Staff Spotlight – Facilities Team

Arriving at Shore each morning, students are welcomed with clean, functional and operational facilities that enable a productive learning environment. While the boys may not always see what goes on behind the scenes, today we pull back the curtain and take a brief look at the inner workings of the School.

The Facilities team at Shore have worked hard to preserve the condition of the grounds since 1889, although originally, it was teaching staff who did most of the upkeep work. Below is a photo of Mr A.D Hall, a Shore teacher from 1891-1925, climbing the flagpole to assist with the maintenance of the School.  

Since those early decades, a specialised Shore Facilities team has been established. Headed by Mr David Pickerd, the current team has many years of experience working within the School. Their extensive knowledge of Shore’s grounds and buildings ensures that the School runs like a well-oiled machine. 

The Facilities team possess a wide range of experience from carpentry, tiling, and waterproofing to aircraft maintenance, project management, commerce, and marketing. All team members have acquired a High Risk Work License, allowing them to work with specialised equipment, further broadening the range of tasks the team is able to assist with. Some members of the team are currently obtaining qualifications in Management and HR.

We all benefit immensely from the hard work of the Facilities team. Thanks to the efforts of Mr Pickerd and his team, the boys are able to come to Shore each day and thrive in an environment that is safe, functional and conducive to learning. Mr Pickerd added, “The Facilities Department wouldn’t truly be able to do what we do without the hard work of the Grounds, Cleaning, Security, Electricians, Plumbers, Painters, Fire Services teams and more, who we see as an extension of our own team.”

Top image credit: Zsolt Lendvai, Rodney Briggs and David Pickerd

Upcoming Events for Term 3 Week 10

Year 12 Celebration Events

Father and Son Breakfast and Chapel Service

Wednesday 21 September 7.30am – 9.00am

Breakfast on the Chapel Lawn for dads, carers and Year 12 students, followed by a Chapel service.

Follow this link to book:
https://www.trybooking.com/CBXGI

Please RSVP by Saturday 17 September.

Year 12 Graduation Ceremony

Friday 23 September 10.00am – 12.00pm

Parents and families are invited to the Year 12 Graduation ceremony in the R A I Grant Centre.

Follow this link to book:
https://www.trybooking.com/CBXGU

Please RSVP by Tuesday 20 September.

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.

Chaplain’s Chat

We know that being a part of a family can be tricky at times, even at the best of times! Despite how hard we can try at relationships within our families, there can often be disagreements about all sorts of things. Sometimes these disagreements can fracture relationships which might take a long time to heal.

The Bible knows all about this and indeed it paints the picture of some families that just struggle to get along. As we continue studying The Book of Genesis in Chapel this term, we read of the continuation of the story of Joseph. A perfect example of a family that doesn’t get along! Here, Joseph’s brothers were so jealous of him that they wanted him dead. They ended up selling him into slavery and then telling their father that he was dead.

Despite this cruel fate, Joseph ends up in Egypt and in the course of events becomes the 2^nd most powerful man in the country under Pharaoh. Years pass and as a famine hits the land, Joseph’s brothers travel to Egypt to buy food and there they come face-to-face with Joseph himself. Joseph forgives his brothers in a remarkable act of kindness and mercy.

It mirrors the wonderful God of the Bible who continues to work through his chosen man, Joseph, in the course of his life. And, it points to the even bigger picture – how God works through his Son, Jesus, to bring us forgiveness.

Reverend Anthony Benn
School Chaplain

Year 12 Family Service

On Sunday 11 September we held the annual Year 12 Family Service. With lots of ‘lasts’ for our Year 12 students, it was wonderful to be able to come together as a community and meet the families of the Year 12 students in the Chapel.

Our ForeShore Choir excellently sang two songs for the occasion and Mr Wels and Mr Fox are to be thanked for their leadership in their respective roles.

There was also the opportunity for everyone to reflect on the Godly wisdom that the Bible offers us during the service. As the time draws near for our students to conclude their time at Shore, it was appropriate that we prayed for God to guide them on their future paths. Dr Collier led the prayers for the boys and asked the congregation to pray that they would indeed leave with a desire to love God and serve others around them in the years to come.

Rev Anthony Benn
School Chaplain

Pastoral Care at Shore – Language Matters

This week, the public media airing of chat room conversations involving students from certain schools made for difficult reading. I read, with profound sadness, some of the comments made by the boys in what they thought was a private chat room. I was reminded that in the online space nothing is private. However, I was not shocked by what I read. I do think these online chat rooms are all pervasive. I asked my own boys what they thought and my eldest two sons said they had seen similar things online. The difference for them, and many other boys, is that they chose not to engage and switched it off. Making wise choices when faced with ethical dilemmas is exactly what we need to teach our young people. I also contend that encouraging young people to call out bad behaviour and being the voice for the wellbeing of others is the height of moral standing character.

Recently, I listened to a young team from another school warming up for a suburban sporting game. They were hyping each other up, yelling in loud voices and screaming vulgar words. It was intense in its voracity and very threatening to anyone listening. I grimaced, as I continued to hear the boys yelling in guttural tones that they were going to ‘kill the other team’ and not just ‘kill’ them, but ‘smash them’. They screamed these words with vehemence and anguish, and it seemed as though this was a weekly dose of pent-up aggression that clearly, was very normal for them.

I felt instant unease as I watched as other spectators and young people grimace at the cacophony of profanity which led me to walk over to the dressing rooms and speak calmly with one of the trainers. I told him that I found it confronting to hear the boys screaming in this way. He looked at me incredulously and said, “Oh, you know, boys will be boys!” This comment disarmed me completely and I suddenly realised that this language and behaviour was being excused because they were boys.

