Our thoughts are dominated on the day of her passing by the immense stature and contribution of her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. These words come to mind: integrity, service, Christian faith, steadfastness, honour, duty, reliability, consistency. In these respects, Queen Elizabeth has been a tower of strength, a predictable and stable presence for more than the life span of not only all of our students but most of our parents. Her lived example and sheer durability has been strikingly different from not only the regular churn of the political world but also of the checkered example of some preceding monarchs who had feet of clay, rather like ordinary people. This is not a comment on the debate about monarchy versus republic, it is more a reflection and in a sense a paean to a great individual who modelled virtue.
Are Queen Elizabeth’s lived values and virtues those of a passing age or are they still relevant to the third decade of the 21st century? I would like to think the latter is the case. There is a very great deal to admire about how the Queen has lived a life of devotion and how she has manifested her Christian faith. The modelling she has demonstrated is consistent with much of what we would want in the journey of our boys to become men. In summary, she has manifested the fruits of the spirit listed by the Apostle Paul “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22). How admirable has this been! Whatever one thinks of the monarchy as an institution, Queen Elizabeth has been a great monarch, to be ranked in the opinion of this historian with her predecessors Elizabeth I and Victoria. Seventy years on the throne has dominated the world stage and provided a wonderful platform to exemplify Queen Elizabeth’s enduring values.
With the news of her passing coinciding with American Tea Day, our capacity to honour her passing in a timely manner has been limited. We will consider what appropriate responses we might be able to make as a School in the coming week.
Dr John Collier Interim Headmaster
Students for Scozzi
Shore students show support for esteemed teacher
“Students for Scozzi” is a fundraising initiative being held in support of one of Shore’s most loved teachers and long serving Master in Charge of Surf Life Saving, Mr Nigel Scozzi. Mr Scozzi unfortunately suffered a critical spinal injury whilst surfing earlier this year. The boys have since banded together to support Nigel and his family in achieving the goal of his returning home from the rehabilitation hospital, where he currently resides.
The fundraiser has seen many young men of the Shore Community use their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit to raise $100 (without asking their parents for the money!) to donate to Nigel Scozzi’s GoFundMe page. To date, the boys have hosted lemonade stands at Balmoral Beach, gardened, walked dogs, completed run and swimming challenges, washed cars and much more.
In addition to demonstrating the high regard in which Mr Scozzi is held by the boys, the initiative is also a good opportunity to learn about the importance of giving and building community. Pictured are just some of the fundraising activities which have been undertaken.
Additional fundraising activities are being planned for October and further details will be sent out shortly by Dr Collier. Please keep an eye on your email inbox for more information!
Ms Barbara Doran President Shore Common Room
Top image credit: Balmoral Beach lemonade stand, Year 7
Bamboo removal, Old Boys – Max Clarkson and Lewis Brammel removingYard work, Felix Clarkson, Year 8Yard work, Harry Faulkner, Year 810km Opera House run, Year 9
Upcoming Events for Term 3 Week 8
Breakfast Seminar for Parents with Guest Speaker – Journalist, Mr Chris Reason
Wednesday 14 September 7.15am to 8.30am
Hosted by the Shore Parents’ Association and Shore Foundation, in Graythwaite at Shore.
Old Boys and their partners are warmly invited to this special event. Tours of the R A I Grant Centre will take place throughout the evening for guests.
Please save the evening of Friday 14 October for a Gala Fundraising Dinner and Auction event in support of teacher, Mr Nigel Scozzi. This promises to be a fun and fabulous night in support of a very important and worthwhile cause. Come on your own, with a small group or get the whole gang together and book a table of ten! Look out for further detail on how to obtain tickets and bid for some amazing items in a Headmaster email to follow on 12 September.
Year 12 Celebration Events
Year 12 Family Chapel Service
Sunday 11 September 9.00am
A farewell service for Year 12 students and families, followed by morning tea on the Chapel Lawn.
The Shore Foundation and Shore Parents’ Association warmly invite the parents of Shore, to attend the first in a series of breakfast gatherings on campus. The series represents a chance for us to hear from and connect with people in our community who have interesting stories and backgrounds.
A bit about Chris…
Chris is a Shore Dad and a Senior Reporter and Presenter at Channel Seven. He has covered some of the more important stories of our time – the Boxing Day tsunami, the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Barack Obama’s election, Nelson Mandela’s funeral, the September 11 attacks, the 7/7 London terror attacks, the 1997 Thredbo landslide… it is a long list. Chris has been to the Ukraine on two separate occasions since the most recent conflict began, and he has some fascinating insights to share.
When: Wednesday 14 September 2022
Time: Commencing at 7.15am for 7.30am start and finishing at 8.30am
Where: Council Room, Graythwaite (the old sandstone building in between the Preparatory School and School Oval)
Cost: $30 per person (This is an event for Shore parents)
MrDavid Mason-Jones and Mr Mark Halstead Executive Director, Shore Foundation and Parents’ Association Chair
Shore Basketball Holiday Camp
The Shore Basketball Holiday camp gives participants the opportunity to enjoy three days of expert coaching for ANY level of Basketball focused on:
Skill development
Shooting
Three-on-three
Decision making
Fun!
