Lion King

There are not many words I could use to describe watching the lion king. When asked, I simply say in an wistful tone: amazing. Much easier than explaining how the sunburnt curtains lifted and the audience was wrapped in an envelope of swooping and sweeping harmonies of the native Swahili, Xhosa and Zulu languages; and exact reflection of the glowing sunrise of talent and this play showcased.

Most people know the lion king as the fun and lively Disney cartoon, but seeing it live as a live musical brought an entire new level of depth to the Hamlet-based drama. While the music, acting singing were all astounding and inspirational, the most stand out element of the production were the costumes: incredibly crafted and intricately engineered to include the finest details. Elephants and giraffes on stilts danced elegantly across the stage, azure and deep maroon birds tiptoed in circles above the audience of [insert howevermanypeopletherwere] awestruck people in the seats below. And the costumes too, carefully crafted lions heads menacing and proudly prowling above their heads, adding an insane characterisation. However, my personal favourite was the leopard. Particularly the way that the graceful animal was portrayed perfectly, the precision in each step and the way in which the actor interacted with her costume tied the entire piece together beautifully.

Being a student of elective musical theatre and watching this incredible production was supremely helpful as it reminded me of the importance of how stage and costuming can reflect the themes presented in a performance. For example, the movements of the actors at the start and happy and joyful at the stage of celebration, then later in the play in the desolate ages under the rule of Scar, Mufasa’s evil brother, the lighting and movements change to be sadder and desperate, including the once green and sunlight staging. I’m sure that like me, all the Oxley Drama students that went to see the play were stunned and enlightened on the amazing feats of performance, stage work and costuming.

In my opinion, there is no doubt as to why this musical is such a high ranking and high achieving production. It has won six tony awards, including Best Musical, Best Direction of a Musical – Julie Taymor, Best Scenic Design – Richard Hudson, Best Costume Design – Julie Taymor, Best Lighting Design – Donald Holder, Best Choreography – Garth Fagan. But these don’t even come close to describing the top tier Musical that it is – a wild experience of sounds that mesh with movement in holy matrimony. John E. Brady (Pumbaa) said after watching a preview of the production “I have to be in this show. You’re always learning something new and it’s never dull $. It’s never a complete process.” This was especially true in a song most don’t recognise as it is not used in the original movie: He Lives In You. It is an English song and mixes in phrases from Zulu (such as “Ingonyama nengw’ enamabala” and “Mamela”), which create an unpuncturable atmosphere of belonging, greif, love and duty which tie in perfectly with the amazing stage lighting of Mufasa’s face above Simba. Steven Taylor, the actor for Mufasa, said “Even before he’s a king, you know he’s a father to Simba. And although he has to wear this crown that’s heavy every day in public, his heart is with his family.”.

In conclusion, this was a truly unforgettable excursion and experience of the lion king, so different to the original version but somehow conveying much more emotion and absolutely hooking the audience on the glorious puppeteering and fine music, turning it into one of the most iconic and eye-catching productions I have ever seen.

By Greta S, Year 8

Endometriosis

What is Endometriosis? A question many women ask globally, including me until fairly recently. This topic, I personally believe, and I can imagine many women would agree, isn’t spoken about enough, nor is it an easily understood or explained topic. Thankfully, people are becoming more and more informed about it as of recently, but I still think it’s incredibly important to spread awareness as much as possible, whenever you can. So if you maybe haven’t heard of it before, or have but want to learn more, then keep reading!

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs in approximately 10% of women (over 200 million people), with a large portion of those women completely unaware they are suffering from it. It occurs when endometrial-like tissue grows outside the uterus. This includes the ovaries, fallopian tubes, pelvic walls, bladder or bowel, abdominal cavity, and (rarely) lungs, skin, or other organs. This tissue reacts to hormones (especially oestrogen), which can cause bleeding into the pelvis, inflammation, scar tissue and adhesions (organs sticking together). This can often be mistaken for painful period cramps and can tend to feel better and worse depending on what stage of the menstrual cycle you are on (which can make symptoms more difficult to pick up and causes many women to ignore what they may be experiencing).

