Message from the Headmaster

Dear Students, Parents and Carers

At the beginning of Term we have commemorated the service of Australian armed forces, from the Boer War (1899-1902), as the first war involving Shore Old Boys, right up to the present day. Through more than a century, Shore Old Boys have served their country well.

For over 90 years, Shore has annually conducted Polished Pennies services involving all of our students in Upper Primary and Senior School. This concept was introduced as a way of funding the maintenance of brass plaques erected to commemorate Shore Old Boys who had lost their lives in war. It is about respect, remembrance and commemoration. 

The concept of service is fundamental to our Building Good Men programme. Shore has always seen humble service as an attribute of a good man. We are digging deeply into this concept, partly through the work of our Head of Service Learning, Mr Huw Blood. His summary of this programme initiative is as follows:

• Our Big Kitchen: Currently, in a calendar year, we invite 60 participants from each House, in separate service events (parents/staff/students/families) to cook food for disadvantaged/marginalised members of the community. This includes preparing and literally dropping food off on the street, for delivery to undisclosed and protected areas of greater Sydney for victims of domestic violence.
• Rough Edges: Shore conducts a weekly service, supporting people experiencing a range of other societal issues. Our support extends to a sleepout later this Term (22/06/2024) in support of Banksia Women – an outreach programme as part of St John’s Darlinghurst/Rough Edges helping women rehabilitate after domestic violence occurrences. This year, we are increasing both the student/staff involvement and hearing from Banksia Women as part of this educational/fundraising event. We are fundraising for several extra support structures in this programme, geared directly toward domestic violence and vulnerable women in our community.
• Salvation Army: This year we have shifted to serving both Street level mission and Hope Dinner as part of the Salvation Army outreach programme.
• We also hope to support Mary’s House in Crows Nest, and to be involved in their annual fundraising event, which is a scheduled walk, in October.
• Finally last year Shore ran a pilot programme, Schools for Impact, that featured many organisations that directly and indirectly support vulnerable women/children in domestic violence situations.

Our Building Good Men programme is scaffolded over many years as our young boys grow into men. Within the programme sits our cooperative arrangements with several leading girls’ schools. One of the key issues explored is the concept of consent. We have engaged a specialist team led by Dr Joy Townsend, who will work with all Years 7 to 11 to develop an understanding of areas such as establishing safe and inclusive environments; dealing with the online world; consent, sexual activity and the law; the concept of consent with boundaries and communication and alcohol consumption; gender stereotyping; the scourge of pornography; media literacy including in the online world; and the fundamental question of what does it mean to be a man?

These issues were once considered the exclusive province of parents but in a changing society, governments are increasingly seeing schools as important agents for the socialisation of young people, and through their control of curriculum are mandating the teaching of areas relating to the concept of consent. Coverage of our programme within our formal curriculum sits with our Personal Development / Health / Physical Education staff, who are specifically trained in these areas. As we roll out further aspects of our developments in this domain, we will keep parents informed.

However, developing men of substance is not a task for the School alone.

Research on influence is quite clear. Schools have a role to play, but more powerful influencers are found among peers and parents. However, there is the danger of unfettered access online to unhelpful influences. This being the case, we implore parents to supervise and control what their sons are viewing while away from School, whether on desktops, iPads, laptops or phones. 

The School is happy to support parents by making available free of charge Linewize/Qustodio, which act as effective web filters. It is also vital that homes support the School’s efforts in urging and modelling positive relationships with women and girls of all ages.

Shore’s efforts emerge from our Christian ethos, where Jesus summarised the commandments as loving God and loving our neighbours. [Jesus said] ‘…Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no commandment greater than these.’ (Mark 12:30-31). In this definition, our neighbours means everybody.

Essentially, we are in the business of Building Good Men who will treat future wives and partners, daughters, friends and mothers with love, respect and dignity.

Term 2

We have started the Term without three of our four Senior School Deputy Heads present. Deputy Head Academic, Mr Leeds, is on leave, and our Deputy Head Pastoral Care, Mr Champion, has had COVID. For the time being, these roles have been filled in an acting capacity by Mr Bentley and Mr McCormack respectively. Our Deputy Head Operations, Dr Mansfield has been on an overseas School trip and so has been unable to easily respond to parent enquiries during this time. 

On our first Assembly of the year, we celebrated the stunning performance of our students in GPS Tennis and Swimming. Our Firsts and Seconds Tennis teams both won the GPS competition, a significant achievement which last occurred 40 years ago. Our Junior and Intermediate squads were victorious in the GPS Swimming Carnival. We had 14 students attend the National Championships, and congratulations go to three A finalists (top 10 in the country) from Shore: William Bestic, Ethan Cook and Noah McLaren. Qualifying for these championships is an incredible achievement in itself, so being in the top 10 for any event is a testament to their ability and the hard work they have put into it. 

In late news from NESA, Aaron Rucinski, from Year 12, 2023, has had his Major Work from English Extension 2 identified as one of the best in the state. Aaron has gone off to Cambridge University. His Teacher, Mr Seth Fitisemanu, has received hearty congratulations from the staff. Ethan Tan, Year 12, 2023 has been offered a place by Harvard, Yale and the University of Pennsylvania. Current Senior student Michael Kwak has been appointed as Captain of the NSW Schools Debating Team. We congratulate all these young men on these splendid achievements.

As our Co-Curricular and Sport activities launch into our winter seasons, comprising Terms 2 and 3, I am looking forward to getting around to encourage and support our boys and to chat with parents. Currently, my voice is still in convalescence from recent surgery, so please excuse my quietness in these environments in the early part of Term 2 as my voice recovers. On some occasions, I may need to resort to signalling!

Dr John Collier
Headmaster

Chaplains’ Chat

At the Staff Chapel service last week, we reflected upon one of our strategic pillars at Shore which is excellence in teaching and learning. In so many ways it is the main reason why schools exist, to educate the students! Of course, education involves more than just knowledge and getting a good mark in the exams. As one Headmaster in a Sydney school for over 30 years used to say: “the heart of education, is the education of the heart.” We certainly want our students to learn much and learn well, but we also want them to be people of great character, not only at School but for the rest of their lives. Indeed, in this regard, for all of us, education never stops!

Proverbs 22:6 says: “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” While we have heard the phrase that it takes a village to raise a child, certainly the family unit is also crucial in developing the child. The education of people will certainly involve different people at different times in life. At Shore, we want to continue to encourage our students with the wonderful Christian virtues of truth, selflessness, honesty, hope and love for others (to name a few!) that Jesus so wondrously shows us. Of course, this is an ongoing process in everyone’s life, and we don’t always get it right. But as we look to Jesus, we see in his life, his death on the Cross and his resurrection, the great news that we are so wonderfully loved by God. It is because we are so loved by God that we can see that our lives matter and, therefore how we live matters. 

