Secondary School

2024 Young Creative's Art Prize

The "Nature Speaks" art prize and exhibition, hosted by The Foundry Arts Space in Echuca, announced its awards on Friday 19th July. Year 11 student, Cara Haley, won the "Young Creative" category with her piece titled "Impossible Elegance." Her artwork, along with other youth entries, is currently showcased at the Echuca Library until 18th August.

In addition, Mrs Bronwen Quill's artwork won the "Local Entry" category in the Open section. The Open entries can also be viewed at The Foundry until August 18th.

Congratulations to both Cara and Mrs Quill on their achievements!

Future Leaders Academy Student Leadership Program

In April, I attended the Future Leaders Academy Student Leadership Program in the Cook Islands. It was an incredible experience, filled with opportunities to meet new people and build lasting friendships. Through various activities, I gained more confidence in my leadership abilities and enjoyed a multitude of fun experiences. A cross island hike led by fellow students helped us develop our teamwork skills, while swimming in the ocean and exploring the island was an outlet to get to know others on the course. I also participated in local traditions and cultural practices, including learning how traditional coconut milk is made which allowed me to gain a deep appreciation for the rich heritage of the area. I also learnt about aspects of New Zealand culture from students on the course. Problem-solving sessions focused on addressing community issues among youth which was enlightening and contributed to the growth of my collaboration skills. Our environmental efforts, such as beach cleanups, were both rewarding and impactful. Additionally, we immersed ourselves in the local culture by attending markets and learning traditional songs from Australia, New Zealand and the Cook Islands, which brought us closer to the community. This camp was not just an enjoyable retreat but an educational experience that enriched my understanding of the world and my place within it.

Written by Paige Looney, Year 11 student

Year 9 Camp

On Monday 29th August, the Year 9 cohort headed off to Charnwood Camp, located in Lima East. The location of the camp is idyllic, surrounded by bushland, hills, streams and boulders. Students were split into four groups and rotated through various activities.

Students abseiled down a 14m boulder, which tested their nerves and fear of heights. Bike riding proved to be a hit, with students first learning the basics and doing some fun activities like riding over a seesaw and doing the limbo while on their bikes. Once they completed these tasks, they tackled some downhill bike riding through rugged terrain. The more experienced bike riders flew through the course, while others took it very slowly.

The bushwalking consisted of an 8km walk, with 2km of that being up very steep and thick bushland. There was quite a lot of ‘bush bashing’ with no designated paths, which made the adventure all the more fun. A few wombats were seen on this trip, and they were affectionately named ‘Chomps.’

Students tested their compass-reading abilities by completing a rogaining course. Teamwork and communication were key in this activity, as without them, students would have failed to reach all the markers in the designated time. This activity also involved a lot of walking through bushland areas and up and down hills.

Crate stacking was a hit with some students, where they had to use the least number of crates possible to hit the bell above them. The lowest number of crates used was five, with four seeming like an impossible task.

The final day of the trip called for a 4:30am wake-up time to get to Mt Buller nice and early. With the sun shining, bright blue skies, and no wind, you could not have asked for a better day on the snow. Both groups of skiers and snowboarders had lessons from experienced instructors before they tackled the challenges of the mountains. Some students excelled on the snow, picking up the skills quickly, while others took a bit more time. There were many falls, but fortunately, no injuries to speak of. For some students, this was the first time they had seen snow, and for many, it surely won’t be their last after getting a taste for it. After six hours on the snow, it was time for the long drive back home.

Thank you to Ms Thompson, Ms James, Ms Mulchay, Mr Hall and Mr Townrow for attending the trip and making the experience an enjoyable one.

Australian Sheep & Wool Show

A number of Year 10 and Year 11 Agriculture and Primary Industry students recently attended the Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo with Mr Macey and Mrs Smith. Here the students enjoyed the largest sheep show in the southern hemisphere. They also had the opportunity to participate in workshops and judging competitions conducted by the Australian Dohne Sheep Breeders’ Association. Students assessed meat sheep and fleece samples and justified on the microphone the reasons for their placings. Congratulations to the following students:

Meat Sheep Judging:

1st - Aleisha Moon

2nd - Jack Davy

3rd - Skyler Keet

4th - Fergus McGillivray

Encouragement Award - Chloe Macknight

Fleece Judging:

1st - Chloe Macknight

2nd - Jack Davy

3rd - Fergus McGillivray

4th - Lachlan Barlow

Encouragement Award - Flynn Gilbert