Senior School News

Out-of-this-world opportunity for Girton students

Shortly after 9pm on Saturday 3 May, a group of excited Girton students made live radio contact with astronaut Takuya Onishi – an experience made even more incredible by the fact that he was orbiting 400km above Earth at the time. The extraordinary conversation was made possible by a global network of amateur radio ground stations that connect students on Earth with the crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS).  

When the Bendigo Amateur Radio and Electronics Club (BAREC) shared the opportunity with Head of Science Ms Prue Beckwith, she leapt at the chance – promptly launching a school-wide competition to select the students who would take part. “The students submitted some incredibly insightful questions they were burning to ask an astronaut living aboard the ISS, and choosing just a handful was not an easy task,” Ms Beckwith said. “This truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I think I was just as excited as our students – especially as I received updates from the organisers confirming the official NASA timeframes and flight path.” 

The selected students included Joshua Ashby-Royals, Hasini Balraj, Owen Barnes, Thomas Brain, Tyler Brown, Rafay Jeddi, Rowena Lawson, Lahan Mallikaarachchi, Victoria Navarette Munoz, Amelia O’Rielly, Dulee Siriwardana, Fatima Zainab and Graham Ziffer. Their questions for Commander Onishi – who is currently leading the ISS on his second mission to space – ranged from the effects of microgravity, to the various experiments being conducted, to how the crew members deal with stressful moments while in space. 

In addition to confirming that “floating in space is the best stress relief ever”, Commander Onishi shared his excitement about a recent spacewalk and spoke warmly about the future of space exploration and the students’ potential role in it. “I am a big fan of the Star Wars movies, so I hope that one day we can travel faster than lightspeed and enter deep space – and I think you guys are the generation who could make that happen,” Commander Onishi said. “Exploring new frontiers is what excites me the most, because I believe that is how we continue to progress and make our lives better on Earth.” 

Commander Onishi managed to answer every student’s question in the 10-minute window before the ISS disappeared over the horizon – prompting an enthusiastic cheer from everyone in the room. Girton Grammar School extends its sincere thanks to BAREC, the Wireless Institute of Australia, the amateur radio operators who made the contact possible and, of course, Commander Onishi, for a truly unforgettable encounter with space. 

Senior School Colour Run

On Wednesday 7 May, Girton was awash with colour and excitement as Senior School students participated in the Prefect-organised Colour Run. From the starting whistle to the final dash, it was a fun-filled event, as students ran through stations manned by enthusiastic staff members armed with handfuls of coloured powder. 

Guest speakers from Victoria Police

The purpose of the visit from Victoria Police to the Year 11 cohort was to educate students about the risks, consequences and legal implications of drug and alcohol use. The session aimed to increase awareness and promote responsible decision-making among young people. Students learned about the serious legal outcomes that can result from drug possession or alcohol-related incidents, as well as the dangers of situations such as drink spiking and impaired judgment. As part of the presentation, students watched a video highlighting the dangers of drink driving, which reinforced how quickly lives can be affected or lost due to impaired decisions behind the wheel.

The officers provided valuable insights through real-life examples from their work, making the information more relatable and impactful. Their honest and practical approach helped students understand the importance of looking after themselves and their peers in social settings, and reinforced the long-term effects that poor choices involving drugs and alcohol can have on health, safety and future opportunities.

Henry Allan (11 Jones)

Bridging Gaps

'Bridging Gaps' is a community service initiative that allows Year 11 and 12 students to connect with elderly residents of St Laurence Court in Kangaroo Flat. During our visits, we spent time getting to know the residents, many of whom lived through World War II, listening to their stories and asking for their advice. 

While our conversations were engaging and insightful, we soon discovered that music holds a unique power to transcend generations. Whether it was playing piano pieces or singing karaoke to classics like 'You Are My Sunshine', music became a shared language that brought genuine connection and joy. 

This fulfilling outreach not only brings warmth and companionship to the residents but also offers us, as students, a meaningful way to give back. It is an experience of empathy, history and community, and I encourage all Girtonians to take up the opportunity to participate.

Nandini Gangaram (12 Aherne)