Senior School Update 

Welcome back to all students and families for the final term of the year. Term 4 is always a busy and significant time in the life of our school, and it has been wonderful to see students return with a positive attitude and strong focus as they prepare to make the most of the opportunities ahead.

At the time of writing, our Year 12  cohort gathered for their final Chapel service, a significant milestone and an opportunity to pause and reflect on their journey through Cobram AGS. It was a chance to celebrate the friendships, achievements, challenges and growth that have shaped them into the young adults they are today. These moments of reflection are important as students prepare to take their next steps beyond school.

Next Tuesday, we look forward to celebrating our Year 12 students on Celebration Day. This is always a special occasion for students, staff and families as we acknowledge the contribution this group has made to our school community over many years. It is a day filled with both excitement and nostalgia as students mark the end of one chapter and prepare to begin another.

In other events, we acknowledged the outstanding contributions of our students, both on the sporting fields and as purposeful learners, at our Senior School assembly last week. Furthermore, it was a delight to hear of the stories of Ben and Riley from their Samoa service learning experience, as well as a summary of the Year 12 VM class and their projects such as the Dog House Raffle which many of you supported. 

This evening, I write this update just prior to a couple of important events. I’ll be attending a planning meeting for Cobram Remembrance Day services, and our 2027 school captains will play key roles in this as MCs of the event. I then look forward to a terrific dinner, provided by our Year 9-10 “Serving Others” elective Food class.

I look forward to seeing parents and carers at one of the many events that will take place throughout Term 4.

'Serving Others' Dinner Party

Our Year 9/10 Food students brought their planning together at the ‘Serving Others’ Dinner Party, celebrating a semester of learning in this enjoyable elective.

Each student invited two guests to the PAC to enjoy a two-course meal, followed by a delicious dessert buffet. It was a wonderful opportunity for students to put their skills into practice and share their hard work with family and friends.

A big thank you to Mrs White for her guidance, the staff who assisted in the kitchen, and our students for their delicious food and warm hospitality. Thank you also to every guest who came along to enjoy a lovely evening of food and community connection.

Peter Reflects on Experience of a Lifetime 

The Premier’s Spirit of Anzac Prize is an award, similar to a scholarship, where 12 students receive a fully funded study overseas, typically in Turkey and Europe but due to safety concerns also Vietnam. 

After receiving word of my successful application, the Premier’s Spirit of Anzac Prize began with online briefings before the official presentation ceremony at the Parliament of Victoria with the Minister for veterans.

Throughout the trip, visiting war memorials, historical and cultural sites gave me invaluable insight into the nation of Vietnam and the role it played in the Vietnam war. Growing close to our local guides Nick and Martin not only helped me to learn and understand the past but also how they live their lives and about Vietnam in the present. 

Some of the most memorable places the group went were the Cu Chi tunnels, Long Tan Cross memorial, an overnight cruise on Halong Bay, the famous Hanoi train, and the Water Puppet Show. 

The Cu Chi tunnels are known for being a sophisticated underground network of tunnels that the Vietcong and other North Vietnamese soldiers used. They had caves for meeting rooms, cooking, sleeping, wells, and even hidden air vents. Being able to go into these tunnels was a fascinating but cramped experience, despite many of the tunnels being widened for tourists. Many Northern soldiers lived in these tunnels for years, suffering underground in dark, poorly ventilated tunnels while they fought using guerrilla tactics. To avoid detection while staying alive deep underground air vents were necessary, typically made using hollowed bamboo going up to the surface, hiding near bushes or rocks, near invisible. The easiest way to detect these tunnels through the vents was with the use of dogs to sniff out the smoke or smell from underground, however this was combated with pepper or other spices sprinkled nearby to prevent the smelling capability of the dogs.

The Long Tan cross is a significant memorial site, marking the location where one of the most significant and Australia’s deadliest single battle in the Vietnam war with 18 soldiers dead and 24 wounded, a stark and shocking comparison to the typical death rates on one every few days. I was honoured to lay a wreath at the cross and we played the last post and held a minute of silence. This stop was a solemn one, allowing us to further understand the significance of this battle by walking in the footsteps of fallen soldiers who died fighting for our country.

The Halong Bay cruise was an unforgettable experience, shaped by emerald green waters, towering limestone cliffs and stalactite decorated caves. A beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site located in northern Vietnam, Halong Bay translates to ‘descending dragon’ as according to a local legend that a dragon thrashed its tail to carve the bays islands.

The Hanoi train is another popular experience where the iconic blue, red and white train hurtles past local cafes centimetres away as we sit near the tracks. Surrounded by tourists and locals, the tracks become a bustling alley full of activities and lights until a whistle signals the oncoming train and people scramble off the tracks.

The Thǎng Long Water Puppet show is renowned for its history and cultural significance in Vietnam. Originating in the rice paddy fields as a form of entertainment, the water puppet show is now a 365 day, world famous operation featuring traditional music and wooden puppets.

Across the trip I got to know the other participants, guides, historian and teacher chaperones. I’ve made many fond memories with the group and look forward to future memories. The trip was an invaluable learning experience, enabling me to grasp the history and culture of Vietnam and its involvement in the war.

Throughout the trip, the Anzac values remained prevalent particularly mateship and humour through the time with other prize recipients and the many jokes said, courage to step out of my comfort zone, and sacrifice through servant-hearted  leadership.

In reliving the past, walking in the footsteps of veterans, feeling the mud beneath my feet, hearing the native birdsong, smelling the rainforest and tasting the local cuisine I’ve grown as a person and a historian.

I hope you enjoy reading about my trip.

Peter Everingham, Year 11 student