From the Interim Headmaster – Academic Results at Shore

Dear Students, Parents and Carers

Since my arrival at Shore at the beginning of Term 3, some have put to me the question, “How good are Shore’s academic results?” My response has always been to assure them the academic results of our students are very good.

It seems the question arises from the looming feast of placement in the media of the Band 6 League Tables. To me, the tables are essentially irrelevant and have very little to say about academic quality in a school. Why so? The league tables are unofficial, and they don’t represent any metric which counts for anything. Other than any special arrangements made by particular universities, they don’t affect university entry. The tables don’t distinguish between Band 6, (i.e. above 90%), in difficult or easier subjects, where a Band 5 in a difficult subject has more ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Ranks) value than Band 6 in a more straightforward subject. In that way, the league tables can be ‘gamed’ by those schools and students with a mind to do so. The tables simply cannot carry the weight of a proxy for comparative school quality. However, they are perhaps worth something: they demonstrate, not surprisingly, that students from nearly 50 selective schools, government or independent, feature lots of students who score above 90 in a number of subjects. For those who really want to know, Shore had 305 Band 6 results in 2021, compared with 335 in 2020. Over time, these metrics fluctuate, partly based on the uniqueness of each Year 12 group and also on the combination of subjects they study. Some subjects award lots of Band 6, some very few. Most schools find they slide up and down these tables over time.    

At my last school, in a year where the school slid down the league tables, its overall ATAR average improved considerably. This is really the point. It is student ATARs which determine which students are admitted to which courses at which universities. ATARs are not published (the government won’t allow it). Band 6’s were made available years ago as a result of a Freedom of Information Inquiry as ‘crumbs’ of inconsequential information to keep the media at bay. From this has arisen a whole media comparative industry based on anxiety and competition. 

Eventually, a school is able, through a combination of asking boys and data analysis based on first principles, to acquire student ATARs. In the 2021 HSC, 11 of our students achieved ATARs above 99, which placed them in the top 1% of possible results in the State. Remember that, although the ATAR sounds like a mark because it is out of 100, it is actually a place in the State; with around 77,000 students each year stretched from the top result of 99.95 down to zero, with each ATAR being 0.05 less than the one above, i.e. 99.95, 99.90. Accordingly, there will be 45-50 students in the state on each ATAR point at the top, with much more bunching in the middle range.  Eighteen of our boys were in the top 2% of possible ATAR results in the state, and 42% were in the top 10%. In fact, the proportion of our students at the very top increased from 2020 to 2021. These sound like outstanding results to me! They are the result of excellent teaching from highly able and dedicated staff and the diligent application of our students.

Unfortunately, schools cannot know until around March 2023 what courses and universities the previous Year 12 have successfully accessed. This is because there is a sequence of university place offers from the early round in December until the late round in February. This is too late for the media frenzy and, hence, ‘slips under the radar’.

If, as I am arguing, Band 6 results are not an adequate base for assessing the quality of a school, on what basis can schools be assessed?  I suggest the following factors:

• Destination surveys (to what extent has the school experience been a successful ‘passport’ into productive life beyond school, such as university, private colleges, TAFE and meaningful work)?  ATARs are one aspect of this.
• What has the student gained from the holistic experience of school life in terms of academics, Christian education, pastoral care and co-curricular involvement?
• What kind of human being is this young man?

What then should we expect of our boys?  We should expect them to try hard and do their best.  This is a Christian principle: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17)

Our society, including the media, are often attracted to simplistic evaluations based on reductionism. Schools are about more than league table results. They are about the whole person.  

How will Shore fare in the league tables this December? We don’t know. In terms of pathways for our boys, it is not that important. Its main significance is optics and marketing, especially because of the misguided view, encouraged by media, that these results are some kind of global comment on the quality of schools. In my experience, even the Heads of the schools (selective in the main) which come out best in the league tables, think that the comparative tables are essentially nonsense.

Shore is academically strong!

Dr John Collier
Interim Headmaster

Staff Spotlight

Science Department

The Science Department at Shore brings together a dedicated team of professionals with backgrounds ranging from Neuroscience, Pharmacology and Forensics through to Quantum Physics and Aeronautics. The incredible diversity of the team is a fantastic asset for Shore. The Department comprises 17 Teachers, four Laboratory Staff and an Administration Assistant, and is one of the largest within the school. 

The core purpose of this team is encapsulated by the statement: 

We aspire to cultivate curious, analytical thinkers capable of posing questions, constructing evidence-based explanations, and forming creative insights. We seek to be a fair, cohesive, and innovative team who model life-long learning to inspire enthusiastic, ethical and scientifically minded graduates ready to competently engage as global citizens. 

Dr Roger Kennett joined Shore in 2019 as Head of Department after 19 years at The King’s School. Dr Kennett has a PhD in Educational Neuroscience and is passionate about the role of science in preparing young people to engage positively in solving the issues and exploring the possibilities of the future. He feels that the strength of the Science Department lies in the diverse experience and interests of the staff. 

Miss Jennifer Backhus has an interest in Microbiology and Transfusion Science; Mr Harry Byrnes studied Medicinal Chemistry, designing novel drugs; and Michael Jones studied Quantum Physics and Pure Mathematics. Ms Barbara Doran has a background in Infectious Disease and Public Health and Mrs Emily Murray studied Pharmacology with an emphasis on chelating agents used in Chemotherapy treatment. Mr Richard Ward used to fly RAAF planes, Miss Natasha Whiteman investigated horse doping for Racing NSW and Mr Ian Middleton is working towards a zero-carbon footprint.    

Mr Darren Junee and Mr Rodney Fitch are both Boarding Housemasters, Mrs Amanda Pfeffer is Head of Digital Learning and Mr Tim Scouller is a keen ocean swimmer. 

Mrs Victoria Hunter joined Shore this year after spending most of her teaching career at North Sydney Boys High School. Mr Malcolm Webster taught overseas before joining Shore 10 years ago, James Friend has taught Biology since 1989; Lucy Young joined the team in 2021 and Olivia Power is on the Shore Teacher Education Scholarship. 

Our Laboratory Manager, Mrs Janet McNamara has been at Shore for over 22 years and leads a team of three Assistants: Mrs Uma Kumanan, Mr Simon Aquilina and Mrs Ammy Kaur. 

Scozzi Paddle and Auction

It was a beautiful day for the ‘Nigel Scozzi Fundraising Paddle’ held at Long Reef Beach last Saturday. Shore boys, staff, parents, Old Boys, and members of the wider Shore Community joined together to support Nigel’s spinal recovery. For those who were unable to attend the paddle, you can still show your support by visiting the Galabid Auction site to bid on some priceless items, wonderful experiences and much more: https://app.galabid.com/nigelscozzi/items

With less than a week remaining, bidding remains brisk. Holiday accommodation, original artworks, unique sporting memorabilia and wine have proved to be particularly popular auction items. This a is fantastic opportunity to pick up something beautiful and small, (or large and lavish) for your loved ones in time for Christmas. People are also welcome to contribute directly via the GoFundMe page: www.gofundme.com/f/support-nigel-scozzis-spinal-injury-recovery

The Auction will close at 10pm on Sunday 23 October, so don’t miss out on bidding for some of these incredible items:

R A I Grant Centre’s New Canteen

Here at Shore, we are extremely fortunate to have wonderful facilities to service our Shore Community. The R A I Grant Centre has a new canteen that is now operating every Saturday of Term 4 from 8.00am to 2.00pm. The canteen will serve bacon and egg rolls, snacks, cold drinks and coffee. Just like our extremely successful canteen at the Northbridge Campus, the new R A I Grant Centre Canteen provides us with a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community, whilst also providing hospitality to our boys, our extended community and our visitors.