Symptoms vary widely, which is one reason diagnosis is often quite delayed or complicated. Common symptoms can include things such as severe period pain (beyond normal cramping), chronic pelvic pain (which approximately 90% report experiencing this), pain with bowel movements or urination, heavy or irregular bleeding, abdominal bloating, fatigue, nausea, and infertility (in up to 25–50% of affected individuals). Diagnosis is often delayed because symptoms tend to overlap with other conditions. The processes of diagnosing someone with endometriosis include analysing the individual’s symptom history, as well as pelvic exams, ultrasounds or MRIs, and laparoscopies (the only definitive diagnosis). The average diagnostic delay between the first symptoms and diagnosis is around 4–12years worldwide, and 6–8 years in Australia, demonstrating the constant difficulty to confirm whether the disease is present.

In terms of treatment, there is nocure, but symptoms can be managed with different medication options including ibuprofen and naproxen, hormonal contraceptives (such as the pill, patch, and ring), and several others. There are also surgical options, which include the laparoscopic removal of lesions, hysterectomies (which is only a cure if endometriosis or adenomyosis Is found in the muscle walls of the uterus), as well as other supports like physiotherapy, pain management programs, and psychological support, which have been suggested to be generally quite beneficial and effective to some individuals. Please talk to a medical professional before considering some of these options, as I am no expert.

Other Australian Stats (most recent data):

1 in 7 (14%) women born 1973–78 diagnosed by age 44–49.
9.2% of women born 1989–95 diagnosed by age 31.

There were around 44,200 endometriosis related hospitalisations in 2022–23.
Hospitalisation rates have doubled among women aged 20–24 over the past decade.

Australia has some of the best recorded data on endometriosis due to national health monitoring, and our country’s prioritisation of women’s health, but effort and money put towards this disease can always be improved if more people are able to understand and spread knowledge about this issue. This has only recently been properly identified as a serious disease in the past several years, meaning awareness is crucial for progression in research, funding, and the worlds understanding of endometriosis.

I encourage you to talk about it, to your family, to your doctors, and to anyone you feel comfortable talking about this to. It is very important for everyone to know about it. Not necessarily just if you are a woman, everyone can benefit from learning about endometriosis, and the more people that know, the more we can work towards becoming a more understanding, knowledgeable and aware community.

If you have any more questions or concerns about endometriosis (or you may think after reading this that it could potentially be affecting you), please contact a trusted medical professional (specifically someone who specialises in women’s health and is familiar with endometriosis that can talk you through the proper procedures of a diagnosis).

I would highly recommend the documentary that came out recently called ‘The End of The Cycle’ that deeply analyses and explains endometriosis, as well as including interviews with women who have had cases of it themselves. I really enjoyed watching it, and it was incredibly beneficial towards my own understanding of endometriosis.

NOTE: I have fact checked my information, and I am lucky to have a parent who works in women’s health, so they were my first source of information. They have read over this to make sure all of what has been written above is correct.

Thank you for reading this.

Anna S, Year 10

The Manosphere

It all began one night, I lay in my bed after a long day scrolling on my phone (as we all do), when 1 video about motivation popped up, then all of a sudden, the algorithm had rewritten my feed, fit for an insecure young boy, their still developing brain allowing manipulation. My page flooded with Andrew Tate videos, one scroll to the next. These videos claim to retain your ‘masculinity’ in a world that had supposedly turned against men, taking the easily influence minds of young boys and twisting their perception. Or maybe it offered a net for those insecure boys to think they had community. Either way it was unsettling to realise how simple your for you page can become an introduction to one of the worlds most controversial spaces ‘the manosphere’. In an age where algorithms often know what will get our attention before we do, it raises an uncomfortable question: “are we choosing the content we consume or is it choosing us?”.

The manosphere has become some what of a digital hub, claiming to boost men, but its true intentions remain highly debated. The more I reflected on that experience the I realized the manosphere is far more complex than it first appears. For many young men, it offers discipline, motivation, confidence and sense of belonging in an increasingly uncertain world, yet as I continued scrolling, the message gradually shifted. Advice that I thought was positive became intertwined with blame, while relationships were reduced to possession and women were increasingly portrayed as the cause of these issues. The centuries it took to achieve equality were regressed through this influential oppression. The change crept up to me so subtly that it was almost impossible to notice until I looked back to the beginning. Perhaps that is what makes online influence so powerful, it rarely arrives all at once but quietly shapes the ideas we are repeatedly exposed to.