Language matters. When a society internalises phrases over time, the attitudes underlying those words become part of the culture. It is a phrase used to excuse the behaviour of boys and this is problematic, as it dismisses accountability for behaviour.

I am no prude; I have three boys of my own. I have heard them swear often and each time, it is a wound to my soul. Locker room talk might be the preserve of men, not intended for an audience beyond the concrete walls, but it is what boys say in private when they think no one is listening, that is actually the measure of their character. Boys are often enculturated in behaviours that only occur behind closed doors, but often this enculturation has a far more profound effect on their moral compass and public selves than we realise.

Ms Rowena Dudgeon
Deputy Head Pastoral Care

Debating Report

AAGPS Round 7 vs Newington College

Last Friday, Shore hosted Newington in the final round of GPS debating. Loaded up on sugar and excitement from American Tea, Shore affirmed topics on Australian politics, however, we suffered heavy losses across all age groups.

The Year 7 teams argued, “That police should not carry guns.” The 7A and 7B teams both managed victories while the 7C team fell valiantly. The 9A team secured the sole win across the Year 8 and Year 9 divisions, successfully proving, “That Australia should have a Bill of Rights.” After a near-perfect run in the ISDA for Years 7 and 9 and strong LND performances, the Junior Debaters have continued their strong form in the GPS season and can only get better from here! The Shore 10As enjoyed the only win in their age group, extending their remarkable success to finish with a 6-1 record. Strong analysis of both the environmental and political burdens in the preparation room meant they were able to construct a strong case and pre-empt Newington’s line of attack before the debate had even begun.

Shore started strongly with Max Kim characterising environmental policy outcomes as the most important consideration and providing five excellent mechanisms as to why this policy change would be politically popular. At second, Michael Kwak stressed the mechanisms and gave excellent strategical analysis of the burdens Newington needed to prove. Daniel Kang finished off with strong rebuttal and a questionable tangent about how miners hated their jobs (perhaps erring on the side of new substantive). Nevertheless, the result was a clear win for Shore. Although they finished 2^nd in the GPS, behind Grammar’s perfect 7-0 record, the 10As enjoyed a highly successful season and will be a force to be reckoned with in coming years.

The Opens gave it their all, but were unsuccessful. The Seconds should be commended for their strong effort this season, which, if they had not lost, would have left them equal first in their competition, the perfect record of the Firsts and Thirds is perhaps a more impressive feat. After a mixed ISDA season, which saw us lose four, before rebounding with three wins a row, we were determined for a strong showing in the GPS competition. However, it was not to be, with seven losses from seven debates recorded for us and the Thirds.

In the Firsts, the promise of a crowd motivated an intense preparation room which unpacked mechanisms on both environmental policy and political ramifications. After being tunnelled into the Playfair, Will Defina opened our case in front of the biggest crowd seen at a debate for many years, unpacking why more ambitious policy would benefit the environment and the Labor Party. At second, I unpacked the geopolitical and economic ramifications and attempted to contain the Newington case before Tom Marshall masterfully summarised our own arguments and rebutted theirs.

Although we were left feeling slightly robbed, the crowd quickly buoyed out spirits. Being presented with the wooden spoon in front of a cheering crowd was the perfect end to a great six years of Debating at Shore. I am so proud of what the Debaters have achieved this season and I am honoured to have been the Debating Captain for 2022.

Mesake Taulawakeiaho
Captain of Debating

Top Image Credit: The 1sts Tom Marshall, Mesake Taulawakeiaho, Tim Barrett and Will Defina celebrate their 7-debate streak

Holtermann Columns – Student Journalism

Take a Moment to Listen

Order in the Chaos of Classroom Noise

J. Y. Gao

IT WAS DURING ONE OF DR. STOBO’S HISTORY CLASSES LAST YEAR when I first took notice of the sound in the room. Before I am accused of not concentrating in class, I want to explain this peculiar moment by first introducing some observations I’ve made about the classroom environment – especially in regards to segmented ‘moments’ of a period; they are familiar to us all, I am sure of it: first, there are the moments when your teacher is explaining a topic to the class and, thus, requires all of your attention; then, there are moments when your teacher sets a task for you to complete in silence; of course, to employ modern teaching methods that encourage learning through sharing and communication, there are moments when you are asked to “discuss with the person next to you” your own opinion on the topic; and finally, there are moments your teacher conducts a class discussion where you get the opportunity to share with the class an appropriate response or comment (these moments, by themselves, spark a very interesting conversation about our unique motivations behind ‘raising and sharing’ – but that is for another article). In summary, I’ve recognised the four main ‘scenes’ that you are most likely to encounter during a lesson. Though my interest lies within the transitional phases that morph between these ‘scenes’. Whilst these four ‘scenes’ correspond to four distinct noise levels, the transitional phases can be sorted into two categories: an increase in noise, or a decrease in noise (the amount of time the class takes to complete the decrease or increase in volume is, on the other hand, wholly dependent on the ‘scenes’ between which it transitions). 

The reason for my interest in these transitional stages stems from the unique opportunity it provides. If I start from the beginning of this thought process, I must start with agitation. The agitation teachers and some students feel when the rest of the class has decided to linger on conversations a little longer or continue a heated lunch discussion by raising the volume louder – an overwhelming cacophony of noise, really. Or at least that’s what it feels like. But, like most things, such a chaotic tangle of voices untangles quite quickly when you start to listen carefully. So often is our impression of the room enhanced by emotions and assumptions that we overlook the order that is present within a chatty class of 25 teenagers. All that needs to be done is to pick out a conversation or a distinct voice within the chaos and find its person of origin. Place it geographically within the class in relation to you and repeat the process for the other voices that you hear. Soon you will find, especially in the cases where the class has been asked to refocus and quiet down, what had seemed like 10 different voices coming from all angles is actually just three – two at the back and one at the front. Suddenly, the overwhelming cacophony of noise seems like three distinct, clear conversations, and the room feels far less chaotic (maybe the same volume, but certainly less overwhelming). 

