Message from the Headmaster

Dear Students, Parents and Carers

Humility – What is it?

Shore prides itself on humility, if that is not in itself a contradiction in terms. This sentence in itself indicates the difficulty of defining and distilling the concept. Nonetheless, it is part of the loveliness of Shore and its history that boastfulness is frowned upon; rather, humble service is prized.

An aspect of this approach to humility is that it actually leads people to disguise their excellence, partly out of fear that they will appear arrogant. Many, many Shore boys and staff are genuinely humble. Do they need to hide or suppress their achievements?

But what exactly is humility? A recent parent of my last School, Rev Dr John Dickson, is an Ancient Historian, Theologian and Professor. His book, Humilitas examines the Christian concept of humility and its implications in the Ancient world. He points out that humility is not humiliation, but rather assumes the dignity and strength of the one possessing the virtue of humility. This being the case, it does not imply a low self esteem or being a doormat for others. It is not about thinking all of oneself, it is actually about redirecting our concerns and interests for the sake of others. This is very much the Christian concept of Service. The Apostle Paul defined the concept comprehensively: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4).

Humility therefore should not be confused with modesty. Being humble does not require hiding one’s gifts or even achievements. It is more about having an image of self which is not overinflated or arrogant or self-focused, but rather, as is sometimes said, thinking more about others than oneself.

The ancient world prized arrogance. Humility was thought servile. The Jesus revolution was absolutely radical. Our desire to be humble is placed firmly in the after-glow of Jesus’ brilliant transformation, through the work of the Christians who followed, of mainstream culture.

This theme has been featured previously in the Shore Weekly Record. Why write about it again? There are two reasons: the difficulty with definition and application is always hard to resolve and so the matter remains relevant. Additionally, School Council and the Executive Leadership Team have come to the conclusion that when our students perform brilliantly in some domain, it is appropriate to “tell the world”. This is simply giving them their due, rather than an attempt to overclaim or to nourish arrogance. Moreover, we are better equipped than ever before with information about our students’ performance. For the first time ever, this year Shore, along with all other schools in NSW, was granted access to the Australian Tertiary Admission Ranks (ATARs) of the previous Year 12. The suite of HSC / ATAR data gives us highly granular information on the results of our students not only across various types of questions in each of their HSC subjects, but also access to the “passport” into University that was previously only made available to the students themselves. This being the case, we want to celebrate and affirm our students for their diligence, leading so often to magnificent results, and we want to thank the staff for providing the framework to allow such excellence. It is difficult to have a balanced and appropriate view of oneself in reference to others and indeed the rest of the world. The quest is nonetheless appropriate and is part of the wellspring of Shore’s distinctiveness and, indeed, loveliness.

Girls at Northbridge

After twenty happy years, Shore has made a momentous decision at School Council level about our deep commitment to educating boys.

Commencing in 2026, Shore will no longer accept female students for enrolment in these specific class groups, Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2.

The change comes after careful deliberation by the School Council, which took into consideration ongoing feedback from families as well as dwindling numbers of parents wanting to enrol their daughters past the Early Learning Centre level. Essentially, this decision reflects the actual reality of the lack of demand for girls’ places. This, we note, is driven by the desire of parents to secure schooling which will take their daughter right through to the end of Year 12. Indeed, there are many excellent schools for girls within our demography. We have been finding that girls, when enrolled, do not actually commence at Shore (the entire 2024 Kindergarten enrolment of girls disappeared to girls’ schools by the actual commencement date in the first Term). Similarly, there has been regular attrition of girls during Kindergarten to Year 2, such that by Year 2, we may perhaps regularly have just one girl remaining.

Despite providing an excellent offering, effectively, the market has decided that the School should move forward with boys’ education from Kindergarten to Year 12. While we love having girls at the Northbridge Campus, the time is now right to respond to the market by formalising the change. Of course, all the Shore girls and their families will remain a cherished part of the School community, and we look forward to hearing ideas on how we can best mark their important legacy and retain their relationship with the School.

While there will be no changes at a classroom level, and current female students can continue their education at Shore until they finish Year 2, the gradual transition will mean that by 2028 all the K,1,2 Northbridge classes will all be made up of boys.

The change will not impact enrolments at the Early Learning Centre (ELC), which will continue to be a co-educational space.