Looking back, I still think about how ordinary it all seemed. There was no deliberate search for controversy, just an algorithm, that quietly led me and millions of others somewhere unexpected. Rather than asking whether the manosphere is entirely good or bad, perhaps the more important question is this: “if algorithms are increasingly shaping what we consume, how can we ensure they don’t begin shaping what we believe?”.

By Clementine C, Year 10

Solar Buddy

Solar Buddy is a charity that helps give solar powered light kits to kids who need them, so they and their families can have light to work and study after dark. In Year 5 we worked after school and on weekends to raise money. We held bake sales and did extra jobs. We had to raise over three thousand dollars, and we did it! The money we raised was sent to a school account, and then we placed our order and waited for the lights to arrive.

When the Solar Buddy lights finally arrived we were all so excited! We watched a video on how to put them together and then got straight to building. It was tricky at first but once we figured it out it was actually really fun and easy. After we finished our solar light we each wrote a letter to send with it. Everyone who got a Solar Buddy light would also get a letter about us, our families and what life is like here in Australia.

Once our grade finished all the steps, we packed all the Solar Buddy lights into a special box, ready to be sent to kids all over the world. The Solar Buddy charity was such an amazing experience and I know everyone in Year 5 loved it.

By Grace T, Year 5

Equestrian at Oxley College- Semester 1

Oxley College’s Equestrian Team has enjoyed a fantastic first Semester of 2026, with multiple training days, strong representation at Interschools competitions and wonderful growth in both riding and horsemanship.

Continuing on from the success of our 2025 training days at Sutton Farm, riders came together again in Semester 1 to develop their dressage and showjumping skills with coaches Kathryn B, Sophie A and Dee B. Later in the Semester, Oxley College and Tudor House riders joined together for a combined training day with coaches Mel Parbery, Sam Lyle and Chrissy Ryan, where students further developed their dressage, hacking and showjumping skills. Generous prizes donated by EQ Saddlery were awarded throughout the day, adding to the excitement and celebrating students’ efforts. Both training days concluded with plenty of fun and laughter during mounted games, including the popular toilet paper challenge. Most importantly, the days strengthened friendships, built team spirit and brought together riders young and old.

These training opportunities provided excellent preparation for the NSW State Interschools Championships held at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre during the winter school holidays.

Alice H and Jake P, together with Year 5 student Clementine B, proudly represented Oxley College, demonstrating outstanding commitment, resilience, sportsmanship and horsemanship throughout the week.

Brigitte P L had also prepared diligently for the Championships but made the difficult decision to withdraw after her horse showed signs of soreness the day before competition. Her decision to put her horse’s wellbeing first was a wonderful example of the compassion, responsibility and horsemanship demonstrated by all members of the Oxley Equestrian Team.

Following the State Championships, Lily M and Jake P remained at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre to compete in the prestigious Youth Dressage Championships, which were held in the days following State Interschools. Jake also qualified to represent New South Wales at the National Interschools Championships in Dressage, an outstanding achievement and a testament to his dedication and hard work.

While the competition results were outstanding, the highlight of the week was undoubtedly the incredible Oxley team spirit. Riders supported one another throughout the competition, with non-competing team members travelling to SIEC to cheer on their teammates. Captain Chloe D generously designed and created personalised keepsakes for every rider as a thoughtful gesture to commemorate the week, while Lily M spent countless hours plaiting horses, assisting with warmups and supporting younger riders competing at their first State Championships. The encouragement, kindness and willingness to help one another perfectly reflected the values of the Oxley Equestrian Team. As I conclude my time at Oxley College, I feel incredibly privileged to have served as Equestrian Coordinator. It has been a pleasure to witness firsthand the dedication, progress, teamwork and exceptional horsemanship of our riders. Thank you to our students, families, coaches and supporters for making the Oxley Equestrian Team such a special community. I wish every rider and their equine partner every success in the years ahead.

Miss Georgie Ridehalgh
Oxley College Equestrian Coordinator

Oxley Students Selected for NSW U16 Hockey Pathways Squad

Congratulations to Tarik A (Year 10) and Max H (Year 9), who recently competed at the NSW U16 State Hockey Championships in Tamworth.