In other instances, like when the whole class is doing the “discuss with the person next to you”, and there are far too many voices for you to pinpoint and remember, try to pick out the one(s) that strikes you as most prominent. You will often find, after recognising and, hence, isolating the one loud voice, the rest of the room lies at a comfortable volume. Try it! 

In a similar case, like when the class transitions from quiet to loud, you will notice that after applying this method of deconstructing the noise, what normally felt like a wave of noise that spontaneously arises is actually a handful of timid conversations that are secretly listening in to the volume of other conversations and growing in confidence as neighbouring ones grow also in volume. Gradually, in an attempt to out-compete each other as interlocutors try to make their point clear, the once small handful of timid conversations grows to a small handful of louder conversations. 

These observations are empty words if they go unpractised. Try thinking about this next week (or perhaps next term if you are away on camp), and just notice how the room changes when you perceive sound from a different perspective. 

Crumbling Colossals

The Fall of Empires

J. A. McCreery

AN EMPIRE IS A NEAR MYTHOLOGICAL CONSTRUCT, the centralisation, the power, the romanticism, the conquest – they exert such immense influence on the world, shaping our geo-political relations and defining the very make up of nations – yet they rise and fall in a moment’s notice, why?

By definition, an empire is a ‘political unit’ made up of several territories and peoples, usually created by conquest, and divided between a dominant center and subordinate peripheries. The great empires of history irreparably alternated conquered territories’ culture, beliefs and structure through enforced control, exploitation or reform. These webs of control enveloped hundreds of millions in a brutal Darwanist system.

For some context:

• British Empire; 
  • Ruled a quarter of the world
  • 400 million subjects

• Mongol Empire; 
  • 23 million square kms of unbroken control
  • Largest contiguous land empire

• Roman Empire;
  • Endured over 1000 years
  • Created the largest network of roads in the ancient world

These empires are such forces for change their effects can be felt even today. Britain very well constructed Australia into its modern form whilst also forging the Commonwealth of Nations and developing institutions, such as common law, contract enforcement and banking. The Mongols introduced the first international paper currency and postal system, and developed and spread revolutionary technologies like printing, the cannon, the compass, and the abacus. Romans, aside from their obvious suffusion and romanticism in modern media (i.e. Gladiator, Spartacus, Ben-Hur) have heavily influenced modern day architecture, both in terms of design – domes, pillars arches – and in material, such as tiles, bricks and concrete. 

Such knowledge makes clear the true impact and extent of empires but also draws one to the original question, how can such mighty forces crumble and fall if they hold such overwhelming power?

Academics often point to two interlinked causes: overreach, and the inability to resolve crises.

As empires expand their borders the land gained eventually becomes too expensive to maintain economically and militarily. Essentially the law of diminishing returns applies, in the beginning acquiring new land and thus resources drives economic growth yet after a critical point has been reached these returns on scale become less and less until eventually sustaining control over such vast swathes of land becomes detrimental. Military becomes unable to maintain control, ‘stretched thin’, lacking numbers, strength and resolve to control the empire. Such expanses of land also results in multiple fronts of war, a usually insurmountable disadvantage, especially when pitted against numerous determined enemies. The complexity of great empires also results in major logistical and political issues, creating immense intricate networks of government which eventually collapse in on themselves. Next, inability to resolve crises, which is underpinned by overreach and its downfalls, often catalyzes ‘the fall’, setting into motion the dismantling of power. When rebellion, plague or invasion strikes an empire a cohesive response is imperative for its survival; if power / control is diluted such a response is incredibly hindered. This amplifies the impact of crises, which of course can be in and of themselves destructive, eroding the ability of centralized control to persist.

 A more compelling, and perhaps more relevant cause is a failure of identity and purpose.

Empires are built around a sole preeminent power which defines the culture, religion and practises of those it ensnares and as it encroaches on others, its ability to impose said thoughts on the conquered and repress contrasting ones, defines its success. If you take Russia for example, the split of Ukraine in 1991 was simplistically caused by differing attitudes and values – those in Ukraine felt distinctly ‘non-Russian’ despite the banner being flown over their heads and thus split themselves to pursue a unique national identity. Such disillusionment against empires can also be seen in cases such as the Balkan Wars where four Balkan States of Greece, Serbia, Montenegro and Bulgaria declared war upon the Ottoman Empire and defeated it, regaining sovereignty. On the flip side, empires such as that of Rome were able to sustain centuries of influence by making its provinces relatively equal. Its states were predominantly subject to the same enforcements and taxation, and received military protection, just like the homeland, alongside uniform laws, free and open trade or employment opportunities only available to Romans. Nevertheless, nationalist identities are bound to spring up as people united by race, language, culture or history seek new governance and greater benefit for their people. 

Ultimately, empires fall because all things must come to an end. 

Such a concept should also serve as a reminder for the powerhouses of today, no matter how far you reach, no matter how long you reign, no matter how much you control, the immutable power of time will eventually bring an end to it all. 

