first time as it really made me embody the character,” Trinity said.

Adele Brennan, Year 6 also enjoyed the rehearsals and the premiere production.

“I was in the Ensemble, and my favourite part about the production was getting to make friends from different year levels and performing on the large stage,” Adele said.

The students enjoyed the after-party where they celebrated the performance by watching the film footage and chatting about their success.

This year is Holly George’s first at Haileybury Rendall School as Head of Performing Arts.

“Growing up, I always had a flare for the dramatic, performing in lead roles and ensemble work in musical theatre and plays in New Zealand and the UK on stage.”

Holly’s passion for Performing Arts continued through drama school training for three years before studying teaching.

She directed a variety of musicals and plays with all age groups for many years as Head of Drama in London. These

productions included Alice in Wonderland, Narnia and Hairspray

This particular production of Beauty and the Beast was a real highlight for Holly.

We have such talented young actors at Haileybury Rendall School. It was an absolute joy to see their fantastic skills being brought to the Darwin Entertainment Centre stage for audiences and family members. Each performance was stunning, due to their dedication throughout the rehearsal period. The moral of this classic tale is a beautiful way for us to remember to be kind, ‘she warned him not to be deceived by appearances, for beauty is found within’.

Well done staff, students and families of Haileybury Rendall School for helping create such a superb performance!

Embracing the great outdoors

Outdoor Education trips are always sure to offer up some adventures, and some life lessons. The 2022 trip schedule was no exception with one group in particular experiencing a brand-new expedition for Haileybury Rendall School.

Year 12 Outdoor Education students embarked on a stunning seven-day adventure as they headed down south to Melbourne, Mt Buller and many other places in between.

“This year has been a wonderful time to be involved in Outdoor Education at Haileybury Rendall School,” Alister Hadley, Coordinator of Outdoor Education and School Activities, said.

“Given that the past few years have made Outdoor Education a bit of a balancing act, it was exciting to be involved in the first collaborative Outdoor Education Program between two Haileybury campuses; Haileybury Rendall School and Haileybury Keysborough.

“This trip saw our Units 3 and 4 Outdoor Education class jump on a plane and head to Naarm (Melbourne) on the traditional lands of the Kulin nation,” Alister said.

Here is a snapshot of the many unforgettable experiences the group enjoyed.

Day 1

The students started with a quick breakfast at Queen Victoria Market before heading to Melbourne Zoo. Here the group researched native Australian animals and how they adapt to biological isolation and the harsh climate variations in Australia.

Day 2 – 4

The group headed for the hills to meet Haileybury Outdoor Education students and staff. Our destination was Marnong, otherwise known as Mt Buller, on Taungurong country.

For many of the Haileybury Rendall School students it was their first time experiencing snow and snow sports. It was a steep learning curve for many. We had stunning days when we were first learning with our instructors. They gave us good pointers and advice, mainly so we didn’t go careening off an edge!

“The group observed and studied the management strategies put in place by Mt Buller to sustainably use and protect the environment, including the protection and conservation of the Mountain Pygmy Possum,” Alister said.

Day 5-7

Our last few days saw us travel around greater Melbourne to some of the most intriguing and iconic sites found in the city.

At the Royal Botanic Gardens, the group enjoyed a tour of the native gardens, researching the role and history of the gardens, its educational purposes and the threatened flora species within Victoria’s ecological vegetation classes. We also got to pat some puppies!

At the Melbourne Museum students explored exhibitions about dinosaurs and megafauna that first roamed this environment. The group also listened to the voices and languages of Victoria’s Koorie community telling the story of Aboriginal Victoria from the time of Creation to today.

“For everyone involved it was a highlight of their school year.”

Alister Hadley

Race ready

Running and swimming in tropical Darwin may not be everyone’s idea of fun, but two outstanding students love every minute of it.

Middle School students, Gilbert Cox and Macey Sheridan, have led the pack recently in their exceptional performances on the running track and in the swimming pool.

Gilbert Cox

Gilbert has been competing in running events since he was four years old and is now a member of the Northern Territory athletics and hockey teams. The first race he entered was a halfmarathon relay with his family. At only five years old he ran 5.5km in 26 minutes!