Parents with a son who plays Basketball or Water Polo are asked to kindly volunteer at the canteen when your son is playing at North Sydney.

To learn more about volunteering, please contact Shore Parents’ Association Canteen Co-ordinator, Gaby Hunter, via mobile: 0414 909 545 or follow this link to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c044aadae2ca1fb6-saturday1

Many thanks!

Mrs Gaby Hunter
Shore Parents’ Association Canteen Co-ordinator

Digital Learning Device Programme Information Session

Parents and carers of 2023 Senior School students are warmly invited to a Digital Learning Device Programme information session to be held on Thursday 27 October between 7:00pm – 8:00pm via webinar.

This will be an opportunity to hear directly from Senior Academic staff about the programme and learn more about how your child will use this technology in the classroom.  Additional information on the overall programme, including a ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ document can also be found on Lampada. 

If you have not already received webinar details, then please email digitallearningdevices@shore.nsw.edu.au 

Remembrance Day Chapel Service

10.00am, Friday 11 November

Followed by morning tea and a rendition of ‘The Last Post’ at 11.00am (from Holtermann’s Tower).

Allocated parking spaces are available near the Graythwaite building for those with mobility issues.

Old Boys, Parents, Grandparents.

Staff and friends are all welcome to attend.

Enquiries: chaplainspa@shore.nsw.edu.au

Shore Parents’ Association

Annual General Meeting

The Shore Parents’ Association (SPA) Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 26 October 2022, commencing at 7.00pm in the Colebrook Room and via a webinar held on Zoom.

The AGM will cover the Annual Report of activities and the financial performance of the SPA, followed by an address from Interim Headmaster, Dr John Collier.

Please RSVP by Monday 24 October to shoreassoc@shore.nsw.edu.au. Please indicate whether you will be joining us on site at the School or via the Zoom online. Those attending the webinar online will be emailed a link to join.

Mr Mark Halstead
Chair, Shore Parents’ Association

Boarders Chapel Service – Sunday 23 October

Chaplain’s Chat

Have you ever considered what your legacy might look like? I assume that we all want to be thought of well in our endeavours, and yet so often in life the things that we do quickly fade away. Many people will work in a job for years and strive to make great changes and a big difference, only for the new people to ‘move in a different direction.’ Even amongst our own family, perhaps at best, our legacy is fairly small and remembered only fleetingly. Of course, the next generation always seems to know best, citing that, “things are so different now and you wouldn’t understand.”

This term, in Chapel we are looking at famous Christian people. This week we looked at the life of Catherine Booth. Along with her husband William, she was instrumental in forming what is now known as the Salvation Army in 1878. Her Christian faith led her to the deep conviction of helping others in need and she did this for the poor and alcoholics of east London in the 1800s. Her legacy today lives on as the Salvation Army and the Red Shield Appeal in Australia raise upwards of 80 million dollars each year to help many people facing homelessness and domestic violence. As James 2:17 says, “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” Catherine Booth knew that authentic Christian faith resulted in selfless actions out of love and concern for those around her. And yet, her life was merely reflecting the life of Jesus, who calls us to, “Love our neighbour as ourselves.” What a great legacy indeed.

Reverend Anthony Benn
School Chaplain

The ‘Shormal’ is Back!

After many years of COVID-19 restrictions, this year we brought the ‘Shormal’ back to life and boy was it a fun night! For many years, students in Year 10 at PLC Pymble and Shore have gathered for a night of dancing, food, good fun and great company. Last Friday 14 October, we held the ‘Shormal’ at Miramere Gardens in Terrey Hills and the excitement was palpable.

Over 400 teenagers put on their best dancing shoes and hit the dance floor. At first, there were a lot of nerves, but towards the end of the evening, it was difficult to break up the congo lines and the mosh pit to get the Year 10s to go home. The evening was a huge success, and the staff of Shore and Pymble hope to continue this long-term connection and possibly add some further enhancements to the event next year.

Ms Rowena Dudgeon
Deputy Head – Pastoral Care

From the Music Department

Congratulations to …

… Jordan Li (Year 12) who was nominated for NESA’s ENCORE Concert for his Music 2 and Music Extension performances. This is an outstanding achievement! Jordan also performed at the Year 12 Graduation at the end of last term.

… Russell Jiang (Year 9) who was awarded an Associate Diploma in Music from the Australian Music Examination Board for Clarinet. This is an exceptional achievement!

… Also, all students who performed at the Spring Concert. The pre-concert and concert showcased many Co-Curricular Music Ensembles: Chamber Ensemble, Choir (Shore, Preparatory and combined), Concert Band I, Concert Band II, Orchestra, Senior Strings, Stage Band, Jazz Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble, Intermediate Strings and Years 7 and 8 Choir. Thank you to all the Directors of the Ensembles, Assistant Directors and Mentors in facilitating, guiding and supporting the students to perform so well.

… all Year 7s who presented their compositions at the end of last term. The encouragement and support you provided to each other was very pleasing.

… Benjamin Pena (Year 7) who was awarded Honours in his Grade 1 AMEB examination for Clarinet.

Captain of Music

Voting has commenced for the role of Captain of Music. If you are in a Co-Curricular Music Ensemble and have not yet voted, please see Mrs Barber or Ms Thompson in the Music Department to cast your vote.

Summer Twilight Concert Series / Year 11 Assessment Week

The Summer Twilight Concert Series will be held from 21 to 25 November 2022. There will be live performances during lunchtimes and in the evenings from 6.30pm to showcase our Co-Curricular Ensembles. Bring your blankets and a picnic and enjoy the live music. There will also be sausages and drinks on sale. The concert schedule will be released in the coming weeks. The Summer Twilight Concert Series occurs during Year 11 Assessment Week and Year 10 Wellbeing Week. It is an expectation that all music students attend the lunchtime and evening concerts and perform with their peers.

Private Music Lessons 2023

Applications are now open for private music lessons in 2023. Applications must be submitted by Monday 14 November, so that necessary tutors and instruments can be organised for the beginning of the School year.

Parents can sign their child/ren up for private music lessons here: https://lampada.shore.nsw.edu.au/survey/intro/1765

Further information can be found on the Shore website: bit.ly/3CQGVZL

Mrs Kim Barber
Head of Music

Top Image Credit: Combined Choir and Senior Strings Spring Concert

Upcoming Music Term Dates:

Athletics Update

After a busy winter Sport programme, the GPS Athletics season consisted of four lead-up carnivals and culminated in the AAGPS Athletics on September 17 late last term. It was wonderful to see the crowds return to the championships. The Shore athletes showed continual improvements in the lead-up carnivals throughout the season. With 80 individual events on the day, Shore athletes recorded 56 personal best performances. This was a great result and, again, showcased the ability of the Shore boys to compete at their best when it matters most.

Particular mention to the following boys who came in the top two of their events on the day:

Shore ended the day in fourth place in the Juniors and fifth in both the Intermediate and Senior divisions and all boys are to be congratulated on their efforts. At the Athletics dinner after the Championships, three awards were presented to boys that not only had excellent performances throughout the season but also trained consistently and with great determination.