The Perfection Pill

Engineering Human Morality

M. D. Kwak

MORAL ENHANCEMENT DRUGS are, for now, in the very early stages of development – so much so that they might as well be discussed as a hypothetical. Such drugs may be utilised to alter the fundamental mechanisms of human behaviour and emotions by manipulating hormone levels, stimuli and brain processes involved in reward, stress, and self-control. A simple example of this might be a drug that increases the levels of empathy felt towards other individuals. The way through which these drugs fix the incapability problem is by altering the human psyche so that it can overcome the evolutionary and societal pressures it faces – giving it a little push towards selflessness.

If one ignores the practical issues attached to such a scheme such as the potential for malicious use and difficulties in actually developing and regulating the drug, there are massive impacts on not only the individual taker but widespread society. It can fix the angst of individuals who desperately want to become a better person but have been previously held back. It can literally change how society treats those within it and herald massive progress in helping the global poor and averting climate change catastrophe. War, violence, racism…Virtually any problem in our world can be somewhat linked to the evil and selfishness of humanity and moral enhancement drugs may alleviate such plights.

However, such benefits are contingent on the assumption that everyone will take them. First of all, an unlikely event. If millions are hesitant towards medicines that have decades of research backing it, drugs that change behaviour are unlikely to go down well in the Bryon Bay community. Further, institutions and people who are responsible for the largest cases of suffering in the world seem unlikely to gobble up the drug. Second, it raises the interesting question of consent and whether one would be able to rationally decide to take a drug that alters people in extreme ways, amidst the face of societal pressure and guilt-tripping.

Consent is an interesting issue if we consider the status quo. One may well argue that consent exists in neither world as societal pressure is rampant in both; there exists some form of moral brainwashing or education. However, for the average person, moral enhancement may very well lie in the form of drugs and even if one bears the costs of some being unable to consent, there is no doubt that the relationships between people and vast societal issues would be hugely improved. ‘People becoming kinder’ sounds corny and contrived but it can genuinely make people happier.

There is another side to unrestricted selflessness. We often idealise selflessness but as for anything, the extremes of it can be uncomfortable. Too much empathy and altruism can destroy any form of self-worth and wear down individuals who no longer care about themselves but about making sure every single person is happy and well. It would manufacture individuals of self-destruction.

Previously, I noted that there existed a problem surrounding the self-awareness of one’s selfishness but the incapability of doing anything about it. Two reasons for such a deadlock can be explained by evolution and societal influence. Drugs and brainwashing may be solutions to the respective incentives that hinder progress towards a positive re-engineering of human moral conduct.

AMERICAN TEA

The Return of a Shore Tradition 

J. A. T. Collier

Last Friday marked the return of the famous American Tea. American Tea has been a tradition at Shore for many decades and is a date that is looked forward to on the school calendar each year. However, this year it was even more special due to the long-awaited return of American Tea as the Shore community has not been able to experience this tradition for the past 3 years due to various COVID restrictions and lockdowns. 

American Tea is so special due to its many activities, stores, and stalls, and is enjoyed by all age groups. Whether it is enjoying the Year 10 Father and Son breakfast in the morning while listening to various boys showcase their musical abilities, or running around the school and trying all the food that is on offer, American tea has something for everyone and is why boys and their families enjoy the day so much. 

This year there were many highlights for the boys, and many were excited to see the traditional stores come back. Despite the weather, the boys all took to the oval and braved the muddy grass to enjoy the various rides that were on offer, including the mechanical surfboard and the inflatable balls. Trash and Treasure made its long-awaited return and the classic erg and plate throwing challenges were crowd favourites. Furthermore, all the food stores such as the pizza and gozleme trucks, as well as the international food stall, were very popular among the attendees. 

The day was a brilliant success and truly highlighted the amazing Shore culture. Everyone in the school community came together in true Shore fashion to welcome the return of one of its most beloved events. As a result, I’m sure everyone who attended thoroughly enjoyed the day. GO SHORE.

Contenders or Pretenders

An insight into the Wayward Wallabies

F. A. Loxton

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE WATCHED THE WALLABIES RECENTLY their performances have been nothing short of unforgettable. With a younger team than most international opponents, it seems a lack of experience coupled with an inability to put together a full game performance has left them 3rd on the Rugby Championship Ladder. And, with the Bledisloe Cup and a strong New Zealand outfit ahead, it’s only getting harder.

Australia’s international season began in July with a 2-point victory over England. Whilst it was a good performance from the team, the Wallabies lapsed in concentration when the game was won, allowing England to score two converted tries in the final minutes. This swing in momentum led to English dominance for the rest of the series, closing out the next two matches. After a promising start, the series was the beginning of their inconsistency and was exacerbated in the following Rugby Championship.

The Rugby Championship began with Australia claiming a good win over Argentina. The team started slow but managed to recover, taking the lead in the 65th minute. However, early in the second half Australia suffered a huge loss, as Quade Cooper ruptured his Achilles, putting his experience in question for the Rugby World Cup next year. Round 2, in typical Wallabies fashion, proved to be a huge challenge as the team were blown out from the very first minute. With both Michael Hooper flying home and Quade Cooper injured, the experience highlighted the considerable cracks in the team..

In recent weeks, the Wallabies took on South Africa at home. Their opening match proved a comeback performance with dominance from the outset. However, South Africa remained resilient in the closing minutes, scoring two converted tries to make the margin just 8 points. The next week was starkly different. After ascending over New Zealand in Round 1, South Africa was determined in victory, with the Wallabies unable to score until the 78th minute. Questions were raised about the Wallabies’ game plan and team selection, as they could not gain territory and the backs were outclassed by South Africa’s kicking game.

