PE & Outdoor Ed

Surf's Up at Cape Conran: Year 9 Adventure

Our Year 9 students embarked on an exciting surf trip to Cape Conran, Victoria, on Wednesday 28th February. Guided by experienced instructors, they learned the art of riding the waves while exploring the rugged coastline and discovering the beauty of the coastal ecosystem. The trip was filled with memorable moments of camaraderie and adventure, leaving our students with a newfound appreciation for the ocean and a thirst for more exploration.

Gippsland Region Senior Cricket

Wednesday 6th March had our senior boys cricket team travelling to Yinnar Recreation Reserve, to compete in a 20/20 format match against Leongatha’s Mary McKillop Secondary Schools senior team.

Coming off a strong win against Nagle College 2 weeks earlier, our senior boys were confident they had the skills and frame of mind to get the job done. Batting first, BSC were able to complete the 20-over innings losing only 2 wickets. An outstanding effort by Zach (62) and Lochie (27) to gather good numbers and hang in there from the oppositions strong bowling attack. 

Having Taj, Zayn, Kobe, John, Zach and Tyler step up and bowl some rippers down the pitch, drawing much attention from the opposition, only made it that much harder to accept the narrow loss with Mary McKillop, equalling our total with 3 overs to spare and 4 wickets in hand.

A shout out to Ollie, Jack, Jovi, Taj, Zach, Tyler, John, Lochie, Zayn and Kobe for representing our college so well at the Gippsland region level. We are proud of you.

East Gippsland Junior and Intermediate Cricket

Friday 8th March saw the Junior Mixed Cricket Team and the Intermediate Boys’ Team battle it out with Nagle College and Orbost Community College, in very hot and testing conditions, at the Lucknow Cricket Oval. Each team played a total of 3 games each, in an 8 overs per side format, with both Junior and Intermediate teams adapting very well to the smaller field sizes and super 8 cricket rules.

Junior – It was an entertaining and highly commendable effort by the Junior Mixed Team who were playing together for the first time, under the Bairnsdale Secondary College banner. Playing some very entertaining batting strokes and creating havoc with a strong bowling and fielding attack, the team was unable to secure a victory of sorts. However, they were able to win the respect of the teachers and their peers, for their ‘can do’ and ‘give it your best’ attitude. Well done to Tate, Flynn, Sylah, Annie, Jasmine, Harrison, Seth, and Fletcher for getting involved at school training and committing to the cricket team on such a hot day. Best of luck for next year!

Intermediate – Our talented boys team worked well together from start to finish, taking it very seriously at times, as well as finding the light-hearted moments, as funny as the characters within the team. It seemed anything was possible for the boys with a skilled display of bowling, fielding and very entertaining batting strokes. The Super 8 format frustrated the team at times, but to their credit, they dug in and gave it a red-hot shot.

Well done to Mitchell, Harrison, Flynn, Jack, Finn, Alex, and Kishore who all put in a great effort. It is with great anticipation that we watch you step up into the senior team next year and continue to grow as a team and school ambassadors.

Riviera Secondary Schools Championship

On Tuesday 12th March, Bairnsdale Secondary College had 6 students setting the challenge of entering such a large and competitive event. This clay target shooting event, held by Field and Game Bairnsdale, has become a very well attended school representative sport, with over 160 students from East Gippsland, Gippsland and as far as Lilydale in the Dandenong Ranges.

Chris, Sara, Shrader, Travis, Jack and Jackson had a mix of experience, with some learning the art of target shooting throughout the day from the very qualified and experienced support officials. No doubt this club has run many big events before, but for some of our newbies including staff, it was so exciting and assuring to see such a well-run, extremely safe, and well-staffed event.

The competitors face 2 rounds of 10 shots. Of those 10 shots, they attempt to hit 5 clay targets with 2 shots each. It certainly proved to be a challenging first round, trying to get their eye in and accessing the different angles of the target launches. Seizing the opportunity to get some free coaching, our team improved with each shot, with the smallest on the team and most elite, Sara, holding 2nd place in her age group, going into the final round. 

With the first-round nerves gone, and the targets beginning to be hit more readily, the group enjoyed themselves experiencing a not-so-accessible sport normally at school. Showing respect and responsibility throughout the day, this group grew with each shot taken, accruing a very respectable score. It was with great excitement that our Over-15-Girls competitor managed to edge her way back in front and finish the day off with a win. Congratulations Sara!

A special mention from our school staff to all the parents and carers who transported the students out to make it possible to run this year’s team. Thank you.

Navigating new heights: Year 10 and 11 Orienteering competition

On Wednesday 13th March, Year 10 and 11 students took on the challenge of ascending Mt. Taylor, equipped with maps and compasses. Overcoming obstacles and embracing teamwork, they hunted through the scrub for orienteering markers. The course not only tested their physical and navigational abilities but also instilled in them a deeper connection to the local environment.

Students were arranged into groups of 3 or more and were given the challenge to try and find 8 control points and make it back to the start point in under 2 hours.  Students received varying points for each control point found.  The orienteering course was very challenging for both students and staff, with cryptic clues, and a sound knowledge of both map reading and compass use required to complete the course successfully.

Following the ‘Orienteering Event’, students then cooked their own hot lunches on ‘Trangia stoves’ leading up to the ‘Awards Ceremony’ for the various category winners.

Congratulations to the following students who received the following awards for their amazing team efforts on the day:

Overall winners (Orienteering Event): Jack, Tyson and Saul (Year 10)

Sustainability & Respect Award:  Jai, Mathew and Connor 

Best Teamwork: Alex , Tully , Max and Sam 

Finally, a BIG THANK YOU to Mrs Edwardes who set up the orienteering course at Mt Taylor the afternoon before the event and to Mr Shannon Keane our resident ‘Cooking Expert’ when using the Trangia!!!

Also, a job well done by Mr. Grant Sanderson and Bodey Carr for all their efforts with logistics. Making sure all the ‘Outdoor Education’ gear on the day, was ready to go and set up!!! 

Gippsland Region Swimming Carnival

Congratulations to the 13 students who qualified to represent our College at Sale Aquatic Centre on Thursday 14th March. Unfortunately, only 8 students were available on the day due to prior commitments and illness. 

It was just as wet for the officials and spectators’ poolside as it was for the competitors in the pool for the first half of the day, with some very heavy downpours making it quite uncomfortable.

With a very busy schedule of 21 events, our swimmers showed sheer determination against Gippsland Secondary School's very best competitive swimmers. Ashley, Jami, Lola, Campbell, Cooper, Izieaha, Rylan and Flynn were rewarded with an extremely competitive day of racing.

Results were:

Ashley - 50m Breaststroke - 2nd

Cooper - 50m Breaststroke - 3rd

Cooper - 50m Freestyle - 3rd

Cooper, Lola, Flynn and Izieaha - 12-13 Mixed Relay Team Freestyle - 3rd

With the rain easing off in the afternoon, it was great to see our students enjoying the event, socialising with the other school's students, organising themselves for their events and keeping spirits high in such dreary conditions. Well done to you all!

Equestrian event

Last Friday 15th March, Year 7 student Nakita competed at Boneo Equestrian centre on the Mornington Peninsula. Nakita represented Bairnsdale Secondary College in show jumping against all high school levels with three horses.

Nakita came home with 2 x First Place, a Second Place and a 4th Place. In addition, she also won overall High School Champion. Well done Nakita!