VCE English in Action
Year 11 English - Unit 2 'Crafting Texts'. Writing about the Past
The Year 11 VCE English program includes a unit where students are challenged to craft original pieces of writing inspired by mentor texts related to a framing idea. For our Year 11 classes, the framing idea was ‘Writing about the Past’. Students closely studied texts with various purposes: a memoire which reflected upon the past, excerpts from historical fiction which expressed attitudes and world views from the past, texts that explained historical events and a satirical text which presented arguments about the social conditions for poor people in the past.
Students responded enthusiastically to this unit and produced some fantastic pieces of writing. Some crafted pieces of sports journalism and explained how certain athletes from the past deserved better recognition, others assumed the persona of historical figures and crafted reflective journal entries whilst some searched for gaps in historical knowledge and creatively filled in these spaces with expressive pieces of writing.
The good-old “stain-the-paper-with-coffee-so-it-looks-old” technique was brushed off to add to the authenticity of these pieces of writing about the past. Though not a necessary requirement, it was great to see the school value of Pride being invested in the student’s pieces of work.
My dearest Alexander,
I write to you this evening with the quill and inkwell you left me. My hands more shakier than in the days of our youth. I look back on our days together and wonder if you’d still be here had things occurred differently. Our story, though rushed and driven by emotion, will be the one I cherish in my last few days.
I think about all that I’ve achieved since your passing, establishing the first private orphanage in New York, raising funds for the Washington Monument, and publishing your letter and writing for future generations to see the contributions you’ve made to our country.
I followed in the footsteps of you and the New York Manumission Society. Openly speaking out against slavery and slave owners. I’ve supported the foundation of the African Free School so that the children of slaves can get an education and become free. I’d like to think you’ve looked down and helped me with these decisions, letting me know I did the right thing.
After the death of my dear sister Peggy, then only a few months later, losing our eldest son, I thought I knew pain and misery like a couple of old friends, but it was dim compared to the pain of losing my one love, you. I used this agony and despair to help me accomplish all the great things you’d wished for.
In the years following your death, I learnt to lean on and accept the help of our family. I’ve watched our children grow up, witnessed parts of you flourish in each one of them, shared stories and memories of you to remind them of the happy, loving, and hard-working father they had.
Although we lost some years together after you published your letters and writings about your affair, I won’t apologise for the way I acted. What you did was inexcusable. I do, however, regret our time apart, the years I spent hiding away at my father’s estate haunt me. If I’d only known, I’d have lost you shortly after, I may not have stayed so naive.
I am, however, comforted by the thought of seeing you again soon, though it may not be this body that greets you; it will be the same soul that grew alongside you. Your last letter has stuck with me over the last 4 decades. Your final words have followed me through my latest adventures. I’d like you to know that I’d embraced the children extra tight for you and tried to be the “best of wives, best of women.”
Thank you for all the love and memories
Your devoted wife, Eliza.
-Mackenzie B
Theoretical and based on folklore: Theodosia Burr Aston’s last letter to her father before her mysterious disappearance in 1813
To my dearest Father,
I fear this may be the last time I write to you, and I know full well you may never receive this letter.
As you know, we set sail for New York less than 10 days ago, leaving my darling Joseph in Georgetown, but we seem to have encountered some treacherous weather. Storms more dangerous than I have ever seen, creating waves much larger than the patriot. The captain says it is too unsafe to continue on, and we must find a place to dock, but as we approach the coast of North Carolina, I am left sick with fear.
The stories you told me in my younger years, the ones of the Carolina Bankers, replay in my mind. Tales of them luring in ships off the coast in order to pillage then leave my stomach empty. When I brought my concerns up to the captain I was met with mockery, endured that the stories I was told were nothing but myth, and yet as we approach what seems to be a docked ship I am still nothing but uneasy.
Maybe this is Gods will.
We both know I have been in great pain since the birth of my son, and since his death that pain has converted from physical to emotional. It may be Gods plan, a plan to finally release me from my misery. I just wish I could see you and Joseph one last time.
I want to thank you for everything over the years, truly no one knows me better than you Aaron, my dear father. You have seen me through all instances, love, sadness, grief, and fear, and yet you always stuck by me.
Now as the captain begins to panic, as he realises we were manipulated, now left to close to the rocks to go anywhere but forward. The once warm and inviting lanterns on the beach have been extinguished, and as I look out the window, I know what lies ahead.
