Senior School
From the Head of Senior School
It is wonderful to have our Year Ten students back at school this week; they are positively sparkly after their week at camp and have been full of stories punctuated with squeals and laughter. A huge thank you to the staff who accompanied them, kept them safe, and enjoyed the journey with them.
Outward Bound
Accompanying staff: Mr Brett Tompkin, Ms Di Thomas, Mrs Naomi Cooper, and Ms Theresa Youngs-Lachmund.
Reflection by Joe Hawke:
This year, despite many postponements and times of uncertainty, about 30 of us Year Ten students were given the opportunity to go on a week-long hike through the Walpole bush. Spirits were kept high during the walks with renditions of some of the group’s favourite songs, despite the fact we could only remember half the lyrics.
We made it to about the third day before the lack of civilisation started to take an effect and we began to de-evolve; this resulted in the decision to begin sacrificing members of our group for good weather, which did provide a cloudless following day.
Our group's endurance and persistence through the bush, often taking a literal interpretation of the phrase “a head-on approach”, and ability to exercise a wide range of skills really brought me to respect each and every member of our group more than before. This in turn also brought an admiration for the Australian bush that I think everyone needs to experience at least once. A big thank you to the Outward Bound team and Grammar staff who supported the students throughout.
Sailing
Accompanying staff: Mrs Alexis Stone, Mr Jem Ruggera, Ms Ellen Smith and Mrs Lisa Sounness.
Reflection by Maddie Warren, Olivia Hill and Scarlett Swain:
The past week on the adventure sailing camp held in Busselton is impossible to sum up into a short paragraph. So, after intense discussion on the bus home, we came up with our five top moments:
- Seeing dolphins every day, as well as being lucky enough to witness two dolphins playing with an octopus up close on the first day. A sea lion approached one of the boats which was also rated as one of the top moments.
- As there was no wind on the two-and-a-half-hour journey to the Busselton jetty, everyone had naps as the sails stayed down and the motors running. Snorkeling around the pillars of the jetty, there was so much coral and sea life, and the water was crystal clear and pristine, if a bit cold.
- Thursday was a beautiful day, 25 degrees and no clouds, and the worst sailing weather possible. The wind was non-existent, so when we went out for a race, we didn’t get very far. Because there was no wind, many people swam off the side of the boat, and managed to overtake some of the boats. Shoutout to Annabel for pushing Mr Ruggera off.
- Just before we got on the bus to head back, the wind picked up and we headed out for one last sail, armed with water pistols and raincoats. Kooda and Bamba boats surreptitiously used their motors, even though it was strictly sailing only.
- We took after the Scouts, and on our last night, built tarp shelters; our ‘Tarp Mahals’. Thankfully, everyone managed to stay dry, although our mats were covered in sea snails.
We had a vast array of boats, from a professional race boat to an old German sailboat, all with crews of six and an instructor. Kwilla (which means shark in Noongar) was brought over by an old German couple in a sea container, before being restored by the camp. It is the only boat of its kind in Australia, and amazing to sail in.
The instructors on the camp were absolutely incredible and shared their amazing life stories from all across the world. They talked us through all the points of sailing thoroughly, and coached the people attempting their skipper’s ticket, of which all 14 passed. Thank you to all the teachers and coordinators for this camp, we all had a fabulous time and learnt so much in the five days we had.
Rottnest
Accompanying staff: Mr Neil Ferreira, Mr Nathan Symonds, Miss Jasmine Butterworth.
Reflection by Imogen Fethers:
In Week Four, a number of the Year Tens were lucky enough to travel to Rottnest Island with Mr Symonds, Mr Ferreira and Miss Butterworth to spend a week on a fitness boot camp. Over the week, we rode, ran, snorkeled, and swam countless kilometres.
One of the many highlights from the camp was that throughout the week, no one left another out, growing closer together as a group of people. We all faced multiple, monstrous hills, however, that did not stop us or deflate our spirits, as we had our friends beside us with motivating words of encouragement. Whether it was the unwanted alarm at 6.45am or everyone “bombing it” down a steep hill just to get up the next, no one dropped a smile, and everyone kept fighting together to complete the task at hand. Life can have its ups and downs, but Mr Ferreira called them our morning fitness squats at 7.00am.
Even though it was a tough, challenging week, planning ahead our meals, combined with vigorous, relentless exercise (including complaints starting on Day Two about how bad the bike seats were), the unwavering support and many laughs that could not be controlled, combined to make it a camp of endless memories. The camp left us with gratitude for the teachers and gratitude for one another.
Mrs Victoria Turnor | Head of Senior School
Lifeguard Course at ALAC
NOW OPEN - STS Leeuwin II Voyage Sponsorships by CBH
GSG students are eligible for sponsorship on STS Leeuwin II. CBH has been sponsoring regional youth on voyages since 2015. Sponsorship applications are now open for 2022 – closing 30 November 2022. Please find the Leeuwin Voyage Application and CBH Sponsorship application form attached below.