Student Work

WINNER 13-16 Year Age Group

Congratulations to Hannah Lia in Year 7 for her winning entry in the Kingston Library Story Lines Competition.

Title: FIVE YEARS AGO

Five years ago, I made a mistake. Five years ago, I lost it all. Five years ago, I dug my wife and daughter’s graves. Now, I am laying next to where their bodies lie, gazing at the stars like we used to. I remember those times like they were yesterday. But those times have passed. And it was all because of me.

That car drive was supposed to be a nice trip for my daughter’s 5th birthday. It would have been perfect if I didn’t refuse to admit that we were lost. But we were, and despite my wife’s attempts to make me see reason, I wouldn’t until it was too late.

I should have read the signs more clearly. If I had, I could have turned back, and saved them. But it was a foggy day, and I was too busy being a fool to read them properly. The part of the hill we were driving up was unstable. That night, only I returned home.

At first, I didn’t want to believe that my beautiful girls were gone. I dug their graves, held their funeral, and yet, it didn’t feel real. I still heard the echoes of laughter from the times we sang and danced around a bonfire, roasting marshmallows, and telling stories. Those times aren’t over, I thought. But I was wrong.

When I realised that, I got angry. Why did it have to be them? Every time I saw happy families, I couldn’t help but feel resentful. That should have been us. In time, I realised that these families hadn’t robbed me of a happy life. I did that on my own.

I begged the Gods to give them back to me. I swore that I would do anything to get them back: fast for a year, volunteer for the poor, make a sacrifice, anything. But even if they heard my pleas, they ignored them. And I fell into despair.

All I could think about was what I could have done. I could have saved them if I just shelved my pride and admitted I was lost. It was so simple, so effortless; and yet, I didn’t do it. My wife and daughter suffered the consequences when it should have been me.

Five years ago, I made a mistake. Five years ago, I lost it all. Five years ago, I dug my wife and daughter’s graves. It took me five years to recover from my loss. As I gaze into the stars, I still hear the ghosts of their laughter, the resentment at the families who are still whole, how desperate I was to get them back, and the guilt I held for five years. I feel them, and I let them go. The sky is peaceful and quiet, and for the first time in five, long years, so am I.

Judges comments:

“A mature and original story which can happen to anyone. Liked how the protagonist was able to resolve his situation.”

“I liked the opening paragraph and the way it draws you in, and how it resolves with a fuller version of the first paragraph at the end. The young author shows amazing maturity with insight into the thoughts and emotions of the father, as he examines his actions.”

“A very emotive piece - it pulls at the heartstrings and draws you in to his despair.”

“The reiteration of "five years ago .." draws you quickly into this very moving story of loss and regret. The feeling of bewilderment and guilt of the main character is palpable. There are moments of comfort with images of past events and echoes of laughter leading to some small acceptance and a return to the idea that five years have passed and the pain is still there.”

All Winning Entries

Transition back to the Classroom

With the welcome return of students to the Patterson River Secondary College campus, students continue to produce work of a consistently high standard. Here are some examples of student work produced remotely and in the classroom.

FOOD

Year 7 made RUOK Cakes as one of their final Remote Learning Tasks while on their return to School they produced juicy Fruit Pizzas.

Year 8 Food Studies Students made tasty Pastry Snacks and MasterChef students demonstrated their skills by designing their own fruit Crumble and making Cup Cakes.

Year 9 Body Shop students made a tasty Pasta Dish that showcased dairy food and Cassie from Year 11 submitted a Gluten Free Cake.

ART

Planner Cover 2021

There were many great entries for the Student Planner Cover for 2021 and the winners have been announced.

Featured from top left to bottom right are:

Mathilda Martins 7B, Bridie Davies 10G, Kasha Evans 7C, Lara Ioviero 12C, Kathleen Mulholland 9G, Amelia Fitzgerald 9H, Sally Cotora 7D, Maddison Bayliss 11C and Lauren Terry 12C.

We are already looking forward to running the same competition next year!