Celebrating Remarkable Achievements and Exciting Opportunities in 2024

Dear Students, Parents and Carers

Welcome back to the School year for 2024. We are eager and excited about the possibilities that this year holds for each and every one of our students. As we embark on this journey together, let’s take a moment to celebrate and acknowledge the remarkable achievements of our boys and the promising opportunities that lie ahead.

Outstanding HSC Results: A Testament to Excellence

Shore was proud to announce its best-ever Higher School Certificate (HSC) results, for the Class of 2023. We congratulate the boys for the dedication, hard work, collaboration, energy and enthusiasm they demonstrated throughout the year. Here are some key highlights:

Student ATARs (Australian Tertiary Admission Ranks) are the ‘entry ticket’ which decides which students are offered which courses at which universities. As the ATAR is expressed out of 100, it looks like a mark but, in fact, it is a place in the state (in the nation really, as it is a national system divided into state segments). The top ATAR is 99.95 (up to 50 students perhaps tie at this level), the next is 99.90 and so on.       

• 17 boys achieved ATARs over 99, placing them in the top 1% of the state. This is the greatest number and highest percentage of students we have ever had with an ATAR 99+.
• Congratulations to our duxes Charles Ashton, George Chen and Angus Holliday, all receiving an ATAR of 99.90.
• 32% of our boys were in the top 5% of the state, gaining an ATAR of 95 or more. This is the greatest number and highest percentage of students we have ever had with an ATAR 95+.
• We achieved a median ATAR of 91.90. This is the best median ATAR result as a school we have ever achieved. 

As the media are unable to obtain ATARs, they have for a long time sought to use Band 6 results, which are not in themselves usually significant for university entry (except insofar as they indicate good marks), as an unofficial league table which they present as a proxy for school quality. Some then feign surprise that these league tables are dominated mostly by government and independent selective schools. They do not distinguish between more straightforward courses, where it is easier to gain a high mark, and more difficult courses. In fact, scaling to an ATAR can strip away much of the conversion value of high marks in easier courses. I am making this statement from a position of strength in Shore in our Band 6 results (see below).  Shore was rated as 24th in the state by the media league tables, a considerable improvement on the previous couple of years.   

It is not that Band 6 results are of no value, they indicate exactly what they are intended to reveal: students who have scored above 90% in a subject. This indicates a level of excellence achieved by students and, most certainly, indicates excellent teaching. We, therefore, celebrate them in their own terms: 

• We achieved a total of 434 Band 6 results in 2023, this is the greatest number of Band 6 results we have ever received.
• 82% of our HSC results were either Band 6 or Band 5.
• We obtained 60 Band 6 results in English (compared with 32 in 2022, 34 in 2021 and 32 in 2020)
• In Mathematics, we gained 142 Band 6 results (compared with 115 in 2022, 89 in 2021 and 90 in 2020) 
• Merit Listings were achieved by 75% or more of our candidates in Drama, Mathematics Extension 2, Music 2, Music Extension, German Extension, English Extension 2, Latin Continuers and Latin Extension. 50% of our candidates in English Extension 1, Mathematics Advanced, Mathematics Extension 1, Music 1, French Continuers, Visual Arts, and Japanese Continuers achieved Merit Listings.
• The following subjects had an examination mean 10 marks above the state average; Ancient History, Drama, Business Studies, Physics, Mathematics Standard 2, PDHPE, Modern History, Design and Technology, Economics, Investigating Science, Mathematics Advanced and Chinese Continuers.        

Not every boy has the aptitude to achieve state rankings. Many have strengths which lie in different areas.  We are equally delighted for boys who achieved personal bests or overcame all kinds of adversities to maximise their results. We are also aware that some boys are ‘late bloomers’ who, with maturity at university, find an extra gear in their academic engine and proceed really well.

We also thank our staff for their energy and enthusiasm in teaching the boys in Year 12 and in earlier years. We also acknowledge the partnership with parents and the love and support parents provided the boys at home throughout what can be a stressful year for boys and parents alike.

For a comprehensive analysis and breakdown of our HSC results, Mr Matt Leeds, Deputy Head Academic, will provide a detailed report in the first edition of Shore Reports 2024.

University Entry: A Diverse Range of Opportunities

Beyond the classroom, our Class of 2023 are embracing a diverse range of opportunities as they transition to university life. The breakdown of university offers by field of study reveals the following trends: Management and Commerce (31%), Science and Engineering (30%) and Humanities (21%).

Noteworthy is the fact that 40% of our cohort gained entry to the University of Sydney, 23% to the University of Technology Sydney, and 20% to the University of New South Wales. The experiences of our top ATAR achievers further illustrate the varied paths our students are taking:

• Charles Ashton: Chancellor’s Scholarship at Melbourne University – Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Law.
• George Chen: Bachelor of Medical Science at the University of New South Wales.
• Angus Holliday: Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Computer Science at the University of New South Wales. Recipient of The Scientia Scholarship.
• Alexander Mingay: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.
• Aaron Rucinski: Bachelor of Law, University of Cambridge.
• Ethan Tan: Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University.

More than ever before we also have students receiving offers from overseas universities including Stanford, Columbia, New York University, Brown, Cambridge and Oxford.

Welcome New Staff: Strong Additions to Our Shore Team

As a school, at the beginning of every year we welcome new staff to Shore. I wanted to highlight three key staff appointments in leadership roles as we begin 2024:

• Mr Stuart McCormack, Head of Students, brings a wealth of experience from previous roles as Acting Deputy Principal & Deputy Head Senior School at Thomas Hassall Anglican College, Richard Johnson Anglican School and Norwest Christian College.
• Ms Eleni Langas, Head of Counselling, joins us with a background as a psychologist at Tara and a private practice psychologist, along with expertise as a family therapist.
• Ms Wendy Abernethy, Head of Northbridge Campus, brings her 18 years of experience at Tara, where she served as Acting Head of Junior School, Dean of Learning, Stage Leader, Classroom teacher, and Science specialist.

Looking Forward to a Wonderful Year: Embracing Growth and Excellence

As we commence this academic year, let us collectively commit ourselves to growth, excellence, and the pursuit of knowledge. The achievements of 2023 set a high standard, and we are confident that 2024 will be extraordinary, as Shore years invariably are. Our dedicated staff, exceptional students, and supportive community of parents make a Shore education truly unique. Together, let’s make this year one of unparalleled success and growth. Welcome back to Shore, and here’s to a truly wonderful 2024! 

We want a Shore education to be truly transformative; our aspiration for our students is that they ‘be transformed by the renewing of your mind’ (Romans 12:2). Thriving, flourishing in our modern world will require nothing less.

Where is the Ailing Headmaster?

As most of you would know, your Headmaster is currently on sick leave officially, which in effect means doing his best to run the School from home with his laptop. This is a dangerous time for the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) because a Headmaster unshackled from day-to-day functions (where members of the ELT are deputising splendidly) has the time to think strategically and that, invariably, results in all sorts of enquiries into possible developments at Shore! Hence, they have been set strategic initiatives to appraise.

The real purpose of these paragraphs is to assure parents that all is, and will be, well.  You have a right to know. What you may not know is that I created quite a scene on the first of the staff days, leaving the Smith Auditorium in a wheelchair, undertaking an unplanned inspection of our Medical Centre (as a patient) and testing the Ambulance service and state hospital system. All manner of tests for things awful proved negative. The condition is an inflammation in a nerve in one ear which, when malfunctioning, affects balance and eyesight.  A full recovery and early return to the office are anticipated. I am staying at home so as not to be a danger to myself and others and, particularly, because it does not look good if the Headmaster cannot walk in a straight line! The treatment is the most wonderful I have ever received: the Professor has ordered ‘go to the beach’. The purpose is that trying to walk in loose sand is the ideal terrain for trying to reset balance. This creates a certain amount of Protestant work ethic guilt when I am not there with the students and staff, but I am compensating by working into the early hours. I do feel deprived as moving into the second week, I have only been able to speak to four boys where we’ve crossed paths.  Back to the normal hurly burly soon! The cards and emails from members of the community have been nice to receive. 