Dates: Wednesday 28 September to Friday 30 September Time: 12.00pm to 5.00pm Venue: R A I Grant Centre, North Sydney Cost: $150 for three days
Register via email to gdavis@shore.nsw.edu.au. Please include your son’s name, year group and current team. The camp cost will be debited from your school account.
AAGPS Athletics – Saturday 17 September
Each year, the major AAGPS Sporting events provide an opportunity for Shore boys to come together and show their support for their School and our athletes. In recent years, we have had limited opportunities with COVID-19 disruptions, and in the case of this year’s AAGPS Head of the River Regatta, bad weather.
All boys in Years 8 to 10 are required to attend the AAGPS Athletics on Saturday 17 September. Boys in Year 12 are also welcome to attend.
A train has been arranged to transport boys to and from Homebush with the cost added to the next School fee statement. Boys are expected to wear their School summer uniform (no coats or boaters) with their yard hat or a blue Shore sports cap. A separate communication has been sent home to parents with more specific details.
Dr Andrew Mansfield Deputy Head Operations
Year 12 Family Service
Sunday 11 September 9.00am
School Chapel
All staff, Year 12 parents and students are welcome.
Enquiries: Reverend Anthony Benn T: +61 2 9956 1129
Many people might ask the question: “What is God actually doing in His world?” We look around the world and see upheaval and uncertainty: wars, floods, bush-fires, relationship troubles to name a few. These can lead us to ask ourselves, “what is God actually doing?”. In Chapel, this term we continue to look at the book of Genesis, which is foundational to understanding the rest of the Bible.
In Genesis 37 we come across Joseph. He is the 11th son of Jacob, the grandson of Isaac and the great grandson of Abraham, to whom God gave a series of promises. From the onset, Joseph has a tough start to life. He is seen as Jacob’s favoured son, but his jealous brothers want him dead. Instead, they sell him into slavery in Egypt, where he finds himself in prison, on trumped-up charges. It looks as though God has abandoned him, but no, he is later elevated to prominence by Pharaoh to help deal with the problem of a seven-year drought. Joseph is God’s right-hand man at this time and despite his past circumstances, we realise that God is working through events to call a people to Himself.
It is a wonderful picture of how God works. God intended all of these events to ultimately save people and call them to Himself. So, what is God actually doing in his world? It is the Biblical pattern from the beginning, right through to the present. It is seen most clearly in Jesus, and it is God continuing to call people to Himself, despite the circumstances around them.
Rev. Anthony Benn School Chaplain
Sunday Chapel Service
Date: Sunday 11 September 9.00am
Year 12 Family Service
Preacher: Reverend Anthony Benn
Passage: Matthew 9:9-13
Career News
We know what we are, but we know what we may be.
William Shakespeare
It has been so wonderful to hear of the value and learnings students have gained from attending tertiary open days. No amount of online research can provide the insights, conversations and the gut feel of visiting and experiencing post school options. Below, we thank Ollie Hurt (Year 11) for sharing his experience at the recent Australian Defence Force Academy Open Day.
“Have you ever considered obtaining a degree, getting paid whilst studying, having no HECS debt and a guaranteed job upon graduation? The Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) offers this, and I recently attended their Open Day which was an amazing experience. Based in Canberra, the campus allows participants to live a military life as a part of the Navy, Army, or Air Force, whilst studying to obtain a degree from The University of New South Wales.
There were a multitude of activities on offer to allow you to gain a deeper understanding of what the Australian Defence Force is all about and what it would be like to study and live at ADFA. They had seminars and many halls packed with information booths from all the components of the ADF and ADFA, with many active service men and women providing a wealth of knowledge and able to answer any questions, queries, or concerns.
Some highlights of the day were the exciting displays. For example, different helicopters and weaponry. Other displays included the ADF parachute team and a section attack, in which a section was positioned behind cover, and they used paintball guns accompanied by blanks to simulate a battle.
Open days allow you to tour the campus and get a snapshot into what life at university is like, and make an informed decision if it is right for you. The ADFA Open Day did this for me. It was fun, enjoyable and gave me many options to consider for my future”.
The latest Careers Newsletter is available on the Careers Lampada page.
Holiday Workshops will be offered from Thursday 22 September for Years 11 and 12 boys studying for the HSC in the upcoming holidays. These workshops have proven successful in providing the boys with structure, which complements their individual study programmes.
Each three-hour Holiday Workshop session will cover important HSC topics in each subject area. A mix of strategies will be used in order to maximise learning: revision lectures, structured tutorials and discussions. Workshops will be limited to a minimum of seven and a maximum of approximately 20 boys.
A fee of $65 (including GST) will be charged per (three-hour) workshop, which represents excellent value compared to externally run HSC lecture courses. Charges will be made to the next fee statement on a no-refund basis. Boys are strongly encouraged to make good use of the workshops and are expected to stay to the end of each workshop.