However, in Round 5 the Wallabies will face their biggest challenge yet, the All Blacks. In recent months New Zealand has had similar inconsistency to the Wallabies, going down in four of their last seven games, including a loss to Argentina in Christchurch. Their form has been questionable, although the rivalry remains between the struggling sides. With the Bledisloe Cup at stake, it will take a full game performance for the Wallabies to win, a performance that would recover respect. This win would prove the team are genuine contenders for the Rugby World Cup, not just pretenders.

The Wallabies 2022 season so far has been stagnant at best. But what has changed since the 2015 World Cup final days or defeating #1 ranked South Africa twice this time last year? Experience and development. Firstly, Australia’s 2015 Rugby World Cup side featured a diverse range of emerging players as well as veterans coming out of retirement. This brought a wealth of knowledge and tactics to the team, something Australia currently lacks. Further, the growth of Rugby League in recent years has been subject to diverse player development programs, gathering players from a range of areas and backgrounds. Within rugby union, these player development systems are majorly tailored to private schoolboys, a minority when it comes to youth rugby union. Rather than trying to recruit players from the NRL with limited funding in rugby union, Rugby Australia should look to their systems of developing current youth players who will be the future of the sport.

Ultimately, the Wallabies’ problems have been the result of inexperience and a lack of youth development, and, with the World Cup looming, the side will need to turn around their current form to make a strong campaign against the best teams in the world.

Golden Boots Speeches 2022 – Inter-boarding Speaking Contest

“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” – Gandhi

A. W. Mackie, Barry House

Now, it’s a bit of a paradox to talk about shaking something gently. It makes little to no sense if taken literally. But should this be taken literally? Seems a tad disconnected. Well, so too is the world in which we live, in so many ways.

The people with whom we are surrounded, are we doing enough for them? The environment, it’s all changing so quickly. While this isn’t totally our individual fault, it can certainly be rectified or improved if we all step in, gently that is.

When I was about 6 or 7 years old, in classical young child fashion, I had a meltdown. I was, against my will, taken to the grocery store to help my mother, and I made it known to everyone that I didn’t want to be there. So, I sat down in the middle of isle 4, arms crossed and demanded to go home. I thought I had better things to do. But this is where I learned a great lesson.

God bless my mum for doing this, all eyes of onlookers were upon her, but what she did was so admirable. She sat next to me, arms crossed, and asked, “So, what’s your plan now?” If I’m being honest with you, I expected to be shouted at, but no, simply, calmly and with the utmost understanding, my mother showed great empathy, gently allowing me to reflect. I saw that my little tantrum got me nowhere, and this grocery trip wasn’t any sort of an injustice to me. In fact, it meant that I’d be fed that afternoon.  So why on earth was I complaining? I had discovered that there is no need for aggression as a means of reason. Both sides can benefit with a little empathy.

This is also what I believe to be the number one cause of damage in many forms of relationships, be they familial, collegial, global; any form of relationship where division appears. It is the attempted application of force from one side without acknowledging the consequence, or that the problem may apply to both individuals that causes such great division. Much of this division is driven by arrogance, that the perpetrator must always be right, but with hindsight I can see that this is so wrong. The approach should be more along the lines of: I can build the road – tell me where you want it. The highway can be built to suit everyone, a mutual agreement where all parties benefit, and the journey may be travelled together.

Casting my mind back to that episode when I was young, if I had have not stopped and realised the true nature of the event, and my mother had not have shown such empathy, things would have reached a point of crisis, one where neither one of us would benefit.

This may be applied to a range of scenarios, whether they be interpersonal or familial – anything where two sides oppose. By looking at the true nature of the issue, at the potential consequences of unjust action, and the potential for reconciliation, the best path to restore the relationship may be found. And as my mother proved, the actions of reconciliation do not need to be aggressive or overly dramatic; a gentle action, that brings about reflection is the sharpest tool in one’s reconciliation toolbox.

I am sure we are all aware of the issues of distrust and injustice between Russia and the Ukraine. A situation in which tyrannous control is disregarding the livelihood of a peaceful nation, tearing down years of history and causing large scale civil unrest and damaging the global reputation of the perpetrator. There is no admiration of the actions of Russia, and this fact will permanently stain how that country is viewed. While much of the Russian population are against the actions of their leader, and momentum for the war is waning, the battle still continues. It is all too easy to identify the perpetrator and the victim here. Weaponised dictatorship, against a close-knit community with a common goal. As of today, the war has been going on for 197 days; 197 days of resistance from the Ukrainian people, despite the incredible injustice upon them, peaceful restoration is paramount.

While the result of this conflict is still uncertain, an example of a successful peaceful resistance may be found in the actions of Mahatma Gandhi. Motivated by the human capacity to show empathy, Gandhi worked with the people of India to separate from the British colonial power that had oppressed them for so long. The independent state was created, no rebellion, no conflict, but a unity of people with no intent for war. Gandhi led the people of India, let them see the true nature of the history of hierarchical power in their country, and provided them with a solution to restore their sovereign state. The world saw the power of gentle action, and that empathy is the greatest step towards restoration. Gandhi could have chosen to attack and fight aggressively to resolve the issue, but in this case, the issue would never truly be solved – only one side benefits. But Gandhi’s ways of peace meant that both sides parted fairly, no hard feelings. The world was shaken in a gentle way.

I have such great admiration for the boarding community here at Shore. For 5 years as a full-time boarder, I have observed the great service and respect that the boys have for each other, the caring staff, and the feeling of community here. I’m sure all boys here tonight can confirm the strong comradery felt among the boarders. This all spans from empathy, an understanding of each other, being able to connect emotionally and appreciate our different identities. Many situations where two parties oppose have been sorted with the application of empathy. Whether it be as minor as being late for a House activity, or something much greater, support and resolution may be found anywhere within this community. 

