Message from the Principal
Term 2 Week 1
Welcome to the new Term. It is a beautiful time of year in Orange as the majestic colours of Autumn brighten our spirits. I hope you all were able to enjoy some special time together over the break and it is heartening to see so many of our students return excited by the challenges and opportunities before them.
Last term concluded with a highly successful Camps Week where our students engaged in a plethora of different experiences including Camps in Music, Year 7 and Cadets, Year 12 retreat, Community Service and Work Experience. I received many positive reports from staff and members of the broader community regarding the success of the activities and the positive contribution made by a number of students. A senior citizen wrote of the care and compassion shown by one of our senior students describing them as kind and considerate and an outstanding ambassador for Kinross Wolaroi.
Camps and activities provide a marvellous opportunity for students to face challenge, demonstrate initiative, responsibility and trust, to build friendships and to show care for others. I am delighted to say the very great majority of students take full advantage of this opportunity, greatly enjoying the activities and contributing to the positive experience of others.
Over the holiday period Mr Begg, along with three other members of staff, Miss Stammer, Miss Moshkanbaryans and Mr Ryan, took a group of our students to Arnhem Land – a vast wilderness area situated in the northeast corner of the Northern Territory to visit Aboriginal communities. This immensely valuable experience enabled our students to learn about the lives and culture of our indigenous Australians and will contribute significantly to their overall world view and understanding of social and cultural differences. The journey was an outstanding success and I very much look forward to our students’ presentation at Assembly in the coming weeks.
Our camps and activities demand a great deal of effort from staff who put in a considerable amount of work to arrange, manage and support these experiences. I am most grateful for their dedication and willingness to undertake these responsibilities – thank you.
During the last week of the break, our nation commemorated ANZAC Day, a day dedicated to the acknowledgement of the great sacrifice made by so many Australians and New Zealanders who served their nations in times of conflict to protect the liberty we enjoy today. Nearly 200 of our students represented KWS at the Orange Commemoration and I thank them and our staff for the manner in which they represented the School.
Across the seas, upon the foreign fields where many young men lost their lives in times of war, similar commemorations were held at ANZAC Cove and in France at Villers – Bretonneux. On April 25 Australia’s newest museum, the Sir John Monash Centre – a tribute to the men and women of World War I was opened at Villers – Bretonneux by the Australian and French Prime Ministers.
Inspiration from Monash the man and Monash the place
If the opportunity arises, I am looking forward to visiting the Sir John Monash Centre which opened in Villers-Bretonneux. Why? Because it has been designed to respectfully engage with all, especially to younger audiences with no knowledge or comprehension of the horror of World War One’s Western Front. I understand that it is told with the laconic Australian wit through the eyes of the individuals who were there. Their own voices through letters, diaries and life-size images connect them with the places where they fought and died. It is done highly effectively using an array of technology and imagery. Here at Kinross Wolaroi we continually explore the most effective approaches to teaching and learning. That’s why we have engaged a highly regarded specialist, Mrs Serena Lewis in a newly created position since the start of the School year. It is important for all of our educators to be up to date with the best approaches to engage with children and youth and accordingly we invest in the continual professional development of all of our staff.
Another reason I’m interested is because of the qualities of the man himself. He was one of the principal organisers on our annual observance of ANZAC Day and is a truly great Australian. Monash was an unlikely hero: a middle aged German Jew who fought the German army. Additionally, he had battles within his own army, one made up of egalitarian Australian volunteers seeking opportunities to undermine him because of his European heritage. Instead his personal resilience and inclusiveness of British aristocracy gave him opportunities to exhibit his skills in military strategy. As commander of the Australia Corps he is credited with the plan that led to the eventual break-through on the Western Front leading to the conclusion of war on November 11, 1918. As a tribute to his achievements and tactical success he was knighted by King George V, our Queens’ father, as well as receiving high level recognition from the British, Belgians and Americans. He epitomises the values that this School strives to instil in its students and its staff; courage, commitment, inclusiveness, resilience and respect. A small demonstration of our commitment to such values was evidenced during the recent break where all our non-teaching staff were trained in resilience but of course there are many more examples.
When he returned to Australia, Lieutenant General Sir John Monash lived in Victoria where he led the restructure on the State's electricity system, founded the first Rotary Club, and was the Vice Chancellor of Melbourne University. A man of great character and an outstanding role model; little wonder nearly 300,000 people attended his funeral in 1931!
Fundraiser for Dr Steven Paterson – MAMIL
Thursday 17th May at 6.30pm
Many of the School community will already know that Dr Peterson was recently critically injured after his bicycle was hit by a motor vehicle. Dr Peterson is the physician who has previously provided medical services to KWS Cadet activities. The community at large have joined together with a number of fundraising events and support groups set up to assist Steve and his young family. A movie fundraiser has been scheduled for Thursday 17th May at 6.30pm at Odean 5 in Orange. A link for tickets is below:
https://tickets.demand.film/event/4439
Congratulations
CIS Softball
Lochlan Birchall and Jack Besgrove recently represented CIS at the NSW Schools Championships in Sydney at the Blacktown International Sports Park. Part way through the first game against Combined High Schools Lochie was sent in to play at 1st base -a position he hadn’t played for 6 years. Later in the game Lochie and Jack played alongside each other against a team entirely made up of either Australian or NSW Representative players. I am informed that KWS has never had boys represented in CIS Softball. What a fantastic achievement, boys! Congratulations.
CIS and AICES Hockey
Congratulations to Philippa Mannix and Phoebe Litchfield who have been selected in the Girls U16 CIS and AICES Hockey teams, and also to Jemma Luelf for her selection in the AICES Hockey team. We look forward to hearing the results after their games are played in June.
Philippa Mannix recently represented the NSW Blues Team at the Under 18 National Championships, held in Tasmania earlier last month. This is an extraordinary achievement, given that Philippa is two years under age. Well done, Philippa!
NSW Representative Hockey and Cricket
Last week, Phoebe Litchfield had reason to celebrate another achievement. She was named the Co-Captain of the NSW Under 15 Girls Field State Team and then led the team to a Gold Medal victory over their rival Victorian team. Supporters enjoyed a nail-biting match which was played in the Illawarra Hockey Stadium, Wollongong. The game ended in a sudden death goal for the NSW team. Congratulations, Phoebe on such an outstanding achievement, particularly in light of her Cricket success earlier in the year where she was Captain of the Under 15’s NSW team. The team who also won Gold at the National Championships. Phoebe was named runner up Player of the Series and was also selected in the Australian Under 15s Cricket Squad!
At the recent Opens NSW School Cricket Championships, Phoebe was selected in the Open NSW Cricket Honours Team.