A selection form will be emailed to each boy in Year 11 and 12 and each form will need to be returned to Ms Ducrou, Executive Assistant to the Deputy Head Academic, Mr Matt Leeds. Boys may choose to attend as many sessions as they like. Every attempt will be made to accommodate all boys, but it may be necessary to restrict the number of boys in a particular workshop, depending upon demand. This will be done on a first come, first served basis.
Boys will not be required to wear School uniform.
Boys are not encouraged to drive to the School for the workshops, as they will not be allowed to park on the School premises and they will need to find alternative parking.
We hope that each boy will participate in the workshops, which, according to boys in the Classes of 1999-2021, contributed well to their success in the HSC examinations.
Mr Ian Middleton Assistant Director of Studies
Expressions of Interest – HSC Supervisors
Expressions of Interest are now open for supervisors for Shore Higher School Certificate (HSC) Examinations
From Wednesday 12 October to Friday 4 November the NSW Educational Standards Authority (NESA) will conduct HSC examinations for our Year 12 boys at Shore.
The School will appoint Mr Mark Sellen, former Head of Mathematics at Shore, as Presiding Officer to be responsible for employing and overseeing supervisors for these examinations. This year we are looking for additional supervisors to be employed by the School on a casual basis to assist in the running of the HSC examinations at Shore. Supervisors will receive remuneration on a casual basis as outlined by NESA HSC supervision guidelines.
The role of a supervisor is to:
Ensure that instructions are clearly given to students prior to an examination, as well as ensuring the School rules are followed to guarantee the smooth conduct of the examination.
Assist in the distribution of booklets and papers prior to the examination, as well as assisting in the collection and collation of examination scripts.
Maintain an effective level of supervision throughout the examination.
Supervisors cannot be the parent, guardian or close relative of a student sitting for the HSC at any school. The majority of supervision is in a large candidature setting, however, some of the supervision is undertaken on a 1:1 or 1:3 basis for students with special provisions. Supervisors will generally be required for about seven to eight sessions during the HSC examination period.
If you are interested in applying for this, or require more information, please contact Ms Lee Ducrou, Executive Assistant to the Deputy Head Academic, on 9900 4746 or by email: deputyheadacademic@shore.nsw.edu.au
Mr Matt Leeds Deputy Head Academic
From the Music Department
Congratulations to…
… Andrew Gilchrist who was awarded Honours in his recent Grade 7 AMEB Clarinet examinations. An outstanding result!
Andrew Gilchrist Year 9
Year 12 Family Service – Sunday 11 September
ForeShore will be singing at the Year 12 Family Service held on Sunday 11 September. The service begins at 9.00am and all choristers will be required from 8.00am.
Choir Camp – Monday 12 September
Choir Camp will now be on Monday 12 September from 8.20am to 6.30pm. This has been rescheduled from the original two-day camp that was to be held on 2 – 3 August.
This Camp will assist to prepare for the Spring Concert that is on Tuesday 13 September. All choristers and their parents should have received an email with more details.
For any queries, please contact the Director of Choirs, Mr Evan Wels, ewels@shore.nsw.edu.au
Spring Concert – Tuesday 13 September 7.00pm
The Spring Concert showcases our large ensembles in one concert and is the only concert throughout the year where this occurs. Chapel Choir, Concert Band I, Concert Band II, Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Ensemble, ForeShore, Senior String Ensemble, Stage Band will all perform on this evening.
The concert is held in the Smith Auditorium from 7.00pm and tickets are free. There have previously been issues with ticketing and General Admission ticketing, rather than assigned seating. Therefore, seating will not be assigned on the evening. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Music Function celebrates all students involved in curriculum and Co-Curricular music. It is an opportunity to meet other Music parents and to farewell Year 12 students.
All Year 7 students have been composing pieces in their classes as part of their Music coursework. On Tuesday 20 September from 5.30pm to 7.00pm students will be presenting these compositions.
All community members are welcome to attend. The event will be held in the War Memorial Hall.
Upcoming Music Term Dates:
Sunday 11 September
Year 12 Family Service (9.00am)
Tuesday 13 September
Spring Concert
Thursday 15 September
Music Function
Tuesday 20 September
Year 7 Showcase
Ms Kim Barber Head of Music
The Art of A Cappella Festival
On 27 and 28 of August, the Sydney Young Men’s Choir collaborated with a number of Shore choristers in The Art of A Cappella Festival. This was a weekend dedicated purely to a cappella, which is choral music sung without accompaniment.
Aided by an experienced vocal group False Relations, the singers worked to improve their tone, phrasing and intonation.
The singers rehearsed as a full choir and small quartets over two days, preparing pieces such as If You Love Me by Thomas Tallis and And So It Goes by Billy Joel. These were performed in the Chapel on 28 August, supplemented by a masterful performance from False Relations.
The weekend was a fun way to explore the art of a cappella and seek guidance from more experienced choristers to improve all aspects of singing and vocal performance. Everyone had a great time and a big thank you to Mr Wels for organizing it.
Jono Loy 8TY4
Top Image credit: The Sydney Young Mens’ Choir with Shore students
Mr Wels conducting Chapel Choir
Athletics Report
Another windy and showery day greeted the athletes at E.S. Marks Field last Saturday for the 3rd invitational athletics carnival of the season. The Shore athletes continued to show pleasing improvement across all the disciplines.