Dr John Collier
Headmaster

CRU Update

CRU group is an amazing opportunity to meet with boys from across the School to learn about the Christian faith and read the Bible – God’s Word – every Friday at lunchtime in the Christian Studies building. A regular sesion includes a free sausage sandwich, a Bible talk, discussion groups in year groups, and finally, a soft drink.

Rev. Benn, who was speaking last Friday, began by providing some context for Isaiah, the Old Testament book of prophecy we will be looking at this Term. After the reign of King Solomon, the kingdom was divided as judgement for Solomon’s rebellion, and God’s people continued to disobey God. As God himself says in Isaiah 1:3 ‘my people do not understand.’ Even though they may have sacrificed animals to God for their forgiveness as God commanded at their appointed time, they were not following God in their hearts. Perhaps we can draw some connections between the people back then and us today. The God of Isaiah is the same today, but none of us can honestly say we follow Him perfectly. This may look like a bleak picture, but God still has mercy on people, and this is the hope we have in Isaiah 1:18 as it says: ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.’ This is hinting at God’s plan to send his son Jesus, Immanuel the suffering servant to save His people. We will see more about this throughout the Term and would love to see boys coming along to CRU every Friday.

Each year group also has a Bible study at lunchtime during the week in the Christian Studies building, and it would be great to see many boys going along.

Daniel B
Year 11

Boarding Update

Welcome to the Start of 2024

What a wonderful way to start the new school year, an afternoon tea on the Chapel Lawn catching up with friends, talking about the year ahead, swapping stories of holidays and generally enjoying each other’s company. It was a very relaxed way to start the year for the Boarding staff as well. While we may have been back at School for a week or so before the students returned, it is always nice to eventually see familiar faces and to welcome the new students and parents to this superb community. 

An Eventful First Week! 

School House kicked into gear with a bang with the boys catching up with their mates, making some new mates and getting stuck into the academic and sporting life of the School. Year 7 enjoyed a particularly eventful week with a Friday afternoon harbour cruise to Goat Island with our House and Vice Captains, learning about the Indigenous heritage of the land. Year 7 even got busy in the kitchen, baking brownies for the whole House! After a big day of sport, we enjoyed a chocolate and popcorn filled dessert House movie night with an old favourite, Remember the Titans. After a bit of a sleep-in, we hit the road and couldn’t have asked for a better day for Shore Boarding to hit Raging Waters! It was a raging good time!

Well done to Louis, Harry, Oli, Aryan, Ryan and Isaac for representing School House in the Inter-House relay competition on Friday afternoon. You did us all proud! 

Sunday, and there’s No Stopping Us… Raging Waters, Mexican and Frozen 

On a hot Sunday morning, the Barry Boys hit the road with their neighbours from Hodges, School and Robson to Raging Waters Water Park. After securing a rock star headquarters spot undercover, the boys made the most of the water and the slides for a fantastic morning. We arrived back in time for a late lunch of BBQ’d bacon and egg rolls combined (unusually, perhaps) with a feast of tacos. Perhaps even stranger than Year 12s choice of movie the night before, Frozen won the vote this time as the House settled back and let it go!

Weekend in Robson House 

Saturday saw the boys getting back into the swing of Saturday Sport. After a big week adjusting to non-holiday wake-up times, Saturday night called for a movie with an extensive snack bar. The boys relaxed and watched giant sharks eat people in Meg 2, whilst quickly demolishing the snack bar. A good sleep on Saturday night was called for in preparation for Raging Waters on Sunday. What a fantastic way to start the year as an entire Boarding community, with some of the weekly boys coming back early just to join in the fun. It was great spending time with the Barry, Hodges and School House boys. Well done to all the new boys who enjoyed a full week of Boarding!

Hodges Unwinds

After a bustling first week of school and sporting activities, Hodges enjoyed a leisurely stroll by Sydney Harbour. Capped off with hot chips at Batch Burgers, making it the perfect way to unwind. 😊 

If you are interested in weekly Boarding, please contact Director of Boarding, Mr Roland directly at boarding@shore.nsw.edu.au.

Tennis Day – Hosted by Shore Parents’ Association

Save the Date – Friday 8 March 2024

Enjoy a fun morning of social tennis at the wonderful Northbridge Tennis Pavilion. All standards are welcome!

Join the Tennis Active Clinic for all levels (including hit & giggle) or Round Robin matches if you love competition. Booking details are coming soon.

Southern Highlands Morning Tea

Dear Parents and Carers

You are warmly invited to a morning tea

Date: Wednesday 20 March
Time: 10.00am – 11.30am
Venue: The Pavilion & Gallery at ‘Hopewood House’, 201 Centennial Road, Bowral

The special guest will be the Head of Boarding, Mr Alistair Roland, who will share valuable insights into the vibrant world of Boarding at Shore in 2024.

RSVP: By Thursday 14 March 2024, please email oldboys@shore.nsw.edu.au or phone Maria Black, Alumni Community Manager on 9956-1123    

This Week We Thank

Emily started her journey in the Boarding community at Hodges House in 2020. Following her maternity break, she came back to take on the role of Assistant Housemaster for the Year 7 Boarders in School House in 2021, alongside her husband Matthew, their daughter Annie, and the newest member of their family, Alice.

With her welcoming and warm personality, Emily plays a pivotal role in making sure the young Boarders feel supported and comfortable while living away from their families. The initial weeks can be quite challenging emotionally, but Emily is there every step of the way. She coordinates outings, oversees their homework, ensures their safe transport to and from weekend sporting events and is generally there to lend a helping hand whenever it is required.

Your Journey Starts Here: Shore’s Virtual Tour

We are delighted to share that the Virtual Tour of our North Sydney campus has new Senior and 3-6 locations added. It is now live and available for viewing here: shore.youtour.com.au

Our Virtual Tour offers an immersive experience, providing prospective students and parents with a dynamic glimpse into our institution’s facilities, classrooms, and overall campus environment. This innovative tool goes beyond static images, allowing users to navigate through key areas, witness campus life, and gain a realistic sense of the educational atmosphere with 360° images, interactive galleries and sounds of our music department.

Invitation to Join Our Social Community

Join Shore’s social community by following us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn!

To share stories of your child’s activities and achievements throughout the year, please tag us in your posts and stories or simply use our hashtag #itsashorething

We look forward to seeing you online!

Icebreaker Event Tickets Are Now Available!

The Shore Foundation and Shore Parents’ Association welcome all parents to attend Icebreaker 2024. Tickets are now available for Shore’s annual Icebreaker event to welcome new and existing parents to Shore. 

Icebreaker is a relaxed night and a great opportunity for parents from ELC to Year 12 to meet new people and connect with old friends.

Booking: https://www.trybooking.com/COTON

Date: Friday 23 February 2024

Time: 6.00pm – 9.00pm

Location: Graythwaite Lawn, North Sydney campus

Cost: $85.00 per person, including drinks and canapes for three hours. We have various food stations with gluten-free and vegetarian options available.

AAGPS Sporting Events

Each year, the major AAGPS Sporting events provide an opportunity for the boys of the School to come together to show support for their School and our athletes.

In 2024, the following year groups will be attending the AAGPS Events:

Head of the River, Saturday 16 March

• Compulsory for all Year 7, 8 and 9. Year 11 and 12 are welcome to attend.
• Summer School uniform (no coats or boaters) with yard hat or a blue Shore sports cap.
• Buses transfers will be arranged.

AAGPS Swimming Carnival, Friday 22 March

• Compulsory for all Year 10 and 11.
• Summer School uniform (no coats or boaters) with yard hat or a blue Shore sports cap.
• Buses transfers will be arranged.

AAGPS Athletics Carnival, Saturday 21 September

• Compulsory for all Year 7, 8 and 10. Year 12 are welcome to attend.
• Winter School uniform (no boaters) with yard hat or a blue Shore sports cap.
• Train travel will be arranged.

Buses will be provided to transport the boys from Shore to the venue and back to Shore, with the cost added to the next applicable fee statement.

Communications will be sent home to Parents with relevant details closer to each event.

Dr A S Mansfield
Deputy Head Operations

Study Centre

Welcome to 2024 and Shore’s popular Study Centre. There are subject specific sessions before and after School to allow the boys to seek individual help and guidance with their work. Teachers, sometimes assisted by high achieving Old Boys, are available according to the published timetable. Most sessions are held in and around the Library, but check the timetable for locations. Study Centre operates on a drop-in basis, and there is no charge involved. All boys are strongly encouraged to attend.

