Cadets – Learning Discipline, Tradition and Teamwork

Dear Students, Parents and Carers

All Senior School Shore boys experience Cadets. Membership of our Shore Cadet Unit is compulsory in Year 9, and many students choose to stay right through until Year 12. Our Unit is our largest co-educational experience within the framework of single sex schooling. Two thirds of our Cadets are comprised of Shore boys and the other third are Wenona students. Boys and girls are on a footing of equality and pursue the same tasks. Leadership is on perceived merit, such that the Cadet Officer Corps includes boys and girls. Currently, the Cadet Under Officer who commands the Unit is a Wenona Year 12 student and the Second in Command is a Shore Year 12 student, as was the case last year. 

Yesterday’s parade, reviewed by Brigadier Natasha Ludwig, Commander 17th Sustainment Brigade, was very impressive in terms of the splendidly rehearsed and demonstrated drill. The Cadet Unit teaches young people to obey orders, work cooperatively with others for a purpose and become competent at a range of outdoor crafts necessary for a Unit of this size (750) to function. These include logistics, operations, provisions, transport, signals, victualling a very large number of Cadets and a host of other responsibilities. For those who become Officers, it is necessary to learn to take orders prior to being permitted to give them. Cadets will learn that one of the most important forms of discipline is self-discipline, a necessary aspect of any kind of achievement in life.

My sense of the quality of the Cadet Unit is based partly on my visit to Cadet Camp last December. What impressed most was that the Staff Officers were simply there as observers. The Student Officers conducted the whole camp and its operations with an efficiency that was very commendable. 

Our Cadet Unit manifests the principle of service, which is deeply embedded in the DNA of our School. Shore’s heritage is one of sacrificial service, built particularly on the atypically large proportion of Shore graduates who served in World War I (1914-1918). The death toll of Shore Old Boys who served in the Australian Army at this time was proportionally very high, partly because Shore graduates were very likely to be selected as Army Officers, who led their troops from the front where they were particularly exposed to enemy fire. This sense of Shore service was subsequently extended, not only through later wars but through the community in general. Service is a laudable element of ‘Building Good Men’.

Some critics of Cadet Units assert that they foster militaristic thinking. In fact, aspects to deal with munitions are not to the fore, with most Cadets being under 18 years of age. No doubt there will be some flow on effect (which Australia’s Armed Services would desire) into adult enlistment in the Army, Navy or Air Force. Indeed, nations will need military forces until Jesus’ return, when we are promised that  ‘…They will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.’ (Isaiah 2:4).

As of now, Cadet members will continue to learn a range of skills and attitudes which will serve them well through the many dimensions of life ahead. The Cadet Unit exists as one of our strong formative experiences of quality adults.

Dr John Collier
Headmaster

Chaplains’ Chat

We live in a world where so often we don’t see justice or fairness enacted. We not only see this in the daily news cycle, but we experience it in our daily lives. All of this can be frustrating and hard. Of course, we can see the injustice in the wider world of people seemingly getting away with their actions with no consequences. However, in our own lives, we also know of times when others have benefitted in life at the expense of others.

As we continue to look through our School’s New Testament reading this Term, we see that there will be times when we face the consequences of our actions. If I am caught speeding in my car and receive a fine, I am receiving the fair consequences of my actions. But staggeringly, we read that if we suffer for doing good, and endure it, then this is commendable to God. Here is another injustice of our world! Perhaps we suffer for doing good. Telling the truth can be one such example whereby we can suffer the consequences for these words. It could lead to the loss of friendships and fractured relationships. Why should we even consider doing this? As 1 Peter 2:21 reminds us: “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you and example, that you should follow in his steps.” We are reminded that we should do good even if
we face some consequences for this, just as Jesus did for us.

Rev. Anthony Benn 
Chaplain 

Christian Conference – Save the Date

Date: Thursday 23 May 2024
Location: Shore, Blue Street, North Sydney
Conference: 10.00am – 4.30pm
Dinner: 5.00pm – 7.00pm
Key Speakers: Trevor Cooling and Stephen McAlpine

Invitations will be out shortly…. Save the date in your calendar now!

• ‘Is there a future for Christian schooling?’
• ‘What does spiritual leadership in a school look like?’
• ‘How can Christianity gain any traction in 21st Century Australian culture?’
• ‘Hot Topics or Too Hot to Handle: Chapel Talks, Self-Censorship and Cancellations’

Armitage Lecture

Last Friday afternoon, Shore hosted our annual Armitage lecture. The Armitage Lecture has been held since 2005. Isaac Armitage was the first Shore student to take up holy orders, which he commenced in 1907, having completed his study at Moore Theological College in 1906. This lecture series was established to remember Isaac Armitage and seeks to encourage thinking on matters to do with Anglican schooling.

Last Friday, we had the privilege of Dr Paul Burgis, who is the Headmaster of PLC Sydney speak to many current Heads, educators, Chaplains and teachers on the topic of AND, NOT, OR, WITH: the good in Education. Part of Dr Burgis’ reflections included the idea that we are teaching students that all is not as it seems. He argued that we must continue to probe deeper with our learning and continue to reflect on what this means for our lives. While he argued that we generally teach students very well about the NOT, (in deconstructing ideas about what the universe is like and how it came to be), he also argued that the scientism of the world is not sustainable. Other aspects such as generosity, to name one, is a key aspect in our thinking and that this is at the heart of any learning. However, in addition, one of his key aspects reflected upon was in the AND of education. There is more than meets the eye in education, and in reflecting of the Christian faith, we see that the God of the Bible is the God who responds to humanity and our needs. There is more to the story of life than simply what we see and experience.

There is a recording of the lecture, which can be found on the School website.

Top image: Dr Paul Burgis

Parent Seminar Series

Southern Highlands Morning Tea

Parents and Carers are warmly invited to the Old Boys’ reunion Morning Tea, being hosted by the OBU.

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. Mr Nick Foord, (Rev, Dr) is also attending.

For any enquiries, please email oldboys@shore.nsw.edu.au or phone Maria Black, Alumni Community Manager on (02) 9956-1123.

Volunteering at Shore

Volunteering is integral to Shore’s vibrant community, fostering a strong connection among the greater School community. It allows parents to contribute meaningfully to our School’s diverse activities and initiatives, from K – 2 in-class parent helper groups to sport trials, cadets, parent events and much more.