Following their strong performances at the Championships, both students have been selected in the 2026/2027 NSW U16 Pathways & Performance Squad.

This is a fantastic achievement and recognises the hard work, dedication and commitment Tarik and Max have shown both on and off the field. Their selection places them among a talented group of young hockey players progressing through the NSW pathway.

We congratulate Tarik and Max on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to following their continued development in hockey.

Powerless by Lauren Roberts: A Book Review

When I think of a thief, I always picture a thuggish-looking man in the back of my mind, with a thick balaclava, black-and-white striped clothing, and an enormous sac full of stolen money. I often imagine the stereotypical ‘thief’ as a direct resemblance to both Harry and Marv from Home Alone – idiotic and with no other purpose than just being a comic relief. Sometimes viewing Swiper the Fox as a thief seems reasonable. Well, he has the bandana and all, but my five-year-old self would argue that he’s not a ‘bad guy’ and instead entirely misunderstood…However, I would have never though that a thief would take the form of a young woman called Paedyn Gray, stealing for the sake of survival and a ton of freshly baked sticky buns…

In Lauren Roberts’ bestselling novel ‘Powerless’, stealing is the only way for an Ordinary like Paedyn to survive in the Kingdom of Ilya, where lacking power – where not simply being an Elite – is a crime punishable by death. For as long as she can remember, Paedyn has posed as a Psychic in the slums of Loot Alley, hoping to always “hide her facade” like her father said, hoping nothing would ever come near her or her only dear friend, Adena…until she unsuspectingly saves Kai Azer. With dark wavy hair and intense grey eyes, he is the prince and Enforcer of the ruthless Kingdom – not to mention the reason as to how Paedyn is thrown into the Purging Trials: a brutal, televised Hunger Games-esque competition that showcases the Elites’ powers.

Armed with only her instincts and daggers, Paedyn must not be killed in the Trials. However, Kai, who is tasked with hunting down Ordinaries like herself, becomes the very person who she is falling feelings for. As the arena forces them into an alliance, her true identity is at risk if he discovers what Paedyn really is…powerless.

As the first book in the epic fantasy-romance trilogy series, Powerless is a must-read for teens, young adults, and anyone who loves slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance (because at the end of the day, who doesn’t?)

By Ruby C, Year 10

Poetry Month in the Junior School

August is Poetry Month, and in the Junior School we have our annual Poetry Recitation Competition held to coincide with this celebration. Classes also learn about classic and contemporary poets and poetry, as well as write their own compositions. Year 3 have been focusing on onomatopoeia, similes and metaphors in poetry. Below are some of their poems about nature using these poetic devices.

Snow
by Alexander S

As soft as silk, as light as a feather,
melting as soon as it reaches your palm.

Snow is a universe, small and crowded,
at the edge of destruction in my fiery palm.

It is a liquid, a solid, a gas,
floating slowly down, down, down,
just waiting to reach the earth.

As the snow slowly soaks into the ground,
it helps every plant grow,
turning into H₂O.

Lightning
by Ellyn C

Above the skies,
A heart of stone.
A raging storm awaits alone.
With a flash at the speed of light.
Does not fear to freely fight.
Does not fear to strike the bone.
Now shock the others alone.

The Icy Battlefield
by Archer A

As I fall down, I hear sticks slap, and then I hear a clap.
As I fall, I hear it hit iron, and after that, a roaring siren.

Snow sneaks quickly like a snow tiger.
Snow is a drop of water falling from the sky.
Sometimes it looks like a cry.

Snow, snow, snow!
Snow is like a bag of flour raining down,
and when you see it, you never frown.

Lightning
by Orlando L

Zap!

Bam!

Thud!
The lightning lurks loudly on the floor.

As dangerous as a hungry hippo.
Smells like smoke sizzling out of the ground.
As fast as a peregrine.
As loud as a lion’s roar.

The lightning lurks loudly on the floor.
Zap!
Bam!
Thud!

Just Give It a Go

Life will always be full of different types of people: the popular kids, the wannabe popular kids, music lovers, gamers, artists, and people who are just truly themselves. No one is perfect, and no one has all the answers figured out because the world is full of mysteries, with many rocks still left unturned.