Focus On is part of Study Centre. It is run by staff in the Educational Services department who offer support to boys in all subjects in Years 7 to 10. They will assist the boys with their executive functioning skills as well as help with homework and other schoolwork.

Please note that the Study Centre timetable changes from time-to-time as teachers’ co-curricular commitments change. It is always best to check for the most up-to-date version of the timetable on Lampada.

Mrs E White
Head of Library & Information Services

Please view the study timetable below:

Senior Study Area

New Senior Study Area in Travers Building 

We are thrilled to announce the brand new Senior Study Area, located on Level 2 of the Travers Building – a space meticulously designed to cater to the unique needs of our Year 11 and 12 boys. Formerly the old computer labs, this transformed space is set to redefine the study experience for our Senior students by offering an environment that fosters concentration, collaboration, and academic success. 

Modern Comforts and Purposeful Design 

The Senior Study Area has undergone a significant makeover to provide an optimal learning environment. With air conditioning to maintain a comfortable temperature, ample natural light, and contemporary furnishings, this space has been curated to enhance the overall studying experience for our Senior students. We believe that a conducive environment plays a crucial role in promoting focus and productivity, and the Senior Study Area is a testament to that philosophy. 

Tailored for Transition to Tertiary Learning 

Recognising the importance of preparing our Year 11 and 12 students for tertiary education, the Senior Study Area has been specifically designed to facilitate a seamless transition. The atmosphere encourages independent study, group discussions, and collaborative learning – skills that are essential for success in tertiary study spaces. We aim to instil a sense of responsibility and self-discipline among our boys as they prepare for the challenges beyond school. 

Supervised Support for Success 

To ensure the smooth functioning of the Senior Study Area, we are delighted to introduce Mr Punch as the Senior Study Supervisor. Alongside the Year 11 (Mr Laurence) and Year 12 (Ms Oud) Academic Deans, Mr Punch will provide valuable support and guidance to our Senior boys. This team is dedicated to creating a positive and focused atmosphere, helping students maximise their study periods and excel academically. 

Fostering Academic Excellence 

At Shore, we take immense pride in our high academic standards and achievements. The introduction of the Senior Study Area is a testament to our commitment to providing the best possible resources and environments for our students. We believe that this space will contribute significantly to the continued success of our Year 11 and 12 students and will further solidify Shore’s reputation for academic excellence. 

We trust that the Senior Study Area will become a hub for learning, growth, and achievement for our Senior boys. We encourage all Year 11 and 12 boys to make the most of this fantastic space and wish them continued success in their academic endeavours. 

Mr M Leeds 
Deputy Head Academic  

Careers News

“The future depends on what you do today.” Mahatma Gandhi

Career Education is an essential component in developing the whole person, and it is a privilege to support students on their individual journeys. The National Career Education Strategy emphasises the need for high-quality career education to ensure students are “ready for all possibilities available to them in the future”. The Career Centre at Shore has a strong foundation in career development theory and research and aims to develop skills and knowledge in students so they can manage their careers now and beyond the Shore gates.

This year, we are fortunate to build the Shore Careers team so students are even more supported and will have the opportunity to have several meetings during their senior years to explore and develop their aspirations. We are fortunate Ms Wilde is extending her hours to 2.5 days (Tuesday – Thursday), and we welcome Ms Wallis, who will be joining the team working one day a week on Thursdays. Both Ms Wilde and Ms Wallis bring a wealth of experience as Career Practitioners and are also current and past parents of Shore.

There are many tools and resources available to support our students on their journey which include:

1. The Careers Lampada page: There is an abundance of information here about post-school opportunities, tertiary institutions, and occupations as well as many other resources.
2. A Careers Newsletter is published regularly with upcoming events, webinars, course updates, application deadlines, scholarships and other opportunities. It is emailed to Years 10 to 12 parents and available on the Careers Lampada page as well as being posted on Teams for students.
3. One-on-one counselling: All students across all years are encouraged to book appointments via the Careers Lampada page to discuss goals and future aspirations.
4. Lower North Shore Careers Expo: This is the premier Careers event of the year and will be held on Monday 13 May 2024 in the RAI Grant Centre from 4.00pm – 6.00pm.
5. Year 10 Morrisby Profiling will take place at the end of Term 2.
6. Year 10 Work Engagement Program is from 25 November – 29 November 2024.

We look forward to working with families as we support students in gaining an understanding of themselves, the world of work and where they can make a positive contribution.

Ms V Shirriff
Head of Careers Education

Work Experience 2023

For my work experience at the end of last year, I was fortunate enough to be given a placement in Qantas… you know the airline? My week at Qantas consisted of me arriving at their head office at Mascot at 8.30am. I was paired up with someone who had a position in the cabin crew operations team, which is the team that decides where and when cabin crew are required.

Qantas has an open plan office which all centres around a green and there is an open space down the middle more commonly known as The Street. I was quite surprised that no private offices were present, and I was told that Vanessa Hudson (Qantas’ CEO) didn’t have a private office either.

I was given a schedule that mixed in practical experience and office work. The practical work involved trips to the engineering hangars, a walk around the Qantas T3 domestic terminal, which included a visit to the Chairmans lounge, and if you aren’t aware, it’s Qantas’ ultra exclusive lounge reserved for their top members. (I hope one day to go back as a guest, not a tour recipient). The office work comprised of visiting different “behind the scenes” staff and discussing what their department does to efficiently get aircraft off the ground in a cost effective and profit maximising way. I had meetings with Security, IFE (who manages the content onboard), Sustainability, Revenue Management, a pilot and Internal Operations. I also sat in on a course that teaches new cabin crew how to perform as per the standard operating procedures within Qantas’ service guidelines, Loyalty.

One of the main takeaways of the week was that you can have three different careers all in one company, Qantas.

Saxon M
Year 11

Pastoral Care Update

Dear Parents and Carers

A warm welcome to the 2024 School year at Shore! We extend a special greeting to our new families. It was fantastic to see so many of you at the Year 7 welcome event last Tuesday January 30. Your engagement and the bonds being formed within our community were very encouraging. It’s pleasing to report that our Year 7 boys are transitioning smoothly into School life, a testament to the thorough and thoughtful orientation programme led by our dedicated staff.

As Dr Collier has already stated, we’re particularly fortunate to be welcoming two new leaders to the Pastoral Care Team. Mr McCormack, our new Head of Students, and Ms Langas, our Head of Counselling, are both highly skilled in their fields. Their early contributions are already making a positive impact with our wellbeing and mental health initiatives.

At Shore, our mission goes beyond academic excellence. We are committed to nurturing the character and overall wellbeing of our students. This includes fostering virtues through character education and service-learning experiences that encourage boys to apply these lessons in practical, community-focused activities. By aligning these experiences with our tutorial programs, we’re not just talking about character; we’re actively engaging in its development.

We’re also expanding our social and emotional learning programmes to equip our students with the resilience and understanding necessary to thrive. Through evidence-based strategies, we aim to build strength of mind, enhance learning, and empower our boys to manage life’s stressors meaningfully. Our new Student Committee, led by Mr McCormack, has begun this week and is a key initiative in this area of wellbeing and student voice.

Our engagement with external thought leaders is an integral part of our approach. We’re thrilled to host Dr Justin Coulson on March 20, who will share his insights on resilience and positive masculinity in his talk, “Raising Young Men of Character.” In Term 2, we invite Year 7 mothers/mother-figures and sons to the “Treasured Connections” evening, a unique event to strengthen family bonds, with a similar event for Year 8 dads/father-figures and sons planned for 2025. More information to come.

Looking further ahead, we will introduce our Respect and Consent Program in Term 3. Developed in partnership with Learning Consent and Dr Joy Townsend, this initiative will be a feature of our Senior School curriculum. Please save the date for the associated parent seminar on Wednesday August 7, at 6.00pm.

Your support and involvement are invaluable to us. Together, we will ensure that our boys not only succeed academically but also grow into young men of strong character and resilience.

“Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” Martin Luther King Jr

Best regards,

Mr D Champion
Deputy Head Pastoral Care

Save the Date: Dr Justin Coulson, Parent Seminar on ‘Raising Young Men of Character’

Date: Wednesday 20 March 2024

Time: 6.00pm – 7.00pm

Venue: Playfair Hall

Booking details to come!

Bio: Justin is the co-host and parenting expert on Channel 9’s Parental Guidance, the founder of www.happyfamilies.com.au, and one of Australia’s most trusted parenting experts. He holds a PhD in Positive Psychology.

Over the past decade, he has helped innumerable families with his nine books about raising children, his hundreds of media appearances (including all of Australia’s major news outlets, and even the Washington Post and the New York Times), and two viral videos that have been viewed a combined 80 million times! 

Justin and his wife, Kylie, have been married since the late 1990s and are the parents of six daughters.

From the Music Department

Welcome back, and a warm welcome to all new students. Thank you to all the students who have auditioned for Concert Band, Orchestra, Guitar Ensemble and Choir. It was really pleasing to see, and hear so many students having a go.

All music ensembles have started rehearsals. Year 7s who auditioned for a String Ensemble have now been placed into the appropriate ensemble, and all Year 7 students who auditioned for Band have been placed into Concert Band II for now. This ensemble rehearses on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 7.15am.

If you have missed one of the opportunities to audition for an ensemble, it is not too late. If you have any questions about ensembles, please go to the following link https://www.shore.nsw.edu.au/co-curricular/performing-arts/music or come up to the Music Department. The ensemble rehearsal schedule is below.

Mentors are Shore Old Boys who have been enthusiastically involved and excelled in the Music programme over their time as students. They have returned to Shore to help assist in the development of the Core Music Ensembles. These mentors are here to help guide the boys, assist in problem solving, instruct them on instrumental techniques, and develop their own leadership skills. Their assistance is greatly appreciated, and they are an invaluable and integral part of our Music programme.

Welcome back to Old Boy Music Mentors Mr B Cody-Osborne (’23) and Mr R Kennedy (’21). We also welcome Mr H Chambers (’23) to the Team.

There is also a new Director of Choirs, Mr Massey. Mr Massey is currently Artistic Associate at Gondwana Choirs, where he conducts one of the Sydney Children’s Performing Choirs. He has led choirs on camps and tours and has worked with their Young Men’s Choir as a guest and Conductor Fellow. Mr Massey has also been a conductor of the RSCM Junior School’s Choral Festival. He has helped to prepare choirs for the Sydney Theatre Company and the Sydney and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras. We also welcome Ms Oxley, who is acting as Coordinator of Keyboards and Accompanist while Ms McGlynn is on maternity leave. She has a Bachelor of Music and Master of Arts Management and joins Shore with a wealth of experience. She has accompanied many HSC students as well as been repetiteur for musicals and opera productions, and has received the Peter Pears/Britten Prize, Glydebourne Prize and the Dame Joan Sutherland Scholarship. Not only does Ms Oxley play piano, but she also plays French horn and is an experienced soprano and adjudicator. We warmly welcome Mr Massey and Ms Oxley.

Camps

There are several Music Camps: Strings Camp is on Tuesday 27 February; Band Camp is on Thursday 7 March and Friday 8 March and Choir Camp is Wednesday 7 August and Thursday 8 August.

Details will be emailed to parents. For more information please contact Head of Strings: awentzel@shore.nsw.edu.au; Coordinator of Bands: pdorich@shore.nsw.edu.au; or for Choir Camp: Director of Choirs: lmassey@shore.nsw.edu.au

Private Music Tuition

Lessons have begun for students learning instruments at Shore. The School offers lessons on all brass instruments including euphonium, woodwind instruments, including saxophone, string instruments including guitar, musicianship/theory and drum kit. You can complete a form to sign up for lessons. On scrolling down the page, the form can be found here: https://www.shore.nsw.edu.au/co-curricular/performing-arts/music

If you have any questions regarding private music lessons, please contact privatemusiclessons@shore.nsw.edu.au

Upcoming Dates

Mrs K Barber
Head of Music

Do’s And Don’ts For New Shore Boys

Helpful Advice From Some of the Most Seasoned Veterans at Shore

M. D. Kwak

DO wear your boater to bed and pull your socks up at home, to be a rule-abiding Shore boy. 

DO ask Mr Leeds and Mr Middleton when the HSC starts.

DO get involved in School activities (debating trials start this week!).

DO fight the temptation to fall asleep when Mr Jennings dims the lights and puts on a doco about the Aztecs.

DO plan every minute of your life with Ms Doran’s most esteemed blue diary (or write NHS).

DO learn the art of cryptic crosswords from Dr Stobo whilst enjoying one of his many anecdotes.

DO lament how the history department has replaced teaching the sigma Roman Empire (Hannibal, Scipio, Cato the Elder) with beta ancient Egypt (King Tut who?).

DO dabble in ecofeminist and post-structuralist theory to ace your Fantastic Mr Fox English essay (some Greek words won’t hurt either).

DO familiarise yourself with the infamy of your amazing teachers – such as the safari adventures of a certain economics teacher who wrote and sang indie-rock bangers with a nascent Tim Freedman.

DO read the SWR religiously and send in your contributions including articles, letters to the Editor and complaints about misleading advice.

DON’T call your teachers ‘mum’ – Sadly, this isn’t the prep/primary school anymore.

DON’T light bonfires in science class and DON’T synthesise pure rocket fuel or concoct bright yellow minion juice (for those interested: mix lead nitrate with potassium iodide).

DON’T skip chapel to nap in the music prac’ rooms.

DON’T tell Mr Payne that rock music is useless and proceed to sword fight with guitars.

DON’T let your UI or PD escalate to a drill, then a Friday.

DON’T start a brawl in the tucky line for last picks of that succulent traveller’s pie.

DON’T question Mr Fitisemanu’s illustrious and carefully-constructed cult of personality that spans all the way from USyd to the Wenona English department (you will be swiftly disappeared).

DON’T cop the first drills of Year 7 because you didn’t pack up properly in art class (an illustrious record set by J O’Shea and T Noakes).

DON’T suggest to Mr Fletcher that the Google Suite and Apple Macbooks are anything but inferior to the Microsoft apps and INKABLE Surface Pros (Constant Teams-checking has irrevocably tanked my productivity and destroyed my work-life balance – just kidding 😊).

Two Major Deals

How Truly Valuable Is One’s Ability To Drive In Circles Or Swing A Bat?

B. N. Dent

OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, the world of sports has been witness to groundbreakingly large contracts that have shocked fans in both their magnitude and unforeseen nature. 

After many high-level European footballers decided to ‘secure the bag’ and transfer to the Saudi Pro League in early 2023, I personally thought that this move was the largest contract-related controversy that I would be seeing in sports for a while. But I guess there’s always some rich club out there just sitting on a fortune, waiting to spend it all.

Whenever I hear of these absurdly valuable contracts, three thoughts invade my mind. Firstly, what do these athletes even do with all that ‘dosh’? Secondly, how much thought from sports analysts and accountants goes into the exact number provided on each contract? And thirdly, how deserving is each player actually of that amount of money? When inspecting from a larger scope, and comparing leagues across a multitude of sports, I feel that there is often an inadequate correlation between one’s pure ability and how much they earn. But I guess capitalism does not always reward the best, but rather who is most marketable or able to generate the most revenue for an organisation. Nevertheless, let’s get onto these contracts.

The two recently surprising contracts that I wish to cover in this article come from Major League Baseball (MLB) player Shohei Ohtani and Formula 1 (F1) driver Lewis Hamilton. 