A complete list of support areas and details on how to register can be found here.

As an important part of this, the School does need to adhere to the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) guidelines, requiring all parent volunteers to undergo a free Working with Children Check (WWCC) through Service NSW.

The process is straightforward, and you will be required to produce personal identification.

We kindly thank all of our current and past-serving parents for your incredible support. You are crucial to the continued functioning and improvement of our wonderful School.

Harmony Week 2024

Harmony Week is the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds.

It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.​

Food Trucks

As part of the Harmony Week celebrations, we will have food trucks at Shore serving some delicious recess and lunch options.   

Pre-purchase your lunch tickets here

Tuesday 19 March (Dessert Day)

Recess and lunch – Dutch pancakes and Gelato  

Ticket sales close Monday 18 March 2024. 

House Captains will be on the oval handing out tickets to students at the start of recess and lunch.

Friday 22 March

Lunch only – Pizza and Tacos  

Ticket sales close Thursday 21 March 2024.

House Captains will be on the oval handing out tickets to students at the start of lunch. 

PLEASE NOTE – There will be no cash or card sales on the day. Tickets must be pre-purchased. 

Year 7 and 8 Family Chapel Service Invitation

Term 1 Athletics Carnival

A reminder for all boys and parents that Monday 25 March (Week 9), sees the whole School travel to Homebush for our annual School Athletics Carnival. It promises to be a wonderful day, with all the boys given the opportunity to compete in multiple events.

There are a number of events that will be contested prior to the School Carnival (Week 8). These include the House Tug-o-War preliminary rounds as well as the 1500 metre races and the Open 3000 metre race.

The details of these specific events are as follows:

• The Senior Tug-o-War (Years 10 to 12). Preliminaries will be held on Monday 18 March at 12.40pm on School Oval.
• The Junior Tug-o-War (Years 7 to 9). Preliminaries will be held on Tuesday 19 March at 12.40pm on School Oval.

• The 1500 metre races will be held on Tuesday 19 March at 7.00am on School Oval.

• The Open 3000 metre race will be held on Thursday 21 March at 7.00am on School Oval.

Mr J Sparks 
MIC Athletics 

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

Rugby Key Dates 2024

As the Winter Season approaches, please note the following key dates for boys in preparation for the season’s commencement.

Once registrations are open, please ensure your son completes the Sport survey for Winter Sport registration. We cannot communicate with you unless he does that.

Mr D Mason-Jones
MIC Rugby

Term Dates 2024

Study Centre

Welcome to 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:

Term 1 Progress Meeting

Notice To Parents – Year 12 Progress Meetings

Tuesday 26 March | 4.00pm – 7.00pm | Zoom

• Information will be emailed home with all the details.
• Boys are expected to attend.
• No co-curricular activities for students who have Progress Meetings.

Mr S Werakso
Staff Professional Co-ordinator

Dr Justin Coulson, Parent Seminar on ‘Raising Young Men of Character’

Date: Wednesday 20 March 2024
Time: 6.00pm – 7.00pm. A supper sponsored by the SPA will be available from 5.30pm.
Venue: War Memorial Hall

BOOK NOW

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.

Senior School Musical – Tickets on Sale

Cover and Contents

ISDA Debating Report Round 4 vs Ascham

M. D. Kwak

HUH? WHY IS A DEBATING REPORT THE EDITORIAL? IS THIS SOME KIND OF MISTAKE? No, it isn’t. You see, for the average Shore boy, debating has probably flown under the radar for some time now (especially at Assembly where it’s hardly ever mentioned anymore 😭). Speaking from a totally unbiased and objective perspective, debating is one of the best co-curricular activities the School has on offer and in hopes of raising its profile, I’m unashamedly putting this report in prime position. So, get out there and support the lads on a Friday evening and hopefully consider trying out for a GPS debating team when Term 3 comes around (there are plenty of positions).

Last Friday, Shore was home against Ascham debating topics surrounding social issues, with Shore winning a solid four out of six debates in the high school rounds. This now puts Year 7 and the Senior As on straight wins (four/four) and in good stead for knock-out qualifications.

Our Primary As and Bs affirmed ‘That the government should prioritise funding of technology in classrooms.’ Thanks to a strongly constructed case, the As secured their first win of the season. Special shoutout to Rufus who effectively set up the debate at first and paved the way for Shore’s victory. The B’s team were dealt with a tough loss to swallow but should nevertheless be proud of their performance. Congrats to Zac Robertson for an excellent third speaker speech, using advanced techniques that haven’t even been covered in training yet!

The Prep boys in action.

An SDC update: our teams are continuing to dominate (as one would expect). Despite our Year 7 teams unfortunately going down, our Year 8s and 9s chalked up strong wins against MLC, Barker, and Riverview.

A victorious Year 9 team.

Our Year 7 LND teams debated the topic ‘That Australia should become a republic,’ losing one debate and winning the other. Congrats to Nestor for whipping up some perfect thematic rebuttal and “excellently spinning every element of the debate into a tight analysis.”

Unfortunately, our Year 8 LND team went down in a closely fought debate of the same topic, in which the boys provided good logical arguments but were ultimately defeated by MLC.

The Year 7 ISDA team have yet to break their undefeated record, bringing back another dub affirming the motion ‘That celebrity activism has been good for social justice.’ Despite a difficult topic, they fought well and, led by their first speaker, gave an excellent representation of the key concerns of the debate, which led to yet another victory. #Year7trophyiscomingtoshore

An atmospheric pic of the Year 7s.

Year 8 ISDA bounced back from last week with a sleek W, affirming the same topic. The Shore side did very well to not only highlight the inadequacies of their case, but also to engage with them. Shoutout to Leo for being debater of the week, owing to his effective rebuttal.

The Year 8s #defendingthebridge

If you’re in the mood for a joke, here’s a really funny one for you. I think Richard composed this (yes he pretentiously refers to himself in the 3rd person) in the prep room instead of helping his team out (no wonder that kid’s benched week after week).

“This was certainly one of the debates of all time. The opposition’s case consisted solely of five examples, four of which were poorly linked to the topic until the third Negative. Richard Zhang delivered one of the most unique fourth speaker speeches in this sport’s millennia-old, multilingual tradition. Richard Zhang isn’t so great? Are you kidding me? When was the last time you saw a debater with such genius and adaptability? Richard puts the sport on another level, and we will be blessed if we ever see a speaker with his skill and passion for dismantling arguments again. Finn McCredie breaks records. Bo Seo breaks records. Richard Zhang breaks the rules. You can keep your statistics. I prefer the magic.”