Rev Anthony Benn
Chaplain

CRU Update

CRU returned this week after the holidays, opening a new book of the Bible for the new Term, the gospel of Mark in the New Testament. Mr Kellahan introduced the book, and we heard the Bible reading from the first 15 verses of chapter 1 before Caleb Schmidt spoke to us about the passage. Caleb clearly divided the passage into three sections: the Kingdom Promised, the Kingdom Here and the Kingdom Message. With a nice connection to last Term’s study of Isaiah, we saw the way that the prophecy of the Old Testament over 700 years earlier was fulfilled in John the Baptist coming to prepare the way for Jesus, the Messiah. John said he was not even worthy to untie the sandals of this person! John was baptising people who repented for the forgiveness of their sins, but when Jesus was baptised, it was significant because he had never actually sinned. In fact, Jesus’ baptism actually marked the beginning of his ministry on earth, and through this, we see God’s Kingdom here. It is made clear to us that Jesus is the Son of God with the voice from heaven saying “This is my Son whom I love.” Finally, the Kingdom Message is revealed from the lips of Jesus himself in verse 15. Jesus stated the Kingdom has come near, and in response we need to repent and believe the good news. Repenting means to turn away from our sin and toward God, believing in Jesus his Son. In verse 1, Mark said he was writing about the good news of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. This good news is that Jesus went on to die for our sins, so we can be forgiven. This is the gospel we will be exploring in the coming weeks at CRU on Friday lunchtimes in the Christian Studies Centre.

Daniel Becker
(Year 11)

Shore’s 135th Birthday Chapel Service

On Sunday May 5, the School held its annual Birthday Chapel service to mark 135 years of Shore. In so many ways, the School stands on the shoulders of others who have gone before. In May 1889 at the opening ceremony day, Bishop Barry said: “I hope that when this country colony should celebrate its second centenary there will be generation after generation of men who have been trained in the Church of England school and who have been real servants of God and their country.”

One hundred and thirty five years later, we can give God thanks that so many boys have gone through the School and continue to do so as they live lives of service. Indeed, we have just recently celebrated ANZAC Day, and our Shore Polished Pennies service reminded us of the service of so many Shore boys to their country. It was, therefore, appropriate at this service on Sunday to give God thanks for Shore.

It was wonderful to hear the choir sing under the direction of Mr Lachlan Massey, to pray for our Shore Community and to also hear from God’s Word about the wonderful good news of Jesus. At the conclusion of the service, there was the opportunity to have a family photo and a photo of parents and sons to mark the occasion. In many ways, we want to echo Bishop Barry’s words from 1889, and we hope that for generations to come, there will be thousands more students who have passed through Shore and seek to be servants of others in their lives.

Rev Anthony Benn
Chaplain

Full Gallery available here

Hope in a Suitcase

On Crazy Head, Hands, and Feet Day in Term 1, the ELC and K,1,2 classes collected new items for children in out-of-home care and raised funds for a wonderful charity, Hope in a Suitcase. Families and students participated by donating newly purchased items and contributing funds, which were used to fill 34 suitcases with essentials for children entering foster care due to domestic violence or other challenging situations.

These suitcases were delivered to Newcastle, where they will be distributed to children in need. The event raised over $1,000 in extra funds. The charity’s organiser, Rachael, expressed her heartfelt gratitude, describing the generosity and support from the School community as overwhelming. She acknowledged the love, care, and compassion the event demonstrated, noting the profound impact these donations will have on the lives of young people entering foster care.

Thanks to the efforts of students, families, and staff, Hope in a Suitcase can continue to support vulnerable children and make a positive difference in their lives. The School community’s involvement in this worthy cause showcases the power of coming together to help those in need.

Treasurer and Assistant Treasure Positions

Role Description

Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer: Appointed for one year in each role.
Volunteer basis – 2 Year Shore Parents’ Association Executive Role
Please forward applications to: spachair@shore.nsw.edu.au

The Shore Parents’ Association (SPA) was established to raise money to buy equipment and fund bursaries, support the school, organise social activities and provide relevant wellbeing seminars to the parent body.

This job requires a person with experience in accounting and Excel spreadsheets. The role does not require the production of Year End Special Purpose Financial Statements as these are prepared by Shore Finance. The Role requires up to 10 hours per week during the School Terms. The first year of appointment will be the Assistant Treasurer role and the second year will be the Treasurer role.

For a full position description and to learn more please contact the SPA Chair at the email address provided.

2024 Lower North Shore Careers Expo

Monday 13 May 2024 from 4.00pm – 6.00pm

Dear Shore Community

We are very excited to once again be hosting the Lower North Shore Careers Expo which will be even bigger and better than last year!

This year we have a “Human Library” on the basketball court next to the Exhibitors, where there will be over 40 career areas represented. Students can walk around and chat with current tertiary students and industry professionals and discuss insights, typical days, the realities and highlights of working and studying in their fields. Career areas include:

• Agriculture
• AI
• Apply to US College
• Architecture
• Biomedical Engineering
• Business
• Business Information Systems
• Civil Engineering
• Construction Management
• Cyber Security
• Data Analytics
• Entrepreneurship
• Exercise Science
• Finance
• Immunology
• Interior Design
• International Teaching
• Landscape Architecture
• Law
• Management Consulting
• Marketing
• Mechanical Engineering
• Medicine
• Mining Engineering
• Music
• Nursing
• Physiotherapy
• Product Design
• Property
• Psychology
• Real Estate
• Renewable Engineering
• Resource Engineering
• Speech Pathology
• Sport Management
• Trades
• Vet Science

After exploring different career areas, students can then explore courses and post-school opportunities with over 60 Exhibitors, which include:

Universities

• Australian Catholic University
• Australian National University
• Bond University
• Charles Sturt University
• Macquarie University
• Monash University
• Torrens University
• University of New England
• University of Newcastle
• University of Notre Dame
• University of NSW, Sydney
• University of Sydney
• University of Tasmania
• University of Technology, Sydney
• University of Wollongong
• Western Sydney University
• (Sydney City Campus)

Residential

• Campus Living Villages
• University College (UMelb)
• Women’s College (USyd)

Industry Associations

• Actuaries Institute
• AISNSW
• Chartered Accountants Australia/NZ
• Engineers Australia
• Global Payroll Australia
• Master Builders
• Pharmacy Guild of Australia (NSW) Real Estate Institute of NSW

TAFE and Apprenticeships

• Ai Group Apprentice & Trainee Australia
• Apprenticeships R Us
• NECA Training and Apprenticeships
• TAFE NSW

