Boarding

This year we warmly welcome 60 boarders to our Macdonald and Speirs Boarding Houses. We especially welcome our new families who are both new to the boarding journey and to our College. We are fortunate to have boarders from the local area, South Australia, Melbourne, NSW and overseas. We also hope our international boarders who continue to study with us are able to return to Australia at some stage later this year.

In 2021, we welcome the following new boarders:

Zoe Balog (9) – Mount Gambier
Indiana Gray (9) –Moulamein
Liam Bilenkij (9) – Warrnambool
Charlie Whitehead (9) – Penshurst
Matthew Hutchings (9) – Keith
Luke Pickering (9) – Mildura
Amy Innes (10) – Mount Gambier
Sarah Andersen (10) – Mundulla
Georgia Baker-Miller (10) – Horsham
Henry Dennis (10) – Naracoorte
Harry Mahar (11) – Warrnambool
Will Rowe (11) – Hamilton
Alistair Baker (11) – Crossley
Oliver Ferguson (11) – Horsham
Wes Gray (11) – Moulamein
Mitzi Adamson (12) – Port Fairy
Raph Serong (12) – Port Fairy
Georgie Mann (12) – Mount Gambier
Eren Zehir (12) – Port Fairy

Staffing update

We farewelled Mrs Gabbi Bensch in the role as Head of Macdonald House. Gabbi has an extensive career in pastoral care at the Boarding House, and will continue her work with our girls as an MOD. I also acknowledge Ms Liz Anagnostou’ hard work and caring nature with our younger girls in the role as House Mother who is stepping down from this role. We are currently seeking suitable replacements for these important roles..

We also have two new faces at the Boarding House. Ruby Austin will be living in the Macdonald House residence and providing tutoring to the boarders. Ruby is an Old Collegian, has experience as a GAP student from Timbertop, and understands the needs of girls and their boarding journey.

In the Speirs House, we welcome Chin Huan and partner Tiara. Chin is a very well-respected Mathematics teacher and comes to us from Tennent Creek in the Northern Territory. Chin and Tiara will reside in the Speirs House residence, and Chin will support our boarders with regular mathematics and physics tutoring.

It is this level of excellence in academic and pastoral care that sets ourselves above all comparative schools, and one we can be proud to continually strive for excellence. If current students would like to consider boarding, either full-time or on a casual basis please do not hesitate to contact myself (amonk@hamiltoncollege.vic.edu.au) or Mrs Susie Holcombe (holcombes@hamiltoncollege.vic.edu.au)

Boarders of the week

This week we were pleased to announce our first Boarder of the Week for 2021. It was a challenging task to split the help from both Tess Ingham and Tom Hutchings during the first week of school. Both Tom and Tessa had taken the lead of announcements at dinner and assisting with the organisation of clean up duties. This was a great help to the Boarding House Captains, Annabel and Jake, who were attending the Year 12 Retreat. Well done Tessa and Tom.

Scavenger Hunt of Hamilton

Our Orientation Day for new boarders at the beginning of the year is a fantastic way to start the year. With the planning and organisation of Lise Lowe and Justin Corbidge, we successfully initiated the boarder’s orientation and scavenger hunt last week.

It was a wonderful time for the boarders to apply leadership skills, get to know our new boarders, as well as have some fun around Hamilton. The scavenger hunt was a competition to see how many places and people you could take photos with and accrue the highest score.

Without doubt the Speirs House boys team had won the day with a ‘selfie’ photo worth 5,000 points with our Principal, Dr Hirst.

Henry Dennis (Y10), Luke Pickering (Y9), Dr Hirst, Hayden Parker (Y10), Charlie Duver (Y10), and Dominic Wong (Y10).

Casual Boarding

It is great to see that our after-school programs are now back in full-swing this year. We are delighted to advise that we have limited places available for casual boarding, following the COVID-19 restrictions. Current restrictions allow for only one person per room. If you would like to experience the benefits of casual boarding or simply enquire about boarding in general please contact Susie Holcombe or me.

Mr Andrew Monk

Director of Boarding