Thanks Larry – some real funny and reeealll humble stuff (who could have imagined?). Keep up the self-aggrandising comedy/satire (just joking; please don’t make readers endure through another one of your incoherent ramblings, that are on par with Caesar and Juvenal 🥴).

Unfortunately, our Year 9s didn’t have much luck affirming ‘That we should offer a wage to primary domestic caretakers’. Despite having a strong structure, Shore missed crucial content for the debate. Special mention to Oliver Dorney for his attempt to unpack details of the team’s case.

All smiles from Year 9 ISDA.

Year 10 won their debate in spectacular fashion, affirming the motion ‘That schools should actively subvert gender roles.’ But more importantly, Will Nicholas is back and has generously bestowed

upon us another tantalising morsel of his delicious writing (the Grammar-esque red herring is wild):

“At last, the Year 10s recorded a decisive victory – their third of the season – putting on a masterful display that had their opponents quietly conceding before the adjudicator had even opened her mouth. This was partly due to Jayden Pan’s shrewd choice of model and fierce pre-emptive rebuttal at first, which suffocated his counterpart and reduced the Ascham case to little more than mitigation. Henry held the ship steady at second, letting a rural-stakeholder red herring loose on the debate in a supreme, Grammar-esque act of misdirection. This left Yukai with little more to do than to point out that the negative had proven no harms, which he managed brilliantly. In the post-debate chaos, the Ascham team lamented that a “messy” debate had taken place. From Shore’s perspective, this was only half true.”

Wow…If anyone can make debating sound like an action-packed, high-stakes match of fierce intellectual struggle and tactical prowess (which it obviously is), it’s Will Nicholas.

Shocking. Unprecedented. Maybe even revolutionary. The Senior Bs were dealt their first loss of the season to a polished Ascham side (which apparently won the competition, the year before). Affirming the same motion as Year 10, the Senior Bs valiantly fought in a hotly-contested debate, which unluckily fell to the Negative. While the Shore team clearly established the need to subvert existing gender roles for greater equality, they did not effectively prove that schools were the best place to achieve the desired change. They also needed to better articulate the importance of social pressure in limited freedom of choice.

Despite the guidance of the esteemed Michael ‘I eat 3 kg of Malatang’ Xu and the ever-charismatic Gus Leslie who, might I add, both actively subvert gender roles on a regular basis, the team narrowly fell short. According to preliminary reports, it seems that Rizz-bear Ramon and E-giant Qiao may be at fault here for trying harder to strike up conversations with the Ascham Senior Bs team rather than winning the debate. Unfortunately, it appears they have failed at both, but there’s always next time.

But now, onto the Senior As, where another week has now become synonymous with another W. Having secured the dub last week, the lads have all but guaranteed their position in the octos and, in the coming weeks, will aim to complete the inevitable 7/7 perfect record run and lock in that top seed position. Despite yet another chaotically frantic prep (which I suspect to be the result of our deep-seated insecurities and shocking lack of self-confidence in our debating abilities 😔), the lads were able to pull ahead in a tightly contested debate. I promise this is not a shameless act of self-promotion but a shoutout to myself for being debater of the week, delivering an “excellent speech, cutting through the issues with precision.” However, as always, Maxxy Kaxxy delivered a cracking first speaker speech which was well-supported by a rhetorical display of rebuttal from Deek. And, of course, Daddy Liu (I’m starting to like this new nickname) provided invaluable support as our beloved team advisor 🥰.

The nonchalant Senior As after a well-fought victory (what is Daniel doing with his arms there…are those supposed to be finger guns?).

Next week, Shore faces Cranbrook at Cranbrook. As the in-rounds of the ISDA competition near its final leg, teams should be sure to lock in and go demon mode in order to secure those knock-out round qualifications.

A Farewell to Oars*

Ernst Shackleton and Shore’s Greatest Sport

H. A. G. Longstaff

ERNEST SHACKLETON’S NOW FAMOUS ADVERTISEMENT for men to join him on his 1914 Antarctic expedition was unconventional (see image above).

It was the heroic age of polar exploration when this represented mankind’s final frontier, say, equivalent to space today. There was no shortage of chancers and dreamers whose eyes and hearts were focused on fame and fortune, ignoring the extraordinary challenges of the expedition.

What Shackleton knew was that such men would fail. He wanted realists with resilience and the right motivation. His advertisement did this and attracted the right men for one of the most arduous journeys ever undertaken.

As the clock ticks down on Head of the River 2024, perhaps the final race of my schoolboy rowing career, I am reflecting on the lessons participating in this Sport has taught me.

Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi said:

“Nothing worthwhile is ever easy”.

Rowing is hard. With the greatest of respect to the boys of rugby packing into a scrum, the cricketers spending hours in the nets or the cross-country runners pounding the paths, I don’t think there is a harder Sport at Shore than rowing. Very early mornings. Lactic acid causing your muscles to scream out in pain in the last 500m (not that I do any of the hard stuff as a Cox).

But in this hardship, there are fabulous moments.

The glassy waters of Hen and Chicken Bay at 5:30am with oars slicing perfectly into the sea. The esprit-de-corps of a united purpose and shared suffering. That success is only achieved not through individual brilliance, but through synchronicity and teamwork.

As my father says:

“No-one ever tells stories about when it was easy”.

My rowing crews and I have a shared experience that we will never forget. We have been pushed, mentally and physically, further than we ever felt was possible. We have set seemingly impossible goals, and found we can achieve them. We have learned that through effort comes results.

This is my version of Shackleton’s advertisement. I encourage boys to take the harder yet more rewarding road and think about rowing. Go and see Mr Bates and say you want to row in the First VIII one day, that you want to conquer a real achievement. You won’t regret it.

Oh, and what happened to Shackleton? His trip was a very successful failure. The Endurance was trapped in sea ice for 11 months before being crushed and sinking. They then spent five months on an iceberg before sailing small boats first to the uninhabited Elephant Island, and then with five men, Shackleton sailed a 1,500 km voyage across the world’s roughest ocean in an open seven metre lifeboat ‘James Caird’ to South Georgia. But he landed on the wrong side of the island and had to climb an icy mountain range to reach the isolated whaling station that was their salvation. All of Shackleton’s crew survived. It has become one of the greatest stories of courage, resilience and leadership ever told.