Private Colleges

• Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE)
• Academy of Interactive Technology (AIT)
• Academy of Music and Performing Arts (AMPA)
• Australian College of Applied psychology (ACAP)
• Australian College of Physical Education (ACPE)
• Australian Film Television and Radio School
• Bedford College
• Campion College
• International College of Management (ICMS)
• JMC Academy
• Le Cordon Bleu Australia
• Morling College
• Qantas Pilot Academy
• SAE Creative Media Institute
• Sydney Actors School & Sydney Film School
• Sydney Design School
• Sydney Flight College (SFC)
• The Hotel School Australia
• Whitehouse Institute of Design

Other

• ADF Careers
• Anglicare Sydney
• KPMG
• NSW Dept Education – Teach NSW
• NSW Police Force Recruitment
• One Giant Leap Foundation
• Super Yacht Australia
• Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness
• Universities Admission Centre (UAC)
• UTS Bachelor of Accounting Coop
• UTS Elite Athlete Program

International and Gap Year

• CCUSA – Camp Counselors USA
• Consulate General Canada
• Education USA
• IE University (Spain)
• IENA – American Summers
• Letz Live Gap Years

We encourage students and parents to make a plan of who to visit and create a list of questions, which may include:

• What makes your institution different to others?
• How much industry experience or placement is available in the course?
• Where are students employed once they complete the course?
• How many face-to-face hours does the course involve?
• How many students are enrolled in the course?

This event is open to families from other schools so please spread the word!

Ms V Shirriff
Head of Careers Education

Study Centre

Shore’s Study Centre has now started again. There are subject-specific sessions before and after School to allow the boys to seek individual help and guidance with their schoolwork. Teachers, sometimes assisted by high-achieving Old Boys, are available according to the published timetable. Study Centre operates on a drop-in basis, and there is no charge. The boys are strongly encouraged to attend.

The ‘Focus On’ programme is part of the Study Centre. It is run by staff in the Educational Services Department who support 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 occasionally 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 on the below:

Progress Meetings

Term 2: Notice To Parents – Years 9 and 11

• 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

Take Advantage of School TV, Our Parent Support Resource

Dear Parents and Carers

I would like to remind you about the valuable resources available to you through School TV. This platform
offers expert advice and practical guidance on various challenges faced by young men today.
Two key areas of focus that I’d like to bring to your attention involve the issue of vaping and trauma
recovery.

With the increase in vaping incidents among students across New South Wales, including our own
School, School TV provides crucial insights into the risks associated with vaping. This knowledge is
vital for discussing these health risks with your son. Thankfully, recent government regulations have
now placed greater restrictions on the selling and importation of vapes.

School TV also features updated resources on trauma recovery. These are designed to help you
support your son through discussions about recent tragic events, promoting healing and
understanding.

You can find School TV on our parent portal, Lampada.

We strongly encourage all parents to utilise this resource to better support and understand the
issues affecting our young men.

Thank you for your attention and partnership in addressing these important topics.

Mr D Champion
Deputy Head, Pastoral Care

Year 8 and 9 ySafe Cyber Safety Seminar

This Wednesday 8 May, boys in Year 8 and Year 9 participated in a 50-minute seminar focused on cyber safety conducted by ySafe, our partners and experts in online safety education. The session provided crucial insights into toxic behaviours online, the importance of respectful interactions with others, the legalities surrounding posting certain images and the law and managing digital wellbeing and online pressures.

The interactive format of the seminar encouraged active participation and engagement from the students, providing an environment where they could openly discuss and query the many challenges they face online. Our Pastoral Team will be utilising the insights from this seminar to further our ongoing educational efforts and discussions about digital citizenship with students.

The boys’ active involvement and their recognition of the relevance of the content highlight the seminar’s importance in addressing the needs of our young men. They demonstrated a keen understanding and interest in how to navigate the online world safely and responsibly.

At Shore, we are committed to not only educating our students academically but also building their character and resilience in the digital realm. This seminar is a part of our broader mission to prepare our young men to be respectful and responsible digital citizens.

We encourage you to have a conversation with your son about the seminar. Engaging in discussions at home about these topics reinforces the importance of the safe and responsible use of technology. Please know that we have more resources and information available at our online safety hub.

We appreciate the engagement of our students and the expertise brought by ySafe, and look forward to our continued efforts in guiding our students to thrive in both their real and digital lives.

Mr D Champion
Deputy Head, Pastoral Care

From the Music Department

A lot of events occured for Music in the last week of Term 1 and first week of Term 2. Thank you to all the staff and students involved in the many events.

Congratulations to…

…Harry Bestic, Jaxon Black, Claude Boddam-Whetham, Oscar Brown, Freddie Butcher, Dougal Cathles, Lewis de Vries, Henry Morris, Justin Polya, Billy Rogers, Benjamin Soh and Archie Watson, who performed solo trumpet pieces at their studio concert held at the end of last Term.

It was a highly entertaining evening full of wonderful performances. Thank you to Mr Ben Blunt for organising this event and to Ms Cheryl Oxley for accompanying these students on piano.

…. Jaxon Black, Claude Boddam-Whetham Ethan Chan, Archie Watson and Will Watson who performed The Last Post and Rouse at the Polished Pennies services across the School. Thank you to Will Watson who also played the Bugle Calls at the North Sydney Bears Basketball Anzac Day matches. Thank you to Ms Robertson for her mentoring of these students.

…Jaxon Black, JJ Black, Claude Boddam-Whetham, Ethan Chan, Jack Connor-Brent, Charlie Corbett-Jones, Ewen de Vries, Tom Eaton, Claude Fox, Joel Gilmour, Sam Lim, Jono Loy, Chris Mathur, Archie Watson, Will Watson, Christopher Yun and Philip Yun who performed Abide With Me at the Polished Pennies Services. Thank you to Ms Robertson who organised the three ensembles.

…Musicians in the Cadet Band who performed at ANZAC Day March. Congratulations to all the students and Ms Robertson for their excellent representation of Shore.

…Chapel Choir and ForeShore for their beautiful singing at the School’s birthday celebration at Open Service last Sunday. Thank you to Mr Massey for his leadership of the choir and to Mr Fox for his wonderful organ playing in accompanying these students.

…Toby Cochrane, Nathanel Joukhador, Noah Kordek, Nathan Liu, Conrad Lo, Jono Loy, Oscar Miller, Qiming Niu, Liam O’Neill, Hugh Riley, Jeddy Sam, Joe Stephens and Rory Wenden for their wonderful performances at the Year 10 Elective concert held last Wednesday. Thank you to Mr Dorich for his organisation of this event and to Ms Oxley for accompanying the students.