Starting in chronological order, we have 29-year-old Shohei Ohtani who, on the 9th of December 2023, signed a US $700 million, 10-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers after spending six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. Not only did this contract make history by becoming the largest contract in the MLB, surpassing the previous record of $426.5 million in 2019, but it also became the biggest contract in sporting history. The contract is even more intriguing in the fact that Ohtani has asked and agreed to defer $680 million of the total sum for ten years. Some speculate the reasoning behind this is to decrease Ohtani’s burden of wealth management and also create the possibility for the player to avoid income tax if he were to move back to Japan before the expiry of the 10-year deferral. But where does Ohtani’s serious value come from? First of all, Ohtani is a two-way talent, meaning he possesses both an extraordinary pitching and hitting ability. This dual threat ability has become increasingly rare and sought after in modern baseball as players currently tend to specialise in just one facet of the game. From raw statistics, Ohtani is currently simultaneously the 9th best pitcher and 6th best hitter in MLB. This, paired with his 6ft 4 frame and brutal consistency throughout his previous seasons in the league, clearly demonstrate his great value. Time will tell if he can lead the Dodgers to more World Series in the near future. 

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Shohei Ohtani pitching for the Los Angeles Angels.

Onto the more recent contract, we have Lewis Hamilton who recently announced that he will be leaving Mercedes at the conclusion of the 2024 F1 season to join Ferrari in 2025. The shock factor of this contract does not come from its value (which has yet to be disclosed), but rather its unforeseen nature. Hamilton left McLaren in 2013 to join Mercedes, and over the course of the past 11 years, he has formed an extremely solid bond with the team, managing to win six world titles for the organisation. As such, many F1 enthusiasts believed that Mercedes would be the last team that Hamilton would race for. In an announcement on social media, Hamilton explained his reasoning for the move, stating that he wished to take on a new challenge, and the prospect of driving for Ferrari has been a dream of his since childhood. Regardless, Hamilton states that he plans to give his all for Mercedes whilst competing in the 2024 F1 season.

Lewis Hamilton

Holiday Sports Report

A Recap in Case You’ve Missed

T. G. George

IT WAS ANOTHER SUMMER OF EXHILARATING SPORTING CONTESTS, but if you weren’t in the loop, then here is a recap.

As America enters their frigid winter months, its sporting competitions are heating up. 

In the National Basketball Association (NBA), the spotlight has been on rookie Victor Wembanyama, the 7’4” Frenchman. He has exuded mesmerising talent, but despite his individual brilliance, his team, the San Antonio Spurs, sits 10-38, the third-worst record in the NBA. Although many thought he would cruise to Rookie of the Year, 7 ‘1” star Chet Holmgren is providing some serious competition, playing an integral role in guiding the OKC Thunder to the second seed in the Western Conference. In the race for Most Valuable Player (MVP), reigning holder Joel Embiid is orchestrating another exceptional campaign, averaging 36 points per game, 11.4 rebounds per game, as well as dropping 70 points against the Spurs. Currently, the Celtics sit atop of the Eastern Conference, while the Timberwolves lead the West. With still plenty to play for, it is sizing up to be another captivating season.

Moving to America’s most popular sport, the NFL. Even with the insurgence of Swifties, this season has been incredibly entertaining and enjoyable to follow. Both conferences have been extremely competitive, seeing five teams miss out on playoffs with winning records. The Wildcard weekend saw the Chiefs host the Dolphins in -32 degree Celsius wind chill. While the reigning champs haven’t looked themselves this year, they punished the thin-blooded fins. In Buffalo, they kept their season alive, sealing victory in another classic encounter. In the AFC championship game, the dominant Ravens, led by MVP frontrunner Lamar Jackson, were shocked by a clinical Chiefs performance, sending them to their 4th Super Bowl in five years. In the NFC, Green Bay headlined the Wild Card weekend with a 48-32 win over highflying Cowboys in their own backyard. Despite a prevailing first half showing vs the 49ers, they fell agonisingly short, ending their underdog run. The Lions have also captured the attention and support of the NFL over the past month, hosting the first playoff game in Detroit since 1991. With Eminem and other passionate Detroit reps in the house, the Lions executed a thrilling 24-23 win over the LA Rams, and a 31-23 win over the Buccaneers. With a chance to send their team to the first Super Bowl in their 58-year history, they came out firing in San Francisco. Unfortunately, another heroic second-half performance from the 49ers saw the game end 34-31. This weekend is the Pro Bowl, and next week, the Chiefs will face the 49ers in Las Vegas for the Lombardi Trophy. The game starts at 10:30am on Monday, so teachers – keep an eye on the laptops.

Now for some real football: Manager Jurgen Klopp has announced his shock exit from Liverpool FC at the end of this season, following nine revolutionary years at the helm. In the meantime, Liverpool sit 1st in the Premier League with a five-point lead over Man City. With an EFL Cup Final position secured, more silverware could capitalise on a stellar managerial career for the German. If any of you read my Holiday Sport Report from last year, you may recall me alluding to Girona’s unprecedented performance in the LaLiga. Well, this has not slowed, sitting in a comfortable 2nd place after 22 games, only 2 points behind league leaders Real Madrid. In the Bundesliga, Bayern Leverkusen are placed 1st, with Bayern two points behind, hoping to turn around their season in dramatic fashion, as seen last year. PSG are six points clear in the Ligue 1. Inter Milan is atop the Serie A, while reigning champions Napoli have slid to 9th, a stark contrast to their dominance last season. The 2023 Ballon d’Or was crowned to Lionel Messi for the 8th time, now three ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, but very likely the last from that historic duo. 

In the women’s competition, Barcelona’s dominance is perpetual, topping their Champions League group and leading the LaLiga by nine points. Their star player, Aitana Bonmati, also won the Ballon d’Or, practically completing football in 2023, by winning the World Cup, Champions League, and LaLiga. Chelsea, PSG, and Lyon all also finished top of their group, with the quarter-final draw taking place in a few days. Chelsea also lead the Women’s Super League, and Lyon the French Division 1 Feminine.

In cricket, Australia has completed another successful test summer, dismantling a strong Pakistani side. David Warner played his final test, finishing his career with 112 matches, 8,786 runs and a memorable high score of 335. Following his retirement, Australia faced the West Indies, winning comfortably in the first test. In the second, Australia were chasing an achievable 216 on the 4th day, and triumph seemed almost inevitable. However, sloppy batting saw Steve Smith fighting on his own against a fierce West Indie bowling attack. The wickets kept falling as Australia scuffed their way closer to the target. With only nine runs needed to win, Shamar Joseph collected his 7th, clean bowling Hazlewood for the West Indies first victory in Australia since 1997.The sporting spectacle of the Australian summer was most certainly the Australian Open. World number 1, Novak Djokovic, entered as a heavy favourite to win his 11th AO. His pathway to the semi-final was relatively routine. On Australia Day, with seemingly the entire nation against him, he faced off against the Italian ranked 4th in the world, Jannik Sinner. Almost immediately, he found himself two sets down. Despite claiming the 3rd set, Sinner was clinical in the 4th, ending Djokovic’s 2,195-day streak of not losing in the Australian Open. The final was equally as entertaining, where Sinner faced Medvedev. Regardless of having spent five more hours on the court, the Russian was superior in the first two sets, winning 6-3, 6-3. However, fatigue soon set in, as Sinner won the next three straight to seal his first ever Grand Slam win. In the women’s competition, Qinwen Zheng displayed a valiant effort throughout the tournament, playing some excellent tennis. However, she was no match for the Russian Aryna Sabalenka, who cruised her way to her 2nd consecutive Australian Open title, not losing a single set the entire tournament.

Secretive Sports

A Three Part Series On Sports You Have Probably Never Heard About

A. J. Baker

HAVE YOU EVER PLAYED PICKLEBALL? Have you ever heard of Pickleball? Probably not. After stumbling across the sport on social media, it struck me when I found out it was the fastest growing sport in the world. Why is it so popular?

Pickleball, originally viewed as a joke of a sport due to its comedic name, is now officially the fastest growing sport, according to an Apple Fitness study in 2022. The game is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis. It is played with a perforated ball in teams of two, on a court similar size to a badminton court. Considering it is played on a smaller court, the game encourages players to hit the ball accurately to win points. Additionally, the decreased lateral movement is highly appealing to ex-tennis players or those returning from injuries.

Another aspect of the game is the social benefits. Pickleball, unlike most sports, cannot be played alone, thus inspiring individuals to break free from their lonely rituals, create new friendships and improve their general wellbeing. This has ultimately skyrocketed the popularity of the sport, increasing the participation rate in the US by 153% in the last two years. 