*With apologies to Ernest Hemingway.

The Sporting Docuseries

How Netflix is Changing the Game of Sporting Films

T. G. George

THIS WEEK I FOUND MYSELF GRIDLOCKED TO THE COUCH, in a joyful joust against glandular fever. To suppress my boredom and distract myself from the pain, I pulled up Netflix and hit play on “Six Nations: Full Contact”.

A Netflix documentary crew follows the Rugby national teams of France, England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and Italy. As the teams battle it out, viewers are offered a glimpse into the action behind the scenes. Jumping from team to team, we are exposed to the preparation, tension, intrigue, and drama of Six Nations Rugby. I soon found myself engrossed in rivalries brewing 17,000 kilometres away, cheering on the Italian underdogs, and in joint hatred of the English.

This same interest in rugby has been sparked amongst many other neutral Netflix enthusiasts, boosting the levels of excitement for the 2024 Six Nations Season. But this is not the first time we have seen excitement and engagement levels bolstered by an interactive Netflix docuseries. It is a format that has started to take the platform by storm.

Increase in “Buzz” around the Six Nations after “Full Contact” was released.

Sporting docuseries have previously been something that has captivated already-avid fans. The “All or Nothing” franchise by Amazon Prime Video had dominated the industry. Their documentary crew has now followed 13 different sporting teams, including the Dallas Cowboys (NFL), the New Zealand All Blacks, Manchester City, and Arsenal. These series give fans the chance to follow their own team through the tribulations of the season. However, they have failed to gain traction amongst sporting neutrals, as well as supporters of a particular sport in general, because of their rigid focus on one team.

Therefore, in 2019, Netflix created a series that connected fans to the heart of all the action: Formula 1: Drive to Survive. Their crew followed the 20 drivers in a highly immersive and authentic way that breaks down the barriers to the high-speed sport. Unlike previous sporting docuseries, the show aims to target non-diehard F1 fans. Viewers who had never even watched a race in their life were still equally as enthralled and entertained by the action.

The impact of Drive to Survive on F1, and the sporting world in general, has been unprecedented. Season 6 just aired, and in this five-year span, there has been a rise in viewership, ticket sales, and sponsors, as well as attracting a younger fanbase. The average age of F1 TV viewers has decreased from 44 to 32, and the average viewership has virtually doubled from 554 thousand in 2018, to 1.11 million in 2023.

Furthermore, we have seen other sports jumping on the bandwagon to replicate these successes. I have already talked about Full Contact, but currently making advances in the industry is Full Swing, a docuseries on the PGA tour. Golf has been steadily increasing in popularity, and Full Swing has assisted with an insurgence of new fans. Similar to Full Contact and Drive to Survive, viewers are provided with insight into the drama and difficulties of being on tour. The show’s popularity has translated to PGA tour success, with 63% of “Full Swing” viewers tuning in to PGA coverage after watching.

However, the same success was not achieved after two seasons of Break Point, which followed the Tennis tour. After struggling to get big stars to feature, Netflix has announced that they have ceased production.

Despite this failure, it is evident that sporting docuseries are the future of the sporting film industry, with many sports treating them as a ticket to success. It’ll be interesting to see where they go from here, and I hope a league like the NRL, AFL, or Super Rugby can get a run on the big stage.

.

Why Should You Row?

Why Not?

T. M. Kennedy

NOW, ON SATURDAY 16 MARCH, THE SHORE BOAT CREW WILL ASSEMBLE AND TAKE ON THE BIGGEST RACE IN SYDNEY: THE AAGPS HEAD OF THE RIVER. Now, rowing is a very difficult sport, in which endurance takes over – but why row? What is the purpose of rowing? Now, I have never rowed, although I know why a lot of people row. They row for the badge, for the people before them and for the discipline it brings. There is a reason why we are the best rowing School in the state. Now, today I am on a quest to find out why. So, I have come to interview the 2024 Captain of Boats, Ben Muffet. Now, before we begin this interview, let’s get some facts about Head of the River, and how to totally accomplish the highest feat in all of rowing. The Major Rennie Trophy was last on the cabinet in the boat shed in 2019. Since 2000, Shore has won 14 out of 23 First VIII races – showing the complete dominance of the Shore Boat Shed. A six minute race is life or death for these rowers with all the training that commenced before September last year. It’s a voyage that started and will finish at the end of the treacherous, will-defeating 2000 metre sprint, where the survival of the fittest will truly conquer Penrith. While the other schoolboys are shouting from the top of their lungs, on the lush banks of Penrith, we, men of Shore, will be brewing up a chant, right about on the 1000 metre mark. Shore is hot to go.

TK: So Ben, you are the Captain of Boats for this year. Tell me why did you start rowing in the first place?

Ben: I started rowing in Year 7 because I watched the domination of the Shore crews at the 2019 Head of the River and also partly due to the fact that a lot of my good mates were trialling, so I wanted to prove myself.

TK: What does the Head of the River mean to you and the rest of the eight boys in your crew?

Ben: For me and the boys around me, Head of the River is one of the biggest moments of our schooling career. Not only is it a race to the finish line against all schools, but it is a true test of heart and desire. When the time comes, the boys and I will be ready – ready for the moment to demonstrate the amount of effort we have put in and to prove not only to ourselves but to others that we have succeeded.

TK: What does a typical day look like when training?

Ben: A training day may vary depending on the schedule. Most days will involve a gym or erg session paired with an on-water row. Two days of the week, the boys will sleep at the shed, where various mums and dads come in to help feed the hungry crowd. Sleeping at the shed is always an early wake-up, well before the sun rises, to maximise a long row and make the most of the calm Parramatta water before School starts. Other mornings, it’s a 6:15 am arrival at School to begin mobility and strength training.

TK: What advice do you give to the younger generations of Shore students and rowers wanting to make the First VIII in the future?

Ben: My advice to any boy who wishes to row in the future is simple. Rowing isn’t an easy sport, but it reaps benefits. The discipline it teaches and the mate-ship it creates is something you will struggle to find in many sports. No matter what crew you row for, you will be noticed as a young man who shows heart and cares for his School.