Enrolments at Shore

An online newspaper article has caused some confusion and even consternation amongst our community. For quite some years, Shore has been in possession of an approved DA (Development Application) to increase the number of students on site at North Sydney by 450. While this is empowering in a sense, there is no intention to do anything of the kind. Shore desires to remain large enough to offer an extensive range of choices within curriculum and co-curricular activities but not so large as to lose pastoral connectivity. Any growth at Shore will be modest. We anticipate possibly an extra 26 students next year across the range of Kindergarten to Year 12. Any future expansion, even if desired, would be limited by the lack of adequate classroom space to accommodate extra students.  

Incoming Director of Boarding

As you know, after 20 years in Boarding supervision, Mr Alistair Roland has resigned as Director of Boarding and will commence next year at MLC Burwood as Director of Welfare, Years 7 – 9. I am very grateful for his leadership during his time at Shore. We will miss him very much.

As of today, I am able to inform you that our incoming Director of Boarding is Mr Daniel Bradford. Currently, he is Director of Boarding at St Stanislaus, Bathurst. Prior to that, he was Director of Boys’ Boarding at Rockhampton Grammar School and before that a Boarding Housemaster at Riverview. He is well experienced and has been very effective in these roles.

Mr Bradford will bring to our Boarding community his wife and daughters, currently in Year 4 and Year 2. He will be able to commence at Shore at the beginning of Term 2, 2025. Until that time, we will make interim arrangements for the overall supervision of our Boarding Houses. Mr Bradford has met our Boarding Housemasters, been briefed by Mr Roland and is expected to be able to attend Shore’s Induction Days and Staff Development Days in January 2025. He is excited about commencing at Shore. He is very personable and I think is a wonderful “catch” for Shore.

Headmaster Steps Briefly Out of the Wheelhouse

As this edition of the Shore Weekly Record is appearing, I am about to submit to the medical specialist’s timing for minor elective surgery, which will see me working from home for much of the week while convalescing. I hope to bounce back on deck for the following week, which is the last week of Term (Camps week). Travelling to visit camps is probably off-limits so soon after surgery, but sitting in my office chair is expected to be perfectly fine. I will be absolutely recovered, renewed and revitalised in time for Speech Days that Thursday (Preparatory) and Friday (Senior School).

Dr John Collier
Headmaster

Chaplains’ Chat

There are times in life when we all need to hear some hard truths. Sometimes these could be reflections from a coach, a teacher, a parent or even a trusted friend. With most of our boys getting exam results back, these will sometimes reflect some hard truths about how they have gone! However, we also need to remember that so often, these hard truths are delivered in the context of love and friendship. I remember receiving some hard truths from a friend, and while they were difficult to hear, as I reflected on his words, I came to realise that they were entirely true. I knew they were coming from a position of friendship and genuine concern, which meant that I was even more grateful in hearing about these things.

Even Jesus was happy to give some hard truths to those around him. In one such instance, a rich young man came up to Jesus to ask him what good thing he must do to receive eternal life (Mark 10:17-31). The hard truth that Jesus eventually gets to with this young man is that he can’t do it himself! As ‘good’ as this man obviously was, Jesus wanted him to realise that he needed God’s forgiveness in his life. In many ways, this is a hard truth for us to hear. And yet coming from Jesus, who is trustworthy and genuinely concerned for every one of us, we also see that God graciously provides for us. As we celebrate another Christmas this year, we see that God has provided the saviour in Jesus. Initially, a hard truth for us to hear, but one in which gives us great joy and comfort.

Rev Anthony Benn
Chaplain

CRU Update

Message from CRU

Student Articles Available on Lampada

In keeping with tradition, printed copies of student articles are handed out at the Senior School gates every Friday. This allows us to honour the Shore Weekly Record’s mission, ‘by the boys, for the boys,’ while making the digital version more concise for parents. A PDF of the student articles is also available each week on Lampada in the publications page.

Festival of Lessons and Carols

You are warmly invited to the Festival of Lessons and Carols. 
All Staff, Parents, Old Boys and Students are welcome.

Date: Monday 25 November 2024
Time: 7pm
Location: The Chapel, North Sydney

Limited parking onsite in Bishopsgate car park, enter via Hunter Crescent.

Organ recital and seating will commence at 6.45pm.
Supper will be served after the service.
 

Headmaster’s Thank You Event

Celebrating the SPA Committee and parent volunteers

On Wednesday 20 November, Dr John Collier held a small thank you event on the Chapel Lawn for the Shore Parents’ Committee and parent volunteers who have contributed a significant portion of their time across many volunteer groups, including Canteen service, library book covering, scribing, as well as special SPA events such as American Tea, Tennis Day and the Mothers’ Day and Fathers’ Day Stalls.