Lachy Brown and Myles Kinchington were the first Shore athletes to compete on the day. It was a welcome return to the track for Lachy who had been running in the national Cross Country titles in Adelaide. Myles returned to his fine Cross Country form to run a season’s best in the difficult conditions.
The hurdlers were next to perform, with Ben Gordon placing 2nd and Will Rintoul winning his hurdle heat in the Under 13s. Nick Wendt produced his best race of the season to win the Under 14 100m Hurdles, while Jack Riding was as consistent as ever in the Under 15 Championship race with Charlie Mott placing 2nd in the division. James Kase placed in the Under 17 Hurdles Championship, while Henry Murray was 2nd in the Opens race.
The 800m distance races are arguably our strongest event with numerous personal best performances. Ben Frantz and Ted Scott both ran 6-second personal best times and are showing the benefits of consistent training. Fraser Pandit continues to improve each week in the Under 14 age group. James Bestic and Ben Hocking both attacked their Under 15 race to record big personal best times, with James winning the race in 2m 05.1s. He had a fine day, backing up to win the 1500m race as well. The find of the season, so far, has been Will Nutt, who broke 2 minutes for the first time in his Under 17 800m race running 1m 59.2s. Nathan Stanmore continues to impress with his 1m 55.2s race.
The sprinters continue to see steady improvement each week, with Henry Trueman winning his 200m heat in the Under 13s, while Charlie Mott was 2nd in both the Under 15 100m and 200m. Hugo Orpin ran a season’s best from lane 1 to win the Under 17 200m race. Wylie Hockey had a big morning of races in the 100m, 200m and 400m.
While Shot Put was cancelled for the day, Lucas Wright won the Under 13 High Jump and Alex Segaert won the Under 16 High Jump. Captain of Athletics, Henry Murray, had another consistent day winning the Open Long Jump with 6.32m as well as placing 2nd in the Hurdles. The 4 x 100m relays also saw some nice changes between the Shore athletes as team combinations are developing, with one eye on the GPS Athletics which is now only two weeks away. Our final lead up carnival is this Saturday at Homebush, after which the final team for the GPS Championships will be selected.
Rev. Anthony Benn Master in Charge, Athletics
Top image credit: Tom Kierse Under 14 Hurdles
Hugo Orpin – Under 17 200mRyan Gilmour – Under 16 800m
Taekwondo Report
Final Round Shore vs Sydney Grammar School
Shore Taekwondo remained strong in the final round of the Teams Cup last weekend against a tough Grammar team.
Cam Dickson (C), George Chen (VC), Alex Gilchrist, Max Shirley and Joshua Lo fought tenaciously to maintain their 1st rank and were victorious in five of the five bouts.
This brought Shore to the top of the ladder board for the 2022 season. Fantastic job, boys – a well-deserved outcome!
NSW All-Schools Taekwondo Tournament at Barker College
The 29th NSW All-School’s Taekwondo Tournament was held at Barker College on Saturday 2 September.
Once again, the Shore Taekwondo team fought tirelessly; however, were defeated by a fiercer Grammar team, leaving Shore 2nd on the final ladder board.
Congratulations to the boys below on their Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals, especially our Year 7 beginner fighter, Harry Carpenter, who showcased an extraordinary bout for the crowd. Thank you, boys for a superb season!
Gold Medals: Ethan Tan, Cameron Dickson, Chris Yun, Harry Carpenter, Ollie Hurt
Silver Medals: George Chen, Alexander Gilchrist, Andrew Gilchrist, Will Abrahams, Christian Wong, Zachary Jones, Joshua Lo
Bronze Medals: Kye Daniell, Max Shirley, Ben Pennefather, Atip Natbaen, Max Abrahams, Phillip Greenwood
Ms Julia Jung Master in Charge, Taekwondo
Featured image credit: Max Shirley (Year 11), Cam Dickson (Year 12), George Chen (Year 11), Josh Lo (Year 8), Alexander Gilchrist (Year 11)
Harry Carpenter (Year 7)Captain of Taekwondo, Cam Dickson (Year 12)Zac Jones (Year 7)Chris Yun (Year 8)
Shore Swimming – Opening Soon!
Shore Swim School is excited to announce the opening day of our programme, which will be at the commencement of Term 4, Monday 10 October. We have had a great response so far and are looking forward to getting this program underway.
Enrolments will be opening shortly and we will send the link out through The Shore Weekly Record next Friday 16 September, so you are able to proceed to booking your swimming tuition and squads online.
Before you can enrol, you will need to organise an assessment to determine your correct squad level. Please email Shore Swimming shoreswimming@shore.nsw.edu.au or you can find out more via Lampada. Following assessment, you can then enrol in the appropriate grading level.
Lessons will commence from 6.00am each morning and from 3.15pm each afternoon. Please refer to the timetable on Lampada for all available classes.
Further communication with the Shore Community will be via The Shore Weekly Record each week until Shore Swimming is operational.
Mr Paul Hardman Head Swim Coach
Holtermann Columns – Student Journalism
Up for Debate
Was Serena the GOAT of Her Era?