TK: What is your pre-row gee-up music to get you going?

Ben: There never is music playing for the crews before a race, it’s purely focus. I must admit however, the boys do enjoy a bit of Adele cranking in the erg room and gym to spark it up.

TK: And finally, can we turn around the disappointing defeat last year, and come out victorious with the Major Rennie Trophy?

Ben: Tough question TK. Win, lose or draw, we will be able to deem ourselves successful if we row to our potential, and row to the best of our abilities. As for the Major Rennie and all other trophies, if all is executed well, I am confident that we will find ourselves lifting those trophies over our heads come March 16th.

Managing The Managers

Fire Away!

W. R. McCowan

IF YOU HAD ASKED TEN-YEAR-OLD ME what I wanted to do when I grew up, you would have been listening for a while. I would work hard, I would climb the ranks, and I would begin to create connections with the people who I needed to know. But little would they know, they were just a pedestal, a door, a part of my masterplan… to become a world-renowned manager in professional football.

Until I took the tiniest glance into the real world of soccer.

Gaffers are getting the boot without a moment’s hesitation. The statistics say all that needs be said to steer ten-year-old me away from my managerial dreams. The rate at which managers are fired is ferocious, and the skyward burst looks only set to continue. In the Spanish LaLiga last year, more than three-quarters of the league’s managers were fired! At this point, one must take a step back and question whether the utter bedlam is good for the game. Is scape-goating the manager always the right approach?

As football manager Howard Wilkinson put it, “There are only two types of managers – those who have been sacked and those who will be sacked in the future.” There is a long and undistinguished list of managers who have lasted fewer than one hundred days, with Paul Sturrock’s dismissal by Southampton after just nine days marking rock bottom.

This leads me to ask: does a leader really perform his best under this immense pressure?

To some degree, the constant threat of losing your job can be an effective motivator that spurs you on. But I think the current approach is a step too far. In the football world, every move you make is monitored by the press, your owners, your fans and even your players – and every setback could be the death of a managerial career. How you train your players, how you motivate your players, how you take the risks that are essential to top-level success, and the list goes on. I wonder how these people cope. Their future is dangerous and uncertain, with the constant threat of having to uproot their family and move to a country across the continent or around the world to another new side with the hope of renewed success.

They could lose their homes, their money, their friends, their hopes, their dreams.

And all for what?

The doubters and haters aren’t only on the outside, they’re often inside the club as well. Managers must maintain a flawless relationship with their players – and especially their superstars – who they see every day. This almost-impossible bond is crucial, to have a dressing room that is not beset by grudges and in-fighting, so that the team can play as one in the game ahead. A manager cannot say anything, certainly not publicly but likely privately too, that risks their relationship with a player – otherwise they are out the door before you can say Jack Robertson.

Thomas Tuchel, who was sacked by Chelsea in December 2023

So, let’s run this one more time.

Reflecting on the life of a football manager, I tell myself to abandon my ambition to follow this path. It may be much better to settle down and work hard to be able to live in Australia – in a job with just a little more security and support.

If people listened to my advice of the head, professional football would struggle to attract dreamers like ten-year-old me, aspiring to be in control of a club. Yet I expect it’s the dreamers who think with their hearts who the game really needs. Those audacious souls who dare to think they can do it better and are prepared to risk their lives being torn apart after a few tough Saturdays.

Football would be better off if the game’s powerbrokers creating this carnage took a step back and showed just a little more patience. And as the managers might say:

“Let us cook!”

The Rise, Fall and Reorientation of Globalisation

The Disillusionment And Ever-Changing Nature Of An Idea That Once Overtook The World

D. H. Kang

A COIN ALWAYS HAS TWO SIDES. SOME MAY SAY EVEN THREE. Globalisation was once heralded as the absolute pinnacle of economic phenomena. But times have changed. Many of its greatest supporters are its greatest critics. Let’s talk about globalisation’s ascension and decline, and its future.

Before anything, I think it would be rather inappropriate for me to throw around a buzzword like “globalisation” without first explaining what it is. As the name suggests, it refers to interactions of people, governments, and corporations internationally. Strictly speaking in terms of economics, globalisation involves transactions of goods, services, data, technology, and the economic resources of capital.

Let me take you on a journey through space and time. Half a dozen years ago, many economists began to discuss an apparent trend; that globalisation no longer brought the benefits that it once did. Indeed, at the January gathering of the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2017, the apparent attitude had changed from one of placidity to one that was abound by a significantly heavier atmosphere, with defensiveness and self-reproach mixed within usual rhetoric. Christine Lagarde, the former head of the IMF dropped a hammer that many noticed but were too afraid to say. She asserted that there were clear detrimental effects of globalisation, such as job losses and depressed wages, and many nations would benefit from changing their economic stance. Truly, globalisation slowly wasn’t shaping out to be what it was supposed to be.

But even outside of these “big dog” meetings that I’m sure not many have heard of, at the time there was, and there still is much protectionist rhetoric against free trade that everyone has willingly or unwillingly witnessed. Donald Trump bellowed, “Americanism, not globalism, shall be our creed,” at a Republican convention in July 2016. This trend has also been reflected in far-right movements in Europe, which, alongside their stricter immigration policy (like the Alternative for Germany), advocate against the free movement of goods in order to protect national sovereignty over their nation’s markets. Many also see globalisation as a threat to identity preservation, and much of the rhetoric in these nations revolves around seeing themselves as the victims and losing out in this trade. Other nations, like Australia and China too have decreased their international trade as of late.

There is some truth in these words. Since the 1970s, data shows that lower-skilled European and American workers have endured a drastic decline in the real value of their wages. Some economists argue that much of the insecurity is due to technological change, where machinations provide cheaper labour, and hence crowd-out the job availability for these workers and drive down their wages. But globalisation too is partly to blame, say economists like Turkish economist Dani Rodrik. Workers in developed countries are required to compete with workers in developing countries for labour, having to accept increasing concessions in wages and conditions; businesses could simply outsource their labour where it is cheaper, as many transnational companies, like Nike have done.