Dr Collier praised the volunteers’ energy and enthusiasm and expressed his sincere thanks for the vital partnership between parents and the School which benefits the whole School Community.

For more photos, please click here.

If you are interested in being a parent volunteer, you can find further information on Lampada here.

Strength and Conditioning Holiday Workshops

Support Sony Camp by Sponsoring a Family Hamper

As we prepare for this year’s Sony Camp, we reach out to the Shore community with an invitation to participate in a cherished tradition: creating hamper packs for the families of our campers. This year, Sony Camp will be hosted at Pymble Ladies College (PLC), making Shore the non-hosting school. In this role, we have the responsibility and privilege of putting together these thoughtful hampers, which are always warmly received and deeply appreciated by the families.

The hampers are a meaningful way to bring comfort and joy to families while their children are away with us at Camp. Filled with items the family can enjoy, each hamper includes things like dinner and movie vouchers, wine, crackers, chocolate, lollies, candles, hand cream, and more. These items serve as a small token of our appreciation and support, creating moments of relaxation and enjoyment for the families while we care for their children.

In previous years, Shore families have been generous in purchasing and bringing in these items. However, with everyone’s busy schedules in mind, we’re streamlining the process this year by asking for financial contributions instead. This way, all hampers can be made consistent and prepared efficiently, with each one containing the same high-quality items. Contributions can be made in any amount that suits your family. If you would like to fully sponsor a hamper, a donation of $250 will cover a complete hamper. For those who would like to contribute part of a hamper, donations of $125 cover half, but any amount is welcome.

To make your contribution, please click here. Every donation, big or small, helps us extend a warm Shore welcome to these families and ensures that each one feels valued and supported during Sony Camp.

Thank you for your generosity and for helping to make this year’s Sony Camp a memorable and meaningful experience for everyone involved.

Mrs J Apter
MIC Sony Camp

Senior School Speech Day Invitation

Parents and Carers are warmly invited to attend the Senior School Speech Day.

Date: Friday 6 December 2024
Time: 11.00am. Guests are requested to be seated by 10.45am. (Please note the time change from last year)
Location: R A I Grant Centre, North Sydney Campus. Visitor parking will not be available on the campus.

The Chair
The Rt Rev Dr Glenn N Davies,
Former Archbishop of Sydney

Guest of Honour
Rev Tim Costello AO
Executive Director, Micah Australia

The Ceremony can also be viewed by livestream link which will be shared closer to the event.

Music Calendar

All dates and events are subject to change, please confirm with the Music Department.

Term Dates 2024

Borrow a New Book for the Holidays

Everyone is encouraged to borrow books to read over the holidays. As well as lots of old favourites, the Library has many new books that would provide good holiday reading. Here is a small sample:

Heroes by Alan Gratz,  F GRA (Historical Fiction)
On December 6, 1941, friends Frank and Stanley enjoyed life in Hawaii, dreaming of creating comics. The next day, Japanese planes attack, changing everything. Stanley, facing prejudice due to his Japanese-American heritage, and Frank must navigate their altered world and test their friendship.

Legend of the Lighthouse Moon by Helen Edwards, F EDW (Historical Fiction)
In the 1970s, Mona and Albert live with their grandparents on Kangaroo Island. Mourning their mother and missing their father, Mona struggles with diabetes. Discovering a sea lion pup, Neo, they uncover family secrets and fight to protect their home.

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, F BAR (Crime and Mystery)
Cassie Hobbes is a teen with exceptional profiling skills. She is recruited by the FBI to join The Naturals, an elite training program. But when a serial killer mimics her mother’s murder, Cassie discovers just how perilous her new life is.​

Dusk by Robbie Arnott, F ARN (Historical Fiction)
Twins Iris and Floyd, out of work and money, join a bounty hunt for a puma named Dusk in the Tasmanian highlands. As they journey, they uncover the land’s secrets and face ancient and personal conflicts, realising that the highlands are more than they imagined.

Endgame by Chris Ryan, F RYA (Action)
Zak Darke, a solo operative for a secret government organisation, must rescue his abducted handlers, targeted by someone with a personal vendetta. Forced to travel across the world into unprecedented danger, Zak realises he can’t complete this mission alone.