I do not want you to prolong your grief for me, you must live on, to inspire the world with the genius that is my father. Go on to educate, and do not regret past decisions. I know now everything happens for a reason.
You may not receive this letter, as the ocean tide is unpredictable, but if this wine bottle ever washes ashore, know that I loved you dearly and will forever be by your side in spirit.
Your daughter, Theodosia.
10 – January – 1813
-Elizabeth W
435 Days.
When most people think of the great footballers of the 2010’s they think of players like Fyfe, Dusty, Buddy or even Dangerfield and quite often overlook one of the greats of that time in Tom Mitchell. Tom, in my eyes, is one of the most underappreciated footballers, not just in his time, but in history. What made Toms prime so good was his ability to get his head over the footy and come away with it cleanly, as well as his incredible work rate paired with his elite ball use in his prime years at AFL level.
Although Tom ‘Titch’ Mitchell was an elite footballer on his day, his AFL career didn’t start as he would’ve liked it to, Tom was drafted pick 21 in the 2011 AFL national draft as a father son recruit, son of former Swan Barry Mitchell. Tom spent early in his draft years playing in the Swans reserves as a notable ball getter before finally getting his shot at AFL footy in round 10 of 2013 against Essendon at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Toms Time in Sydney was overall solid being a handy asset to play through the Swans midfield, but not overall standing out and honestly no one really expected more of him, but they couldn’t of been much more wrong about him after he was traded to the Hawks in 2016.
Tom was Traded to the Hawks in 2016 and was given the legendary number 3 jumper of Hawthorn great ‘Lethal’ Leigh Matthews showing the clubs faith and great expectations of him, and Titch didn’t disappoint. In 2017 Tom led the AFL in disposals per game average, ultimately leading to his first all Australian blazer and first Peter Crimmins medal (Hawthorn best and fairest) But Toms form would skyrocket even further heading into his historic 2018 season. Titch started the campaign off with a bang, a historic 54 disposals performance against Collingwood, just a glimpse of the heights Tom would reach that year. In 2018 Titch took out almost every individual accolade possible, finishing first in 2018 Brownlow medal voting winning his first and only Brownlow, his second Peter Crimmins medal, second all Australian blazer, and the AFL Players Association MVP ‘Leigh Matthews’ medal and most importantly doing it in the coveted number 3 jumper. Heading into the 2019 preseason there was heavy expectations for Titch to lead this overall weaker Hawthorn side, but then in a 2019 preseason training a freak accident occurred.
Tom had suffered a double leg break leading to him being sidelined for the whole duration of the 2019 season, a massive blow for the Hawks and leading tom down a long and gruelling road of recovery. This injury left a massive gap of 435 days in between his last AFL game before his return and it took Tom the majority of the 2020 season to get back to his best before an impressive 2021 year seeing him finish first in the Peter Crimmins medal and tied seventh in 2021 Brownlow Medal voting. On the back of 2021 though Toms relationship with the club started to diminish, him being made felt a scapegoat as a result of Hawthorns poor performances throughout 2021 and also being felt like he was being forced out of the club.
Tom was eventually traded to Collingwood in the 2022 trade period ahead of the 2023 AFL season.
Tom’s time at Collingwood almost had a bittersweet feel to it, from battling injuries early on and losing his four year old golden retriever Macy in 2023 due to a freak accident, which both in turn left a psychological toll on Titch, from then being able to work through It all and get his body and mind right towards the back end of the 2023 season. Tom was a consistent performer in Collingwood’s 2023 finals campaign, ultimately stepping up on the last Saturday of September seeing him finish 4th in Norm Smith medal voting on the day and securing the cup for Collingwood. Toms remaining time at Collingwood saw him fizzle in and out of form, before being delisted in 2025 and ultimately retiring from professional football in 2026.
Titch’s story remains one of the most influential in the history of the AFL, one of overcoming and persistence, truly proving how underappreciated he was by the wider football community. Tom’s story also posing an incredible ‘what if?’, What if Tom Mitchell didn’t break his leg and stayed at that level of form for longer? Would he have won more? Would we be regarding him higher? I guess we’ll never truly know, but in my mind, and many others, Tom Mitchell could’ve done so much more than just his legendary 2018 season, and that injuries broke him down leaving so many questions to be asked about his career.
-Woody P