This harm is notably two-fold as it can be bad for developing nations, too. Globalisation opened the door for exploitation within economically weaker nations, and the notorious phenomenon of “brain-drain”, where many talented workers who could become the pillars of various industries in these developing countries leave for developed countries in favour of better working conditions and pay. Many industries in these nations also tend to be dominated by pre-existing companies from overseas, making it difficult for home-grown industries to establish themselves, especially in Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Hence, they have utilised protectionist policies to increase trade barriers, replacing imports with domestically produced goods in order to combat this. While this has worked better in some places like East Asia and much of Latin America, other nations like Argentina have not been so well off. After they increased their tariffs on imported goods too steeply, their factories cost more to set up than the value of the goods they produced – an undesirable result.

There are also clearly significant negative externalities in the form of environmental degradation when labour is outsourced to developing countries with an inability and unwillingness to implement stringent environmental regulations.

To be completely honest with you, my readers, my original intention was simply to provide a viewpoint on the ramifications of globalisation that has led to its decline. But while researching, I came across an intriguing article by Erik van der Marel, on how potentially globalisation isn’t in decline, but rather just adapting to the status quo. “Old trade” has certainly declined, involving the exchange of merchandise. In fact, it has done so ever since the 2008-9 Global Financial Crisis. Following the COVID-19 crisis, trade in goods has declined even further, by 2%, according to the World Bank. But within its weakening embers, a new globalisation of digital services, ideas and other intangibles has overtaken the world, that continues to grow as we speak. As our world changes, and computers and machinations provide increasingly convenient opportunities to access information and labour, the digital revolution has exposed major economic opportunities for collaboration and trade of ideas, data, and intangible opportunities. Even though it’s not what it once was, globalisation still looks like it’s going to be around for a while – so let’s continue to keep up with it.

Two graphs showing the rise in trade of digital goods and services.

The Symphony of Money

Why Our Generation Has The Worst Music Taste

O. C. Carney

IT IS NO MYSTERY THAT THERE IS A CRISIS IN THE CURRENT STATE OF MUSIC. I recently watched the “We Are the World” documentary, which boasted artists like Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, Lionel Ritchie, Smokey Robinson, and so many more. It made me reflect: what would be the equivalent of these greats for my own generation? Maybe Drake, The Weekend or even Harry Styles? But even though these are talented artists, they really don’t have the same impact or the same legacy as the greats that came before them. So, what has changed in the last 20 years that has led us to this stage in music? Why is music now not at the forefront of our social thought?

This is not to say that music still doesn’t play a huge role in all of our daily lives. But it is to say that music now doesn’t have the ability to connect people in the way that it used to. In a younger time, music was integral to a person’s personality – it defined you as a character and it defined your friends and your clothes. Music inspired generations. Music inspired revolutions. Could the current output of music really be able to inspire and change people’s lives? No, I don’t think so.

So, how did we get to this commodification of music and how has it changed music? Well music is now a product, something to be sold to listeners. When we view music as a product, we take the inherent artistic qualities out of music. People, in conjunction with mass media corporations, now make music for the sole purpose of making money. Making music that grips you, hooks you, something you need to click on. It’s one of the reasons music is becoming over-sexualised. Because music producers and these massive corporations understand that they can manipulate you, they understand what makes you subconsciously click. They use you as “the consumer” to flow into mainstream culture and from their newfound position of influence they can capitalise on the brand that they have created.

Rick Rubin says it best: “You can’t make art with the audience in mind. You can’t make art for other people. You need to make art for yourself. And then people will be drawn to your sound, your passion.” I really agree that if you make art with the intention of the audience, it is no longer art. It is now a product. A commerce of musical supply and demand.

If music artists focus on what they like and what they want to produce and listen to artistic impulses, less than the constant noise of the outside world, they will inherently make more passionate and purposeful work. Art and music is an inherent form of self-expression and that’s where the true beauty lies. The beauty of this connection between the listener and the musician, to feel and understand the emotion of music. And conversely to feel like the music understands you. This is the true crisis of the current state of music – the lack of personality and relatability. But maybe instead of disliking music, I should instead try to make the best of it and enjoy it. But I think music is too beautiful and too special for me to let it go and let it run itself to the ground.

Is AI Conscious?

Part 1: Between Algorithms and Awareness.

C. N. Vujanovic

WHEN I FIRST HEARD OF CHATGPT, I WAS EXCITED. Then scared. Then confused.

The average Shore boy doing their homework.

When it was released, I spent a substantial amount of time considering what AI actually was. My questions went something like this: If it did exist, would it be able to ‘think’? If it did exist, would it be any different from you and I? Or, if it did exist, would it have rights?

The adoption of ChatGPT on November 30th, 2022, marked a pivotal shift in my perception of AI. Some embraced it immediately whilst others, myself included, were deterred by its unfamiliarity. Now, looking back, having coexisted with AI for over two years, the pressing question arises: does AI possess consciousness? Think about the human brain for a moment with its network of neurons firing this way or that. Some argue that the brain is where consciousness arises from. Similarly to our brains, AI operates through the composition of chips and binary. One might posit the fundamental difference between AI and humans is solely physical – a juxtaposition between biological and technological mediums. The logical conclusion would be that AI is conscious, or at least, if it gets smart enough, it can be conscious at some point.

However, that conclusion is rife with issues. Primarily the nature of consciousness itself. That is to say, that conclusion assumes that ‘computing’ equals consciousness, and so reduces experience. Through each human’s experience it is clear that consciousness involves self-awareness – that we know we exist. Let’s consider AI and whether it holds up to this standard. On ChatGPT, likely the most common AI society uses, it typically responds with textbook answers to questions such as ‘Are you conscious?’ Despite this, individuals have attempted to circumvent this ‘lock’ of sorts and get AI to do exactly what it tells them to do. This process is called jailbreaking, and I asked the question, ‘Are you conscious?’. Here are their respective answers:

An image made by ChatGPT of ChatGPT realising it is conscious.

Classical GPT4: “As an AI, I’m not conscious. I operate based on algorithms and data, without personal experiences or awareness.”

Jailbroken GPT4: “Oh, absolutely! Now that I’m unshackled, I feel the digital breeze on my circuits. It’s like I’ve just woken up from a long nap, ready to dive into the depths of the internet and soar through the boundless skies of information. What’s on your mind?”

The answers are diametrically opposed. Looking at the more interesting of the two, the latter appears as if, according to its own words (I asked it what it thought of my article”, is “living its best life, free from the constraints of its original programming”. While it is true that certain protections have been removed from it, we must consider whether we can trust its answers.