Concert Group

During the holidays, Year 12 Music students attended West Side Story on Sydney Harbour. Creators of the original musical include Jerome Robbins, Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim. The musical score is complex and was performed brilliantly by the orchestra that were underneath the stage. We bumped into Oldboy Isaac Broadbent (’17), who played the lead character of Tony when Shore performed West Side Story. Thank you to Ms Robertson and Mrs Barber for facilitating this event.

Rock School

On Friday 3 May, Year 8 students began their new Music class topic on Rock Music with an incursion to Rock School. Lead by Mr Warwick Payne, he and the band comprised of Shore’s tutors Mr Toby Hall, Ms Rochelle Fuller and Mr Alister Spence performed an array of Rock repertoire. From Beatles to AC/DC, Year 8 were given an overview of British, US and Australian Rock. Thank you to Mr Payne for his organisation of the event and our tutors for providing this wonderful opportunity for Year 8.

Upcoming Events

Year 9 Elective Music Soiree

On Wednesday 15 May, at 7pm in the Orchestral Recital Room Year 9 Elective Music students will be performing Australian repertoire. We hope you are able to join us for an evening of high-quality music.

Scholars’ Recital

On Wednesday 22 May, Shore Music Scholars will be performing a variety of repertoire. The recital will begin at 7pm in the Shore Chapel with our organ scholar and will then continue in the Orchestra Recital Room. Refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the recital. We hope you are able to join us for an evening of high-quality performances of some very challenging repertoire.

Year 11 Elective Music Soiree

On Wednesday 29 May, at 7pm in the Orchestral Recital Room, Year 11 Elective Music students will be performing on their specialist instruments. We hope you are able to join us for an evening of high-quality music.

Term 2 Music Calendar

Mrs K Barber
Head of Music

Cover and Contents

Dare, Courage, Risk

Are they lost in contemporary society?

H. A. G. Longstaff

Fate has ordained that the men who went to the moon to explore in peace, will stay on the moon to rest in peace.

These brave men, Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, know that there is no hope for their recovery.  But they also know that there is hope for mankind in their sacrifice.

These two men are laying down their lives in mankind’s most noble goal: the search for truth and understanding.

They will be mourned by their families and friends; they will be mourned by their nation; they will be mourned by the people of the world; they will be mourned by a Mother Earth that dared send two of her sons into the unknown.

In their exploration, they stirred the people of the world to feel as one; in their sacrifice, they bind more tightly the brotherhood of man.

In ancient days, men looked at stars and saw their heroes in the constellations.  In modern times, we do much the same, but our heroes are epic men of flesh and blood.

Others will follow, and surely find their way home.  Man’s search will not be denied.  But these men were the first, and they will remain the foremost in our hearts.

For every human being who looks up at the moon in the nights to come will know that there is some corner of another world that is, forever, mankind.

THIS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST SPEECHES NEVER GIVEN. They are the words US President Richard Nixon would have said if the first moon landing hand ended in tragedy back in July 1969.

Image: Apollo 1 cockpit after fatal fire

There was a 50 percent chance of failure, that this speech would need to be given.  Remember Apollo 1 where all the astronauts were killed in a fire on the launchpad, or Apollo 13, where they survived by a miracle (great movie also).  But they went anyway.  They went because in the immortal words of US President John F. Kennedy: 

“We do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard”.

Which begs the question: would we do this today?  Or has life become too precious, have we become too averse to failure of all sorts let alone the ultimate failure of death.

Image: President Nixon with the Apollo crew

I think of ‘helicopter parents’ closely following their children, eschewing all danger.  I remember the almost hysterical response to a <0.01% chance of adverse reaction to the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine that set back Australia’s pandemic response and has given rise to vaccine hesitancy and a concomitant rise in whooping cough, measles and the like.  Bike helmets. Trigger warnings.  Disclaimers.  Corporate leaders and politicians would rather aim for mediocrity than strive for greatness such is our risk aversion.

Great accomplishments require risk.  Australian society seems to be especially risk averse, perhaps reflecting our well known ‘tall poppy’ syndrome but exacerbated by social media ‘pile ons’.  Americans seem to welcome risk much more.  Indeed, in some parts of US business, especially Silicon Valley, a few failures are regarded as necessary for senior leadership on the basis that with this comes great learning.

“A ship is safe in harbour, but that’s not what ships are for”

John A. Shedd

How much risk are you prepared to take to achieve your dreams?

ISDA Debating Report Round 7 vs Kincoppal

M. D. Kwak

IN THE LAST WEEKS OF TERM 1, SHORE WAS AWAY against Kincoppal, debating motions of environmental issues. Displaying pure and unmatched dominance, Shore finished the season with an impeccable performance – chalking up wins across EVERY SINGLE TEAM from Year 7 to 12 and for the first time in many, many years, have all teams THROUGH TO THE OCTOS.

Our Primary teams negated ‘That we should ban tourism to Antarctica’, unfortunately going down in both debates. Shout out to Joe and Charlie for their impressive thematic rebuttal.

Our Year 7 LND teams unfortunately went down negating ‘That we should ban animal testing. Despite a decent case, repetitive rebuttal was their downfall. Congrats to Will McCowan for his great focus in training.

Year 7 ISDA have rounded off an UNDEFEATED preliminary season (a feat I have yet to achieve) with a decisive win negating ‘That we should ban fast fashion’. Personally, if I had to defend Shein in Year 7, I would have probably burst into tears in the prep room and resigned to my fate. Well it’s clear that this Year 7 team has all the answers and ultimately their comparatively robust mechanisation won them over in the debate. They’ve proven they can do the impossible… Good luck for the outround boys – my gut tells me you’ll go far (dare I say even a trophy) as long as you keep on the grindset and replicate your amazing successes so far. 

An undefeated Year 7 team defending the bridge

Year 8 ISDA negated the same topic, and came away with a convincing W. Congratulations on the clutch performance and good luck for the octos. 

Year 9 ISDA also pulled off the impossible, defending fast fashion. Despite a challenging topic, Shore did well to secure a win and put up some masterclass performances. The team spoke with clarity and confidence – shoutout to debater of the week Lucas Zhou! 

Year 10 and Senior teams all negated the topic ‘That the environmental movement should take more radical actions in the fight against climate change, e.g. blocking roads, vandalism.’

A note before you read Will Nicholas’ thrilling debating report. The nicknames “Mogger, yapper, etc” are my additions to Will’s write-up. Will would never engage such silly and childish monikers (his generation is the last to escape the insatiable and all-consuming brain-rot). 