The Junior award went to Harrison Brunker in the Under 13 Shot Put who regularly won his competitions each Saturday and capped this off with a win at the GPS Carnival. In the Intermediates division, James Bestic showed improvements every week in his 800m and 1500m races and was a fantastic third in the Under 15 800m Championship in a personal best time. The Opens award was shared between Nathan Stanmore who won the Under 17 1500m race and Henry Murray who won the Open Long Jump title. Both were fitting results after weeks of training for the Championships.

Henry Murray our Athletics Captain and Jackson Stiel our Vice Captain are to be commended for their leadership and commitment to the sport, not only this year but for the last six years. They were a great example to the other students this year in their training, work ethic and desire to produce their best performances. These boys took a keen interest in the development of other boys in the squad and especially in their chosen disciplines and we wish them well for their future sporting endeavours.

Special thanks must also go to the coaches of the boys that put many hours of training and thought into their development. Mr Lees, Mr Wallace, Mr Sparks and Mr Murray were key to the short sprinters and relays. Mr Walker and Mr Junee looked after the 400m runners, while Mr St Lawrence, Mr Spratt and Mr Pryde were instrumental for the distance squad. Mr Blood looked after the Long Jumpers while Mr Hamlyn-Harris and Mr Stewart were responsible for the High Jumpers. Finally, Mr Bruce, Mr Massey, Mr Kirby and Mr Woods looked after the Shot Put, while Mr Raupach, our School physio, kept the boys healthy and on the track. All are to be commended for their time and efforts throughout the season.

I would also like to thank the parents of the boys for their support and enthusiasm throughout the season. This was not only seen by their involvement as we hosted one of the lead-up carnivals, but also in their willingness to support their boys as they competed. A special thanks to Mrs Rachel Murray and Mrs Jo Stiel in their efforts in co-ordinating and preparing the end of season Athletics dinner.

At the conclusion of the AAGPS season a number of boys competed in the State Athletics Titles. Nathan Stanmore was second in the 17 years 800m with a new School record of 1:54.15 and third in the 1500m race in 4:02.99. Will Nutt ran a personal best in the 17 years 800m final to finish fifth.  Lachy Brown ran a great race in the 16 years 3000m race to finish third with a personal best of 8:56.86 while Jack Riding finished fifth in the 15 years 100m Hurdles.

We look forward to seeing all the boys develop and progress in the years to come and seeing them on the track and in the field next year.

A complete set of results of the Shore Athletics can be found on the following page.

Rev. Anthony Benn
MIC Athletics

Cricket Report

1st XI Trial Match Report vs Sydney Boys High School

Saturday 15 October – McKay Oval, Centennial Park

Shore 8/179 (Hugo Orpin 57, Alex Segaert 36*, Josh Constantian 23) defeated by SBHS 8/180 (Jack Mott 2/23, Sam Walton 2/32, Will Nutt 2/43)

Under blue skies and bright sunshine, Sydney Boys High School won the toss and sent Shore into bat. The pitch was flat but a little slow given the weeks of rain Sydney has experienced recently. Shore started well, with Will Sutton and Hugo Orpin looking positive and scoring freely until an unfortunate run out saw Sutton dismissed with the score on 19. Toby Robinson was dismissed soon after, and Shore were 2/22 in the fifth over. A 31-run partnership between Orpin and skipper, Lachie Hunt, steadied the ship but with the score on 53, Hunt was dismissed after being caught behind square. Oliver Carney and Axel Bailey both fell cheaply, seeing Shore slip to 5/81 after 28 overs. Orpin found an ally in Josh Constantian and the pair put on 25, until Orpin was run out from a direct hit. With Henry Sharp and Constantian both out, Shore was in trouble, at 8/125 with 7 overs remaining. Pleasingly, Alex Segaert and Will Nutt combined for an unbeaten 54-run stand, which allowed Shore to reach a respectable 8/179 after their 50 overs. After a below-par batting effort, Shore needed to start well with the ball and take early wickets. High began positively scoring at a good rate, with their openers putting on 35, before Lachie Hunt made an important breakthrough. Three overs later, Sam Walton struck, seeing High reach 2/46 after 11 overs. Shore needed to slow the run-rate and build pressure. However, they were unable to do so as a 51-run partnership saw High move to 2/97, before Jack Mott claimed High’s third wicket. A wicket to Alex Segaert and another to Jack Mott gave Shore some hope with High 5/121 after 29 overs. Unfortunately, Shore was unable to take wickets regularly and it was not until High had almost reached the target that Shore took three more wickets. High eventually passed Shore’s target in the 47^th over for the loss of eight wickets. It was a disappointing day for Shore, who have lots of hard work to do before the opening round of the AAGPS Competition next Saturday. Our batsmen will need to show greater application, and our bowlers will need to build pressure by bowling a consistently better line and length.

Mr T M Wallace and Dr R M Stobo
1^st XI Coaches

2nd XI Trial Match Report versus Sydney Boys High School

Saturday 15 October – War Memorial Playing Fields. Northbridge A Ground

Shore 9/240 defeated SBHS 10-102 (Oscar Everett 68 (88), Will Kowalski 29 (40), Fraser Pandit 61* (71), Chris Lovell 21 (35), Thomas Fuzes 3/2 (4.0), Ben Powell 2/21 (8.0), Toby Ogg 3/18 (7.0)

As a 2nd XI Team, usually coming into Term 4, we would normally already have a few trial games under our belt. Unfortunately, the wet weather during the holiday break prevented that, causing us to go into this game as our first proper hit out. Thankfully, the sun was out, and we were ready for our first, and only, trial game for the season against Sydney Boys High School before Round One of the GPS Competition. High won the toss and sent the Shore boys into bat. We got off to a flying start with our openers. Oscar Everett top scoring with 69 (88) and Will Kowalski (25), putting on an opening stand of 77. With the large boundaries and slow outfield, they had to run most of them that included running three threes. Fraser Pandit from Year 9 came in at number four and looked to be positive straight away by using his feet against spin. He batted superbly and looked a mature batsman out there, always seeking to rotate the strike while trying to put the bad balls away. Chris Lovell contributed 22 runs with the bat that included a few cut shots through the point region. The team posted one of the highest scores on Northbridge A Ground for quite some time, with an impressive 240. This was always going to be a tough task to chase.

Our top four medium pace bowlers consisted of Killian Featherstone (Year 10), Ben Hocking (Year 9), Chris Lovell (Year 10) and Tom Fuzes (Year 8), all having bowled tightly, restricting High to just 3/36 at the first drinks break. Tom Fuzes took the best figures for the match with 3-2, which included him being on a hat-trick. He also took a catch and a run-out. Angus Reardon came on with his back of the hand slower balls and bamboozled the batters on numerous occasions. Toby Ogg – former left arm medium pace bowler, but now our left arm orthodox spinner – took 3/18, which also included him being on a hat-trick. Ben Powell, our senior spinner, showed his experience and skill, proving too good for the batters by consistently beating the outside edge. In the end, Shore won by 138 runs.

Overall, the team put in a great performance leading into the GPS competition. We look forward to the season ahead, and hopefully everyone stays fit and has a great season.

Mr G S Tesoriero
2nd XI Coach

3rd XI Match Report

A tough game first up for a scratch team against a talented Newington. They won the toss and batted. Our bowling lacked penetration, so our opponents got off to a good start and accelerated, putting on 0/99 by drinks. A couple of wickets went begging to some indifferent fielding and the Shore bowling attack lacked a good length, so their batsmen were never really troubled and were able to run up a winning total without taking too many risks. One of their openers scoring an impressive 104*. Our batting was doughty against some very good bowling. The opener, Neo Presley, weathered the early fast bowling and batted patiently for a well-earned 28. Captain Will Johnston scored a quick 38 with some impressive power hitting at the tail end of our innings. The target was never realistically within reach, but in the end the score of 127 off 28 overs was a very respectable effort against a talented attack.