So what makes a sport so popular? After in-depth research, I have found that the sport cannot be easy to master. However, it must be easy to follow (golf, for example – an extremely basic concept), it must be highly accessible (soccer – it is easy to find an open space) and most importantly, it has to be fun! With this in mind, it is safe to say that Pickleball most certainly meets this criteria. Therefore, its rise in popularity is not at all surprising. Within the next decade, it is expected that the sport will continue to gain traction and the construction of pickleball-specific courts will increase globally.

Although Pickleball continues to surge in popularity, its viewership does not seem to be following the same trend, only increasing by 36% in the last two years. Although fun to play, it is not as ‘action packed’ as its derivatives: tennis and badminton, which are established sports with large fan bases. Considering it is becoming so popular, when will Pickleball become an Olympic sport? Unfortunately, it is highly unlikely as it does not draw the same attention compared to other racquet sports due to the monotonous viewing it provides. 

After reading this brief article, I hope I have inspired you to find your local Pickleball court, have a rally with your mates and experience the sport in all its glory.

Typical paddles with perforated balls 

Why Is Golf Becoming So Popular?

Golf, An “Old Man’s Game” That Is Increasingly Becoming Popular

T. M. Kennedy

NOW IF YOU’RE LIKE ME AND YOU’RE A GOLF ADDICT,  you would have noticed that the number of people playing golf has increased tremendously. Through the growth of social media and YouTube, golf has become ever so popular throughout the younger generations. But what are the reasons for this spike in numbers? 

I believe one of the biggest reasons why golf has become so popular is the impact of YouTube, with creators such as Good Good amassing over 1.42 million subscribers, with multiple videos attracting over 3 million viewers. Good Good, which attempts to make golf more enjoyable, showcases their good golf skills through exciting videos with challenges that bring viewers onto the golf course themselves to try this out. Good Good brings a mix of golfers out, with a variety of personalities on their channel that showcase the good, the exceptional and very bad parts of the golf game. YouTube videos regularly come out on the channel, and people in the group upload videos to their own channel, such as GM Golf, which has amassed 1 million subscribers, in which they showcase a range of trick shots that started a trend, with people trying to recreate similar videos. 

Good Good YouTube Channel 

Furthermore, the craze on YouTube golf has brought several professional golfers such as Bryson DeChambeau, Akshay Bhatia and the Bryan Bros Golf to showcase their day in the life of a professional golfer, and bring the normal golfer or viewer up and close to the action. Bryson has gained the most success due to his large media presence with quirky but interesting takes on golf. 

Bryson Dechambeau, LIV golf player, jumping in the air with excitement

Now, the second reason I believe golf has become so popular for younger people is that a lot of people have a lot of free time. They want to try out a new sport they have seen on social media. Golf is becoming more accessible, with new technology being introduced, where now, you do not even have to go to a golf course to play but can just play on a golf simulator. Now, if you live in New York City, there aren’t many golf courses nearby – so Five Iron Golf was created. Multiple simulators in the middle of NYC, which has brought more and more people to play golf. With golf being more accessible, 3.5 million people in Australia last year played golf on or off the course, with a 10% increase in golf club membership to 434,825 people in Australia in 2023, according to the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation. 

Five Iron Golf, New York City

So as we come to a conclusion, golf is not just an “old man’s game” anymore, with a newer, younger and more entertaining generation of golfers that are taking the world by storm. Until next time, keep golfing. 

Good Good collaboration with UK Youtuber Rick Shiels 

Finding A Middle Ground

Is Society Becoming More Divided?

H. R. Richards

IF YOU’RE LIKE ME, YOU MAY HAVE STUMBLED UPON THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL ‘JUBILEE’ during your search across the seemingly endless abyss that is YouTube.

One of their shows, Middle Ground, explores whether two different groups of people, opposed in their beliefs, can come together empathetically and find a middle ground. The show tackles a number of pressing issues and topics of debate, ranging from abortion, religion and transgenderism, but whatever the topic of conversation is, this middle ground is seldom found, and I think this is reflective of society itself becoming increasingly divided. This article, therefore, will attempt to get to the bottom of why this is – in order to uncover whether a middle ground is truly able to be achieved in our current society.

First, I will delve into the role of technology in creating this appearance (to me at least) of a more polarised society and second, in perpetuating it. Naturally, platforms like TikTok and Twitter (now X) are designed in a way that brings attention to controversial figures, i.e. the Andrew Tate’s of the internet: their provocative content fuels engagement, which plays into the algorithms of these apps and, in turn, thrusts these individuals – and the controversy that inextricably comes with them – into the forefront of these virtual spaces. Thus, this causes division between those who subscribe to these movements and opinions, and those who don’t. This polarised version of the internet creates the appearance of a polarised society, with, of course, so much of how we receive the world being through technology. Additionally, it validates extreme or controversial opinions, allowing individuals holding such views to express them with less hesitation, as they perceive these perspectives as more likely to be accepted and thus themselves less likely to be attacked online. In this sense, technology can play a role in perpetuating social and ideological divisions.

Divisions are also engendered by those in power. Take for example, Trump’s racist antics during his tenure as US president. He launched his 2016 presidential campaign with a speech in which he described Mexico as sending criminals to the border:

“They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people,” 

Or when he was a leading proponent of a debunked conspiracy theory falsely claiming President Barack Obama was not born in the United States. 

Either way, Trump has undeniably fueled racist and xenophobic sentiment within the US, and by doing so, exacerbated existing social divisions. These actions are as much due to Trump’s personal beliefs as they are to the reality that playing on existing divisions or prejudices is often beneficial to political campaigns. Trump’s divisive rhetoric towards Mexican people is based on the same premise of Hitler’s bigotry towards the Jews: perpetuating social divisions is often favourable to one’s own agendas, political or not.

Another cause of division, I believe, is the increasing connectedness of different cultures, religions and the ideologies intrinsic to them. As these differences here inevitably clash, divisions emerge and often continue to exist – especially so when they are religious, due to their uncompromising and intimate nature. Take Islam or Christianity, for example. While we can try to mould them into our ever-progressing society, they are, in every sense, set in stone. In this sense, while our society is changing, the religions underpinning it are inherently unchanging, and therefore, there will always be a point of conflict between them. 

Now of course, I am not trying to bash religion, but merely pointing out that when so much of the population is subscribed to one, there are going to be conflicts. In conclusion, the clash of different cultures and ideologies intrinsic to them (especially religious) can contribute to enduring divisions in our ever-changing society. While not an indictment of religion itself, I think this highlights the inevitability of conflict, whether this be between different faiths or with those who choose to hold no religious beliefs entirely. 

So, back to my earlier question of whether a middle ground can be achieved in today’s society: I think yes, despite these aforementioned barriers, reaching one is no less achievable today than it was 100 years ago. Naturally, as discourses wander into more extreme and radical territory including abortion, sex change and topics that haven’t even been unearthed yet, there will be more pushback, but I don’t believe this means we are becoming more divided. Instead, we are more impassioned when it comes to these social matters. And this, I believe, is a good thing.

TikTok

The Science Behind Short-Form Content

K. Ma

SHORT-FORM CONTENT IS KING IN TODAY’S WORLD. It appears innocuous, yet its potential long-term ramifications are often overlooked. Companies like Instagram and YouTube have witnessed such an explosive surge in popularity in TikTok that it would be unwise for them not to develop their own versions to capitalise on. While social media platforms undeniably offer numerous advantages in terms of connecting communities and creating a space for individuals to have their say, the underlying issues associated with all short-form content are deeply rooted in how it controls and manipulates  consumers.

Short-form content is literally killing your ability to focus. Have you ever sat down for a study session and can’t help yourself to use your phone? Platforms such as TikTok, along with Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook, have embraced the same principles that render slot-machines addictive. When you’re scrolling, sometimes you come across a photo or something that captures your attention. You experience an immediate small dopamine rush in the brain which compels you to continue scrolling. If you’ve ever used TikTok, you’ll know just how easy it is to get caught in a scrolling loop. It’s like falling down a rabbit hole that you can’t get out of—but why would you ever want to? With its personalised feed, almost every video you see is tailored to your exact topic preferences. 