The Others by Mark Brandi, F BRA (Crime and Mystery)
On his eleventh birthday, Jacob receives a diary from his father to document their farm life. Sheltered and isolated, Jacob realises some things should not be written down. As he learns more, he questions his father’s protection and discovers the lengths his father will go to keep the world at bay.

Dirrayawadha: Rise Up by Anita Heiss, F HEI (Indigenous)
Miinaa was a young Aboriginal girl when the “white ghosts” arrived and renamed her homeland Bathurst. She now works for a white family and worries about the unrest facing her brother Windradyne, who is a leader and a fighter. Her life changes when she meets Irish convict Daniel O’Dwyer. Despite their differences and surrounding turmoil, they are drawn to each other.

Tested by Pat Cummins, NF 158.2 CUM
Tested by Australia’s Cricket Captain explores how challenge, crisis, and opportunity reveal our true selves. Pat interviews eleven extraordinary individuals, including a charity leader, Australia’s first female prime minister, a Test cricket great, and others. Their stories of adversity, perseverance, and resilience inspire and highlight moments of crisis and opportunity.

China after Mao by Frank Dikötter, 951.05 DIK
Frank Dikötter’s book examines China’s transformation from a 1970s backwater economy to a global superpower, using unseen archival documents. He explores four decades of reforms, contradictions, shadow banking, anti-corruption drives, and extreme wealth alongside poverty, concluding China’s goal was to resist and defeat the democratic sphere.

The Library staff wish everyone a relaxing holiday with plenty of time to read.

Mrs Eva White
Head of Library and Information Services

Library Closing Early on Friday 29 November

Please note that the Library will close at 3.00pm on Friday 29 November.

No books will fall due over the holidays, and the boys are encouraged to borrow books to read over the summer.

James Innovation Fellowship

As a 2024 James Innovation Fellow, I had the privilege of visiting renowned educational institutions in Switzerland and the UK, such as the International School of Geneva, Leysin American School, International School of Lausanne, Dulwich College, and St Paul’s Girls School. These visits offered valuable insights into innovative teaching and professional development practices that could benefit Shore’s environment.

At Leysin American School, I observed the LASER programme, which engages faculty in research and programme development, emphasising curriculum innovation. This model, promoting reflection and collaboration, could empower Shore’s educators by fostering a growth-focused culture.

The International School of Lausanne demonstrated a forward-thinking approach to Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education, establishing a committee of staff and leaders to explore AI’s impact through workshops for teachers, students, and parents. This structured integration of AI could help Shore navigate technological advancements while enhancing student learning.

At the International School of Geneva, I saw inquiry-based learning in action. Their adaptable approach to teaching encourages independent thinking and deeper engagement—qualities aligning with Shore’s commitment to dynamic, student-centred learning.

Dulwich College’s Teaching Matters journal encourages staff to document and share best practices, fostering professional dialogue. A similar initiative could support Shore’s professional community by promoting shared insights.

Finally, St Paul’s Girls School emphasises nurturing intellectual passions over grading. Although their model differs from Shore’s, elements of their interdisciplinary, creative approach could inspire new ways for us to integrate flexibility and creativity into our curriculum.

Overall, I returned with renewed confidence in Shore’s dedication to research-based teaching. This experience reinforced that our Shore Teacher Expertise Programme (STEP) is on the right track, fostering growth in teaching and learning.

The James Fellowship is made possible by The Shore Foundation.

Mr Tom Kirby
Academic Dean

The James Fellowship is a Shore Foundation initiative named after past parents at Shore, Bill and Elizabeth James. Both are passionate about providing opportunities for teachers to further develop their professional knowledge. 

From the Music Department

Congratulations to…

…Charles A, Daniel Becker, William C, Oscar Miller and the Senior Chamber Ensemble, who all performed for world renowned pianist Mr Simon Tedeschi. It was a wonderful masterclass, and all students were courageous and gracious. Thank you to Ms Wentzel, who facilitated their involvement in this wonderful opportunity.

Festival of Lessons and Carols

Please join the Chapel Choir singing beautiful carols on Monday 25 November at 7pm in the Chapel. This is a wonderful service to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. All are welcome to attend, and supper will be served on the Chapel Lawn after the service.

Private Music Lessons

Applications for Private Music Lessons in 2025 are now open. For best planning, it would be appreciated if these could be completed by Friday 22 November 2024. The link to sign up for private music lessons is here, and the Terms and Conditions are at the beginning of the application.

