HICK'S LAST HOORAH!

They say “time flies when you’re having fun”, and that’s exactly what has happened in the previous 25 years in the HAPE Faculty at our great College. Since my first day, mid-year 1997, the HAPE Faculty has been a source of continuous evolution, innovation and most of all, FUN.

Led by some great and inclusive “Heads of Department”, including Chris Caldow, Bronwyn Pemberton, Chris Joyce, Jeremy Wirges, Chelsea Bird and Laura Crow, over the years the “Fizz Ed” Faculty has worked tirelessly to ensure all students were provided with meaningful options that were challenging, inclusive and helped to set positive habits for future life.

The HAPE Faculty, as the acronym alludes to, covers a broad area of options and opportunities, with key components Physical Education, Health, Sport and Recreation, and sport in general, all providing excellent career opportunities in the contemporary workplace. Thanks to an evolving Faculty of energetic, enthusiastic and dedicated members it is true to say that today most students look forward to their “weekly dose” of fun.

Some of the more memorable Electives and Outdoor-based activities that come to mind include “Bush Skills”, “The Footy Show”, “All Fun and Games”, the “Year 9 Camp” and the Sport and Recreation “Roadshow”. 

“Bush Skills” gave students the chance to light a fire, boil a billy and cook some tucker, after completing an orienteering course, whilst socialising positively with their peers. Conducted at the nearby Merran Creek, these were definitely sessions that provided a rewarding outlet for all participants.

The ”Footy Show” saw students challenged with innovative ideas like match-reviews, game statistics and skill programs to be devised and completed. This elective covered 3 codes and the highlight was the trip to Etihad Stadium for a night time AFL game.

The “Year 9 Camp” was conducted at Foott’s farm, also on the Merran Creek, and held over four days and five nights, it exposed students to challenges such as canoeing, orienteering, cooking, cycling, night-time reflector trails, hut building and fishing. After 2 days of fun-filled challenges the females would return to civilisation, then it was the boys’ opportunity. The skills and social development that occurred on this activity are sadly not as available in today’s Curriculum.

The Sport and Recreation “Roadshow” was an event that was well ahead of its’ time. Then conducted at Years 11 and 12, the Sport and Recreation classes would take their netball and football skills and ideas to district schools and engage in clinics with students from all primary year-levels. Students helped to prepare and plan two events, one to the Kerang region, and the other to our NSW “feeder schools”. The idea was two-fold; to give our College positive publicity and show intending students what we had to offer, and to allow our students the chance to enhance and develop leadership and teamwork skills.

Schools visited included Lake Charm, Murrabit, Kerang South, and Kerang Primary. Our NSW schools; Barham Primary, Moulamein, Balranald St Josephs and Tooleybuc Central school also were catered for. The highlight of each trip was the lunch at the Balranald Club and the Royal Hotel in Kerang. This was the source of many everlasting memories.

The elective “All Fun and Games” was designed to be exactly that; fun and enjoyment in a safe environment. Over the years some great games have evolved, and it is satisfying to hear continual students requests for “Ruckus Ball”, “Speedball” and “Hickmott Ball”. “Ruckus Ball” is a game that involved to accommodate the indoors. Based on kickball, with adjusted and modified baseball/softball rules, it incorporates a vaulting horse, tumble mats and various challenges that act as bases. It is non-stop and invites many to step out of their comfort zone. “Speedball” combines the skills of netball and futsal and challenges students to adapt their skills to meet the everchanging core game. If the ball hits the floor, Futsal takes over; if the ball is caught, then it is Netball rules that prevail. A great game that has wide appeal. “Hickmott Ball” is a recent innovation and is very simple; get the volleyball back over the net in 5 hits/kicks/headers or less. One bounce is permitted between each attempt. Always in demand this provides an opportunity for cross skills and group cooperation.

The VET “Sport and Recreation” program also has grown and evolved over the years. This VCE subject provides the ideal platform for students to enhance planning, coordinating, communicating and leadership skills, whilst giving them the chance to work with younger members of our community. On a weekly basis students undertaking Unit 1 get the chance to visit local primary schools and prepare the students for their summer and winter sports. This has been one of the cornerstones in ensuring this subject is so popular. We also give students an opportunity to work with visiting AFL Clubs when they deliver “Auskick Super Clinics” to the local primary schools and our students have fully embraced this opportunity. The “Sport and Recreation” program also provided our students with the chance to earn some extra cash whilst conducting supervised after-school activities. These were held at Swan Hill Primary, Swan Hill North, St Mary’s, Lake Boga and for Swan Hill District Health, in our own Jubilee Centre. Each session ran for one hour and at its peak our students were involved in seven sessions per week. Members of the HAPE Faculty were duly recognised for their hard work and innovative ideas when our College’s program was awarded the “VET in Schools Excellence” Award in 2007.

One of the most rewarding experiences and proof that HAPE can make a difference is when a check is made of the “Honor Boards” in the Jubilee Centre. Student excellence is recognised and not only in “Study Scores” for VCE examinations, but also in individual and team-based sporting activities. We have been fortunate to assist so many students to achieve small goals on their way to bigger and greater things in life. All of this has been reliant on “a constant”, genuine concern and dedication from an ever-evolving team of hard work “Fizz Ed” team members.