Mr R J Ward
3rd XI Coach

4th XI Match Report

After a big week of training, the Shore 4^th XI arrived at a picturesque Northbridge D Ground ready to take on Newington in the first game of the season. Upon arrival, it was clear Newington were ready to play with their 4^th XI squad being an overflow team of Years 9 and 10 students who were not new to the game. Shore on the other hand, was carrying a number of players making their School Cricketing debut, but that certainly does not mean there was any lack of passion or enthusiasm.

After losing the toss, we were able to make some early inroads through the bowling of Forster and Peters. The fielding was sharp but as can happen in cricket, too often catches were just out of reach and so several wicket taking opportunities were missed. It meant the Newington no.3 was able to find his score of 78, and the opposition made it to the innings break setting Shore a target of 175. Sam Lewarne-Dale ended up being the pick of the bowlers, taking the strong figures of 3/17 from his 4 overs.

Knowing it was just going to take one or two good scores to get us near the target, the Shore opening batsmen of Jye Peters and Cal Forster went out and played beautifully to see the first wicket fall after a 34 run partnership. Unfortunately, with a number of players new to the game, from here on in there were a few rather comical mix-ups with our running and shot selection. This saw Shore lose too many cheap wickets and bowled out for 69 runs. While the end result was not what Shore was after, the team played with tremendous passion and were very ably and vocally supported by a strong cohort of Boarders. With some work on our fielding and a few adjustments to our approach with the bat, there’s undoubtedly success to match our enthusiasm on the horizon!

Mr N A Trumbull
4th XI Coach

15B Match Report

After winning the toss, Shore decided to put Sydney Boys High in to bat on a green wicket and damp outfield. Ollie Doy and Oscar Finlay opened the bowling and were very economical, as were first change bowlers, Brian Thorpe and Dylan Germain. However, High did well to have wickets in hand at the drinks break, finishing the first session at 2/40. Henry Pritchard bowled some good leg spin to finish with figures of 2/14. Ollie Doy finished with a wicket, but High was able to finish their innings only three wickets down for 113 runs.

Shore openers Brian Thorpe and Tom Gray put on a strong partnership of 50 runs, with Brian scoring 31 of them, but losing their wickets before drinks started a mid-order collapse. Ollie Doy steadied the ship and scored consistently to put Shore in a winning position with just three overs to go, but after he was caught on 22, High went on to bowl Shore out for 106 and win the game by 7 runs.

Mr A N Mason-Jones
15B Coach

14B Match Report

Shore bowled with good line and length troubling the SBHS team. High struggled to score and only posted 23. Shore batted strongly and ran well between wickets to pass their score in the third over. We batted out 20 overs to give the boys from both sides more game time and finished on 2/132.

Mr M D Webster
14B Coach

14C Match Report

The 14Cs lost the toss and batted first against Riverview. A few early wickets saw us in trouble with more wickets than runs. Being the first trial game, Shore was still adjusting the batting order as the game progressed. Alistair Nieland and Oliver Dorney steadied the ship, with a partnership of 30 not out to both batsmen. We set a small total of 59 to win. Our opening bowlers kept Riverview on the back foot early, but they were patient and saw out the new ball. Shore bowled well, with plenty of missed opportunities in the field to put pressure on the batsmen and luck did not go our way with the bounce of the ball. Riverview scoring 59 in 13 overs without loss of a wicket. The first trial game proved that we have lots of potential and with some focused training sessions in the nets, we will be a competitive force throughout the season.

Mr C D Burke
14C Coach

Player of the Week Nominations

1st XI – Hugo Orpin – 57 runs

2nd XI – Oscar Everett – 68 runs from 88 balls

3rd XI – Will Johnston – 38 runs and 1/18 from 5 overs

4th XI – Sam Lewarne-Dale – 3/17 and some outstanding fielding in the covers

16A – Game abandoned, no nominations

15A – Game abandoned, no nominations

15B – Brian Thorpe – 31 runs. Honourable mention to Oliver Doy – 22 runs

14A – Game abandoned, no nominations

14B – Angus Brooks – 35 runs and 2/0

14C – Alistair Nieland – 19 runs, not out

Player of the Week – 2nd XI Opener, Oscar Everett

Tennis Report

Week 1 vs Sydney Boys High School

It was a great start to the Tennis season with not a cloud in sight. The 1sts had a terrific day with an amazing result against Sydney Boys High School. Not one set was dropped by the team and their sportsmanship must be commended. An excellent double’s set by Sam Wensley and Ari Camboni was a sight to see, highlighting the quality of school boy tennis. 

The 2nds did not disappoint either with a terrific win dropping one rubber during the match. With such a diverse age range of the team each student proved their worth on the court. Josh Powell, well done with your convincing singles win of 6-1 and 6-0.  

It was a competitive day for many of the other teams with Sydney High bringing great depth and quality within their squads. The score sheets did not truly represent the closeness of games and superb rallies which took place on the court. A congratulations to the U16 As who were up against a tough team but managed to convincingly win 3 out of 4 of their singles after coming to a tie after their doubles.    

Tennis Results 2022/2023 Summer Season

Win/Loss in rubbers (matches)

Mr John Straney
MIC Tennis

Surf Life Saving Report

Term 4 Week 1 2022

There was no better way to kick off the new SLS season than with a challenging, fun and incredibly poignant event to recognise the immense contribution that Mr Nigel Scozzi has made to Surf Life Saving over more than three decades. 139 participants gathered at 7am to hear words of welcome from Peter Kinsey, Long Reef SLSC President and Nigel’s wife, Danielle. Conditions were excellent for the 1km course which saw participants paddle south towards Dee Why before heading back north towards Long Reef Headland. The event was rounded off with bacon rolls and a raffle back at LRSLSC and some socialising with old friends and new. An incredible $28,000 was raised which will prove instrumental for Nigel and his family in adapting their home for his return and covering ongoing care costs. A huge thank you to all those that took part and those that assisted in making this such a successful morning.

First Week of the Season

The first week of training in Term 4 was filled with several essential administrative tasks including membership renewal and exam entries for the Bronze Award to be held at Bilgola SLSC in Week 7 from Monday 21^st to Thursday 24^th November for Year 9 and Year 10 students whom have turned 15 years of age before the course.  The Year 10 students who already hold their Bronze Award will attend a two-day course at Long Reef SLSC for the First Aid and ART awards during the same week.

Year 7 and 8

The conditions at Long reef during the week were messy with a strong on-shore wind and powerful swell making the surf a mess.  By Saturday morning things had cleaned up a lot and it was great to see some of the nippers participate in the Paddle for Scozzi.

The boys finished Saturday morning with a Run/Swim/Run event and a bodysurf in the flags.  The following results were recorded this week:

Year 9 and 10 Bronze Award Group

This group will train together in Term 4 to prepare them for their Bronze Award course and assessment in Week 7 at Bilgola SLSC. These are students whom will have turned 15 years old by the assessment date of 24^th November.

Weekday training was hampered by a Long Reef Beach closure. However, the group joined with the Year 11s to complete a beach run and swimming activities at Dee Why pool.

On Saturday, the boys warmed up by practicing paddling the large Surf-Rescue boards through challenging shore breaks. Then they went on to carry out conscious board rescues to pick up patients and return safely to shore. This session was led by Ben Neighbour, our qualified trainer and assessor.