Upcoming Studio Concerts

Upcoming Term Dates:

Mrs Kim Barber
Head of Music

Basketball Report

Saturday 16 November 2024

Shore’s First V had a tough-fought win on Saturday vs Sydney Grammar School (SGS). A low-scoring event in which the boys struggled to convert from the field. Shore’s shooting woes, however, did not dictate the boy’s energy and effort on the defensive end, holding SGS to just 50 total points. Oscar d’Almeida set the tone on the defensive end, holding SGS’s All-Star forward to less than 10 points. A flurry of layups and 3s from Will Rintoul and Eddie Scougall early in the 4th quarter broke the game open to an 18-point lead and guaranteed the First V’s 3rd win for the season.

Due to multiple injuries, the Second V entered the Grammar fixture with four boys out, allowing Justin Polya to play and Lucas Newton to also debut for the Seconds. With their backs against the wall, the boys saw themselves down late into the 4th quarter. In the last three minutes, Justin Gao and Addison Webster showed tremendous poise, making great decisions on the offensive and sealing a narrow 8-point win. This is a great result for the Second V, which shows the true strength in numbers from the programme.

Round 5 was a great day for the programme, winning 26 out of 37 total matches.

Player of the Week: Reggie Stafford

Team of the Week: The 16Es played a fantastic match against SGS, got their first win of the season and earned themselves the honours of this week’s Team of the Week!

The focus for the past week in training had been defensive pressure and 0.5 decision-making. The idea behind it was that pressure would lead to transition opportunities, and quicker decisions would create more movement and effective scoring opportunities for each other.

Both trends carried over from the training week, such as smothering defence and selfless offence, and led to 33 total points score – the highest from the 16Es all season. Leo Ryan and Pat Fischl both combined for 7 points.

Mr Indiana Faithfull
MIC Basketball

Results

Cricket Report

Saturday 16 November 2024

While the Pet Shop Boys filled dance floors in the 90s with Go West, it was East the Cricketers of Shore headed to on Saturday! With eight of the ten games across the other Bridge, Northbridge had tumbleweeds blowing across the bottom fields as only the Seconds and Fourths “Defended the Bridge” v Sydney Grammar School (SGS).

Six wins and three losses helped Shore take the points across SGS on another “well, it ain’t quite Summer yet, but I’m sure we will get a nice blue sky and sunny day soon for Cricket, hopefully, fingers crossed, see how we go, actually not sure” sort of day.

The 16A’s had their first win, and ALL 3 x 14’s team won again – another 14’s BLUE WASH!

Cooper Glanville (73), Thomas Hamilton (58) and Tom Glasson (52*) set the Seconds up for a massive 5/282, with Jimmy Mathur (4/23) and Cameron Newtown (3/26) taking bowling honours in the Seconds to win by 90.

Archie Lyle (47) and Hugo Lloyd (42) set up the win for the 16A’s, but a collapse (4/2) saw Shore still needing 13 to win…step up Lachlan Boys (6*) and Sam Lim (6*) to ensure their first win. Sam Lim’s 4 through the covers to win the game off the opposition’s best bowler, to the long boundary, up the hill will be long talked about! Wild scenes at Weigall 4!

The 14C’s had a great win, only losing one wicket with Harry Collingwood-Boots (33*), Thomas Devereux (36*), and Hudson Williams (25*) batting well and three great run outs to finish the game and ensure a close victory.

While the 14B’s had almost the “perfect game”, scoring 193 (Angus Murdoch-Tilmouth 59, Charlie Mullen 38, Sam Cawood 21) with (Liam Matthews 4/21, Jackson Harris 3/11) ensuring an 80 run win!

The First XI had a comprehensive victory with Ben Hocking starring , after starting with a wicket in each of his first 4 overs, he initially had 4/4 off 4, before finishing with 4/12 off 8.

First XI

The Shore First XI arrived at Weigall determined to bounce back from the disappointment of last week’s loss against King’s. SGS won the toss and elected to bat on a humid and overcast morning. Shore took the field in bowler-friendly conditions, looking for early wickets. Tom Fuzes and Julian Harrison opened the bowling but did not start as consistently as they had hoped. They beat the bat on a few occasions but also bowled a few loose deliveries that allowed SGS to score at four an over. In the fifth Over, Tom Fuzes made the first breakthrough courtesy of a leg-side catch to keeper Noah Quayle. SGS then moved steadily to 1/33, but the introduction of Ben Hocking into the attack in the tenth over changed the course of SGS’s innings very quickly. Ben Hocking produced a blistering spell that saw SGS 6/63 after 20 overs. He took a wicket in each of his first four overs, finishing with match figures of 4/12 from 8 overs. Oli Higgins claimed two wickets in his first over and was on a hat-trick with SGS now 8/63. Shore continued to press and eventually dismissed the home team for 89 in the 33rd over of their innings. Oli Higgins and Matt Melville finished with two wickets each, while Tom Fuzes and Stian Constable also took a wicket.