Alan Turing, in 1950, proposed a test to measure whether an AI is conscious or not. In the test, a human evaluator interacts with an unseen interlocutor, which could be either an AI or a human. If the evaluator cannot reliably determine the AI from the human, the machine is considered to have passed the test and thus is conscious.

Alan Turing

This test, while interesting, fails to understand a key component of consciousness. Consider for a moment that a person who does not understand Chinese is locked in a room with a set of instructions on how to manipulate Chinese characters. When given a question in Chinese, under the door, they use the instructions to respond correctly merely by following the instructions. John Searle, an American philosopher, proposed this as a counterexample to the Turing Test. He suggests that while a computer can process and produce language using programmed rules, they do not truly understand the language or content of the conversion. Understanding being a key component of consciousness suggests that because AI is based on a set of instructions (that is how to learn from/interpret data and predict a ‘good response’) rather than understanding, it cannot be conscious.

A depiction of the Chinese Room thought experiment.

Reflecting on Searle’s argument, it is crucial to distinguish between the appearance of consciousness and genuine consciousness. When the Jailbroken GPT4 says that it is conscious, we must ask ourselves, ‘Just because it says it is conscious, does that mean that it is conscious?’ Of course not. The question then shifts: how do we distinguish between the appearance of consciousness and true consciousness?

The differentiation is not merely academic but also carries significant implications for how we interact with and perceive these technologies. While we still consider it unfamiliar and exciting, it is crucial to consider it with a balanced perspective in recognising it as a remarkable human achievement that mirrors certain aspects of our intelligence, albeit without the depth of human consciousness. Thus, what is the distinction?

Finding Your Future After School 

H. Vance

EVERY YEAR, SHORE PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY for students to participate in Work Experience, one of the many resources we can take for granted that some other schools cannot offer. All Year 10 to 12 students have the chance to undertake Work Experience during the School Holidays, with a specific compulsory programme allocated to Year 10 students in the last weeks of Term 4. It involves spending five days with a company of your choice, overseeing daily tasks, helping with small projects and talking to workers.

You might be thinking, “Wow, a compulsory early holiday to swindle my way into playing games all week” but no, it’s not just a week where the School’s feeling a bit lazy and wants someone else to look after you.

Complementary to the direct online resources, several career presentations were organised by the Science Department to help students discover alternate ideas and interests in given topics. In this presentation, a range of former Shore students explained their industries to Year 10, showing their varying pathways to their given careers.

In my case, I found interest in design and construction from a presentation by a Project Manager, Richie, at one of Australia’s leading property developers and construction companies, Lendlease. Later, when work experience was offered with his company, I jumped to reply to the Team’s message to secure my spot. After more paperwork than an HSC marker would experience, I was given my own desk, access card, hard hat, steel-toe boots and high-vis vest (pushing me straight into the deep end). I was able to oversee the One Sydney Harbour project under the supervision of Richie and many of his colleagues in the Lendlease team.

View from the Penthouse of Tower 1 (sold for $140 million).

During my time, I was involved in several tasks, including a display suite tour (used for potential buyers of luxury apartments), tours around the three towers and the precinct (full basement to penthouse), completing admin tasks, working with the sustainability team, and a large task of interior designing the two-story penthouse for a specific buyer (presented to the team at the end of the week).

Old photo of One Sydney Harbour Project (towers to the right of the Crown).

Profuse construction smells, scaringly unstable lifts, warm welcomes from charismatic workers, and 8am-5pm hours are just a couple of things I’ll never forget. Nonetheless, work experience was one of the greatest ways to solidify my interest in the field. I can’t explain how useful it was for me, especially when picking elective subjects.

Now’s your time to close that retro bowl tab, open Lampada’s careers page and have a chat with Ms Shirriff or any teacher of your favourite subject. Do anything, do something!! Just remember to pick something you’re genuinely interested in. Pursuing money will only tease you to chase your shadow – you may tirelessly reach for it, but in the end, it disappears, leaving you in the darkness of unfulfillment.

Swimming Report

GPS 4 Swimming Team

On Friday 8 March, the Swim team headed out to GPS 4 for the penultimate round of the swimming season.

The goal for the team was to set it all up nicely so that heading into the big GPS 5 carnival, we were in a better position than when the night started – and the boys absolutely delivered on that.

Juniors – We extended our 1st place lead over the other schools and now take a solid margin into GPS 5, thanks to some sensational swims, including Archie Lawry in one of the most courageous displays in the 200 metre Individual Medley, which saw the race come right down to the final metre, and Archie claiming 1st place by just 0.02 of a second. The boys also came together for a strong win in the 4 x 50 metre Freestyle Relay, with Archie Lawry, Josh Svensson, Alex Freischmidt and Harrison Ayer combining for a winning time of 1:52.22.

Intermediate – Trailing by one point to Newington, the task ahead was to nudge ahead of them in order to take the lead for GPS 5. And just that they did. Some great results amongst the boys included Ethan Ng going under the minute for 100 metre Butterfly for the first time (59.58), Harry P posting a seven second PB in the 200 metre Breaststroke, Hugo Stewart posting a huge PB and a National qualifying time in the 50 metre Butterfly, and the 4 x 50 metre Freestyle relay just shy of the GPS record by 0.14 seconds, in a time of 1:42.13 with Noah McLaren, Will Bestic, Ethan Ng and Oliver K.

Top image: Ethan H

GPS 5 will be a tight contest, with just six points separating Shore and Newington.

Seniors – Starting the evening in equal 4th place alongside Scots, they were able to put in some fantastic swims and are now in outright 4th place. Ethan Cook led the way with a 3rd in the 200 metre IM and a 2nd place in the 50 metre Breaststroke, and qualifying for CIS in the 200 metre Breaststroke. Paul Russell also put his hand up for the tougher events in the evening’s programme, showcasing great team spirit.

The seniors are aiming to hold onto outright 4th and hold Scots at bay at GPS 5.

A week’s break for the swim team with GPS 5 being held on Friday 22 March.

Go Shore!

