Robson House – Housemaster Reflections

As we move into the final days for Year 12, it has certainly been an exciting time and obviously strange time for their final year.  Kim and I have thoroughly enjoyed our time with these boys over the past five years, dinners at our place, afternoon teas, pizza nights, watching sport, listening to music and the list goes on.  We have all been blessed with fine boys who will thrive in the times ahead and we certainly look forward to catching up with these men in the future.  Last night was a culmination of celebration as all the Year 12 boys enjoyed the boat cruise on the Harbour with other boarding staff, Dr Petterson, Professor Petterson and Mrs Foord.  So we move to the end of Term 3 and now are ready for the holidays.  I need to tell you a true and funny story that looks at how the welfare of your son is crucial, so enjoy the following.

There was a time when Boardingware did not exist.  One of our Year 12 boys wrote on Kim’s card “Mrs Boardingware”.  Before this came into effect, emails were sent to the boarding Housemaster from the parents to say where their son was staying for the weekend.  Twenty years ago, it would have been a phone call and a fax.

We need to hear funny stories and here is one, which you may have heard in conversations with me.  At St Joseph’s College you maybe aware that each Division Master was responsible for the entire year.  There was a time when all boys were boarding and this story is in the early 1990’s.  A country boarder was out on leave for the weekend, leaving on Friday and returning to school on Monday.  That is what the school thought.  However, the parents thought he was at school.  The school rang the parents on Sunday evening to inform them that something was not quite right.  The parents said that they would contact their son.  As it turned out the boy loved soccer, had purchased a return flight to Liverpool in England to attend Manchester United v Liverpool over the weekend.  So when you are discussing leave with your son at any time it is important that you know who he is staying with.