An example of the great empathy shown at this school is the connection between the seniors and the juniors within each of the Boarding Houses. Regardless of the status the older boys have, we understand the complexities that the juniors face, a little gentle empathy, and that the junior’s world is shaken in a positive way.

So, I call out to everyone: you will see the injustice within this world, and yes, no individual is necessarily to blame. But have a little empathy, have an understanding for what really is going on. Start small, don’t try to be a hero; be a restorer, a pacifier. Work together, be motivated (as Gandhi was) by human empathy. For your world, everyone’s world as we all share it, will change for the better if you do. To me, that is what makes a great person, that is what I strive to do – to shake the world in a gentle way.

O. T. Kanaley – Hodges House

“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” – Gandhi

In this famous quote, Mahatma Gandhi wasn’t just describing the profound impacts and
potential of peaceful protest, but also the fact that change is so accessible to us in this age.

That something we would toss aside as a “gentle” action, a meaningless act, actually has the
capacity to change the lives of many others, for the better.

Gandhi showed us that every one of us holds this incredible power to affect the lives of
other people, especially with today’s growth in personal wealth and net income.

With today’s unprecedented levels of interconnection and globalisation.

And yet we’re seeing more and more people taking on an attitude of complacency,
accepting that the world is “good enough” and turning a blind eye to the problems that still,
to this day, plague society.

Change, for better or for worse, is happening at a faster rate than ever before, and we all
have the opportunity to be at the forefront of this change, to play our part in leading the
world towards a better future.

If we look towards the world’s poor, its easy to see what profound effect we can have
through simple actions.

A few years ago, I travelled with my family to Kathmandu, in Nepal. Of course, we visited the
major tourist attractions – temples, museums, markets… But the thing I remember most
about that trip was our visit to the Kalimati Slums – A massive section of the city populated
by ramshackle huts made out of plastic bags and thin strips of wood.
Its hard to describe the conditions these people lived in, the conditions that young children
played in, the conditions that many people can’t escape from.

In that trip, I remember we brought bags of second-hand clothes, basic provisions and
medical supplies to the local school to distribute amongst the children. The school being a
small building with bare brick walls a concrete floor. It was really amazing to see how much
of an impact these items could have on their daily lives. In fact, I remember that some of the
items we take for granted all the time – writing books, pencils, erasers, were so special that
they were locked away in a cupboard to be given out to the children as prizes.

When things that seem so insignificant to us make such a phenomenal difference to others,
its difficult to justify living a life of complacency and apathy.

In his inaugural address as President of the United States, John F Kennedy described the
power that every one of us has to enact change on an unprecedented scale. He said, “The
world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms
of human poverty and all forms of human life.”

I urge every one of you to not sit by waiting for fate to happen, like a gentle stream flowing
idly around the rocks and boulders that stand in its way, but instead to stand up for what
you believe in, to strike down every obstacle in your path.

All of us sitting in this room tonight has equal potential to shake this world, equal ability to
making the changes that will drive humanity forward. And yet in 50 or 100 years’ time, the
differences we’ve each made will be by no means equal.

There is no better time than now to fulfill your duty as a member of this planet. To begin
forging a path towards enacting change, towards helping others, and towards a better
future for humanity as a whole.

There’s a website I came across recently – called The Life You Can Save – which shows how
much of a difference every one of us can make with little money. Some of the charities
featured on the site include:

• The Fred Hollows Foundation, which helps to restore sight for as little $25.
• The “Against Malaria Foundation”, which distributes insecticide-treated bed nets for
  $2 each.
  

From the moment you leave this room, you’ll be faced with the opportunity to make
something greater of your life, to be the person to change society for the better.
Yet the decision is up to you.
I’m encouraging all of you to set a goal tonight. To take something you believe in, and to
make a positive step towards changing the lives of others.

Perhaps you’ll commit to raising money for Mr Scozzi.

Perhaps you’ll go online and donate some money – it doesn’t have to be a lot – to a cause
you support.

Perhaps you’ll decide to create an article for the Shore Weekly Record inspiring others to
take action on a cause you believe in, to convince others to “shake the world” in the same
way that Gandhi once led his nation in a fight against colonial oppression.

Gandhi: There are two days in a year where we can not do anything: yesterday and
tomorrow.

A. F. Mingay – Robson House

“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” – Gandhi

Mahatma Ghandi once said: In a gentle way, you can shake the world”. But you can also
shake the world through not being gentle. Violence. It has burned within humanity since the
dawn of time – defining the strength of a peoples. It is inextricable from the evolution of our
species. Tribal disputes, colonial massacres, region against region, race against race,
rebellion, defiance, death. In victory, we pride ourselves upon it. We celebrate the brave and
selfless soldiers that fight for our freedom. Even in loss, we pride ourselves on the ultimate
sacrifices that serve our Nations. Nations which violence is foundational to. Nations that
have been constructed by militaristic dominance.

Let’s look at colonialism for example. Throughout history we see a profound pattern that
exposes the innate failure of violence to form a unified future. The American revolutionary
war was born out of a deep discontentment with colonial powers and in order to liberate
civilisation into an independent future, violence was at its core. We see this in countless
events throughout history. The Irish, Mexican, Turkish, Greek, and Spanish American wars
of independence to name a few. Colonialism creates the need for anti-colonialism.
Oppression creates the need for violent insurgence and rebellion.