A. M. Bailey
Serena Williams can arguably be classified the GOAT in Women’s Tennis, leaving an everlasting mark on the game and showing her unsurpassed commitment to the game. “I have never liked the word retirement. It doesn’t feel like a modern word to me,” she said. The 40-year-old athlete thinks it sounds old-fashioned. So, she prefers to say that she is in “transition” from the game to having a life as a ‘regular’ human being away from the spotlight and focusing more on her family.
“Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution. I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me.” The good thing for Serena is that her life and legacy are so much more than one thing
She won her first major as a 17-year-old at the 1999 US Open, won 10 more through the first decade of the 21st century despite an excellent women’s tour including sister Venus, Justine Henin, Maria Sharapova and Kim Clijsters in their prime, and it was only health and time that stopped her from breaking every record imaginable.
After winning five majors in 2002 and 2003 — including the “Serena Slam” of four straight, from the 2002 French Open to 2003 Australian — a series of knee injuries cut her down.
For the next three years, the seemingly unbeatable Williams reached just two grand slam finals, winning only the 2005 title in Melbourne before the injuries saw her tumble out of the top 100 the next year for the first time since 1997.
After rounding back into elite form, at one point winning five out of eight major singles titles from 2008 to 2010, her body betrayed her again when a blood clot in her lung and serious haematoma in her abdomen saw her miss the back half of 2010 and start of 2011.
By the end of 2011, having unravelled as she lost the US Open final to Sam Stosur and reached 30 years of age, it was reasonable to assume Williams’s best days were behind her. She has now soldiered on to 2022 but unfortunately we won’t be seeing her step out onto the court again. It’s entirely possible that her next endeavour will bring with it more success, adulation and accolades, but it’s hard to imagine anyone making more of an impact in any field than she has in the tennis world.
So, to tennis lovers across the school and the nation, I leave with the words of Naomi Osaka who summed it up the best: “Serena is unequivocally the best athlete ever. Forget female athlete, I mean athlete, no-one else has changed her sport as much as she did and against all odds.”
Champions League
Who Will Win Their Pools?
Jack Mott
The Champions League is a competition where the European teams who were in the top of their leagues play off against each other. The individual leagues are scaled so that the better they are the more teams they can enter. For example, the English Premier League has four teams that automatically get in each year.
In the Champions League, there are pool stages in which four teams play home and away against each other. There are three points awarded for a win, one for a draw, and zero for a loss.
Pool A
In pool A, there is Ajax, Liverpool, Rangers, and Napoli. These four giants are pitted off against each other. The first two games are Ajax against Rangers and Liverpool against Napoli. This pool is hard to call but it is likely that Liverpool and Ajax will progress with either Rangers or Napoli moving to the Europa League and the other being kicked out.
Pool B
This pool has Porto, Atletico Madrid, Leverkusen, and Club Brugge. These teams are again strong – some of the bests in their respective countries. However, Porto and Club Brugge are the biggest and are the most likely to reach the knockout stages, with Atletico being left to go into the Europa League and Leverkusen being knocked out.
Pool C
This pool is another also filled with giants. It has Inter Milan, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Viktoria Plzen. This pool is one of the most competitive in the competition, however, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are the favourites with Inter Milan and Viktoria Plzen being predicted to fight it out for the Europa spot.
Pool D
Eintracht Frankfurt, Tottenham, Marseille, and Sporting are competing in this pool. It is most likely that Tottenham and Marseille win out in this pool, with Frankfurt and Sporting competing for the Europa position.
Pool E
Pool E contains A.C. Millan, Chelsea, Red Bull Salzburg, and Dinamo Zagreb. In this pool it is likely that Millan and Chelsea will progress with the others competing for the Europa spot.
Pool F
Pool F has the Champions from last year, Real Madrid, along with Red Bull Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk and Celtic. Real and Red Bull Leipzig are the most likely to progress with Shakhtar being the one to move down to Europa.
Pool G
This pool has the favourites for the whole competition, Manchester City, as well as Sevilla, Dortmund and Copenhagen. This pool will most likely have City and Dortmund progressing as Sevilla is having a bad year.
Pool H
This is the final pool and has PSG and Juventus as well as Benfica. These teams are some of the biggest in the world and have a huge reputation. They are placed with Maccabi Haifa, an Israeli team. It is likely that PSG and Juventus progress and Benfica moves to the Europa League.
Next Steps for the Australian Economy
Examining RBA options moving forward
J. A. McCreery
*Written 29/8 and does not contain data from most recent RBA release
As the Australian economy seeks to recover from recent economic strains, there is a distinct need for future interest rate rises and the repeal of unconventional monetary policy. Both domestic and global inflation are on the rise and as such an upwards movement of the OCR is necessary to reduce inflationary pressures and stabilise the Australian economy. Further, the unprecedented use of unconventional monetary policy requires ‘normalisation’ to again bring stability to the economy and avoid the pitfalls prevalent with its continuation.