Gilbert became heavily involved in athletics after competing at an interschool athletics gala day which led to success at the regional competition.

“I love it because it pushes me to my limits, and I feel that I am competitive against runners from other states,” Gilbert said.

He’s most proud of a silver medal received in the 800m and bronze in the 1500m at the School Sport Australia National

Track and Field Championships, held in Darwin in 2019.

Gilbert’s running role models include Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway), a worldclass middle-distance runner, and Stewart McSweyn (Australia), a regular Australian representative at World Title Championships and Olympic events.

Outside of sports, Gilbert loves Humanities, hanging out with friends, computer games and dancing to music in the loungeroom.

In the future, Gilbert hopes to achieve success in several championships in the 400m, 800m and 1500m events — he’s going for gold!

Macey Sheridan

Macey is a torpedo in the pool. Starting to swim at the age of two, Macey enjoyed the freedom of water so much that she began swimming competitively in Darwin Swimming Club squads by the age of seven. She is now a part of the Northern Territory swim team.

“I love to race and love putting in the effort needed to race well,” she said.

One day she hopes to compete for Australia in the Olympics, World Championships and

Commonwealth Games. It has been her goal since she started swimming and still is today.

Swimming champion Emma McKeon is one of Macey’s role models. “As Australia’s most successful Olympian and multiple time gold medallist, Emma has become someone who inspired me,” Macey said.

“In the near future, I look forward to competing on the national stage at the Australian Age Championships on the Gold Coast in April 2023.”

She is most proud of her recent achievements at the 2022 Australian Country Championships where she came first in all eleven, 12-year-old female events that she entered.

Outside of swimming, Macey likes to compete in athletics and surf life saving. She is currently the Northern Territory Surf Life Saving U13 Female Age Champion.

Her favourite subjects at school are PE and Science. She loves PE because it allows her to try other sports and work on different skill sets. Macey is also a curious and keen Science student. She loves the subject because it teaches her how to explain the seemingly unexplainable.

Making the journey matter

The start of a new term is always an exciting time for students and staff. However, it can also be a time for a few nerves; and for our boarding students, it’s also a time when there are necessary goodbyes with family members. We acknowledge the sacrifices families make in sending their children to boarding school so that they can receive an outstanding education. In many cases, our boarders are travelling hundreds of kilometres away from home to attend Haileybury Rendall School.

At the beginning and end of every term, members of our School staff head out in different directions across the Territory to act as travel supervisors for our boarders and to ensure safe passage for our students. While we might take such a practice for granted, this caring and thoughtful approach to travel is not something that happens at all boarding schools.

This decision has a wonderful bonus effect of allowing us the chance to yarn with family members and witness beautiful moments between our boarders and their loved ones. Because of this, start of term travel has become a highlight for many of our staff.

“As has become the norm for me every term, I spend the day flying out to the Tiwi Islands. We make multiple stops as we pick up our boarders from these stunning islands.

I love the chats that I get to have with families, with each family member always asking me to ‘look after their baby’. We take this responsibility very seriously at our School.”

The Term 4 travel period is particularly significant for our graduating class of 2022, as it is the last time they will travel to and from Haileybury Rendall School as current students.

Year 12 is a complex era in any student’s life. Often a bitter-sweet moment, students are excited about what the future may bring (and the relinquishing of living their lives according to school bell times!), but who also feel a small degree of angst about saying goodbye to friends,

caring staff and the structure that school and boarding provides.

As the graduates prepare to travel away from Haileybury Rendall School for the final time, they are comforted in the knowledge that our School’s Career department has provided important advice and support to make informed choices about their future pathways.

The Clontarf and Stars Academies associated with the School also support our graduates by liaising between them and other post-secondary settings including tertiary institutions and potential workplaces. Once our graduated boarders move on from Haileybury Rendall School, it’s our pleasure to keep in close touch with them via our Head of Community Relations and other key staff.

The axiom of ‘once a Haileyburian, always a Haileyburian’ certainly rings true with our boarders. We wish our graduating boarders’ class of 2022 all the very best as they head off into their futures!