If that isn’t alarming, we can delve deeper into the inherent problems with Tiktok and the actual science behind the control it has over its consumers. TikTok has practically an endless amount of videos, therefore the dopamine-induced feelings of reward are at our fingertips. We have unlimited access to unearned satisfaction; did we really do anything to acquire the happiness we felt from that amusing video, or did we just tap the screen and turn the volume up?

I believe the two most prevalent consequences are how it affects our happiness and also how it affects our ability to focus. If we have access to artificially-made sources of endless dopamine, and all we need to do is scroll to get a new hit each time, there is no way to authentically replicate that in reality. As such, scrolling endlessly fries your dopamine receptors and intrinsically kills your ability to  focus which can cause inherent problems in your day-to-day life

To truly have an academic comeback in 2024 – next time you pick up your phone,  think twice about scrolling.

Cricket Report

Round 8 Term 1 2024

Welcome back to Shore Cricket in 2024! The mid-season break for all the teams was very well-earned. However, Term 1 has now begun, and cricket has returned. In the first week of the School year, the new Year 7 students were welcomed to the school cricketing community with a trial session led by our current First XI players and Head Coach at the school oval. It was an amazing opportunity for both squads to interact, and it was great to see the year 7 students begin their journey as cricketers at the School.

On Saturday, the 13s teams played two internal matches at Northbridge. The 16Bs also competed in an impromptu internal match to get them back into the rhythm of Saturday cricket. All other teams competed against Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview (SIC). The 14s returned to normal service with the C’s and A’s victorious in their matches. The 14Bs, unfortunately, suffered a defeat to a strong SIC side, and this result was repeated in both 15s matches. The 16As were victorious in their encounter, with great individual performances highlighted below.

Open teams had a tough start to their Term 1, with defeats across all three teams. The Second XI were away at SIC and restricted SIC to 182 from their 50 overs. However, the chase was not as successful as Shore struggled to 5/66 before being bowled out for 112. In the home fixtures for the First XI, Shore posted 148, and SIC looked comfortable in the chase as they cruised to 4/133 before a late flurry of wickets saw them stumble to 8/147, however this was not enough to steer the outcome of the game, and SIC secured the 2 wicket win in the 38th over.

Mr R Johnston
MIC Cricket

Highlights from Saturday 3 February 2024

Match Report 15As

Match Result: Shore 9/98 (Thomas H 24, A Pearce 21) defeated by SIC 1/104 (Thomas H 1/5)
Player of the Match: Thomas H with 24 runs and 1/5 off 5 overs

Match Brief: Shore 15As were hoping to kick off their Term 1 cricket season well against SIC. Last Term, it was a tight match and Shore unfortunately fell some runs short. Things started well when Thomas H (new skipper) won the toss and elected to bat first on a wicket that looked relatively good for batting. Shore started their innings steadily with no loss of wickets in the first 8 overs. Thomas H played some beautiful cricket shots, which, on a quicker outfield, would have rewarded better. He ended up on 24 runs. Angus P (21) and Archie L (18) provided Shore with a score of 98 to defend. SIC started their batting innings very well by punishing some poor bowling by Shore. At the drinks break, SIC required 37 runs for victory off the remaining 16 overs. A fightback and disciplined bowling from Tom G, Thomas H and Jack C allowed Shore to put them in contention for the win. However, in the end, SIC passed the score with 2.5 overs remaining to claim victory. At the end of the day, Shore did not score enough runs, but it was very impressive to see the determination from the boys until the last ball. We look forward to next week’s game against SJC. 

First XI Match Report – Round 9 vs Riverview at Northbridge

Shore 10/148 (Toby R 33, Henry S 36) defeated by SIC 8/149 (Sam W 3/17, Tom F 2/10, Stian 2/44)

After an amazing week of training and helping the new Year 7 cricketers become accustomed to their new teams, the Shore boys welcomed Riverview to Northbridge for their second matchup of the season. 

The gloomy clouds and fresh, soft, and green pitch presented a great opportunity to bowl first and put some pressure on the visitors. The cricket Gods were not with us at the toss, and we were sent into bat. 

After the loss of an early wicket, we saw some nice efforts from Toby R (33) and Will S (24) in attempting to settle the ship and build a good partnership. Henry S (36) played a nice innings in the middle order but unfortunately, we lost consistent wickets throughout the innings and we weren’t able to bat out our 50 overs. We finished on 148. 

The boys did not lose hope in the innings break and, with great confidence, strode onto the ground to start our innings with consistency and intensity. A great opening spell from Tom F and Sam W helped claim a fabulous early wicket caught by Toby R at Short Leg. Tom F (2-23 off 10) and Sam W (3-17 off 8) were the pick of the bowlers throughout. Unfortunately, this day was a good example of how a great week of training does not always translate into the game setting. We couldn’t find consistent lengths or areas, and the batters from Riverview were able to take advantage of this. Despite a late fightback from the Shore boys, the opposition passed our score in the 38th over. 

Mr M Papworth
First XI Head Coach

Tennis Report

Melbourne Tennis Tour and Round 9 Tennis Report – St Ignatius’ College Riverview

Shore GPS Tennis Tour Hits Melbourne: A Smash Hit!

Greetings Shore tennis enthusiasts! We’re excited to bring you an exclusive inside look at the recent Shore GPS Tennis Tour to Melbourne during the school holidays. Ten talented students, accompanied by Mr Straney (MIC of Tennis) and Mr Anderson (Head Coach), embarked on a thrilling 6-day adventure filled with tennis, excitement, and unforgettable experiences.

The tour kicked off with intense morning training sessions at the prestigious Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club in South Yarra. For 4.5 hours each day, our boys honed their skills on the hur-tru green clay courts, soaking in the rich tennis legacy of this iconic venue.

As true tennis aficionados, the highlight of the trip was undoubtedly attending the Australian Open. The group witnessed the exhilarating final day of the Qualifiers, caught the first two days of the Open, and indulged in a night session at the renowned Margaret Court Arena. The night match featured a German showdown between Alexander Zverev and Dominik Koepfer, delivering an unforgettable display of skill and sportsmanship.

The boys also had some famous encounters with tennis royalty. From chance meetings at the Open to casual encounters on the streets of Melbourne, our students rubbed shoulders with stars like French sensation Richard Gasquet and the legendary Goran Ivanisevic, now coaching Novak Djokovic and many more.

Away from the courts, the boys had a blast exploring Melbourne’s vibrant city life. A highlight was navigating the CBD in an exhilarating Amazing Race. The tour also included friendly competitions in activities like bowling, laser tag, and an intense round of Putt Putt, creating cherished memories that will last a lifetime.

In summary, the Shore GPS Tennis Tour to Melbourne was nothing short of amazing. It blended high-level tennis training with the excitement of the Australian Open, sprinkled with chance encounters with tennis stars and topped off with unforgettable adventures around the city. Our students returned not just as better tennis players but also as a tightly knit group with shared memories that will resonate for years to come. Here’s to more successful and thrilling tennis tours in the future!

Tennis Report Round 9

Firsts Report

Shore tennis started the year in dominant fashion, securing a flawless 9 – 0 victory against Riverview. The match featured a standout debut from Ari G, who partnered with Josh P to clinch a decisive 6 – 0, 6 – 1 win in doubles. Ari continued to impress in his singles debut, securing a convincing 6 – 4, 6 – 0 victory. His promising performance showcases the depth of individual talent and gives the team confidence for a strong finish to the season. Shore’s dominant display in doubles demonstrates the team’s cohesion and has been a major training focus by our team during the summer break. Our 9 – 0 triumph reinforces Shore’s early lead in the premiership competition, setting a positive tone for the season ahead.

Zachary L
Firsts Captain

Seconds Report

Last Saturday, in the first match of the new year, the Seconds played a new and improved Riverview side, in a well-mannered, dominant display, a testament to their continued training over the break, reclaiming the top of the ladder, putting them back on the bus to premiership city. Setting the tone for the day was a swift victory from dynamic duo Charlie M and George G, who, by adopting an aggressive serve and poach volley strategy, won their doubles decisively 6 – 2, 6 – 1, leaving no free points for their opposition. Next, new pairing Oliver D-K and Shore tennis veteran Ari C played a near flawless match, ‘volley winners galore’. Finally, Connor F showed his experience playing with a sore shoulder yet still hitting the most powerful forehands Shore tennis has ever seen, enabling him and Chris M a sound victory over the opposition. With all doubles won, the Seconds just had to capitalise on this lead. First up was Connor F, who led from the front in a comfortable victory 6 – 0, 6 – 1. Next was George G winning 6 – 1, 6 – 3. Followed by decisive wins by Charlie M, Oli D-K, Ari C and Chris M, the Seconds came out victorious.