Headline rates of inflation hold at 6.1%, having been buoyed by COVID-related supply disruptions, socio-economic crisis (Ukraine) and strong demand which is putting pressure on productive capacity. While this inflation level is still below the 8.5% in the USA and the circa 7% rates in Europe, the UK, Canada and NZ, the Australian economy’s high rates of dependency on commodity exchange and foregin trade indicates that inflation is likely to rise in tandem if left unchecked. Coles, for example, has warned of further significant supermarket inflation throughout 2023.
The need for future interest rate rises is supported by Dr Oliver who asserts that a rise to “over 2% mid next year” will be required to cool inflation. Note, the magnitude of such rate hikes is amplified by Australia’s high level of household debt and as such will not be required to reach rates such as those seen on the international scene. The need for immediate cash rate hikes is present nevertheless, reinforced by the experience from the late 1970s oil shock, which made evident that the longer inflation persists the more inflationary expectations rise, in turn, making it difficult to control inflation without falling into recession.
Economic growth is unlikely to be threatened by policy interest rate rises due to the resilience of Australian markets, again reifying the efficacy of such raises. The tightening and strong job market is expected to continue supporting households alongside the mass financial buffer of $250bn accrued throughout the pandemic. Previous rate tightening cycles in 1994, 1999 – 2000, 2002 – 2008 and 2009 – 2010 were all able to avoid recession whilst reducing inflation thus highlighting the effectiveness of such a campaign.
Although rate rises will place pressure on indebted Australian households, cutting into their spending power, it will be manageable for most borrowers. 40% of variable rate borrowers would see no increase in monthly payments from a 2% mortgage rise as they have already been paying in excess. The RBA also asserts that “the majority of households will be well placed to manage higher … loan payments”.
Another important consideration is the impact of raising the Official Cash Rate (OCR) on the share market. Whilst higher rates place pressure on share market valuations, early in the economic recovery cycle this impact is offset by improving earning growth. Rising interest rates are only detrimental when rates reach onerous levels (i.e. above ‘normal’) contributing to economic downturn, e.g. in 1981-early 1982 or late 2007 to early 2008; there are also problems when rate hikes are aggressive, as in 1994 when the cash rate increased from 4.75% to 7.5% in four months and placed excessive downwards pressure on the economy (Dr. Oliver).
Such evidence, accentuated by the highly indebted nature of the Australian public, makes clear how, although rate hikes are necessary, they must be moderate and be made under highly informed conditions.
The withdrawal of unconventional monetary policy is another decision which the RBA must consider in order to safeguard the stability and longevity of the Australian economy. Unconventional monetary policy comes in four terms: (1) negative interest rates, (2) extended liquidity operations, (3) quantitative easing and (4) forward guidance. All can be effective in theoretical vacuums but are unnecessarily arduous on policy makers, leaving room for error in their execution.
In recent years the RBA has been largely involved in quantitative easing and forward guidance as means of relieving strain from the pandemic economy. Quantitative easing or asset purchasing involves the outright purchasing of assets by the RBA in the private sector through the creation of ‘central bank reserves’. The main goal of such purchases is to lower interest rates on risk-free assets through a range of maturities which works to lower a range of interest rates, this can be especially useful in instances where the OCR is as low as it can practically go i.e. at its effective lower bound. Forward guidance relates to the communication of the RBAs stance of monetary policy and is used to reinforce central banks commitment to low interest rates, thus reducing uncertainty about economic and financial outlooks, in turn promoting consumer confidence.
The willingness of central banks to supply liquidity in times of economic strain may reduce the incentive of banks to hold adequate financial buffers, which could make episodes of financial stress more likely. Persistently low interest rates can also fuel asset price growth (e.g. increasing in price of real estate and shares) despite weak economic conditions, so that growth in debt can become unsustainable and increase the risk of financial instability. Under unconventional policy, the role of monetary and fiscal policy can also become blurred, because if the central bank is purchasing large amounts of government securities (i.e. government debt) at 0% interest, this could be interpreted as government spending that is financed by money creation. This misinterpretation of QE, in turn, can create a host of public distrust and political tension due to the misconception it involves ‘printing money’.
Furthermore, in the uncertain world of economics, failings in forward guidance are almost inevitable as circumstances are always changing, yet egregious failures in future warnings, e.g. Philip Lowe claiming Australian interest rates will not rise till 2024 when they are rising quickly in 2022, harms the reputability of the RBA and in turn consumer confidence and economic stability.
There is an undeniable need for interest rate rises in the current Australian economy which, combined with ‘normalisation’ of monetary policy, will ensure the easing of inflationary pressure and the economic wellbeing of the financial system.
Exam Experience
Year 11 Exams Conclude
R. Cameron
YEAR 11 EXAMS HAVE CONCLUDED, and despite the knowledge and realisation that these exams are the preliminary exams before our HSC year, the lack of stress and lack of pressure has been evident among the cohort. The Year 11 exams can lead to early entry, good habits for Year 12, and some of the content is even assessed in the following year; but even with this, the year group seems to be surprisingly relaxed.