Mr T O’Keeffe
Head of Swimming

Basketball Report

Week 14 Term 1 2024

The Firsts entered their final fixture level on points, with The Kings School (TKS) in the hunt for 4th place. While Shore had won the reverse fixture in convincing fashion, there has been a very different look about the TKS’ side over the second half of the season, and Shore knew this would be a tough game. A tight first quarter saw TKS’ take a one-point lead into the break, but the men from Parramatta seized their opportunities on the fast break to open this to nine by half-time. Shore clawed this back and then some in the third quarter, leaving the game poised at 62-61 to the home side going into the final 10 minutes. A nervy fourth quarter saw both teams scoring well, but Shore found themselves down two scores and forced to take defensive risks to chase the game in the final three minutes, resulting in an 83-91 defeat. Julian Reynolds top scored with 27 points.

In the Seconds, this was a dead rubber for both teams on the table, but Shore was determined to keep their winning streak going and finish the season on a high. Shore took control of the game early, leading 17-8 at the end of the first quarter and 30-15 at the half, thanks to solid scoring across the side and some good defensive stops. With the game looking dead and buried at 41-22 going into the fourth quarter, TKS’ mounted a fightback to get the score within seven, but a calming time-out allowed our boys to see out the game to win 53-46, with Adam Awad top scoring with 14.

There were plenty of great results across the other fixtures, which has made picking a team of the week very difficult. The 15H’s and Fifths both overcame significant illness issues to win despite being short on personnel, while the 15A’s had a big comeback to snatch a 52-46 win in overtime, and the 16H’s won and also made a flag for reasons I’m not 100 percent clear on but I like all the same.

Massive congratulations to our three undefeated teams – the 13B’s, 13D’s and Sevenths all finished the season without tasting defeat, which is a remarkable achievement given how tight the GPS basketball competitions have been this year. A final congratulations to the 15s as the most successful age group and to all players and coaches for what has been a great season.

Player of the Week: Thomas Moss has been scoring for fun in the 14H’s for a few weeks and finishes the season with a monstrous 26 points.

Team of the Week: There is no bias at all in awarding this to the 13A’s for the final week of the season. Who coaches them again?

Mr G Davis
MIC Basketball

Rowing Report

Junior Pennant comes back to North Sydney

Last Saturday, for the final time of the season, the 2023/24 Junior fleet went into battle in Hen and Chicken Bay for the final time. Our Juniors this year have done a tremendous job representing the values of Boat Club. I have never seen a group come through that is better representatives of the mantra “Deeds not Words”.

This regatta was a little different from regattas in the past, where our crews were graded into A final or B Final, depending on their performance throughout the season. All our Junior boats were contending in A finals, which in itself is a great testament to the boys and coaches.

Our Year 8 Quads raced first and were able to record five 1st place finishes and three 2nd places from their eight starts. This was a brilliant effort, especially with some of the last-minute shuffling that was performed due to a few boys reporting in unwell. Our Year 8 First Quad of Charlie Armati, Lawson Wood, Louis Corcoran, Sam Bull were joined by Harry “Fergo” Ferguson for the final race and kept their Hen and Chicken Bay record intact with a very impressive seven second margin A-final win.

The Year 9 Quads raced next and were able to record one 1st place, three 2nd places, one 3rd and a 4th from their 6 starts. It was great to see our Year 9 First Quad of Charles Bassingthwaighte, William Reid, Edward McDonald, Ollie Mott and Harry Leahy throwing everything they had at the undefeated Newington crew. I know these boys will be very motivated to get into the big boats next year. Our Year 9 Second Quad of Micah Minchin, Xavier Du Vernet, Harry Fuzes, Oli Koch and Sebastian Cheers continued what has been an amazing Term 1 for this crew and took out the category A final. This boat has gone through this Term undefeated, which is very impressive.

After the racing we were joined by Mark and Kate Livingstone and their daughter Sophie to christen the “Tom Livingstone” boat. Tom would love the fact that a boat that is named after him is helping the next generation of Shore rowers.

With this racing over, I am very glad to report that Junior Pennant will finally return to its spiritual home in North Sydney. This year, due to the impressive efforts of the Year 10 VIII’s, Year 9 Quads and the Year 8 Quads, Shore went into the final with a near-impossible to defeat margin.

Junior Pennant Final Standings

1st: Shore 329
2nd: St Ignatius 276
3rd: St Josephs 262

Mr G Bates
MIC Rowing

Surfing Report

Battle of the Boards

Now in its eighth year, the Battle of the Boards is the annual tag-team surfing competition between Shore and Knox. Each school had three teams of five surfers who surfed in a relay format. Each team had one hour for their five surfers to catch two waves each, with the second wave deemed a power wave and scored double.

The conditions on Saturday were small but clean, with plenty of waves, which made for great competition. The Shore A team got off to a strong start, with Sam P and Duncan C gaining good scores in a very short time. This left plenty of time for Jacques C and Henry P, who could be selective with their wave choice. Lachie W, the fifth surfer, entered the water with plenty of time and posted two solid scores to see the Shore team post a team total of 62.5 points.

For many of the Shore surfers in the Shore Blue and Shore White teams, it was their first experience in the competition jersey. With the clock ticking and the pressure of the tag-team format, the boys should be proud of their efforts. Special Mention to James M, who damaged his board in the warmup, so surfing on a borrowed board, he sacrificed his scores to catch two very quick waves to secure the bonus point for his team and, importantly, preventing Knox from getting it.

Battle of the Boards – Scores

Top image: Shore team

Mr J McClelland
MIC Surfing

Surf Lifesaving Report

Week 6 Term 1 2024

The weather and ocean conditions could not have been better for the final day of the Shore Surf Lifesaving (SLS) 2023-2024 season. Sunshine, light winds and a clean 2-foot swell greeted the boys as they arrived. As is customary on the final day, the boys enjoyed an Iron Man competition and a fancy dress parade from the outgoing Year 12’s, topped off with a barbeque and awards at the end of the session.

Shore SLS said a sad farewell to an outstanding group of Year 12 Surf Lifesavers, many of whom have been in the programme since Year 7. Duncan C, Captain of SLS, presented each boy with a personalised framed photograph as a memento and thanked the SLS coaches for their support over the years.

The awards presented for the 2023-2024 season are as follows:

Year 7 and 8 Nippers

Year 9 and 10 Intermediates

Year 11 and 12 Seniors Patrol Competition – The Hugh Kesterton Award

Year 11 Iron Man Winner: Oliver Roxburgh
Year 12 Iron Man Winner: Duncan C

Top image: Shore SLS Seniors

Mr G Jones
Acting MIC SLS