After the innings break, SGS began full of enthusiasm and in the first over Dan Harvey was dismissed for a duck. This only energised the home team further, and in the ninth over, Fraser Pandit was also dismissed without scoring. At 2/26, Captain Toby Robinson and Noah Quayle set about chasing down the further 64 runs required for victory. A brisk 57 run partnership was finally broken with the score on 91 when Robinson was caught for a well-compiled 42. The partnership was all class, with good cricket shots played all around the ground and with little risk. Debutant Aidan Kurtis joined Quayle who wasted no time reaching the victory target with two crisply struck boundaries in the 21st over securing the victory by 7 wickets and earning Shore two bonus points. The team look forward to playing The Scots College at Bellevue Hill in Round 6 next Saturday.

16A

The 16As have entered the winner’s circle after a nail-biter against SGS over the weekend. The day couldn’t have started better, with Alistair Nieland taking a wicket on the opening ball of the game before finishing with figures of 3/22 (his second 3-fa in two weeks). The boys were fired up and kept putting pressure on the opposition, but whilst the wickets were falling, SGS was scoring quickly. The wickets were shared around the team with Gus Pritchard (2/12) and Archie Lyle (2/14) both snaring two. A highlight was a four wicket over in Archie Lyle’s spell that included two run-outs and a ‘team hat-trick’. The 16s started the chase positively, sitting at 2/86 with Archie Lyle (47) and Hugo Lloyd (42) both scoring around the ground. The collapse was significant, though, as the team went from 5/107 to 9/109 before Lachlan Boys (6*) and Sam Lim (6*) got the job done, with Sam Lim hitting a four through the covers to finish off the game. 

Mr Brett Hunter
Head of Cricket

Results

Golf Report

Saturday 16 November 2024

With a bye in the Inter-School Matchplay Series this week, our players headed to Northbridge Golf Club to contest the first round of the Shore Strokeplay Championship. This event is contested over two rounds and will be used to crown our overall golfing champion for the 2024-25 season.

Back-to-back defending winner Zach France certainly began the day as the red-hot favourite, although he didn’t have things all his own way on the front 9, shooting 7 over par. Harrison Graetz, Archie Frewin and Matthew Goddard would all post similar scores on the front to signal their intention to compete for the top prize.

Things would change on the back 9, however, as Zach would find his radar and string together 7 consecutive pars whilst the others would drop a few shots back.

In the later group, Lachlan Kwan and Thomas Gocher made a terrific start, shooting 2 and 3 over par, respectively. As news filtered back to them of the earlier group’s scores, they were unable to keep their impressive starts going and would finish 14 and 13 over par after the 18th.

Here is the leaderboard heading into the second and final round on Saturday 30 November:

This Saturday sees our Matchplay squad resume action back home at Northbridge Golf Course. After five rounds of competition, we sit in 1st place, just one single point ahead of this week’s opponent St Joseph’s College. This is shaping up to be a massive fixture that could have significant implications for the end-of-season standings.

Good luck to all players this weekend!

Mr Hugh Morgan
MIC Golf

Rowing Report

Saturday 16 November 2024

Last Weekend, the mighty Year 9 Quads travelled to the Sydney International Regatta Center to compete in the 2024 NSW All Schools Rowing Championship Regatta. This regatta had a slightly different format than regattas that the group had contended in previously, with all crews competing for a position in the A final – regardless of which heat they were in. The finals were determined purely on race time, with the nine fastest securing an A final birth, then the next nine in the B final and so on.

The heats saw some great performances from the Shore crews. Out of the seven crews that competed, four of the heats were taken out by crews from North Sydney and in a very pleasing development, Shore qualified three crews for the A final (the most from any one school). All of our quads ended up in finals against much higher-ranked crews, which set us up for some very exciting racing (albeit five hours after the finals).