In an exam period, you would expect the library to be packed, heads down, and the majority of the cohort to be solely focused on the preliminary exams, however this hasn’t really been the case. Personally I have been very distracted, I have been more focused on curriculars and other things more than my studies. I have spent approximately the same amount of time rowing as I have studied, and when I am studying, it’s not as productive as it should be, and from the students I have spoken to, this has been rather consistent. When I am in the library (which has actually been a fair amount) I find myself and most boys aimlessly talking to those surrounding us, about unrelated and disruptive matters. The urgency and necessity has not been as extensive as it has been in the past and not as high as it normally should be for the preliminary exams.
The year group has not received marks back but I don’t think they will be as bad as I am making out. Although the required attention and diligent attitude hasn’t been present, the overwhelming majority has prepared effectively and the exam period hasn’t needed to be extremely stressful which is more often than not what leads to better results. While this is true, however, the amount of chess, youtube, and other irrelevant activities during this period is rather concerning and I believe moving into the HSC, our cohort will need to shape up our attitude to be successful and become determined when the pressure really kicks in.
Thankfully, this period of examination is concluding, and will have concluded when this is published, and the year group can relax for the few weeks before our concluding year at Shore commences. These exams haven’t been extremely difficult (excluding maths extension). It has definitely been a learning experience for our cohort and myself, who are going to need a change in attitude for the upcoming, stressful, and demanding year ahead of us.
Lucid Dreams
What They Are and How to Have Them
P. P. Zhang
IT’S THE MONIKER OF JUICE WRLD’S MOST POPULAR SONG, BUT TODAY WE’RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT A DIFFERENT KIND OF LUCID DREAM. The kind that refers to one being aware they’re dreaming. Lucid dreams are a ‘between state’ where one isn’t fully asleep or awake. They’re relatively rare – with only 50% of all people saying they’ve experienced one in their lifetime. It’s unclear why we have lucid dreams – let alone regular dreams. Despite this, scientists have discovered several possible benefits, including improving motor skills and creativity and reducing anxiety. Additionally, lucid dreaming is potentially able to reduce insomnia and chronic nightmares.
So how does one go about lucid dreaming? While there are no proven techniques, researchers have tried a variety of methods. These include keeping a dream diary as a way of focusing more on dreaming and using mnemonic induction, which involves reminding yourself to do something in the future, in this case remembering that the next time you dream, you’ll remind yourself that it is just that and nothing more. However, perhaps the most successful strategy is the “reality-check” method, where one periodically asks themselves whether they are dreaming, in order to convince their brain about the possibility of dreaming while awake. In your endeavour to lucid dream, it’s important to ensure that you don’t interrupt your sleep schedule just to induce it, as this can lead to sleep deprivation and a plethora of other issues.
To me, the thought of being aware while dreaming sounds fascinating but slightly frightening at the same time. Perhaps we’ll reach a point where we can even control what we dream. A point where the dreamworld can be used to affect the real world. Who knows how far away that future is, or whether we even want it to be our future. Popular culture, especially as of late, has been obsessed with this conflict between reality and illusion, spurred on by the rise of popular films like Inception and The Truman Show. Of course, there is a possibility that, as we speak, we are living in an intricate, convoluted lucid dream, similar to the possibility that we’re living in a simulation. Whether we are or not – I guess you’ll have to pinch yourself a little harder to find out.
Ukraine – Our Want-to-be Fuzzy Friend
Ukraine’s Request for Australian Vehicles
W. H. R. Johnston
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has exhausted Ukraine’s industrial capacity, and thus, they are calling for other countries to support their efforts with equipment. Ukraine has requested that as well as the 60 “Bushmasters” (tanks) that have already been committed, another 30 Bushmasters be sent and 30 of the new “Hawkei” light 4-WD vehicles be sent. These new vehicles were not expected to have reached operational capacity due to some technical difficulties during the construction phase, however the Ukraine ambassador has insisted that this is not an issue, and that they are “impressive”.
Ukraine has offered to be Australia’s “guinea-pig” for their army experiments by using new, untested military equipment in real conflict to test its durability and effectiveness on the battlefield. In March, these Hawkei vehicles were rejected over concerns of soldier safety, after a hefty $1.3 billion dollar investment from the armed forces, and therefore, this arrangement, if successful on the battlefield could prove to be just as valuable for Australia, allowing them to implement a new and improved vehicle, with over $1.3 billion behind it, into their arsenal.
Overall, the progress in Ukraine has been slow, with Ukraine pursuing victory in the South as their forces are reportedly breaking through to the city Kherson, but in the East, Russian forces continue to advance. It seems that this conflict is set to continue for some time to come, meaning that the equipment sent to Ukraine will surely get its fair share of testing. Whilst casualties continue to rise on both sides, the resolve of both Governments make clear that there will not be any surrender or withdrawal. Additionally, Russia’s intent to alienate themselves from the West has been made clear through actions such as their recent removal of representatives at the International Space Station. The severing of connection seems to be the only way for the Kremlin to maintain control over its population, as they continue to spread lies about the cause of the war as well as its progress.
To demonstrate Australia’s holistic stance against oppressive regimes, surely we should support Ukraine’s valiant resistance before even considering the positives of having our military equipment tested in real battlefield conditions, and therefore it seems that Australia must allow Ukraine to be its “guinea-pig”.
