Message from 

the Principal

It has been an outstanding start to the year and it is abundantly evident that our students are greatly enjoying the opportunity to fully participate in many of the activities that were restricted during 2020. We have witnessed much industry and enthusiasm in the classroom and the arts, great feats of skill and courage in our sports, and generous contributions to others in our wider Orange community.

Juxtaposed with the joy and success of the past weeks has been sadness and grief brought on by some tragic events that have resulted in the loss of young life in our broader regional community. Our School Psychologists, Boarding and Wellbeing staff have been providing support to those students who have been affected. These important support structures form part of our pastoral care framework and are always available should any of our students and families require additional support in the future. 

At our last Assembly we acknowledged the excellent academic achievement and effort of many of our student body. It was wonderful to be able to congratulate so many for their dedication, perseverance and academic success. 

Clearly, teaching and learning is central to the operation of a school so that we can provide our students with the best start in life. Our curriculum is diverse so that we can cater for a broad range of interests and be able to equip our students with the skills they will need to navigate the future that lies before them.

However success in whatever we do in life requires far more than skills alone. If we do not possess the character or tenacity to pursue our goals little of real worth will be achieved.

Perseverance and effort are key to success. In all that we do, be it in the classroom engaging in learning, in music, on the sports field or in practical work – one must be prepared to demonstrate grit and resilience if you wish to achieve your potential. Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept trying when there seemed no hope at all. The pioneering advances made in medicine and science provide clear testament to this.

It is also important we realise that the achievement of almost anything worthwhile is never easy. It takes commitment, hard work and sacrifice. Often we hear people say that you have to love what you do and that the most important thing is to go out and have fun. However, the honest truth is that the most meaningful and satisfying things in life are often unpleasant and tough along the way.

If we expect achieving our dreams or following our passions to be enjoyable all the time, we inhibit our ability to actually experience that deep feeling within ourselves of contentment. A deep sense of personal satisfaction comes when you know you have stepped outside your comfort zone, battled the adversity that stood in your way, and have emerged even better and stronger on the other side. 

In striving to fulfil your potential and become the best you can be you will feel fear, uncertainty, discomfort and stress along the way – all these emotions are normal, just ask any sportsperson, musician, performer or academic. I certainly have experienced these emotions along my journey and I have no doubt that our rowers, swimmers and triathletes did so last weekend when they went on to achieve superb results.

And at times as we strive to achieve our goals, we will fail - we all do – but it is through failure we learn to do things differently and better. Don’t be afraid of it or do all you can to avoid it, for it is learning from our setbacks that provides the key to future successes. 

It is my hope that all our students will have the courage to work hard and persevere; to be brave enough to risk failure and to have the character and resilience to bounce back, reassess and then achieve their designated goal.

I encourage everyone to display these characteristics in all they do, be it in your academic domain, on the sports field, the creative arts or in your personal life. 

New Staff

Master in Charge of Rugby

It is with great pleasure that I announce the appointment of Mr Matt Tink as MIC of Rugby at Kinross Wolaroi School. Matt brings a wealth of experience in both the men's and women's game and will be a wonderful asset to our extensive co-curricular offering. 

Matt is the current CEO of Central West Rugby and the Assistant Coach of the Australian Wallaroos. He has a great deal of leadership and coaching experience at the elite and school level. Matt has coached professionally in Japan, also with the Melbourne Rebels and Western Force Super Rugby franchises; has been extensively involved in Coach and Referee education, managed Elite Pathways in the professional game; and was Rugby Master at Waverley College in Sydney for eight years – a program that fielded some 40 teams. 

Matt has a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education from the University of Armidale; is a World Rugby Level 1 Coach Educator, a World Rugby Level 4 Coach, an Australian Rugby Union Level 4 Coach and Australian Rugby Union Referee Coach and Coach Education Presenter.

He was also an elite player having been a NSW Waratah and Australian Under 21 and Under 19 representative. Matt is a KWS parent and member of our community and I very much look forward to seeing the game flourish under his stewardship.

Congratulations

The Kinross Wolaroi Boat Club

Over the weekend of 6 and 7 February the NSW Rowing Championships were staged at the Sydney International Rowing Centre in Penrith. The Kinross Wolaroi Boat Club achieved some amazing results where we established ourselves as the top School in NSW and were placed 4th on the table behind the adult clubs of Sydney University, UTS and Sydney Rowing Club.

Our rowers showed great courage, tenacity and skill with some racing a total of 20km over the weekend. Their determination and commitment won the admiration of many over the weekend.

We finished the Championships with six Gold medals, four Silver and two Bronze – winning more than we have ever done at this event in our proud history.

GOLD – School Girls 1st Four – Ella Kirby, Georgia Sweetapple, Ayla Ryan, Audrey Gill, Cailan McKay

GOLD – U17 School Girl Single – Lucy Searle

GOLD – U17 School Girl Double – Lucy Searle, Lucy Scammell 

GOLD – School Girl Single – Bella Scammell

GOLD – School Girl Quad – Bella Scammell, Freya Neville, Hannah Richardson, Annabelle Woods, Georgia Robson 

GOLD – U19 Quad - Bella Scammell and Freya Neville who rowed with Sydney Rowing Club 

SILVER – School Girl VIII – Bella Scammell, Freya Neville, Hannah Richardson, Annabelle Woods, Lucy Searle, Lucy Scammell, Liv Fredricksson, Sally Carter, Georgia Robson

SILVER - School Boys 1st Four – Alec Hoskin, Charlie Neville, Nick Brown, Harry Houghton, Lucinda McCarten

SILVER – School Girl Double – Freya Neville, Bella Scammell 

SILVER – U19 Quad - Alec Hoskin who rowed with Sydney Rowing Club 

BRONZE – School Girl Single – Freya Neville

BRONZE – U17 School Boy Quad – Will Chamberlain, Ethan Shaw, Fletcher Smith, Zachary Annett, Taylah Hobbs 

Swimming 

At the KWS Swimming Championships we had three records broken. Congratulations to Collette Lyons, Zac Lewis and Oli McLaughlin on their superb performances.