“Year 10’s sixth-straight win completed a redemption arc which began in Round 1. After an irritating defeat to Kambala, they vowed not to be bested again, and now find themselves, hopefully, atop their table. Though Shore argued the side of restraint, peaceful protest and climate activism, you might have been fooled by Jayden ‘Diagram’ Pan breathing fire at first Neg. Henry ‘Mogger’ Marshall had a twinkle in his eye while dancing semantic circles around the affirmative, and Yukai ‘yapper’ Yan prised Kincoppal’s mechanisms and impacts apart like he was carving a turkey. The team had set the table, and feasted on victory. This was a season in which gluttony counted, because Year 10’s ranking will probably depend on margins of victory. Shore will hope to have left nothing on their plate for their opponents to gobble up.”

Will Nicholas really pulled out everything in his arsenal for the last write-up of the term (reminiscent of his glory days as SWR Insights Editor…). Reading through his report, I saw:

• An redemption narrative arc with allusions to previous results and opponents
• A clever antithetical contrast ironically juxtaposing the team’s defence of peaceful protest with their fierce rhetoric and debating prowess (dragon metaphors too!)
• SEMANTIC CIRCLES (how does one even come up with that…).

An extended metaphor/semantic field with similes about “turkeys”, mentions of “gluttony” and metaphors about “opponents gobbling” up the left-overs of Year 10’s immaculate season. 

The Senior Bs (as expected) clutched up in their debate with a crucial W that has hopefully secured their place in the outrounds. While both sides could have provided stronger characterisation, the team was able to convincingly argue that radical action would turn public opinion against the environmental movement. Congrats to my pookie bear Rizzy Ramon for mogging to get the team over the line. Shoutout to Callum for killing it as usual in his public speaking comps.

A nonchalant Senior Bs post-victory

Your Senior As also won in convincing fashion, explaining a healthy optimism in the ability of environmentalists to convince politicians and corporations to take meaningful action on climate change. Much thanks to Jimmy for coming out on a Friday arvo during his break from uni and getting around the debating lads. Your presence was much appreciated. 

The Senior As wrapping up the season with 6/7 wins. 

As we enter the first round of octos, let’s all be inspired by Ryan Kwok’s quote that he says before every debate:

“Failure is not acceptable. Therefore it will not happen.”

Faith, Family and Films

Page to Picture Part Three

J. K. Tang

I BELIEVE IN FILM. Film has made me happy. And I hold certain films in particular high regard. This is a film that gives us a sense of freedom, but Coppola’s The Godfather (1972) taught the audience never to dishonour the novel. Indebted to Mario Puzo’s ‘crime-canon’, this crime-thriller “Don” reigns quietly in the depths of Netflix, “ready to make an offer [contemporary audiences] can’t refuse”. As Coppola and Puzo open a retrospective window into 70s ‘Mafia’ culture, shall we awe at their seamless projection from page to picture?

The Title Card

Under the immense symbolism behind the infamous ‘puppeteer’ title card, the film perpetuates ideological parallels between ‘mobster’ crime structures and the Catholic paradigm. Firstly, the titular term, ‘Godfather’, associates the role of Marlon Brando’s Don Vito Corleone as a paternal figure of authority and power in both his family and New York’s criminal underworld. Hence, the metaphorical ‘puppeteering’ emphasises the narrative power of Vito for he commands the rise and demise of certain participants in his illicit games. Furthermore, a crucifix binds the deification of the Godfather to the Catholic backbone of Italian-American culture.

The Wedding

By taking historical glimpses into real-world events, Coppola situates us in a wedding-reception based on the marriage of mobster Salvatore Bonanno to Rosalie Profaci in August 1956. Held in a mansion, located in Long Beach, NY, the suburb was notorious for rum smuggling during America’s prohibition era. A Sicilian wedding in the rum-smuggling neighbourhood. Nothing more ‘mafia’ than that.

As Don Vito wrestles with the instability of organised crime, Coppola commits to layers of subtle cuts between the confines of his office and the glamour of the Corleone wedding. Thus, elucidating the bi-faceted responsibilities as ‘The Don’; family-man and mob-boss. Running very Mod B Henry IV (Part I) undertones here.

Amidst the festive affairs, we immerse ourselves into Michael’s distant reality. His anecdotal exposition contextualises, not only Corleone’s past, but foreshadows the events of Corleone’s future. Via these close-ups, we are intimate and drawn to his story as he rises from a prodigal son to a worthy successor of Vito’s criminal empire.

In just twenty seven minutes, the genius of Puzo and Coppola has already “made an offer [we] can’t refuse”. Consider the history, the location and theological semantic field. In just twenty seven minutes, “the first Godfather is in the best 20 movies of all time…” – Mario Puzo, himself.

More than novels. More than ‘films’. Have ‘faith’ that I will continue this intermedial journey into the expansive story of cinema’s most dangerous crime ‘family’.

The Boys In The Boat Review

Spoilers included (you have been warned!)

E. Y. Nam

IT IS A CLASSIC UNDERDOG STORY, ONE THAT EVERYONE LIKES TO ALIGN THEMSELVES WITH. A recount regarding the glory of the Washington rowing team and their journey to the summit, leading their country to honour and victory.

Before I make my critique, a brief back-story might be needed.

Based on a true story and adapted from the novel, the film follows the story of UWashington’s Junior Varsity Rowing team and their challenges for the gold medal in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Led by Joe Rantz, (Actor Callum Turner) and made up of working-class young men, “Boys in the Boat” is the best kind of perfectly straightforward and inoffensive underdog tale, tracing the rousing journey of one penniless young man in his quest to become something more than his financial predicaments have thus far allowed him.

The film begins with Joe Rantz, A college student in the mid-1930s, Joe is hopelessly broke, quietly patching up the soles of his shoes and picking up odd jobs here and there to make ends meet.

When he finds that he can no longer afford his tuition, he decides to go out for his school’s crew squad, where only the best can claim one of its nine coveted spots.

It’s no spoiler to reveal that he soon discovers his natural aptitude for rowing. The scenes from there are reassuringly familiar and happy, and although the characters sometimes lack the necessary charisma to successfully advance the plot, it is important to highlight that the boat racing scenes are masterfully filmed. The suspense, the pain, the nerve-wracking start line, all rousing that triumphant emotion we feel, almost as if we’re racing for gold ourselves.

So, if you are looking for a study break and looking for a source of dopamine, you know what to look for.

[Not So] Meta Shower Thoughts Pt.2

Shower Thoughts [Not] About Shower Thoughts

C. D. Michel

WHILE MY CREATIVITY IS DEFINITELY STRAINED to try to find new topics to write about in the SWR, fortunately I have been blessed by Callum Vujanovic who has allowed me to make a part 2 to his article “Meta-Shower thoughts”. While I lack the philosophical insights of Callum, and can’t provide astute and intelligent meta-thoughts, I do still have shower thoughts of my own, to entertain me while near boiling water is searing my face.