No one knows why you can walk into a room with complete determination and then suddenly forget why you’re there. Nobody knows why Australia still struggles to control its rabbit population, with millions roaming the country. No one knows why Earth’s magnetic poles flip every few hundred thousand years.

What I’m saying is that more than 80% of our planet remains unexplored. There is so much we don’t know, so why are we all standing still? Why is everyone blending in, looking like everyone else and acting like everyone else, with only different hairstyles or shoes to create some sense of individuality?

Everyone seems to be sitting at home watching the latest season of Off Campus and letting the world pass them by. I’m not saying everyone is a genius with the ability to solve climate change or cure coeliac disease.

But why not give it a go?

There’s no harm in trying.

Take the issue of space junk, for example. There are more than 100 million pieces of metallic debris, shattered satellites, and spent rocket boosters orbiting Earth. Since space is essentially international territory, no single country wants to spend the billions of dollars required to clean up what is effectively everyone’s mess.

No, not all of us are Elon Musk, Donald Trump, or even Taylor Swift. But even small actions can make a difference. They show that you’re paying attention to what’s happening in the world and that you’re willing to help improve the present for future generations.

So why are we all trying to look the same when we were born to be different?

There was supposed to be the geeky kid in primary school who had an incredible glow-up in high school and suddenly became everyone’s crush. There was supposed to be the popular girl who seems carefree but secretly wins science competitions.

We’re not supposed to have every guy wearing the same black jorts, T-shirt, and Air Forces while calling it individuality. We’re not supposed to have every girl wearing grey track pants, a tank top, straightened hair, and some version of Sambas or a bow in her hair and calling it unique.

We should want to wear different clothes, even if they’re a little unusual, if that’s what represents who we are. We shouldn’t feel like we have to hide the music we listen to, the clothes we love, or the fantasy books we enjoy because they’re not considered popular.

Be yourself, not some version of yourself that you think other people will like.

If you love space, rockets, and learning about orbital debris, then do something about it. Research it. Become an expert. Start an Instagram page. Share your discoveries. Meet people with similar interests. Go to events.

You don’t have to be popular, attractive, or wealthy to make a difference in this world.

Just give it a go.

No harm, no foul.

There are four things that make people act: fear, inspiration, motivation, and discipline.

Fear is writing an essay in one night when it’s due the next morning on a book you haven’t even read.

Inspiration is seeing something on Pinterest and suddenly feeling like you have to try it for yourself.

Motivation is being focused on a goal, like cleaning the gutters because your mum promised you could go and watch the new Spider-Man movie with your friends afterwards.

But the most important one is discipline.

Discipline is getting up for a run on the days when you feel energised and excited, but also getting up on the days when you’d rather do almost anything else. It’s doing what needs to be done regardless of how you feel.

So do it when you’re happy, sad, angry, frustrated, or annoyed that they’ve discontinued your favourite chocolate bar.

Just do it anyway.

Your biggest fear shouldn’t be whether your makeup looks perfect, whether your Spotify playlist is cool enough, or whether your band T-shirts might seem uncool when a friend comes over.

Your biggest fear should be lying on your deathbed and looking back at the person you could have been, the person you wanted to be, and realising you had every opportunity to become that person but never took the chance.

So make those inquiries. Ask those questions. Speak up for what you believe in.

And most of all, don’t ever, ever, EVER forget who YOU are.

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

by Amelia H, Year 10

The River and the Runaway Boy

My breath is sharp as I run through the bush, grass scraping against my calves, making my skin bleed carelessly. I momentarily stumble on a tree root in the dark. I can’t see now that all the street lights of my town have faded away. I try to adjust my gaze, anger and hurt causing a burning pain in my chest. But everything burns as I run through the dark bush.

My pace speeds up as soon as I reach the bridge over the river. I stop, leaning over the cold railing, Autum air licking at my skin, making it sting. My breath illuminates in the moonlight, a cold frost of air. I shut my eyes, unable to look into the black icy water. The water that filled up his lungs and stole his soul.

But it all makes sense now…

A day earlier:

I lay back, my hands plastered to the fine strands of grass. I let the evening sun warm my legs as a cool breeze blows past. I close my eyes, the sound of the river soothing me. It’s a quiet sound, a sound you search for when life gets too loud, or the monsters come out from under your bed.

