Boarding News
Mr Jim Noble, Assistant Head of College - Boarding
Dear Boarding Parents,
In the first week of the holidays, my wife Libby and I were extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to western Queensland to visit a number of our boarding families. We were met with the warmest hospitality everywhere we went and it was a fantastic experience for us. We started in Charleville and then travelled to Quilpie, Augathella, Bollon, Dirranbandi and Condamine over six days, covering 2,700km. We encountered so many things including the beautiful sunsets in the west, the changing landscape as we moved between regions and the significant number of wild animals coming far too close to our vehicle!
A highlight of our trip was seeing the boys on their home soil and watching them go about their business assisting with a myriad of tasks on the family property. It was impressive to see the boys relishing the responsibilities given to them, whether it be mustering cattle, drenching sheep, driving large vehicles and so much more. It was obvious to see why these boys come to boarding school already possessing a high level of independence. From a young age they are entrusted with doing a job autonomously and they also develop a strong work ethic. We watched the whole family unit working together to ensure that everything gets done and the property functions well. It was a great privilege for Libby and I to see the boys in their home environment and to strengthen our relationships with these wonderful families.
As I write this article, the boarders are settling back into the dormitories as we near the beginning of Term 3. We welcome three new boarders (two in Year 7 and one in Year 8) into our boarding family, as well as three new staff members listed below.
Anthony Graham – Senior Supervisor in Montagne Residence
Tom Dangerfield – Boarding Supervisor in La Valla Residence
Sam Pegler – Boarding Supervisor in La Valla Residence
There are a number of events we are looking forward to in boarding this term, including the City vs Country rugby league match, the boarders’ trip to the Western Sevens in Emerald and Night on the Green. We have a full lineup of recreation activities for our boarders and also some excellent support measures being implemented to help boarders with improving their academic results. Term 3 promises to be busy, but certainly one to look forward to.
I look forward to seeing many of you at the upcoming (online) Boarder Parent Network Meeting and through the term.
Boarding Recreation Plan - Week 1