However, violence is necessary for the evolutionary persistence and preservation of life
itself. It’s Darwin’s survival of the fittest. Only the strongest survive. And while humans are
indeed a result of this evolutionary formula, I believe that we ARE different. There’s one
thing that has allowed us humans to distinguish ourselves against all else. Our minds. See I
believe that humans have been given this gift allowing us to think and act in more complex
ways. We are able to make change through our use of logic, science, rhetoric, and empathy.
The most influential and inspirational people in history tend to be peaceful activists, who
have sparked entire overhauls of oppressive power structures, truly allowing for the world
to mend. Ghandi absolutely refused violence as a means of freeing an oppressed people.
Rosa Parks remained peacefully steadfast to challenge racial discrimination. Even religious
figures preach the upmost importance of peace. Jesus teaches to love your enemy, while
Buddha emphasises peace above all else.

But of course, I am not arguing that we should all strive to become dignified vanguards for
the betterment of the human race. These examples are extreme extrapolations of core ethical
values of gentleness on a large scale. Rather, like the previously mentioned activists, it is the
legacy you leave that truly alters the world and lasts in the hearts and minds of humans for
generations to come.

Around 10 years ago, my great grandmother died at the age of 96 with dementia. As the
youngest of my family, I was the only one who never knew her before the onset of her
dementia. I remember visits to her. Despite having no idea that the boy that stood in front of
her shared the some blood as her she was always so jovial and grateful to see me. It felt
strange, for a young boy to be faced against his great grandmother, whom he had heard so
many stories about and for there to be no recognition. Despite this, I felt a strong innate filial
connection to my great grandmother, that I could not explain the origin of. If I had never
had the chance to have a meaningful conversation or any memory of her pre-dementia self,
then why did I feel like I knew her so well? I struggled with this question for much of my
childhood, especially each time I would visit her. When she passed it was a complex and
strange feeling. I did not understand what I was feeling. I was mourning a person that I
didn’t know.

All I knew at that time was that I was in fact grieving in my own way. But as I have aged, I
have been able to better conceptualise these complex emotions that I experienced as a child. I
have come to realise that I was not grieving because of a profound personal connection and
devotion I had to my great-grandmother. But I was mourning her memory. I have come to
realise that I did not know her through personal conversations and being in her company for
extended periods of time. I knew her from her impact upon the people around me. I will
never forget watching my grandmother – her daughter, grieve her mother. I could see all the
memories and love that existed between these people through a veil of anguish. I remember
witnessing painful greetings to a woman who could not remember the face of her own
children.

For me, this was my first introduction to the idea of the mortality of the human experience. I
could see, through the tears and through the anguish, what an inspiring mother, teacher,
grandmother, and beautiful human she was. A person who has created a long line of strong
and gentle people that will continue to flourish long into the future. My grandmother, one of
the most warm and generous people I know. My father, one of the most hardworking and
gentle. Her legacy has shaped the strong yet gentle values and beliefs of her family line. Her
legacy defines her impact. It transcends the boundaries of mortal human life and provides
guidance for years to come.

So, I urge you, through your life, to construct a gentle legacy that can have an impact that is
greater than yourself. In a gentle way, you can shake the world. So yes, violence can
certainly shake the world. But only through gentle peace can we mend it. Perhaps then, the
violence may just end.

R. J. Taylor – School House

“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” – Gandhi

“In a gentle way you can shake the world”, Mahatma Gandhi. Quiet and humble – Gandhi was a servant leader who to this day is known in India as the father of the nation. From his prison cell Gandhi used his extraordinary moral courage to fight against an oppressive regime. Gandhi stood for the idea that you can disagree without being disagreeable, that being gentle doesn’t mean being quiet. By promoting peace through hunger strikes in jail through the face of violent oppression, he changed the attitude of millions, and in doing so changed his country for the better. By using words, not the sword, by using faith not fists – Gandhi won a war without going to war, and brought his country to independence.

The world has changed from Gandhi’s times, but gentleness – along with its fellow travellers, humility and kindness – can still be a great principle by which to impact the lives of others – and therefore in smaller but significant ways still make an influence.

A less famous but still well known modern hero by the name of Tony Robbins invokes Gandhi’s example. Tony Robbins is a healer for our times. In 2022, wealthy countries like ours deal with new issues profoundly different from Gandhi’s India almost a century ago. Whether it is dealing with the stress of school, work-life balance, relationships with family and friends, or dealing with lockdowns during a global pandemic, mental health issues have become endemic and rates of suicide are only getting worse.

Enter Tony Robbins – a profoundly impactful motivational speaker and healer. Over his 30 year career he has used gentleness in his speaking and living by example to change the lives of thousands. Indeed he has literally saved the lives of thousands by his heart warming and uplifting speeches aswell as his significant sponsoring of over 1,500 mental health institutions. Tony Robbins has not only helped his famous clients – Green Day, Leonardo DiCaprio, and three US presidents – but also used gentle words and good deeds to change lives and shake individual worlds. Instead of hoarding his profits from his books, television shows and speaking appearances he lives by example and puts his money back into institutions he has established. In the last three years alone his personal efforts have resulted in 325 million meals being provided to those in need and battling with depression or suicide. His gentle strategy – using kind words and engaging in great acts of personal generosity – helps people in their darkest moments understand the beauty and sanctity of life no matter how difficult it is. He’s not quite Gandhi in that he hasn’t changed the course of history, but he is changing and saving lives.

But you don’t need to be Mahatma Gandi or Tony Robbins to practice gentleness and shake the world. There are everyday heroes you’ve never heard of who do this.

