AROUND THE COLLEGE & BEYOND

Chillagoe Outback Experience 

By Neil Gregory - Head of Year 10

The boys have returned from the camp most positively with many stories and renewed enthusiasm. The major focus of the camp was challenging participants, improving teamwork, developing leadership skills and forming cohesion across the cohort. It was also a chance for the boys to enjoy the environment, make new friends and try new activities. 

Chillagoe welcomed us with great weather, the days being warm and the nights very cool. The boys arrived well prepared, a fact made clear as their personal equipment was unloaded from the buses which arrived slightly late at the Chillagoe airport.

Hiking routes were organised so that the boys could spend as much time on the river as possible. Most found themselves far from their usual comfort zones, and the initial day's challenge of walking 10km to reach the 9 Mile and Roadhouse campsites along the Walsh River, devoid of any traces of civilization, was quite a shocking experience. The cold water was popular at the end of the day. 

With spirits high, the Prospectors powered through the shorter walk on Tuesday traversing and navigating across some difficult terrain leading into Fisherman’s Waterhole, where they spent one evening. While the Prospectors hiked the Explorers completed their activities during their two-day stay at 9 Mile Waterhole. On Wednesday, both groups climbed Election Mountain with the summit offering views across the Chillagoe smelters some 12km in the distance. 

The Prospectors spent Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 9 Mile while the Explorers spent the time at Firsherman's Waterhole and Roadhouse campsite in preparation for their departure on Friday morning. 

The boys were challenged by the team points competition involving army command activities. These required individual skill but, more importantly, teamwork to solve the problem. Points were also awarded for fishing, campsites, navigation and attitude. Redclaw, Sooty Grunter, Mouth Almighty, catfish and turtles put points on the scoreboard immediately for the fishermen. The Bushpigs were the dominant group in the Prospectors camp while the Bush Rats were the team of the week in the Explorers camp. Prizes were also awarded to boys who consistently displayed some of the Marist qualities that we regularly acknowledge during the school year. Prize winners are listed below: 

Prospectors – Patrick Arnold, Jamie Keenan, Bastian Simpson-Leitner, Daniel Buckley, Lachlan Inglis, Jack Bowe, Braith Bragg, James Henderson, Toby Brien, Joseph Jones, Kadyn Marino and Joshua Paterson.

Explorers – Noah Wright, Sebatian Grillo, Max Kopittke, Matthew Page, Denzil Boniface, Noah Prestipino, Tanner Williams, Rhys Woolcott, Thomas Frusher, Ryan George, Cooper Meares and Leslie Fatafehi.

I congratulate the boys on their positive attitude and participation in the camp. Thanks must go to all staff involved whether they were hiking, operating support vehicles or driving buses. This camp would not be possible without the continued support of the Crossland family at Chillagoe Station.   

Japanese Students Given a Glimpse of Australian School Life and Our Natural Wonders 

                                                                  By Jay Killoran - Head of LOTE

For 12 days St Augustine’s College had the privilege of hosting 25 high school boys and their teachers from Tohrei Gakuen in Fujisawa City, Japan. They had a wonderful time visiting the reef and Kuranda. 

The students experienced, first hand,  life in an Australian boarding school. Through lesson integration with their Saints’ buddies they took part in ESL, Art, PE and Science classes, and participated in Wednesday sport. 

The College has a long history of hosting International exchange groups from various countries and continues to have a strong focus on Japanese language and culture in our academic program.

The focus now turns to St Augustine’s 2024 Japan tour as planning is almost complete for this great cultural and linguistic experience.

Languages

JCU Language Ambassador Conference

It has been an eventful July for languages. Seven Year 9 boys attended the 2023 JCU Language Ambassador Conference. Evan Ung, Liam Dash, Luc Rinehart, Cezane Nentjes, William Ward, Nicholas Maynard, William Gaul all recommended the conference:   

"The conference gave me a very interesting perspective on how language can unite us and how we shouldn't let language barriers stop us from constant learning."

"The conference put into perspective how important language is in our world and why we need to learn different languages for ourselves instead of using translating services as a crutch."

 "The experience gave insight into how people are still discriminated against to this day because of their language. It allowed us to not only listen to their stories but also to share our perspectives and how we believe language affects the world."

Italian Speaking Competition

Cairns High recently hosted the 2023 Italian Speaking Competition. Luc Rinehart (Year 9) and Harvey Edwards (Year 8) delivered speeches. In the Year 8 category, Marlon Sandoval secured first place while Cooper Connors was third Bravissimi ragazzi!

The competition was an engaging and wonderful opportunity for the boys to speak in front of a large audience, mingle with like-minded students and present their language skills to Italian judges from South Australia and Brisbane including the Italian Consul for Queensland. 

Breakfast with the Law

The Years 11 and 12 Legal Studies classes attended the Business Liaison Association's Breakfast with the Law on 28 July. The event provides worthwhile insight into the legal industry and, this year, Year 12 students Michael Doolan and Ricky Groth were the emcees. Year 11 Legal Studies students Andrew Robertson, Declan Cantamessa and Thomas Dummel have provided reflections on their experience below. 

Andrew Robertson

Saints students had the opportunity to listen to two law professionals speaking from their experience of legal practice, helping students to understand the pathways opportunities and expectations of a legal career. The engaging presentation ended with a Q&A, where the students were led into an exciting and challenging legal debate. The students evaluated three unique complex socio-legal issues. It was interesting and entertaining to freely express opinions and perspectives to debate the issues on a legal plane whilst taking in the opinions and perspectives of similarly aged students across Cairns. Therefore, the BLA'S Breakfast with the Law was a worthwhile experience for Legal Studies students.

Declan Cantamessa

A presentation and Q&A with law professionals was a great opportunity for students to understand the perspective of someone who had pursued a career in law and learn more about their own potential pathways in the legal profession. A student debate over three divisive and complex socio-legal topics was also conducted. It was an exciting opportunity to engage with like-minded students from other schools and openly discuss ideas and opinions.

Thomas Dummel

The BLA's Breakfast with the Law was a worthwhile experience for St Augustine's Legal Studies students in Years 11 and 12. The session involved a hearty breakfast, a noteworthy presentation from experienced civil litigators and a student debate which were all enjoyed by students from the College. A particular favourite was the debate, as Saints students could discuss relevant legal cases and contend with perspectives of other students from across Cairns.