Head of Boarding, Dennis Nowak reflects on his experiences as one of these staff members.

From the Executive Director

Following my third visit to Haileybury Rendall School and in conjunction with the Old Haileyburians Association Council, I came away with three clear goals aimed at engagement with former students of Haileybury Rendall School. These were;

> Awareness of the OHA Brand through events held for and with graduates of HRS

> Support of HRS graduates in the form of mentoring, networking, university support and/or club support

> Engagement with the School through a program where former students connect back with HRS and provide inspiration for current students.

On a recent trip to Canberra to connect with alumni members living, working and studying there, I was delighted to meet with William Thomas and Nyanta Parashar, both from the Class of 2021 at HRS. It was a bold and courageous decision from both former students to attend this event numbering just over 20. However, it is one that they will not regret. The warmth in the room that night was felt by all. William and Nyanta made some very worthwhile contacts and new friends whilst our alumni, all who had attended Haileybury in Melbourne, were fascinated by the in depth understanding of HRS that they were able to accumulate through these two fine young people.

That is what our organisation is all about. Once a Haileyburian, always a Haileyburian.

Wherever you are in the world, Haileyburians are here to assist, support, network and guide you on the way — whatever your journey.

I am delighted that our first official event in Darwin for Old Haileyburians will be held in May 2023. The OHA Darwin Chapter will initially be led by Russell Twomey (OHA ‘65) and will comprise graduates from all Haileybury campuses, eventually including Haileybury Pangea. I encourage you to keep an eye out for this event and also others, dependent on where you are residing in future years. Each state and territory of Australia has an OHA Chapter and formal events are held annually. They are a great way of meeting new friends and building on your network.

Our world has changed significantly in recent times. What hasn’t changed, however, is the ability to stay connected as a society. My team and I look forward to welcoming you to our network and engaging with you across a range of initiatives.

Russell Davidson Executive Director and Director of Development and Alumni Relations

OHA Contacts

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI RELATIONS

Russell Davidson (OH ’86)

russell.davidson@haileybury.vic.edu.au

+61 3 9904 6140

DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OPERATIONS LEAD

Kylie Phillips

kylie.phillips@haileybury.vic.edu.au

+61 3 9904 6146

DEVELOPMENT OFFICE EVENTS COORDINATOR

Cristina Zannoni

cristina.zannoni@haileybury.vic.edu.au

+61 3 9904 6141

DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT AND DATA COORDINATOR

James Green

james.green@haileybury.vic.edu.au

WEBSITE oha.org.au

OHA SOCIALS @oldhaileyburians

@oldhaileyburians

@haileyburyschool

Darwin Chapter Ambassador

Russell Twomey (OH ‘65)

In 2023, Russell Twomey will become the inaugural OHA Darwin Chapter Ambassador. Russell has an extensive corporate background after holding various senior management roles. He gained a Degree in Logistics from RMIT University in 1998 during his tenure with TNT during the 1990s.

In 2000, Russell moved to Ernst & Young Melbourne working in the Internal Audit & Risk Management practice and in 2005, he was asked to start up the EY Government practice — relationship building within all levels of government, developing Thought Leadership papers and programs to take to government, involving both the Ministerial level and Heads of Departments on matters of government policy and strategic direction for government agencies.

Meanwhile, he developed a strong relationship with senior management of The Smith Family under the umbrella of the firm’s commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility and hosted both Major Donor programs and strategic direction workshops. At the same time, Russell

actively participated in the organisation’s Australia-wide Mentoring Program for students in Years 10–12.

Russell retired from EY in 2011 and moved to Brisbane, quickly taking up the offer of a role with The Smith Family QLD State Office as Team Leader for their programs and scholarship activities in the state.

During this time, he undertook occasional guest lecturer contracts with Princess Cruises until 2019, at which time he resigned from The Smith Family after an offer from the cruise line to undertake regular Enrichment Lectures on their vessels to many parts of the world.

