Thank you to all parents and staff for a huge effort on Friday – I think it was our best year yet! So many grandparents and parents commented on what a wonderful day it was. 💛

Grandparents Day

Friday was an exciting and memorable day for the College as we hosted our annual Grandparents and Special Friends day, coinciding with the much-anticipated Book Week Parade.

The day kicked off with our vibrant Book Week Parade and classroom visits, with the students proudly sharing what they’ve been learning. This was followed by a wonderful morning tea, providing the perfect opportunity to relax and connect. The day finished off with a variety of performances from our talented students, making the day extra special.

We’d like to say huge thank you to all the grandparents and special friends who joined us for our Grandparents Day celebrations! It was a blessing to see so many of you here, your support means so much to the college community.

Thank you for making this celebration a beautiful success and day filled with so many special memories!

Year 5 Camp

The intrepid explorers of Year 5 embarked on a road trip for the ages with their two-night camp in Ballarat.

"Why Ballarat?", I hear you ask.

Gold, gold fields & the Victorian gold rush!

Do not, however, be fooled, as we also steamed through Echuca and dug down in Bendigo.

Day 1 saw us have a treat at Jerilderie, pass the home of the Deni Ute Muster, before pulling into the Port of Echuca. There we were taken on a tour, learning about the history of trade on the Murray River utilising paddle steamers and rail. We saw how extraordinarily high the river had flooded just a few years ago and also discovered that it was strangely possible to stand with one foot in two states! PS Adelaide, the oldest wooden hulled paddle steamer in the world still in operation, then took us for a cruise down the Murray. The students were able to see the hardwood being fed in the furnace to burn maintaining heat for the steam and power. Steering, simply connected via steel chain from the rudder, up the sides, to the wheelhouse. From there, the remainder of the day was on the road, unpacking at our accommodation, and dinner. Camp food, often derided, could not have begun better. Roast beef (seasoned & succulent) or chicken with roast vegetables and gravy. We were all lovin’ that!

Day 2 was the day that kept giving. We began at Sovereign Hill and its gold smelting, era buildings, panning, red coats and mines. We learnt about talking timbers, Cornish miners, Indigenous trading, trades and stores, quartz reefs, fools gold, goldfield hardship, the stroker/drifter drills (silicosis & deafness), dynamite to gelignite and the Eureka Stockade. We even saw first-hand, the purification and pouring of 22 carat gold into a 3kg ingot with a current value of $510K! After dinner, we were back at Sovereign Hill for their ‘Aura’ experience. This included a secular 3D presentation of creation which was visually stimulating yet flawed in thought. Positive discussions resulted as students critically compared that with on God’s biblical account and purpose of creation. From there, we viewed a stunning dreaming projected onto the side of a hill, providing students the opportunity to respect and gain further insight into Indigenous culture. Finally, we experienced the extraordinary reenactment of the initial gold rush, problems that occurred as a result, the Eureka Stockade and immigration. It was a fantastic night in which God blessed us with some beautifully mild weather.

Day 3 arrives, and so do Year 5, albeit a little slower. A delicious hot breakfast, quick pack and clean, then back aboard Priest’s for the leg to the Central Deborah Mine in Bendigo. A 61m drop underground via elevator lead us to our mine discovery. We learned that between 1851 & 1954 700,000kg of gold was extracted, making the Bendigo goldfields one of the world’s most profitable. The CDM operated from 1939-1954 extracting 929kg gold from a mine depth of 412m. The CDM was very much a hands-on mine with men being lowered underground in a cage with only two sides, often working ankle to knee deep in water, filling up to 32 ore trucks a shift by hand which were then pushed a mile or more along rails in the drives, working by carbide lamp, breathing in the fumes and rock dust and communication by bells. Hard yakka no doubt! From there, young, weary bodies began to yearn for the blue border crossing of NSW. All glory to Jesus, we were blessed with safety and no delays on the way home to meet with loved ones, with a body of memories to last a lifetime.

I’d like to also to thank Mr Cox, Mrs Bowen, Mrs Priest & Kevin, our driver for all their support.

Dave Chapman (Year 5 Teacher)

A few updates for the week ahead:

Donuts with Dad – Please be reminded this is on Thursday morning.

Choir – Unfortunately we’ve had to withdraw the choir from the Eisteddfod due to small numbers, and we will pause choir at the end of this term.

Father’s Day Stall – Please be reminded this is on Friday.

Music Eisteddfod – Several groups are performing this Friday – wishing them all the best!

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” – Psalm 118:24

College Connections

Forward in Faith

Week 7 Term 3 2025 · 03 Sep 2025

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