Country Trips, Golden Boots, Touch Footy, Farewell Year 12
Dear Shore Boarding Community,
At the end of term already, and one looks back with tremendous respect and admiration for the boys in our boarding community. It hasn’t been easy for anyone, boys and parents, and yet all have continued on in a term still filled with great joy and happiness together, as one.
The boarding staff have been welcomed in the country on two occasions this term, and we absolutely loved it, catching up with past, current and prospective parents. Our first trip was to Parkes and Orange, where we held a dinner in Parkes at the Comfort Inn, Bushman’s on Saturday before travelling to Orange for lunch the next day. Thank you to the Swift Family who generously hosted us at their Printhie Winery. The next week, The Manchee Family were our great hosts in Moree, which was another well-attended event for dinner. Thank you, everyone, for welcoming us. It was so good to catch up again. We hope we can do so again soon. Keep an eye out for our next trip at the beginning of Term 4 in Walcha and Spring Ridge.
The annual Golden Boots was held this year in a different setting – the Smith Auditorium. Each House chooses a representative from Year 11 to speak on a given topic – this year’s was “When it’s dark enough, you can see the stars.” The 2020 representatives were Alex Wong (Hodges), Ewan Jackman (School), Adrian Lai (Barry) and Oli Wilson (Robson). In some of the best speeches heard in recent years, the quality was amazing, Adrian was judged by Mr Morrison and Mrs Foord as the winner on the night, although all four boys were simply magnificent in their takes on the topic.
It has been so nice hearing the boys compliment the quality of the food this term, and we have continued to try to supply healthy, nutritious and tasty meals. Our new chef, Franz, has done a great job with his themed nights, from American, to English to Asian, to home-made dough pizzas.
We have also tried to engage the whole boarding community when we can, and one such recent event was the Inter-House Touch Rugby tournament a couple of Sundays ago. Each team played one another once in the pool rounds, before the best-performing teams battle it out in the Grand Final. This year, Barry House won in a tough encounter over School House. Well done to everyone who made it such an enjoyable day.
On the second-last night of the term, our Year 12 boarders took to Sydney Harbour for a farewell harbour cruise. Sitting back on a beautiful balmy evening in a 360° glass-walled cruise boat, the boys were treated to a lovely 3-course meal, and fantastic speeches from MC Jonah Edlington, the incomparable Tom Merriman and Headmaster, Dr Petterson. Later, it was up on deck to take in the city views and enjoy one another’s company before docking three hours after taking off from McMahon’s Point Wharf. It was a lovely way to see off the term, and thank our great Year 12 boarders for six fabulous years.
Many boys have enjoyed tremendous success in Drama, and this term was no exception. Elsewhere in this letter, Finn Beachley from Hodges has written a great report on the Middle School play “The Middle Class Aristocrat”. Congratulations must also go out to our Year 12 boarders whose Individual Monologues were absolutely brilliant. A big shout-out out to the following Year 12s:
Tom Merriman (School)
Michael Mingay Robson)
Billy Moore (School)
Henry Saunders (Barry)
Oli White (Hodges)
Lastly, don’t forget our voucher offer. We have some vouchers left to help provide our boarding families with some accommodation support, to help when visiting their sons while in Sydney. In conjunction with View Sydney we will provide $100 vouchers to help with accommodation costs for Shore boarding families. Please contact Heather for your voucher in the week leading up to your Sydney visit. First in-first served. Safe travels, and have a happy stay!
Have a wonderful Term 3 holiday with your sons. We hope you get the chance for a well-deserved break at some stage. Best wishes to our HSC boys next term – the hard work is done so now just the big quiz to go. Good luck!
Best wishes,
Brendan