Year 10 and 11 Patrol Group

Beach closure in the week led to a session in Dee Why pool. However, far more favourable conditions on Saturday saw the Patrol group get back into their structure, patrolling a busy Long Reef beach for the morning. The boys not on patrol took part in competitive board and swim events to test themselves in fairly challenging surf at times. Next Saturday will be important for this group with their Bronze and ARTC proficiency testing. All boys must ensure they have completed the online proficiency element and submitted their certificate to Mr Werakso well before attending Saturday’s session. Temporary patrols will be replaced by the patrol teams and roster starting in Week 2.

Mr Gareth Jones

Acting MIC SLS

Shore Swimming is now Up and….Swimming!

Shore Swimming is now operating and it has been great to see the swimmers hop in the water as part of our official program. As we head into the summer months and the GPS competition season, we are excited to have our own program to set us up for an exciting year ahead.

All swimmers must be enrolled in Shore Swimming to participate. In order to enrol the link can be found here:
https://shore-swim-school.accounts.ud.io

Please follow the simple five-step process to enrol:

Step One – Click the link above and click on ‘Sign Up’.
Step Two – Create an account by filling out the personal information section.
Step Three – Verify the email address and then click on ‘Start Enrolment’.
Step Four – Complete the student enrolment form (name, DOB, etc).
Step Five – Enrol the student into the squad level (refer to email from Shore Swimming) and select the Swimming sessions you would like to enrol in.  

Assessments for Squad Level

If you are interested and haven’t been assessed to determine your appropriate squad level, please get in touch with us by emailing ShoreSwimming@shore.nsw.edu.au

Mr Paul Hardman
Head Swim Coach

Holtermann Columns – Student Journalism

Uncanny Valley

Cats, Horror and Realism

J. Y. Gao

As we near the third anniversary of the release of Cats (the film), which cast revered actors, such as the likes of Idris Elba and Dame Judi Dench as shiny, hairy, cat-figurines, there isn’t a better time to discuss realism, uncomfortable movies, and a little bit about our psychology. This article is going to centre around visual representation and so before we explore the subject the title refers to; I might just add a couple more images to your mental gallery. Besides a disturbing portrait of James Corden’s face under a layer of soft, white fur, perhaps I could add Kodomoroid, a Japanese humanoid robot (see below), Lebron James from the new 2k23, and CGI-scorpion-Dwayne Johnson. Let’s group these images into a corner and we’ll come back to them.

Consider these characters – Group 2: C3PO, Elsa (Frozen), Lightning Mcqueen, Snow White, your stuffed teddy bear.

And finally, Group 3: Jabba the Hutt, a stick figure, industrial robot, Robby the Robot (see below)

If I were to ask you to rank these three groups according to your trust towards them, you would probably place group 2 at the top of your list. Yet interestingly, you might conclude, group 2 does not top the list in its human-likeness nor its human un-likeness. Perhaps group 2 sits in a Goldi-locks-type zone where the balance between the two feels right, like a normal distribution graph. But then, alas, you remember REAL humans peek at the human-likeness chart and you remember the fellow humans you entrust your life with. And so, if Group 3 feels too unfamiliar to approach, and Group 1 feels deeply uncomfortable, Group 2 feels fantastic. Yet real people are the ones you are really going to love, so what is the pattern that we are looking for?

The Uncanny Valley is a valley into which many artists fall. It’s also a mechanism composers utilise to create horror. Famous, human-like horror figures include Pennywise, Annabelle, the Nun, Regan MacNeil, Ghostface – these characters subvert our expectations by turning a familiar concept into something juxtaposing. Note that these concepts don’t necessarily have to relate to physical likeness to the human form; Ghostface, for example, plays off the familiarity of a common children’s Halloween costume and stabs us in the side with its insidious intentions. The horror smile (see below) is a staple of the horror genre not only because of its slight inconsistencies with a genuine smile but also because it subverts what a smile means. 

It is obvious that the Uncanny Valley exists visually, yet so much of its application is seen in the conceptual. Here, real-life applications also hold. Fighting parents are notoriously unhealthy for a witnessing child as their foundational values of trust, love and care suddenly become violent and aggressive. Slight changes in the positioning of furniture – not a full redecoration – will cause us to be on edge. When reality is held in question, it is an automated physiological response to withdraw trust, and heighten awareness (increase suspicion, doubt and stress), the body does this to protect our emotional well-being. The mind is aware that a betrayal of trust (in people, objects and reality) will lead to great internal suffering, and thus prepares itself immediately, after a hint of inconsistency, into a state of unease. The more concrete a belief is, the more significant the ramifications of the destruction of that belief. 

The Uncanny Valley is used for many things and entraps many things, yet perhaps its most important message is how far firmly we must plant ourselves on either peak of the uncanny valley for fear of the great danger it holds (as we see in Cats’ IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes rating). 

The Moral Weight of Inaction

Recognising the Neutrality that Lies Between Good and Evil

M. D. Kwak

DON’T BE A BYSTANDER! BE AN UPSTANDER!

The words of that mantra still remain with me today – a testament to the psychological power and indoctrination that primary schools can exercise. Yet despite its obvious context of preventing bullying, it raises an incredibly interesting issue of inaction – and the morality behind it.

I think society would generally accept that remedying action in the face of injustice and suffering is necessarily a GOOD and PREFERABLE act. That’s why the mantra encourages one to be an upstander – to be one is to be a ‘good’ person by societal standards. However, is one a BAD person if they opt to remain a bystander? To what extent are they morally culpable for wrongdoing – if any at all?

I think society has created an incredibly pervasive moral intuition that doing nothing can be a crime in many scenarios. It is not just the case that positive action is good – it’s also the case that an inability to act when able and required is an active wrongdoing. Reinforced by things like religion, political rhetoric and educational institutions, many would attribute problems like murder, climate change and stagnating progressive movements to those that merely watch yet do nothing.

Logically, however, I have a problem with this. This is not to say that being a bystander is something to be encouraged – but rather than being morally unjustified it ought to be permissible. There is a difference between moral evil and merely the absence of moral good – that grey space of moral neutrality. After all, if I choose to do nothing, my net output is nil – a neutral act. For example, a car accident on the way to work isn’t something I necessarily caused nor opted into becoming involved with. Unless an individual’s action causes harm, either directly or indirectly,  it is not an immoral action. In other words, one ought to delineate between causing something to occur and letting something occur (in presumably ignorance or apathy). Logically, one causes harm and has moral consequences – the other does not.

Negligence is something a lot of people point to in this discussion. For example, a parent doing nothing to save their child from drowning would be criminally prosecuted for negligence. Similarly, the State may be criminally negligent for doing nothing to save its people from famine. However, the problem with drawing such an analogy is that it fails to account for the special moral relationships such reciprocal obligations are founded upon. The reason why a parent has a special obligation to its child is because it raised it into being – the parent necessarily consented into that relationship of protective ownership (although interestingly, the child didn’t). The reason why the State has a special obligation to its citizens is because of the social contract and its very reason for being an institution in the first place.

The same relationship cannot be said to always apply in the case of strangers. I have no legal or moral obligation to an arbitrary person for the same reason I’m not criminally liable for refusing to donate all my wealth to alleviate poverty (despite me being a good person for doing so). I have a moral obligation not to harm others, but that obligation does not extend to the instrumentalization of the self in order for the benefit of others. The reason for this is because an individual does not consent to being in a relationship that has reciprocal obligations every time they walk past another stranger. This is true, even if that relationship can benefit you. 