Our first final was the D final, where our mighty Eighth Quad, a crew comprised of five boys that were making their Shore Rowing debuts, finished 7th but broke the 4-minute mark, which was very pleasing for the coaching staff to see. The Sixth Quad competed in the C final and had a very tight race, only just narrowly missing out on a podium finish, finishing just .5 of a second behind the Cranbrook No.1 combination.

The Fourth and Fifth Quad combinations had a great showdown with the Riverview Third Quad combination. As they entered the final 250m of the C final, all three crews had to be separated with a photo finish.

The A final was a great battle for First, Second and Third combinations. There were lots of races within the race here, with the rivalry with Riverview for the First boat on show, the Second crew aiming to take down the St Joseph’s top combination and the Third crew looking forward to having a crack at the Kinross top combination. The A final did not disappoint, with the First crew finishing in 1st place and the Second crew finishing in a very strong bronze medal position, finishing almost a boat length clear of the St Joseph’s First combination. Our Third Quad came home strong to complete their assignment against Kinross, finishing 5th overall and quite pleasingly just 0.5 of a second behind the St Joseph’s top combination.

Mr Glenn Bates
MIC Rowing

Surf Life Saving Report

Saturday 16 November 2024

Year 7 and 8 Nippers

The surf was excellent on Wednesday afternoon which allowed the nippers to continue to develop their water skills. The board skills are making excellent progress.

On Saturday a strong onshore wind made the waves challenging, but the boys completed several events including an Ultra-Iron Man which involved a run to the top of Long Reef Headland as one of the run-legs.

The following results were recorded:

Year 9 and 10 Bronze Medallion Group

The Bronze group have continued their skills and knowledge acquisition both in weekday training and during the Saturday session. They have focused on aquatic rescue in preparation for the assessment on 30 November. On the beach, the boys took part in a range of events, mostly focused on developing their aquatic rescue skills, including conscious tube rescues, which is a skill they have recently been introduced to.

Key date: Bronze Medallion Assessment. Saturday 30 November, 8am arrival.
Please note: This location is now Long Reef SLSC, which is a great result for our boys!

Mr Gareth Jones
MIC Surf Life Saving

Surfing Report

Saturday 16 November 2024

A strong onshore wind and weak wind swell made for tricky conditions on Saturday for the Shore surfers. On the plus side, the boys had the beach to themselves, and there were multiple take-off spots where they could spread out and catch plenty of waves. 

After a 20-minute free surf, the coaches ran a ‘maneuver drill’ in which surfers were challenged to complete a range of surfing moves. Every surfer was able to get their cutback, but no one got the full house of the five required moves. Marcos Perez and Henry Peters completed three of the moves, while Will Hoy managed four.

Mr John McClelland
MIC Surfing

Results

Convener’s Invitational Carnival

Shore Swim Team

Last Friday evening, the Shore School Swim team began the 2024/25 season at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre at the annual Convener’s Invitational Carnival. Although no GPS points were on offer, the event provided a great chance for our swimmers to come together, race, and prepare for the season ahead.

The meet last Friday evening also marked the beginning of new leadership for the team, with James Bestic taking on the role of Captain and Ethan Cook stepping into the role of Vice Captain. Both were outstanding in leading the team throughout the evening, setting a positive example for all to follow.

There were some excellent swims throughout the night, with all team members giving their best efforts in the pool. In the end, Shore School came away with the win, which was a great result to kick off the new season.

A big thank you to Mr Chris Cook and Mrs Eugenie Bestic for volunteering as timekeepers on the night. Your help is always appreciated.

Thank you also to Alexander Freischmidt, Ethan Cook, Thomas Eaton, Billy Jones, James Bestic, William Bestic, Harry Pollitt, and William Watson for staying until the very end to support Ollie Kelly during his 1,500m freestyle race. It was fantastic to see such great team spirit.

Well done to all swimmers, and we look forward to seeing what the season will bring!

Mr Tom O’Keefe
Head of Swimming

Tennis Report

Saturday 16 November 2024

Firsts Report

The Firsts tennis maintained their unbeaten start with a 6-3 victory over Sydney Grammar School (SGS). In a week, with more than half the team experiencing sickness or physical injury, an incredible display of resilience and mental toughness was showcased. With clinical straight-set wins from the number one and three pairs, the boys took an early 2-1 lead on the day. The team wasted no time winning the day, with special mention to Josh Powell, Felix Harrop, and Ollie Wilcox for not dropping a set all day. Special mention goes to Ari Ganassin for showcasing some incredible fight in his match despite a close loss. Overall, the boys maintained their good form and look to further their lead over the next two weeks as they aim to finish the Term strong.