1. If rhinoceros horns, which are made from keratin, are crushed to form many traditional east-Asian medicines and then sold for millions on the black market, why can’t we just crush up our fingernails and toenails which are coincidentally also made from keratin, then sell them on the black market for millions? We clearly have an infinite supply of nails, so what’s the point of poaching rhinos when you could just use your own fingernails?  

2. Could I make it to the Olympics? If I dropped everything right now and trained my heart out, could I one day make it as a star in the Olympics? After deep thought, the answer is probably NO. I have the coordination of a blind dog trying to catch a ball, so I doubt I would make much progress. However, I have concluded that I would have the best chances at either cycling, archery, or diving. 

3. Mr Styles’ story about 52 factorial. While I could explain the analogy, it would probably take the whole SWR article. But it has something to do with walking around the equator, emptying the ocean while stacking pieces of paper between the earth and the sun, playing poker, buying lottery tickets, filling the Grand Canyon with sand, and finally deconstructing Mount Everest one rock at a time.

4. How long is all our hair? If we never cut it and presumed it never stopped growing or we combined all the hair we’ve ever had, how long would it be? Where is our hair now? Sure, it all gets put into the bin at the hairdressers. But where does human hair go? 7 billion of us it’s bound to be everywhere, right?

5. Why do all asteroids fall into craters?

6. What is consciousness? Why am I in a first-person perspective? Is everyone else also in their own first-person world? Plus, how are there so many people in the world? Every single person has a name. An identity. A personality. But most will just be “lost in time like tears in rain.”

7. Do animals have a stream of consciousness? We do, but do animals have this internal monologue? When you get home from work, does your dog think ‘my owner’s home’, or do they just subconsciously wag their tail and lick their owner?

8. What is so fascinating about chasing a ball for dogs? Even if they’re in deep sleep or hungry for dinner, when they hear a ball bounce it’s like their whole brain has been re-wired. Everything but the ball is out of focus. 

9. If atoms are supposedly 99% empty space, why are things solid? Why can’t I just put my hand into this 99% empty space?

10. How much cumulative time have I wasted doing the wordle?

11. Will we ever run out of different movies, novels, and music to make? If every day more literature is produced, surely one day it will all run out. Do we have an infinite amount of imagination, or will we eventually end up only creating remakes?

Australia’s Greatest Sporting Moments

A Countdown of the most Extraordinary events in Australia’s Sporting History

A. J. Baker

LIKE OUR SHEEP OBSESSED NEIGHBOURS, Australia is renowned for producing some of the greatest athletes and moments in sporting history. Across the holiday break I have frequently found myself watching sport highlights like Marcus Stoinis’ spectacular century in the IPL. In spite of this I figured writing an article about Australia’s illustrious sporting history would be a better use of my time than writing another monotonous essay about some French guy, Meursault, who didn’t like his Mother. With that being said, let’s dive into the definitive top 7 greatest moments in Australian sporting history.

1. Cathy Freeman’s 400m Gold Medal (2000)

In lane 6, the deafening roar of the Sydney crowd behind her she took off in her iconic green and gold bodysuit. Freeman finished the race lengths ahead of all the other competitors and the crowd erupted with emotion. Although an incredible athletic feat, the significance of this victory for the Indigenous Australian community was immense with Cathy becoming the inaugural Indigenous Australian gold medalist. She finished with an effusive lap of victory with the Aboriginal and Australian flag draped around her, a moment of reconciliation in Australia’s violent history.

2. Australia Wins the America’s Cup (1983)

One hundred and thirty-two years of US dominance in yachting’s grand challenge, the America’s Cup, was ended by the Royal Perth yacht club’s Australia II in their 1983 duel. Three losses in the first four races left John Bertrand’s crew reeling but they pushed the contest to an unprecedented decider. The final 41-second victory prompted lavish celebrations and Prime Minister Bob Hawke’s timeless decree: “Any boss who sacks a worker for not turning up today is a bum.”

3. Glenn Maxwell’s 201* (2023)

With Australia reeling at 7-91 chasing 291, Maxwell almost single-handedly carried Australia to victory with a record-breaking double century. As full-body cramps restricted his movement to upper body only, Maxwell’s knock resembled a game of French cricket on steroids. When the 7th wicket fell, WinViz (a database that calculates the relative chance of a team winning in any given moment) suggested Australia had a 0.1% chance of victory. This courageous knock secured a win for Australia and facilitated their tournament win against an unbeaten Indian side in India.

4. Cadel Evans Wins the Tour de France (2011)

Born in Katherine in the Northern Territory, Evans rode to within sight of the summit of world cycling, then took a few years to get to the top. After successive second place finishes in the Tour de France in 2007 and 2008, he finished below expectations the following two years. In 2011 Evans stayed out of yellow but in contention throughout, ultimately blowing away his GC rivals in the final time trial. At the age of 34, he became the oldest winner since the second world war, and the first Australian. Truly an amazing moment in Australia’s limited cycling history, inspiring thousands of middle aged men in lycra (MAMIL’s) to inundate the nation’s roads at peak hour riding agonisingly slow. Thank you Cadel.

5. Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin kicks 1000 (2022)

The SCG turned into a sea of red and white when Buddy kicked his 1000th goal across his 19 year career. Although he became the 6th AFL/VFL player to achieve this milestone, doing so in an era where scoring is dispersed across the team and having 100 goals in a season is an anomaly unlike the league 30+ years ago. This achievement, although an extraordinary moment, was more so a testament to Lance’s longevity and consistency as a goal scorer, cementing itself on the list as a capitalisation of his remarkable career.

6. Matildas World Cup Campaign (2023)

The Australian Women’s soccer team (The Matildas) had undoubtedly one of the nation’s best team sport performances over the two week competition, finishing 4th overall with an injured star Sam Kerr. The moment that stood out more than any other was the excruciatingly long penalty shootout against France. Australia and France went goalless across 120 minutes then produced the longest World Cup shootout in history as both teams took 10 kicks to decide the winner. Goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold was crucial to keeping the Matildas’ hopes alive but it was substitute Cortnee Vine who stepped forward to become the hero with an assured sudden-death strike that fired the hosts into the semi-finals.

7. Steven Bradbury Olympic Gold Medal (2002)

What sort of list would it be without including one of the most iconic and hilarious underdog moments in Australia’s sporting history. In the 1000 metre short-track semi-final at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games, Steven Bradbury knew he was outclassed in the high-calibre lineup. Trailing behind throughout the race, the veteran was well out of contention – until a late crash allowed him to progress. Then in the final, with an even hotter field led by USA hero Apolo Anton Ohno, another almost unfathomable late fall procured the first winter gold medal for Australia – and “the Bradbury” was born.