In a contract, for example, one actor cannot promise something to another party (in this case promising to help out if you need future assistance) and then demand compensation (current assistance). The other party needs to agree to be a participant in the contract – even if it’s pragmatically mutually-beneficial. This is the reason why society cannot force such reciprocal obligations onto people – even if it might be beneficial for all in the long run. If people are autonomous and morally significant of their own accord, it is unjustified to demand that they sacrifice their liberties in order to benefit another party. 

I think one of the biggest mistakes in moral education is to cast bystanders in the same limelight of fault and condemnation as we do for perpetrators. Not only do they commit fundamentally different acts, it is absurd to suggest that an action of neutrality and nothingness is akin to an action of harm and degeneration. Nothingness is not a virtue – but crucially, it is not a sin.

No Discrimination

Cate Campbell’s battle with Depression

A.M Bailey

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics, delayed to 2021, was a time when the world’s athletes were uncertain if they would get the opportunity to compete. The suspension caused much anticipation and more than a billion people crowded around their screens to finally watch their favourite athletes compete. Australian competitors included Ariarne Titmus, Kyle Chalmers and the Campbell sisters; who were  the first Australian siblings on the same Olympic swimming team, since the 1972 Olympics. They were also the first Australian sisters ever to compete in the same swimming event at the Olympics, helping Australia claim medals in a series of events. What the crowd didn’t see behind the scenes was the blood, sweat and tears that athletes put mentally and physically into their specialised events. All for one goal, a Gold medal at the Olympics. 

The strive for these achievements can have a massive impact on an athlete’s mental health. A year ago, Cate Campbell spoke up about how mental health doesn’t discriminate and how it can impact one of the most physically fit individuals in the swimming world. 

“I’m used to being self-reliant. It was so unenjoyable, and swimming has never been that for me. Even through all the ups and downs, it never got to the point where I didn’t want to do it. I wanted to run away. I was trying to think of every possible scenario where I could get out of it and not have to explain why I wasn’t going to compete.” Campbell’s entire career had been about resilience and being able to deal with the slings and arrows of unforgiving professional sport. She rose from the canvas after a difficult Games in Rio to return from Tokyo with two relay Golds and an individual Bronze.

Heading towards Tokyo, the 4-year high of winning 3 medals began to diminish and reality set in. She began feeling trapped and helpless and resisted seeking professional help until weeks before departing for Japan. Taking medication was, to her, another sign of perceived weakness. She commented on the experience, “I felt like I wasn’t strong enough. I went on medication just before the Olympics and, before that, I was willing to accept I had depression and anxiety. It was impacting my everyday life. But I was very anti-going on medication because I thought it was something I could fix myself. That was my version of being tough.”

A year on, Campbell again spoke up recognising that Mental Health was something she used to be ashamed about but is now trying to push for greater awareness about a condition many Aussies suffer from.

“I only realised I had a subconscious stigma towards Mental Health when I was confronted with my battles. I never viewed mental illness as a weakness, until it happened to me,” Campbell says. “I never judged anyone for suffering from it, until I judged myself.”

Campbell is using her personal experience to remove the stigma of the condition this Mental Health Month. Advocating that “Together, we need to lift the veil on Mental Health and help society understand ways to work with people experiencing mental health concerns and navigate the process with acceptance and without judgement and criticism.”

Ultimately, Cate and her family are trying to spread awareness and make it easier for people to speak up about their mental health, as she tries to drop the stigma surrounding individuals’ internal battles as we move into a week dedicated to spreading awareness about World Mental Health. 

F1 Seats for 2023

Who will drive for who

J.T. Mott

Most of the 2023 seats have been confirmed with many significant changes to teams. After Max Verstappen won his second consecutive World Drivers Championship in Japan, he is now setting his sights on the 2023 WDC. With only two seats available for the season the driver lineup is mostly finished with:

Red Bull

Red Bull is taking the two-time world champion Max Verstappen along with Sergio Pérez. This pair is currently in their second year together and are getting along well, with Max being the main driver and Pérez being the second. However, that is not to say that he has not had his fair share of wins, he has won a total of four times, three of them being with Red Bull.

Ferrari

This lineup is again the same as it was in the current season with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. This season Ferrari was a championship contender and may still win the constructor’s championship, however, due to bad race planning and poor reliability at the start of the season they lost the WDC. Ferrari is the longest-lasting F1 team with it having competed in every world championship since 1950. This driver lineup is a good pair, and both have victories under their belt.

Alpine

Alpine’s lineup is different from this year with the two-time world champion Fernando Alonso leaving. This left an opening for change with Pierre Gasly taking the seat and moving from Alphatauri, the Red Bull second team. His driving partner Esteban Ocon has been there since 2020. He is a younger French driver that was developed in the Mercedes driver program.

McLaren

After ending the three-year contract with Daniel Riccardo one year early, the team has decided to take on a new younger Australian, Oscar Piastri. After winning Formula Two last year Piastri was left without a seat in F1 and was the reserve driver for Alpine. However, with Riccardo out, he has jumped at the opportunity and found his way into a seat for next year. His partner Lando Norris is another younger driver. He has been at McLaren since 2019 and his contract lasts until 2025. 

Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo’s lineup will be unchanged from this year with Valtteri Bottas and Zhu Guanyu driving for them. Bottas has been their driver since the start of the season after being dropped from Mercedes, driving for them for five years. After being replaced as Hamilton’s teammate by George Russell earlier this year, he has since been racing for Alfa Romeo and is currently tenth in the championship. Zhou Guanyu is the first Chinese driver to debut this season. He has since been scoring points in many of the races and is currently 18^th in the championship.

Aston Martin

The announcement that four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel would retire at the end of this year, left an open seat for a driver. This seat is being filled by two-time world champion Fernando Alonso. With this change due to Vettel deciding that he needed to spend more time with his children, Lance Stroll will have a new partner for the 2023 season. 

Haas

Haas’ driver lineup is not confirmed and there is still one seat available for the year to come. With Kevin Magnussen driving for them after being dropped from F1 for a year, he has come back strong and is currently 14^th in the championship and has almost doubled his teammate’s points. Mick Schumacher, son of Michael Schumacher, the seven-time world champion and arguably the best driver of all time. It is still unannounced on whether he will have a seat for the 2023 season after having moved the team up a place in the standings.

Mercedes

This lineup is again unchanged with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. This lineup has had some success this year and is currently third in the constructor’s championship. This team, however, will hopefully be competing with Ferrari and Red Bull next year for the championship as their car this year has not been as good as their previous one.

AlphaTauri 

After the announcement of Pierre Gasly’s move to Alpine, it has since been announced that Nyck De Vries will be driving for them. Earlier this year De Vries debuted as the reserve driver for Williams replacing Alex Albon out with appendicitis. He scored two points in the race and came ninth scoring Williams’ fifth and sixth points of the season. He is driving at AlphaTauri with Yuki Tsunoda, a Japanese driver who is currently in his second year with the team. 

Williams

Williams’ driver lineup is the other that is unconfirmed with Nicholas Latifi’s contract having ended. However, Alex Albon has been signed for a multiyear contract that continues into 2023. With Latifi being unconfirmed on his continuation the team will be looking at who is the best young driver to develop. 

Daniel Riccardo

Even though there are two seats yet to be filled Riccardo says that it is highly likely that he will not have a seat for next year. This will leave him with three options, either wait to see if a seat will open for 2024, stop driving, or leave F1.