Oliver Wilcox
First Captain

Opens Report

Shore’s Tennis teams faced a mixed weekend against SGS, with the Thirds team struggling on challenging mod-grass courts while the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth teams secured strong wins.

The Thirds team encountered difficulties adapting to the low-skidding bounce of the mod-grass surface, a sharp contrast to the more predictable hardcourt conditions they are accustomed to. George Storey and Oscar Chadban fell 1-6 in their doubles match, but Lachie Assheton and Oliver Moufarrige fought back to secure a 6-3 win. In singles, Storey lost 2-6, Assheton went down 1-6, and Moufarrige and Chadban both battled hard but were defeated 3-6. Despite the 1-5 loss, the team gained valuable experience on the unfamiliar surface.

The Fourths team showed resilience, claiming a 4-2 victory. Archie Jones and Nathan Lu struggled in their doubles, losing 2-6, but Daniel Burgess and Andrew Gilchrist brought the team back with a commanding 6-1 win. In singles, Jones lost 1-6, but Lu, Burgess, and Gilchrist demonstrated composure and determination to win their matches 6-4, 6-3, and 6-3, respectively, ensuring the team’s success.

The Fifths team enjoyed a perfect 6-0 result due to a SGS forfeit. However, Jono Loy took advantage of the opportunity for match play and performed well, winning his singles 6-3 in a dominant display.

The Sixths team delivered an impressive 4-2 victory. Miller George and Lachlan Tam set the tone with a 6-2 doubles win, but Jaeyun Koh and Jared Lin narrowly missed out, losing 5-6. In singles, George faced a tough opponent, losing 1-6, but Tam responded with an emphatic 6-0 win. Koh and Lin both showed excellent skill and focus, taking their matches 6-0 and 6-3 to secure the overall team win.

This weekend’s results highlighted the adaptability and depth across Shore’s tennis teams. While the Thirds team faced challenges with the conditions, the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth teams showcased determination and skill to earn their victories.

Mr Ian Middleton
Opens Coach

16s

The 16’s A’s and B’s had a close loss against SGS this weekend, with the A’s winning, B’s and C’s losing and D’s drawing. In the A’s and B’s doubles, both James Warren and Ed Dunnet had a competitive match coming back into the tiebreaker from 5-3; however, they lost, resulting in a final score of 6-8. On a positive note, Noah Gee and Max Scarlett had a 6-0 donut win this week in their doubles. In the singles, both Max Scarlett and James Warren had a 6-0 donut win as well. Furthermore, Benji Loy had a very close singles match, winning 8-6 in his tiebreak, helping the A’s to win. In the C’s and D’s Doubles, Archie Court and Nick Blackman were the only pair to have a win of 6-4. In the singles, Michael Harley had an extremely close match in the tiebreaker, eventually winning 8-6. SGS is high up on the leaderboard, and this narrow loss hopefully boosts Shore’s position. We must maintain these results next week against Scots College.

James Warren
16s player

Water Polo Report

Saturday 16 November 2024

Seconds

Shore’s Seconds Water Polo team faced Riverview in a trial match, delivering a commanding 7-3 victory. The team started with purpose, quickly finding their rhythm and capitalising on early opportunities. Shore’s defence was a standout, with the team working tirelessly to shut down Riverview’s attack. Strong communication and teamwork allowed the boys to transition seamlessly into counterattacks. The win sets a positive tone for the remainder of the GPS season, with crucial matches against Scots and Newington on the horizon. The Seconds are eager to build on this performance and finish the term on a high note.

Mr Danny Kerr
Seconds Coach

Fourths

The Fourths had a thrilling game against Waverley Thirds, showcasing exceptional teamwork and individual brilliance. Goalkeeper Oli Graham made an unforgettable full-field goal and pulled off a series of outstanding saves, providing a solid foundation for the team. Christian Wong impressed with a remarkable goal, while Hamish Wade was a defensive anchor at centre-back, consistently breaking down Waverley’s attacks and organising the backline with precision. Despite having only two substitutes, the team showed incredible endurance and determination, with every player stepping up to cover the full game. The Fourths’ teamwork was the standout feature of the match, with quick passes, clear communication, and collective effort on both ends of the field. This synergy helped them maintain their energy and composure throughout a challenging game to win 6-3.

Miss Zoe Dowdell
MIC Water Polo

Results