Another blow of wind passes, this time stronger, blowing my thick orange hair right into my face. I never met my father, but I figured he must of given me my thick curls, as all my mum wear is sleek brown hair. I like to think that’s not the only thing he gave me. Such as my eyes.

“Oops, you’ve got something there.” Soft fingers graze my forehead, moving the hair out of my face whilst stay plastered to the ground. I open my eyes to look into his, a pair as dark as the night sky.

“Thanks Javier. I almost admire your kindness.” He laughs and it’s the most beautiful sound ever.

“You know I would do anything to have those curls” He says

“Not when you have to tie them back for school. Then it’s annoying.”

We sit in silence for a moment longer, much longer than needed. The soft sound of the grass swaying and distant honks of the town.

Javier opens his mouth several times as if wanting to say something, but then closes it as if thinking better of it. The sun casts down the sky, casting a beautiful golden haze in the air. I know this is his favourite hour.

“Your hair looks like it’s glowing.” He says, “kind of like the sun.”

“Well, you know, since my hair is orange, and this guy’s orange, it kind of makes sense.” He laughs. After countless occasions where he says the same thing, this seems to be his favourite response.

We listen for a while longer, silence taking over the conversation.

“Hey Irena?” He says at last which makes me curious in what he has to say.

“Do you think I can stay over at your house again tonight? For dinner I mean?”

I lean forward, fiddling with zip on my jumper, unable to meet his eyes.

“I’m sorry Javier. My mom’s going out with her partner tonight.” A moment passes.

“Yeah… no… that’s totally okay. My dad will probably order takeout again.” He says awkwardly.

I feel a lump form in my throat, discomfort costing on my features.

“Is everything okay at home? I mean this is the third time you’ve asked to stay over this week. Let alone this year.” I say worried.

He looks down an I can hear the dismay in his voice.

“Yeah. Everything’s fine. I just don’t want to be around my dad and his new fiancé right now.”

“You don’t have to continue.” I say

“No, it’s okay. Just ever since my mom, you know-left. He’s just been off the rails and resorted to well-yeah.”

I had no idea it was this bad. I lean forward to hug him, feeling a pang of guilt.

“Irena?” He says through shaky lips, “do you… like me?”

I’m taking it back, unsure of what he means.

“Yeah, of course I like you Javier, you’re my friend.”

“No, do you like like me?”

I feel angry now, and sad. I always just wanted to be friends. I mean I know he’s lying. I know him.

“I-I’m sorry Javier, I have to go.”

I need to get out of here, hurt and anger wrapping me tightly as I stand up.

I’m march away, tears threatening to fall.

“Irean wait!” He says, but I don’t stop. And I keep walking until I’m back at my town, My eyes raw from crying, and in my bedroom, wishing I’d never met him.

***

Everything he said. But the irony is all I want to do is see him again. Is it my fault? Did I push him over the edge by saying that?

I never meant for this to happen. I look into the water, death stares back up at me. I see water begins to fall from the sky.

Take me. I think leaning over the edge. “Just take me!” Ice cream out loud this time, wondering if I really am insane. I lean over the railing, deaths cold breath running down my neck. I can feel his cold hands on my shoulders ready to push me in…

“Irena! Get away from the water!”

The hands pull me back, and I spin around. It takes me a second to realise the hands on my shoulders a very much real. Javier stands before me, worry on his face, but I’m in shock.

“I thought you were,” I say as the rain gets louder. I spit out the word, “dead.”

He looks down, and I can feel his humiliation. He murmured something I can’t quite make out.

“What!?” I yell over the rain. It’s so cold, I feel numb, and we’re both drenched.

“I went to go look for my mom!” He says, “I know, it was stupid.”

I look at him, “it’s not stupid!” I raise over the bucketing water.

“I’m sorry!” He says. And I’m not sure if it’s the rain on my face or tears, “I was just saying that because I didn’t know any other way to cope with my emotions. But I- I don’t want to be like my dad.”

I hold his shoulders, leaning in so he can hear me, “you’re not like your dad.” I say. I wouldn’t be a real friend if I didn’t forgive him. Even though I hate him for saying that. He’s still my best friend and my only one.

“It’s okay…” I say, “it’s okay.”

by Sophie H, Year 8