Though there are still races left in the season, Verstappen is already the World Champion as he is now uncatchable and there are only two seats left unannounced. Riccardo has had his contract paid out for McLaren and is still not in a seat for next season. 

Top image caption: 2021 FIA Formula One World Champion Red Bull’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen celebrates on the podium of the Yas Marina Circuit after winning the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix on December 12, 2021. – Max Verstappen became the first Dutchman ever to win the Formula One world championship title when he won a dramatic season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina circuit on December 12, 2021. The Red Bull driver won his 10th race of the season to finish ahead of seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton. (Photo by KAMRAN JEBREILI / various sources / AFP)

Want to Improve Your Vocabulary?

Meet the Shore Compendium of common lexicon

A.T.B. Gilchrist

SO, YOU WANT TO MAKE YOUR WRITING MORE INTELLIGENT? Here are 15 versatile words that you can use in your writing for all your subjects like English, History, Geography, you name it. Most of these words are words that I learned here at Shore, and I feel are a crucial ingredient when it comes to writing like a “Shore Boy” (after all, teachers love it when our essays all sound the same). I found that oftentimes, though I heard more intelligent students and staff use them, the online definitions were sometimes contextually unrelated, and so as an aid, I’ve also given them all a classic scenario to aid with your understanding, as well as a Subject guide as to where the word is mostly used. Finally, I’ve also compiled the list, as best I can, from simplest to hardest, to perhaps allow you a glimpse of where you stand in becoming a fully-fledged Shore writer. 

Latter  – denoting the second or second mentioned of two people or things.

“Between the Benefactor and Hall Quad bathrooms, the latter is the best.”

Relevancy: All Subjects

Facilitate– make (an action or process) easy or easier.

“Shore facilitated digital learning with the implementation of mandatory MacBooks.”

Relevancy: All Subjects

Exacerbate – make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse.

“Removing bins would exacerbate the amount of rubbish on the oval.”

Relevancy: All Subjects

Sublime – of very great excellence or beauty.

“The view from the library of the harbour is sublime.”

Relevancy: English, Art

Manifest – to show something clearly, through signs or actions.

“Her dissatisfaction with the student manifested itself in the form of a drill.”

Relevancy: History, English

Stringent – strict, precise, and exacting.

“The teacher was adamant about abiding by the stringent school rules.”

Relevancy: All Subjects

Superficial – existing or occurring at or on the surface.

“He smiled superficially at his English teacher, after learning about the 1000-word essay.”

Relevancy: History, Geography, English

Superfluous – unnecessary, especially through being more than enough.

“He took a superfluous amount of time going to the bathroom.” 

Relevancy: History, Geography, English

Postulate – suggest or assume the existence, fact, or truth of (something) as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief.

“He postulated the possibility of no homework to his teacher, who promptly scoffed at the idea.”

Relevancy: English

Dichotomy – a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different.

“There is a rigid dichotomy between the Joey’s and Shore rugby team.”

Relevancy: English, Art

Postmodernism – a late 20th-century style and concept in the arts, architecture, and criticism, which represents a departure from modernism and is characterized by the self-conscious use of earlier styles and conventions, a mixing of different artistic styles and media, and a general distrust of theories.

“The postmodern artwork in the cubicle departed from traditional techniques, blurring the line between simplicity and abstraction.”

Relevancy: English, History, Art

Transgress – go beyond the limits of (what is morally, socially, or legally acceptable).

“Cheating on a test is transgressing the school rules.”

Relevancy: English, History, Art

Limn – depict or describe in painting or words.

“He limned his inner emotions onto the canvas.”

Relevancy: English, Art

Reify – make (something abstract) more concrete or real.

“Writing your goals down can reify them and make them more tangible and easier to achieve.”

Relevancy: English, Art

The Pain of Progress

Examining Conflict as a Driver of Change

J. A. McCreery

Wars, civil or foreign, have undeniably shaped the course of human history, they mark the shift of eras, the expansion of ideals and the creation of nations. Nevertheless, they all leave a bloodied, visceral stain across our societal consciousness that inevitably begs the question – why is destruction so powerful a proponent of change? Why does society ‘advance’ through war and, if it pushes us forward, is it bitterly worth it in the end?   

‘Advancement’ is a fickle word which must be confronted, it relates to a myriad of factors dictated by one’s stance and, without specification, can easily devolve to the point that one may argue humanity is not actually advancing – a near ubiquitously accepted fact – instead ‘devolving’ in line with the loss of morality, nature, etc. So, in this case, it shall relate to economic, social and technological progression which broadly increases living standards and opportunities for humanity. 

Evidence of this advancement, or at least change, can be seen in three types of conflict: (1) that which is motivated by religious evangelism, (2) civil or anti-colonial rebellion and (3) world war. 

Wars of faith inevitably shape religious outlooks, in turn dictating the beliefs, ethics and attitudes of both those victorious and defeated. The spread of the major world religions; Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism, especially in the pre-enlightenment era, can be in part correlated to war and forceful advocation. For Christianity, the Crusades (1095 – 1291) are a clear example of evangelistic combat. Islam is another prime example, which in the years of Mohammed’s life and the early Caliphate was mainly spread by war. Through the middle age into the early modern era, Islam’s spread was again headed by force and the removal of non-Islamic belief from Muslim-dominate territories continued well into the 20th century. Notably, any populace’s exposure to war is directly correlated with an increase in Religiosity, as found in a Nature: Human Behavior report. The relationship between such conflict and ‘advancement’ is feeble and heavily depends on one’s own religious belief, yet the abundance of change, good or bad, is undeniable; religious wars have shaped not only geographical and demographic makeups but the worldviews of millions of people. 

Civil and anti-colonial wars are a driver of change which can much more readily be linked back to the thought of advancement. Many are characterized by the dissolution of totalitarian control, the inception of democracy or a shift away from archaic societal structures. In line with the rise of nationalist identities and thoughts of self-determination, a host of nations were able to break free of colonial control in the 20th century and assert sovereignty. This marked a clear movement towards freedom, the end of oppression and in many cases, the end of rampant exploitation. Such conflicts include the Indonesian War of Independence, the Algerian War and the Bangladesh Liberation War. Another example of war being equated with social progress is the American civil war of 1861 – 1865, where conflict between the US and the Confederacy eventual led to the abolition of slavery and freedom for over four million African Americans. 

Finally, world war. The immensity of these conflicts is what drives their significance, their reach, their intensity, and their impact dwarf all others. The First World War destroyed empires, created numerous new nations, forced the United States to become a world power and contributed heavily to Soviet communism. However, the most significant impact of the war was the huge advances in technology which irrevocably changed the way that people all around the world travelled, communicated, and fought. Aircraft went from fragile, impractical devices to viable war machines, France only had 140 aircraft when the war began but by the end, it had culminated over 4,500. The war provided a huge jump in aviation technology which created a platform for further development and transformation into modern-day aircraft. Medical advancement is another undeniable benefit, with innovations such as the Thomas Splint, blood transfusions and facial surgery coming into their own throughout the war. The disillusionment which grew from the war also gave rise to modernism, a genre which broke with traditional ways of writing, discarded romantic views of nature, and focused on the interior world of characters. WW2, although a darker affair, also gave rise to increased national independence and technology. Radars, computers, and penicillin grew from the war, key features of modern life and powerful tools for good. Gender equality took a step forward, as economies mobilized for war, alongside the men, millions of women were required to come out of their domestic roles and assist in the war effort. In the US, the war brought full employment and a fairer distribution of income. The need for labour also opened a plethora of new opportunities for African Americans and other minorities whilst broadly raising wages/savings and consolidating union strength.