Study Spots
The Hot Take On Where To Study Around Shore
L. Banks
SHORE SPANS A SIGNIFICANT CHUNK OF NORTH SYDNEY. Boasting incomparable views, Shore’s grounds are a hot piece of real estate. Subsequently, it can be overwhelming when attempting to choose a place to settle down and wrestle with some work. Thus I have summarised my top 5 greatest places to study, judged off enjoyment, effectiveness, atmosphere and aesthetics.
The Eastern Tables
The Eastern Tables, superior to the Southern Tables, boast an impressive view of Sydney’s skyline. Although the South tables arguably have the better view, the Eastern tables are more secluded from the mayhem of younger students, and tend to be a more productive space. The tables make for a great group environment, with the normal quiet library rules, one can stop for a quick chat in between tasks. However, when sitting too close to your best mates, one risks the environment becoming destructive, as there is significant potential for procrastination. The rabbit hole of banter at the tables is what has taken away from a possible higher ranking, and is why it occupies the fifth spot on the list.
The Walton Room
Similarly to the Eastern Tables, the Walton Room is designed for cooperation and group-style studying. Used as a classroom during school hours, the Walton Room certainly has enough room for you and your friends. Additionally, the couch next to the window is a lovely spot to sit and cooperate with your peers. However, this couch has the tendency to allow one to become too comfortable. Commonly, if one is to check their phone whilst sitting on this couch after school hours, they may accidentally spend the next hour sitting on the comfy neon cushions, playing mobile games, or browsing the boundlessness of social media. The Walton Room makes up for this danger with its large whiteboard. Allowing students to draft up any plan or notes that they please. Ultimately, the Walton has a great atmosphere when used with a small to medium group, producing efficient study sessions. Thus the Walton Room is one of the best places to study claiming the fourth spot.
Seminar Rooms
When the due date is looming, and it’s time to knuckle down and punch out some study, the seminar rooms make for a great place to escape the noise. Mostly sound proof, when used with a very small group of 1-3 productive friends, the Seminar Rooms produce great results. These rooms boast big screens that can be used as a whiteboard, or to cast your screen onto a bigger medium. The Seminar Rooms’ hamartia comes as the number of occupants increases, or the tendency of those occupants to procrastinate increases.. Any more than 3 people and it is highly likely that there is no effective or efficient study taking place. Additionally, the Seminar Rooms are far from the library’s other facilities, meaning it can be inefficient walking back and forth when frequently printing or copying. The Seminar Rooms reach their full potential during an exam or high traffic period, when the senior study area becomes overcrowded. The one lucky soul who secures a Seminar Room during exams may experience as large as a 20-30% increase in marks when scaled against their peers. Consequently, the Seminar Rooms’ ability to clutch when cramming for exams is what gives them the edge over other study spots, granting it the third place position.
Senior Study Area
The Senior Study Area is the most productive area in the library. The area features two main study spaces, the individual cubicles, and the stools by the windowsill. These two areas are perfect for effective study sessions, allowing students to focus in the cubicle and then come out for a short chat or an explanation from a peer, and then go back to their work. The Senior Study Area is always quiet, with the strictest volume rules available in the library. Further, by excluding the hyperactive younger students, the area becomes a haven for the Senior Students to escape distractions. The Senior Study Area is also located centrally in the library, near all of the facilities, making it a short trip to the printers, bookshelves or circulation desk. However, the Senior Study Area fails as it reaches and exceeds its capacity. During exam periods, the Senior Study Area tends to get overloaded with students all anxiously cramming for their exams. Thus, the ambient volume rises significantly from its natural level year round, becoming very distracting if one does not own some kind of noise blocking headphones or earbuds. Additionally, with the increased traffic, one becomes more likely to become distracted by a friend. As more people gather there, the more likely they will interact with you, or be your best mate (generally, studying with your best mate is a bad idea unless immune to procrastination). This harsh contrast makes the Senior Study Area a hit-or-miss, but for the most part, year-round it makes for the most effective place in the library for efficient study. Thus the Senior Study Area lands itself in the second place position.
Robson Reading Room
The Robson Reading Room (RRR) is a significantly undervalued space for focused study. Overlooking the school grounds, and always free from crowds, the RRR has a calm and comforting atmosphere. The RRR does not experience rushes during exam periods, or rushes of any kind. Open almost any time for students to use during study/free periods, peer tutoring, or after school. There is no more comforting place on Shore’s grounds than the RRR when it is raining. The metal roof conducts a symphonious ambient backtrack for your study, similar to that of lo-fi music. I am convinced that the Robson Reading Room in the rain is the closest one can get to a heaven on earth. If visiting the RRR in bad weather, you can be sure that you will have an exceptionally efficient study session. The RRR provides a direct passage to the bathroom, a notable advantage over the library which does not boast its own bathroom for students to use. However, the RRR does not have a printer or circulation desk nearby for student use, so students must plan appropriately and make sure they bring all required materials to prevent an unnecessary trip to the library to stock up. The RRR is particularly useful when in need of a quiet space as it is perpetually calm, and has no nearby factors that increase noise. The RRR is my personal favourite study spot, and subsequently claims the number one spot.