As a team, we are starting to gel fantastically, with this chemistry enabling us to win the day 9 – 0. We hope to run the Seconds tennis bakery next week and to continue our display like this as the final matches approach.

Chris M
Seconds Captain

Open Thirds – Sixths Report

The Opens Tennis Squad displayed notable talent and spirit in a competitive fixture against Riverview. The Third IV started the year strongly with a dominant performance, winning 5 – 1. The Fourth IV played well and followed in a similar fashion, winning 5 – 1. The Fifth and Sixth IVs were less successful in their rounds, losing 2 – 4 and 1 – 5, respectively. The squad should be commended for their fine performances, considering the long break from tennis and immense heat. Special mention ought to be given to Max M for coming in as a last-minute replacement and Oliver C-B for a majestic performance in his dominant 6 – 0 singles win. Overall, it is a promising start to the year for the Opens squad and certainly a sign of more successful results in the coming weeks.

U16s Report

In a remarkable display of tennis prowess, Shore’s 16A and 16B teams secured convincing 6 – 0 victories against Saint Ignatius College. Not to be outdone, the C and D teams also shone brightly, securing impressive 6 – 1 wins in their matches. The players showcased exceptional skill, strategic play, and unwavering determination, highlighting Shore’s dominance on the tennis court. This triumph over Riverview emphasises the talent within Shore’s tennis, and solidifies their position in being one of the top tennis schools in the GPS.

Oliver M
U16 player

U15s Report

This week’s U15 game week was tough in a difficult away matchup against Riverview, which gave all the boys a difficult challenge with close matchups across the board. Whilst the As and Bs struggled to secure any major victories with close scorings in singles matches, the Cs and Ds excelled with consistent wins, particularly from the D squad with a standout game week, registering only one loss. Finally, in the Cs, a tension-packed match was played by Noah G, who secured a victory through a tiebreak, just edging his opponent. Good luck to the boys for next Saturday, and great work against Riverview!

Michal H
U15 player

U14s Report

In their first match after the holidays, the Shore U14s tennis team showcased their skills and spirit on the court against Riverview. Kicking things off, the doubles matches were a mix of nerve-wracking and strategic plays, with Allan Z and Hugo T ending in a whopping 6 – 2 victory. Singles matches followed, where Tom B won his game 6 – 1, and Zai C clinched his game 6 – 3, displaying impressive resilience and technique. Marcus C and Oliver C paired up to dominate their doubles match, pulling off a convincing 6 – 3 win. The highlight of the day was undoubtedly Henry J and Daniel W’s tiebreak triumph, pushing through to win 6 – 5 in a match that had everyone on the edge of their seats. This first outing was more than a series of matches; it was a testament to the team’s growth, sportsmanship, and the strong bonds formed between players, setting a promising tone for the season ahead.

Joshua L
U14 player

Surfing Report

Week 1 Term 1 2024

The surf on Saturday was massive.  A long-period southerly swell was hitting Long Reef with all the outer bombies firing.  The Shore surfers went north of the clubhouse inside the bombie, where 6-foot reforms were hitting the inside bank.

There was a lot of water moving with a strong north-to-south sweep, meaning the boys had to work hard to stay in a good take-off position.  To their credit, all boys handled the conditions, with Sam P getting the wave of the session with a solid right-hander, which he destroyed.  Marcos P and Max W also charged the bigger conditions, While Duncan C and Henry P looked comfortable in the powerful surf.

All surfers gained a great experience in heavy conditions.

Mr J McClelland
MIC Surfing

Top image: Sam P

Water Polo Match Reports

Seconds

Last Saturday for Round 1 of the Term 1 GPS/CAS Combined Competition, with the 2nds coming up against Sydney Boys High. The boys came out with aggression and drive to give it their all, showing skill and fitness, competing until the last minute. There were some excellent goals from Jonnie P and Chase H, with Captain Angus B scoring a double. The boys finished with a draw 4 – 4. Great to see the boys starting the Term off positively. Next Saturday will see the 2nds face off against Joeys.

Mr D Kerr
Seconds Coach

16As

The 16As began their hunt for the Combined GPS/CAS Competition trophy on Saturday against Knox. With Shore not having played Knox for a few years, the opposition team was a complete unknown. The team came out firing with goals from Harry B, Josh I and Will B. This dominant first quarter, with a score of 3 – 0, helped set the tone for the game. The boys continued to play with strong press defence and excellent communication, which allowed them to keep Knox at bay. The final result was a 7 – 4 victory, and the next round will see the boys play Scots.

Mr S Mulhearn
16As Coach

15Bs

After a long layoff over the summer break, the 15Bs took to the water against Knox with some strong messages from Coach Jake to use the width of the pool and to support each other in attack and defence. In what was a quality performance, the team did exactly that, and this was indicated from the very start with a goal inside the first minute. From that point on, it was all Shore for the first half, with an 8 – 0 scoreline at the break. The second half was a carbon copy of the first half, with Shore scoring a further 8 goals, including a maiden goal by Hudson C and a swag of goals by Oliver G.  The final score of 16 – 2 demonstrated the teams’ capabilities and they can look forward to the next fixture against Riverview.

Mr Cook
15Bs Coach

Results – Saturday 3 February 2024

Top image: 16As win against Knox

Miss Z Dowdell
MIC Water Polo

Surf Lifesaving Report

Week 1 Term 1 2024

Year 7 and 8 Nippers

The Nippers group welcomed a new group of Year 7 surf lifesavers this Term. The boys have made an excellent start to their Summer Sport, demonstrating competence in their swim trials during the week and strong skills in the sea on Saturday. Long Reef was closed due to large surf, so the group relocated to Fisherman’s Beach on the north of Long Reef headland, protected from the southerly swell.

The following race results were recorded:

Week 1

Year 9

The Year 9 group also moved their surf lifesaving training to Fisherman’s Beach on Saturday. They enjoyed a wide range of activities and competitive races, including: beach flags, distance runs, swim races, board races, and relays. The boys worked hard in training for a competitive day next Saturday in the Shore Carnival.

Year 10, 11 and 12

A group of 20 Bronze Medallion holders moved onto their next level of training, in order to develop their skills, understanding and qualifications to make sure they are as equipped as possible when on patrol on a Saturday. Half of the group completed the nationally recognised ‘Provide First Aid (HLTAID011) Certificate’ and all boys completed the ‘Advanced Resuscitation Techniques Certificate’. These qualifications are certainly important for surf lifesavers, but are also essential life skills and can be used for future further education and job applications. These boys will rejoin the patrol roster next week.

Year 11 and 12 Patrol Team – Rescue at Long Reef

With many of their peers completing First Aid and ART Certificates, the remaining Bronze Medallion holders formed an interim patrol team. With the beach closed due to very large surf conditions, the boys encountered few beachgoers and swimmers but experienced a different style of patrol whereby their focus was on the many surfers, body boarders and tow-in surfers. The boys needed to resort to binoculars at most times to monitor surfers far off the shore.

The patrol team were then involved in possibly one of the most serious rescue situations in recent Shore SLS memory. A rescue jet ski that had raced north from Dee Why to rescue three surfers near the headland capsized, resulting in the driver sustaining a serious break to his femur. The boys leapt into action to rescue the jet ski driver and bring him safely to shore and await the arrival of the emergency services. A special mention should go to Sam P who entered the surf to carry the patient to shore with the help of a local surfer. Cam C also assisted the recovery on the beach. We are immensely proud of the boys on patrol; their bravery, composure, and ability to work as a team under direction from the Patrol Captain and emergency services. This incident has made all those involved in the Shore SLS program realise why we do what we do each week at Long Reef!

Carnival dates for your diary

Mr G Jones
Acting MIC SLS

Top Image: Year 7 and 8 Nippers