I personally know some of these heroes. My grandparents are the two most gentle people I know. Their home is a hub of love and hospitality for family and friends and for other people who are doing it tough. They volunteer in their church, and in community groups. They turn up to help when people need a hand. They cook and deliver meals to their neighbours who are more elderly than them. They make every one of their 17 grandchildren feel like they are the most important person in the world, helping us to understand the meaning of unconditional love. They never stop doing things for ohter people and only think of others in everything they do. Every day in the most gentle of ways, they make my world– and the worlds of anyone they know -. They’re not quite altering the course of history but their impact on my world and the worlds of the many people around them is incalculable.

The world only has room for a handful of Mahatma Gandhis – and perhaps a few more Tony Robbinses. But there is no limit to the number of people who can practice gentleness, and by doing so, make a difference to the everyday lives of people around them.

You and I – each and every one of us – can take the ‘gentle and humble’ leaf out of the book of Gandhi, Tony Robbins and even my grandparents, and every day in so many small ways genuinely shake the world.

Vale Queen Elizabeth II

The End of an Era

A. T. B. Gilchrist

ON THE 8^th OF SEPTEMBER 2022, England’s oldest ruling monarch, Queen Elizabeth passed away at the age of 96. It was reported she died peacefully in her sleep, however it came after months of concern about her dwindling health and mobility, especially after the death of her husband, Prince Philip in April 2021. Buckingham Palace had previously recommended that she stay under medical supervision and so had remained at Balmoral Castle (a large estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland), up until her death. One of her final royal duties was appointing the new British Prime Minister, Liz Truss, after Boris Johnson’s resignation. Again citing health concerns, the monarch held Truss’ appointing ceremony in Balmoral, just 3 days before the Queen’s passing.

Queen Elizabeth – her full name, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary – ruled for almost 71 years, rising to power in 1952 when she was just 25 years old. She became the queen of 7 independent commonwealth countries; the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which currently compose 20.85% of the world’s land mass and a third of its population (2.6 billion people). Under her reign, she navigated the country through the Troubles in Northern Ireland, devolution in the United Kingdom, the decolonisation of Africa, and the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Communities and withdrawal from the European Union. In fact her first prime minister was Winston Churchill, and following him, 14 more, with Truss being her 15th.

Despite her ominously long royal title: “Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of her other realms and territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith”, she has been described by those who knew her as kind yet stern when needed, with a “wonderful sense of the absurd” as the Canadian politician Michael Ignatieff remarked about her humour in 2010.

There are now speculations however, following her death, of the possibility of several commonwealth states withdrawing to become a republic. Under Queen Elizabeth’s reign, not only did Australia in 1999 via referendum decide to remain with the commonwealth, but Tuvalu in 2008 and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in 2009 also rejected similar proposals. This is mostly attributed to her exceptional approval rating from the 1990s and into the 21st century, at over 90% in her Diamond Jubilee in England, celebrating 70 years on the throne. However, with her death comes the loss of most of that approval, and the new monarch, King Charles III will most likely need a similar approval rating to avoid the dissolution of the commonwealth. In 2021, Malcolm Turnbull, believed that most Australians wouldn’t vote to become a republic in her lifetime: “She’s been an extraordinary head of state, and I think frankly, in Australia, there are more Elizabethans than there are monarchists”. So it will be interesting to see in the coming months or perhaps years, the result of a republic referendum that is inevitably expected to arise.

AI Art

The death of artists?

M. I. McAlpine

CONTROVERSY WAS SPARKED last week after an American man, Jason Allen, won an art competition with an image generated by Midjourney – an artificial intelligence that can conjure new images simply from written prompts. This type of technology has experienced rapid advancement in just the past year, leading to a rise in the mainstream and commercial use.  For example, the cover of The Economist on 11 June this year was generated by Midjourney. 

While at first glance this may seem unfathomable, these AIs are not perfect, with Allen stating the artwork took 900 iterations and 80 hours, playing around with the minute details of the input phrase to get the output that he desired. Midjourney is just one of many AI image generators, others including OpenAI’s DALL-E 2 and Google’s Imagen, which are invitation only and restricted to the public respectively. Trained on over 400 million image and text pairs, these AIs are capable of producing bizarre but impressive images, such as ‘a confused grizzly bear in calculus class’ and ‘a medieval painting of the wifi not working’. 

This poses the question: if AI can generate complex images from just words, why not replace artists with software?

Although the AI art world will inevitably continue to grow over the next decade and into the future, I predict the demand for human artists will still be there. AI art generation is simply another tool. In 1997, the first chess AI defeating a human chess player, suggested the death of chess, however years later it is still vastly popular due to the interest in human ability. Even here, though, AI is now used as a tool to improve and understand the game. Similarly, any average joe in a car could easily outpace Usain Bolt, yet he is still impressive due to the demonstration of human ability.

Therefore, I propose that even in the event of AI becoming ‘better’ at producing art (which is purely subjective in itself) than human artists, there will always be a demand for human creativity and human ability. Going back to the ‘tool’ idea, it is important to point out that the AI itself is useless without human input. Ultimately, it is the human creativity and thought put into refining the input phrase that produces a desirable output. A good quality paint brush does not always make a good quality artwork, thus there must be artistic thought from a human to illustrate something with those tools. Until artificial intelligence can convey unique, original thought to express meaning, then AI art generation is a tool in the same way a paintbrush is a tool.

The future will bring with it even more advanced technologies, which will likely garner similar controversy. 19th century artists scoffed at the invention of the camera, seeing photography as ‘a debasement of human artistry’ and ‘art’s most mortal enemy’. We have seen photography evolve as an artform and a tool for artists and AI will experience a similar growth as it advances. Aspiring artists – don’t worry, the machines will not take your jobs.