Russell also has undertaken a deep, life-long study of all things nautical, inheriting his passion for the sea from his grandfather, a Commodore in the British Merchant Marine. He is a member of the Australian Maritime Museum Council, and a member of the Queensland Maritime Museum where he has lectured on his specialist subject, Maritime History. He is a contributor to the QMM magazine and writes articles for both Australian and international shipping magazines. Russell

conducts lectures for the University of the Third Age (U3A) and is a frequent guest lecturer aboard cruise ships to various regions of the world. He is also a guest speaker to community service organisations such as Rotary, VIEW and Probus. Following his lifelong passion, Russell has travelled by sea extensively throughout the world.

With the return to cruising in Australia, Russell has commenced accepting further contracts to continue delivering Enrichment Lectures aboard Princess Cruises cruise ships on the specialist topic of Maritime History, https://www. nauticalhistory.net/

Russell moved from Brisbane to Darwin in 2022 to live close to his family, particularly his two grandchildren who attend Haileybury Rendall School in Years 4 and 6.

Russell is incredibly supportive of our alumni, particularly those based in Darwin and graduates of HRS and looks forward to having an impact as OHA Darwin Chapter Ambassador, beginning next year.

Haileybury is proud to be a truly national independent school. W ith six locations in Australia and one in China , Haileybury is always seeking new ways to connect with our wider community.

So, we are very pleased to introduce the Haileybury Society to Darwin families. Designed for both the Melbourne and Darwin Haileybury communities, the society will provide a wonderful opportunity for past parents and longserving past staff to remain connected with the School.

Members of these groups have significantly contributed to the life of Haileybury and are keen to maintain a connection with the School and with each other.

“The aim of the Haileybury Society is to provide parents and staff with a social network. We want them to feel comfortable and engaged with their School and keen to be involved in our community,” Russell Davidson, Director of Development and Alumni Relations said.

“But the connection doesn’t just stop when your child leaves School. When our students leave, they become life members of the Old Haileyburians Association.”

Carole Dovaston, a former Haileybury parent, is a strong advocate for the School’s ethos and principles.

“During my 13 years at Haileybury I met an incredible array of interesting, kind, caring, funny, charismatic parents. Our immediate connection was our children but in time, our friendships developed and flourished,” Carole said.

“With my fourth child graduating this year, I look forward to maintaining these friendships and building new connections with other past Haileybury parents via the Haileybury Society. What a perfect avenue for us parents to thrive just as our children do via the OHA.”

Membership to the Haileybury Society is free and automatic for those who are past parents, past staff, or members of the former Haileybury Society.

As a member of the Haileybury Society you have access to:

> OHA events (including Business Events, Golf Days): This is a great opportunity to meet new contacts and become involved in the school community.

> Haileybury Rendall School musicals, plays, concerts: The School is

Keeping our community connected

renowned for its magnificent theatrical productions and performances. Please join us at any of our exciting shows throughout the year.

> Haileybury Society cocktail events: These events are an annual highlight and are greatly anticipated by the Haileybury community.

> VIP events on selected nights: We invite you to a range of premier events throughout the year. Dates will be confirmed.

> Participate in the exclusive OHA Rewards program: The program will include a variety of incentives and promotions. Please stay tuned.

To join the Haileybury Society please visit the link below to indicate your event and communication preferences. We look forward to continuing our connection.

Where are they now

Nyanta Parashar (OH 2021)

Nyanta is thoroughly enjoying her first year studying a Bachelor of Medical Science at the Australian National University in Canberra. Her dream is to become a Bio

making slime; excursions to Leanyer Water Park and Adventure Land; helping to organise the World’s Greatest Shave Leukaemia Foundation fundraising event at the school; plus the countless fun house activities. Haileybury staff from Victoria visiting to communicate what’s happening around the entire school was also a highlight.

Nya attended our recent Canberra Chapter dinner and commented it “was really cool. I didn’t know what to expect. It was great seeing so many different generations of Haileyburians. There are so many opportunities being a part of the OHA. There were quite a few overlaps of stories — someone even started singing one of the hymns”.

Nya is keen to attend more OHA events in the future as she has realised just how enjoyable they are and how important networks can be.

Thanks for staying connected, Nya!