Five Fun Facts!
Meet the J-Team!
Anne Killick
Meet Anne, our calm, caring and capable Year 2 teacher.
What was your most memorable holiday?
I should really say meeting my grandson in Canada, and now I have a brand new one as well! But Egypt, Greece and Turkey in 2010 was very memorable!
I loved seeing the Pyramids, Tutankhamen, Santorini, Mykonos, Istanbul, Gallipoli and my BIG swim.
Your big swim? What do you mean?
I have been swimming in comps since I was very young and in Masters for many years. I have swum in the Lorne Pier to Pub for ten years and now have my Shark Bait medal. In 2010, my next challenge was swimming across the Dardanelles from Asia to Europe. It was a very rough day weather wise and it was nearly cancelled but went ahead. We had an hour and a half to reach the finish line as the very busy shipping channel had been closed for the event. Unfortunately, half of the competitors were swept down the shipping channel over a kilometre due to the strong current even though we were nearly at land. I was one of them. I got pulled in by the coast guard with 10 minutes to go. I was transferred to a fishing boat but slid down the side bruising all my ribs. Then they took us back up near the finish line and threw us back in the water to finish the event. Then the shipping channel was back open to the enormous cargo ships!
Due to my bruised ribs I had to have two weeks off school to recover but I don’t regret having a go and will never forget this experience.
Favourite motto for life?
Remember we all need to challenge ourselves!
Do you have any special mementos from your big swim ‘holiday’?
I also went snorkelling in Anzac Cove and found two bullet shells. Apparently after every storm, lots of objects from the war are still coming to the surface.
Aaron Chaston
Meet Aaron, our surfing musician in Year 5.
What would be your spirit animal?
The humuhumunukunukuapuaa – Native Fish of Hawaii. Or a sea turtle.
What is the best book you have read?
Kafka on the Shore, by Haruki Murakami.
Which of your scars has the best story behind it?
I have a scar on my chin. I earnt it in Year 12 not wanting to be late for school. My dog Meg, began following me and my sister. I told my sister to ride ahead while I put Meg back in the house. I was absolutely flying when the wheels slid out from under me. I was knocked out cold. When I woke up I was covered in blood, (which really stood out on a light blue school shirt). One of my mates mum’s just happened to have driven by and saw me. I can still see the look of horror on her face. When I arrived at the emergency room they gave me a bed pan and said you may start to feel nauseous. I said, “I’ll be right.” But I wasn’t.
Later that day, I was laying on the examination table. The kind Dr Flood showed me a steel hair brush that he was going to use to scrap all the rocks and asphalt out of my skin. He also plucked a decent sized rock out of my top lip and asked if I wanted to keep it. I politely declined.
The worst part about the accident was that it was my mates and my turn to teach the class an altered game of footy/netball. We spent weeks creating the rules and making it fun. I was really disappointed to have missed that. It was really lucky I had my helmet on because things could have been a lot worse. These days I try to ride as slow as possible.
What chance encounter changed your life forever?
Chris Finnen Blues Musician – 1994 – Banfield’s. He brought the guitar gods to Phillip Island and showed everyone what was what!
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Spaghetti Bola-pizza!
Anna Moore
Meet Anna, our outdoor adventurer and Year 5 teacher.
What was the best holiday you ever took and why?
One of my most memorable and amazing holidays was in January 2019 when my partner and I went to Zimbabwe, where he and his family are from. It was special to visit his family, who work in Hwange National park, ensuring game/wild animals have access to water. This is a unique living and work environment, and with my partner’s expertise, I was lucky enough to see animals in their natural close up, like a pride of lionesses and a leopard!
What are your hobbies, and how did you get into them?
I love sports – all sports – and being active brings me a lot of joy, but I particularly love to play field hockey. I started at five years old and have enjoyed opportunities to travelling around Australia competing. I also coach the under 15 Victorian state girls hockey team.
How else do you spend your free time?
As a downtime activity, I enjoy gardening and cooking and baking too. I also like making new and adventurous meals to share with friends and family.
In the summer, would you rather go to the beach or go camping?
I love nothing more than a beautiful clear night, staring at the bright country stars and a full moon while around a glowing camp fire! A marshmallow at the ready and enjoying company of friends and family are very special to me.
Do you have a favourite camping area?
I have grown up enjoying camping around Australia, growing particularly fond of the muddy flats and lake of Eildon National Park.