The reason for such a potent change is essentially that war is an accelerator. 

War creates a pressure chamber, one that is unavoidable, technology must improve, thinking must shift, and new thoughts must be presented less destruction be faced. This pressure further exudes into the home front, challenging academics, artists, and politicians to refine their worldviews and push past previous barriers. Dominant states are further pushed into power as they gain more and more territory, allowing them to amalgamate resources and utilize them in previously unreleased capacities. Ideologies which are censored and ignored are thrust into the limelight. No one can escape it, no one can avoid the waves of violent change. 

Although war presses advancement upon us there is, as there always is with war, a dark side. Cities are destroyed, homes lost, and nations burnt to the ground. People die. There is an obvious corruption of a soldier’s morality at the inevitable murder and confounding atrocities which occur but there is also a decisive economic downturn, the loss of wealth and health is unmistakable. 

Ultimately, war forces humanity to adapt, the sheer Darwinist effect shaping the world into the way it is today, yet it also rips lives, resources and innocence from the world. Is the technology we pride ourselves in, the great levels of freedom we cherish or the ideological, idealistic worldviews we protect worth it? One must come to a personal decision, simply ask yourself if this modern world is truly worth the death of our ancestors.

The Nuclear Escalation Paradigm

Is Russia on the brink of nuclear war?

W. H. R. Johnston

From September 23rd to the 27th, ‘voting’ for a Russian referendum took place and it was concluded 3 days later that 4 Russian-occupied regions in Ukraine voted overwhelmingly to join the Russian Federation, according to state media. Ukraine and its international partners, however, have dismissed these claims as well as the dubious referendum results. 

According to Russia, under the laws of its referendum if its territories become threatened, it reserves the right to employ nuclear weapons. While the essential annexation of these Ukrainian regions is not honoured internationally, Russia officially views these regions in the same regard as Crimea, which Russia annexed back in 2014. 

Obviously, Ukraine is unwilling to secede from its territory as a result of Russian stipulation, and with the conflict slowly turning in their favour, for now, with large advances back into Russian-occupied territory, the looming threat of nuclear response from Russia is becoming increasingly prevalent.

However, while many commentators place Putin’s reluctance to escalate nuclear conflict on the subsequent international retaliation, there are in fact less examined factors that may have acted as even more potent deterrents to nuclear reaction thus far. Namely, the likelihood of strategic failure as well as the internal political turmoil that Putin would face.

As we all know, any nuclear force targeted at Ukraine, on internationally agreed upon Ukrainian territor,y would elicit an active response from the U.S and other Western nations, most likely conventional, which would likely spell disaster not only for the Ukraine invasion but also the future of Russia on an international stage. Additionally, it would force countries like China, India and Saudi Arabia to decide on continuing any ties at the certain cost of being heavily sanctioned by the West (as of now, India is already showing their intent to distance itself from Russia, so at least for India, it would seem certain that any nuclear escalation would result in a complete severing of connection).

However, there are also severe risks that the nuclear escalation itself would fail its military objectives. Much of the Russian nuclear arsenal is outdated and could even face issues surrounding detonation. Additionally, the use of nuclear weapons is unlikely to deliver a military knockout blow to the Ukrainian army, as a small number of missiles could not completely crush Ukrainian forces dispersed over the 1000km line of conflict. 

Additionally, a nuclear response would critically undermine Putin’s domestic political position. Nuclear escalation is in essence an admission to the Russian public that they are in fact, losing the war. All media in Russia is currently state controlled, meaning that their perception of the current state of the war is primarily based on propaganda which claims military superiority and crushing victories. If Russia then turns and launches nuclear missiles under the claim that they are “threatened”, they would be inadvertently admitting their lies to the people, which would create panic, distrust and possibly rebellion against the Kremlin.

Despite these disincentives, Putin is desperate, and if he fails to deliver the promised victory, the internal backlash could be detrimental; with a coup certainly becoming a possibility. Therefore, Putin may view the nuclear response as his last chance of maintaining power. Alternatively, his nuclear threat could be a bluff to force a favourable negotiation and a swift end to this Russian disaster. Ultimately, however, only time will tell the true intentions of Putin, thus, while it remains unlikely, nuclear escalation remains a frightening possibility.

The Automation Issue

Where we are at with Driverless Vehicles

B. N. Dent

In 2016, the meteorically rising electric vehicle company Tesla announced that its software and hardware were nearing a point of evolution that would allow the capability of a “full-self driving” feature within their cars. This announcement ultimately culminated in a large amount of public discussion within the automotive industry and mainstream media. The realistic vision of completely autonomous cars spurred many questions mainly regarding when this technology would be publicly available, the accuracy/safety of these cars and the question of whether there would be a high demand for such a vehicle. Given the rapidly advancing nature of technology at this time, including consumer-available augmented reality and the development of reusable rockets, many people speculated that the introduction of driverless cars would be reasonably swift and available in no more than a few years. However, despite this, the information regarding the progress of this technology has been fairly opaque, and there is yet to be a defined timeline for the establishment of driverless cars being frequently used on the roads. So, what are the current developments in the autonomous vehicle sector and when can we expect to see driverless cars regularly cruising the streets?

Before diving into the current advancements surrounding this industry, let’s fundamentally break down how autonomous cars operate. Via sensors, actuators, cameras, complex algorithms, machine learning systems, and powerful processors to execute software, driverless cars have the ability to create virtual maps of their surroundings that encompasses traffic lights, other vehicles, pedestrians, obstacles, etc. Once advanced software has processed this virtual map, it is able to send instructions to the vehicle’s actuators who are responsible for the actual movement of the vehicle (i.e., acceleration, and direction).

A major recent accomplishment seen in the autonomous vehicle sector was completed by a company founded in California called TuSimple which specialises in self-driving technology catered specifically for heavy-duty trucks. Their accomplishment was a 951-mile (1530Km) journey from Arizona to Oklahoma City carrying a variety of fresh produce on board a truck that operated with complete autonomy. Although the journey was carried out flawlessly, it was still required that an engineer and safety driver remain onboard for the trip. This sheds light on one of the major issues facing this industry at the moment which is government safety rules and regulations that are preventing these vehicles from freely embarking on missions. In contrast, a positive of this journey was its efficiency. The entirety of the journey took 14 hours which is 10 hours faster than the normal route time. This is attributed to how driverless vehicles do not need sleep like regular humans. General Motors’s acquired start-up “cruise” has also made an impact with its driverless taxi service, similar to Uber but without a driver. Since June, this start-up has been offering self-driving taxi services within San Francisco, soaring towards $1 billion in revenue by 2025.

In defiance of these recent accomplishments, there is still yet to be a purchasable fully self-driving car. The closest thing offered right now is Tesla’s autopilot system which still requires human supervision. The two predominant issues impeding driverless cars currently are the inability of the software to deal with variable road conditions (e.g., rain) and the restrictions of government regulation. A report provided by the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) lists that by 2025 driverless cars will have fully automated safety features ready for the road. Given this timeline, another thing to consider is the demand that these vehicles will have among the public. At the end of the day, for many, driving is an extremely pleasurable activity. Additionally, despite what statistics may show, there will always be a dispute over the reliability of driverless cars on the road.

“If you recognize that self-driving cars are going to prevent car accidents, AI will be responsible for reducing one of the leading causes of death in the world.” – Mark Zuckerberg.