From the Principal

Further to the recent announcements on the wearing of face masks by the Victorian Government last weekend, the College advocates the following:

• We strongly recommend that students (over 12 years old) and staff wear masks on campus, most especially when it is impossible to socially distance.
• We strongly encourage all students catching buses to wear masks when travelling.
• From Wednesday 30 July, we request all our boarders wear face masks when they are outside the bounds of the school.  This means when boarders are in transit to school, down the street, watching sport and/or even doing gentle recreational exercise. Boarders are not required to wear masks in the house, the dining room or in common areas at Myrniong.  Boarding staff will also be strongly encouraged to wear a face mask when on duty.
• All staff and students are encouraged to purchase or make a face mask and will be required to have one if this protocol is enforced by the State Government based on the advice of the Victorian Chief Medical Officer.

Many staff and I have begun modelling mask wearing in the hope all our community will adjust to this recommendation.  There is mounting evidence that this virus is even more infectious than we first thought. Studies are finding that many people are asymptomatic and that speaking is enough to expel virus-carrying droplets. It is important we fulfil our social contract to this community and embrace not only state advice but also all Western District Health Services recommendations. 

Dr Andrew Hirst