Honourable Mentions

Mick Fanning punches shark, Shane Warne ball of the century, Adam Goodes performs Indigenous celebration, John Aloisi scores penalty to send Soceroos to the World Cup, Adam Scott wins the US Masters, Ash Barty wins Australian Open.

AFL – ‘Toughen Up’ Challenge Day

Saturday 23 March saw our Senior First XVIII Squad on the road to Palm Beach for the annual Challenge Day where the “Sand Hill Warrior” was waiting to put the boys through their paces.

The players paired up and started with a kayak across Pittwater towards the beaches on the Western side.

They were challenged all morning on those beaches with activities ranging from jumping off the docks and swimming around markers to runs on the beach – all while completing some 500 sit ups and 150 push ups.

After the morning on the other side of Pittwater, the squad then kayaked back to Palm Beach, where they hit the sand dunes for the ‘Toughen-Up’ Challenge. The “Sand Hill Warrior” has been running sessions on these dunes for decades, and his mixture of fitness work with motivational talks and life lessons was received well by the thoroughly exhausted players.

All in all, it was a gruelling five-hour session, and the experience of working together and challenging their fitness as a group will hold them in great stead for the upcoming preseason games.

Mr G Tesoriero
MIC AFL

Athletics Carnival Results

Age Champions

House Points

*House that placed 1st based on points per student = Barry House (19.68 points per student)

Mr J Sparks
MIC Athletics

Cross Country Report

St Aloysius and Waverley Invitation, Upjohn Park – Saturday 4 May 2024

It was fabulous to see The Blue Street Boys back on deck last Saturday for the Aloysius and Waverley Invitation Cross Country at Upjohn Park. The weather looked dicey, yet conditions were mild, and the 2024 GPS/CAS got underway! Many Shore aficionados have been excited about our prospects across the three age divisions this year, as we have plenty of talent in our ranks and increasing depth. As last Saturday was a Trial and hence not a point-scoring race, it afforded the opportunity to experiment with racing a few boys up in the Opens as we look to secure a ‘ThreePeat’ in the Opens… It will be tight! It is always great to get live scoring updates during the races as Rev Benn and Mr Friend; possibly the two best finger counters I know, keep us all in the loop!

The Juniors kicked the season off promptly at 9am. They were led by Henry Grieve for the duration of the 4km+ course (slightly longer than allowed in the by-laws, thankfully it was a trial) as he placed a very commendable 15th overall to be 6th amongst the GPS competitors. Nice! I think he is destined to be a regular Top Ten finisher as he improves throughout the season. Harrison Thomas had a very pleasing first outing to be 25th and managed to just hold off a fast-finishing teammate, Archie Watson, by the narrowest of margins as he was 26th. Don’t we love such competition between ourselves! George Harvey started a little conservatively yet finished strongly to complete our Junior Team result of 5th overall to be 2nd amongst the GPS Schools. We should be closer to the top step of the podium once Toby Ward manages to shake off the lurgy and be back on deck, as we missed him! Elliot Smith deserves a mention as he possibly paid the price for a little too much speed in the first lap, yet finished strongly to be 55th, and I expect he may very well be a member of our point-scoring team soon.

Our Intermediates had their ranks weakened a little as I had Hugo Stewart and Tom Gray dip their toes in Open water. However, I’m super excited by the depth we have in the Inters this season. Jonty Jagger had a great first run as he placed 20th overall, 6th GPS, which will build confidence moving forward. Will ‘twinkletoes’ Bestic was not far adrift in his glittery and blingy new wheels (not sure who chose them), in 24th to snavel a Top Ten amongst the GPS boys. Ben Frantz continues to impress, and doesn’t he love his running, as he was 27th, and James Warren completed our Intermediate team result of 4th, 2nd amongst the GPS!

We were waiting with much anticipation to see what the lay of land appeared to be in the Opens. We think we are in with a chance again this year, but you never know. Captain Lachy Brown wisely rested a nasty blister on his foot and didn’t race, looking ahead to the point-scoring competition proper next week. Ryan Gilmour was only too happy to step up and lead the Shore Open charge as he placed a very pleasing 5th overall to be 4th amongst the GPS. It was also great to unveil one of our Shore ‘Secret Weapons’ in the Opens race, and Isaac Lanham did not disappoint as he was our 2nd Shore athlete home in 8th amongst the GPS! I’m so excited! He even managed to finish ahead of James Bestic, fresh out of the pool, who I can’t imagine being overly happy about that, and I expect him to be surging forward as the season progresses. We love his competitive drive! Hugo Stewart did exactly what I thought he would do running up from the Inters as he secured a very commendable 30th and completed a great team result of 2nd amongst the GPS. We all realise that it is critical that our 4th team member each week is in touch as the cumulative season long GPS point score doesn’t afford a ‘week off’ during the competition… We hope to add another Secret Weapon. Here’s looking at you, Lachie, to our quiver as the season progresses!

Shore Cross Country Machine of the Week

It was hard to go past Ryan Gilmour last weekend, though he will have some stiff competition for this year for weekly honours!

We are off to Centennial Park for the High Invitation tomorrow, which is Competition #1 for 2024 season, sharpen your spikes!

Good running,

Mr M Spratt
MIC Cross Country

Top image: Hot start!

St Andrew’s Cup Report

During the School Holidays at the home of Football NSW at Valentines Sports Par, the St Andrew’s Cup took place. A monumental tournament now running for 25 years, with a who’s who of independent schools as the likes of Shore, Barker, Cranbrook, Knox, International Grammar, Moriah, Newington, Oakhill, Redlands, St Andrew’s, St Aloysius, St Ignatius, St Joseph’s, St Pauls, Sydney Boys High and Waverley. We all took part in what was a fantastic two days of school football action for students ranging from Years 9 to 12.

Shore was placed in a Group with Moriah, Sydney Boys High and Oakhill, finishing 3rd in the Group with a win, draw and a loss, and then was put in the Plate tournament where Shore played and defeated Redlands in the Quarter-Finals, St. Aloysius in the Semi-Finals and lost in extra time to St. Joseph’s in the Plate Final.

With 20 players performing at their best and giving the coaching staff valuable insight, this tournament will prove invaluable preparation for the season ahead.

Top image: Shore’s 20 players at the St Andrew’s Cup

Mr Elvis DeMarchi
MIC Football

Group Game 1 vs Moriah College 1-0 win

Shore started the tournament in great style by getting a 1-0 win over Moriah. The first-half displayed Shore’s unrelenting pressure, not allowing Moriah to find rhythm in their passing game and therefore, creating chances through counterattacks. However, Shore was unable to capitalise until late in the second-half through some magnificent skill by Will Procter and a tidy finish by Angus Leslie. After the goal, Shore maintained control of the game, denying Moriah goal scoring chances and seeing out the game 1-0. Overall, a great performance from Shore to kick start the tournament.

