Letter from the Editor

Hello Dan, it's Joe here.

If you, in your head (or potentially out loud), replied with "I hope you're keeping well," I'd consider you well versed in Australian music culture.

How to make gravy, by renowned Australian singer songwriter Paul Kelly, is an absolute favourite of mine. Late nights screaming out the lyrics of this song in a sharehouse kitchen, livingroom or garage was a staple of my university years. This extended into Christmas time, when Mum insisted on listening to Christmas carols, my brothers and I would take over stereo and blast some of Paul Kelly's finest (and lets be honest, Mariah ends up on the rotation). 

My Dad's old Mitsubishi Verada had a 12 stack CD player in it and I attribute much of my musical upbrining to that piece of 90's technology. The Rolling Stones, The Beach boys, The Animals, Powderfinger and a sneaky complilation CD of the best of (insert beverage choice probably not appropriate for a school news letter) songs all cycled through our long drives to visit distant relatives.

I often wonder, if I am lucky enough to have a family in the future, what songs will become a part of their life. Would I bring them along the ride of my modern favourites, The Hilltop Hoods, Missy Higgins or JET, or would I sink back into the comfort and safety of my youth and end up just playing the classics that my Dad plagued us with and in which have really stuck with me.

Something that also sticks with young people is reading. The skill of reading is arguably the most important life skill a young person can learn. Studies have shown that the level of reading has one of the biggest impacts on academic success. But beyond just school, reading opens doors to imagination, critical thinking, and understanding the world around us. Whether it’s diving into a thrilling novel, exploring different cultures through stories, or simply following instructions on a science experiment, reading is at the heart of it all. Encouraging a love of reading early on helps students build confidence, expand their vocabulary, and develop the tools they need to thrive not just in the classroom, but in life.

Personally, I can't wait to explore the trials and tribulations faced by a young man named Harry Potter with my future teenagers... I just hope they don't think it's 'daggy.'

Jack Lynch

Editor