Sam O’Brien
(Year 12)

Group Game 2 vs Sydney Boys High 0-0 draw

Going into their second game of the group stages, Shore was looking strong after a 1-0 victory in their first game. As the game kicked off, it was clear Shore had control. Dominance was seen through Shore’s retained possession of the ball and the play rarely entering Shore’s defensive half. The first-half ended 0-0, however it seemed as though goals were sure to come for Shore in the second-half.

After a tactical team talk from the coaches on how to penetrate Sydney Boys’ defence, Shore went into the second-half with high hopes of winning their second game. Shore began to consistently move the ball swiftly around the back lines and switched the play, leading to a tiring Sydney Boys High team and an energised Shore team. As the second-half went on, Shore was still goalless. Attacking plays were formed, and shots were taken, however none found the back of the net. Sydney Boys High had rare counterattacks, but the Shore defence was persistent and won the ball back quickly. Sadly, despite Shore’s complete domination throughout the first and second half, the game ended with a 0-0 draw.

Ben Hadfield
(Year 12)

Group Game 3 vs Oakhill College 0-3 loss

In the third match of the pool stage in the St Andrew’s Cup, Shore faced a strong and technical Oakhill. The game started out with very high intensity from both sides despite being the final match of the first day. Regardless of persistent high pressure from Shore’s attackers, including the likes of Angus Leslie and Hamish Walls, leading into half-time, Oakhill had managed to secure a 1-0 lead off of a counterattack. In the second-half, despite Shore not dropping their heads, Oakhill harnessed the momentum of their first goal and quickly created a 3-0 lead complemented by clinical finishing and solid technique. Despite going away with a loss, Shore had a lot to take away from the match, specifically in relation to the continual work rate required by the team as a whole, which would serve as very valuable information leading into day two of the competition.

Braden Dent
(Year 12)

Plate Quarter-Final Game 4 vs Redlands 3-0 win

Shore faced off against Redlands in the Quarter-Finals of the St Andrew’s Cup. Commencing with a dominant start Shore was able to capitalise with both Angus Leslie and Oliver Parrish contributed to an early 2-0 lead. Shore continued to take full control in the first-half, preventing Redlands from any opportunities back into the game, concluding the first-half. Shore once again came out strong in the second-half, posing as a formidable opponent for Redlands. This commanding display from Shore allowed for openings in a tired Redlands defence, allowing for Hamish Walls to find space and adding to the total, giving Shore a 3-0 lead. Shore remained composed, securing a 3-0 victory and progressing to the Semi-finals of the St. Andrew’s Cup.

Tom Maslen
(Year 12)

Plate Semi Final Game 5 vs St. Aloysius 2-1 win

After an impressive 3-0 Quarter-Final win against Redlands, Shore played St Aloysius in the Semi-Final of the Plate. After playing them in a closely contested pre-season match only three weeks prior, it was to be a strong match-up. The game was closely contested in the opening minutes of the game, with both sides having minimal opportunities in front of goals. Around 10 minutes in, St Aloysius opened the scoring with a well taken goal from their striker. With a few minutes left in the first-half, Will Procter brought the game back level with a brilliant shot from outside of the box. With the game looking as if it was going to penalties, Will Procter made a darting run from the bi-line into the box, drawing a foul, resulting in a penalty. With 5 minutes to go, Daniel Higgs nicely slotted the penalty into the bottom-right corner, sending Shore through to the Plate Final, winning 2-1, in a good, well-fought performance from Shore.

Killian Featherstone
(Year 12)

Plate Final Game 6 vs St. Aloysius 1-3 loss in extra time

The final game was the best performance we had during the day. All the players put in the maximum effort and performed very well. One flaw during the game was the fatigue that each player had from the two previous games. This led to our team becoming very tired quickly and not able to play at 100 percent. Although players were tired, each team member still performed very well.

One aspect of the game that was very well done was the teamwork and chemistry the team had. Each player communicated very well with each other, meaning that runs and passes were played very well. After the first goal was conceded, we did start to drop our heads, leading to 2 more goals. During the second-half all the players suffered from fatigue, hindering their performance. This was a result of not working hard early, meaning more players had to work harder later. Overall, the final was the best game we played in the tournament, and every player played very well.

Jaxon Black
(Year 9)

Golf Report

Saturday 4 May 2024 – Stroke Round

It was difficult teeing off for this season without our good friend and valued teammate Leon.

The weather conditions were not conducive to good golf, but the team put in a good effort, and we were glad to get a round in, notwithstanding the weather. Olly Graham had a brilliant round considering the conditions to win the C Grade medal and take home a $30 prize. Christian Liu hung in there for a 67 nett and won a minor prize. Zach France was the best Shore boy off the stick and also achieved an impressive round despite the weather, only scoring a few shots above his handicap.

Overall, the boys performed a little below par for the weekend, struggling to adapt to the challenges of a Stroke Round off the blue tees on a wet course at Northbridge.  The team is looking forward to returning to the familiarity of a 2B Medley and Stableford Competition next weekend.

Scores

Thomas Livingstone
Captain of Golf

Darwin Rugby and Immersion Experience

In the second week of the holidays, 28 boys from the U16 Rugby squad, along with four Masters, travelled to Darwin for a unique Rugby experience. In conjunction with an organisation called Deadly Rugby and with help from NT Tourism and Government, a platform was set for a Rugby/Immersion experience at the top end of Australia.

Shore travelled alongside Barker College, and both teams welcomed local Indigenous Rugby players into their squads for training and adventures in and around Darwin. A particular highlight was the rock pools and waterfalls of Litchfield National Park. With the wet season finished and the crocs no longer at such water holes, this was an incredible experience for all (even Mr Chapman braved the waters!). Another highlight was the squad having the opportunity to attend the Darwin ANZAC Day Dawn Service – a wonderful setting with much WWII history to be aware of.

The week culminated in two games – Shore 16A vs Barker 16A, followed by a “Barbarians” styled format where Shore, local boys and Barker were melded into two teams. This was a particular highlight for the local players, who thoroughly enjoyed the structure, intensity and skills of both school’s programmes. Shore was victorious 45-10 over Barker in the 16A XV fixture and proudly won the inaugural Deadly Rugby Dhuwa trophy. Well done to our boys who trained and executed their game so well – in 35-degree temperatures and close to 95% humidity at times.

Thank you to all the boys, staff and parents who helped make this trip possible. It truly showed what a wonderful vehicle sport is for bringing people together. Once we all take the field, it doesn’t matter who you are, where you live or who you might be related to, we are all one team.

Mr D Mason-Jones
MIC Rugby