SEMAPHORE SEMAPHORE 2019 GREAT SOUTHERN GRAMMAR GREAT Great Southern Grammar 244 Nanarup Road, Albany, WA PO Box 1151, Albany WA 6331 2019 T: +61 8 9844 0300 | F: +61 8 9844 0380 E: [email protected] gsg.wa.edu.au GREAT SOUTHERN GRAMMAR The Semaphore Flag System The Semaphore flag system is a signaling scheme based on a pair of handheld flags held in a particular pattern. It is mostly used in distance maritime communication, and was a popular mode of communication during the 19th century. The system was designed by the Chappe brothers in France during the late 18th century and was used to carry messages between French army units, including those commanded by Napoleon. Now, Semaphore flags aren’t often used other than as a way of communicating in mountains, where other forms of communication are difficult, and for communication between surf lifeguards. Publisher’s Details The Semaphore is a publication of Great Southern Grammar. Great Southern Grammar offers a first-class, independent, liberal K-12 education to the young people of the Great Southern region, and beyond, in a day and residential setting, led by committed staff, based on the principles of the Christian faith. Editors: GSG Community Relations Design and Print: Strike Point Graphic Design and Printing Photography: Karen Timmins; GSG staff and families; Lee Griffith; Krysta Guille Disclaimer: The editors compile The Semaphore from various sources. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the information published is accurate, the editors cannot accept responsibility for inaccuracies in content or the authenticity of that information. Quick Contacts Great Southern Grammar Address: 244 Nanarup Road, Albany, WA 6330 Postal: PO Box 1151, Albany WA 6331 T: +61 8 9844 0300 E: [email protected] gsg.wa.edu.au CONTENTS 26 34 25 THE GSG COMMUNITY 4 Mathematics 32 Science 33 Principal’s Welcome 5 Science: Agriculture 34 School Council Report 7 Humanities 35 From the Deputy Principal 8 Hospitality Electives 36 From the Chaplain 9 VET Careers 37 From the Counsellor 9 VET Music 38 From the Head of Boarding 10 VET Hospitality 39 From the P&F President 11 VET Business 40 From the Director of Community Relations 12 VET Sport & Recreation 41 From the Head of IT 13 GSG Staff 14 House Reports 16 COCURRICULAR 42 Cocurricular 43 TEACHING AND LEARNING 20 SCUBA Diving Club 44 Speech & Debating Club 45 Visual Arts 21 Country Week 46 Drama 22 AFL 47 Media 22 Basketball 48 Music 23 Cricket 49 Junior School Music 23 Equestrian 50 English 24 Soccer 51 Enrichment: Learning Support 25 Hockey 52 Enrichment: Gifted and Talented Programme 26 Netball 53 International Competitions and Assessments for Schools Results 27 Rowing 54 Digital Technologies 28 Competitive Tennis 55 Health & Physical Education 29 Volleyball 55 Languages (Japanese) 30 Sport Awards 56 Library 31 10 12 JUNIOR SCHOOL 61 CLASS OF 2019 104 From the Head of Junior School 62 Graduating Class of 2019 104 Kindergarten 63 Pre-Primary 64 YEAR TWELVE BALL 114 Year One 65 Year Two 66 Year Three 67 2019 IN PICTURES 118 Year Four 68 Class and Homeroom Groups 119 Year Five 69 Year Twelve Unwind 136 Year Six 70 Sporting Teams 137 Junior School Awards 71 Music Ensembles 162 Junior School Sport 72 GSG ALUMNI 165 MIDDLE SCHOOL 75 From the Head of Middle School 76 Year Seven 77 Year Eight 78 Year Nine 79 Middle School Awards 80 SENIOR SCHOOL 81 From the Head of Senior School 82 From the Head Girl & Boy 83 Senior School Colours 84 Senior School Awards 85 SCHOOL EVENTS 87 Project Beyond 101 THE GSG COMMUNITY THE GSG COMMUNITY GSG Pipe Band at the Albany Agricultural Show THE GSG COMMUNITY Principal’s Welcome A Year of Listening Mason, 2019 Head Girl, Winnie the Pooh. What you may not know In 2019, I asked Year Eleven is that many of the characters students what was most important from the Hundred Acre Woods to them for 2020. High grades? suffered from anxiety or other Social interaction? The Year Twelve noted disorders. Anxiety in today’s ball? Leavers’ jackets? I compiled world is, increasingly, a talking point the results and was surprised to openly discussed with young people. discover that the top five priorities, Reducing anxiety is a significant in order, were: challenge for schools, parents and students, and it continues to gain WACE graduation; media exposure. Exam and VET results; Author Sarah Wilson says: “It is not Reducing anxiety; just that kids are lacking resilience to anxiety, they are failing to build Driving to school; and 2019 Highlights the kind of resilience to deal with Having fun. everyday life, which as we know, As Principal, I am so very proud of is brimful of uncertainty, doubt, These findings have encouraged student achievement this year. discomfort, irritation, flux and delays, me to reflect upon anxiety, which means that when immense, which was ranked higher than I Highlights of the 2019 school year legitimate stress strikes, they are in had anticipated. included the Kingfisher Fair, which trouble. They are an open wound brought all of us together, as well as with no ability to form a scab.” the announcement of our winner of the Keep Albany Beautiful Best Kept The Australian Principal Occupational School Award. You are braver Health, Safety and Wellbeing Survey than you believe, shows that the, “mental health GSG's successful GovHack team issues of students” have, for several received national recognition, stronger than you years now, been ranked by schools winning three State awards. seem and smarter than as one of the top three sources The school’s nomination as a finalist you think. of stress. No surprises, then, that at GSG we continue to introduce in the Australian Education Awards − Christopher Robin for Best Regional School in Australia wellbeing programmes for students. was an exciting high point, as was Back to Winnie the Pooh who said, Hospitality students excelling as the “You can’t stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to State Winner of the McCormick In considering this, I am reminded come to you. You have to go to Flavour Forecast competition. of a story from my own childhood them, sometimes.” On the sporting field, GSG was and a character you know who Champion School for Interschool was regularly referred to by Bridget Swimming; runners-up in the Buchanan Cup (hockey); and Farewell to long-serving educators Division A and B winners for the Cricket Blast school competition. Our highly acclaimed musicians and vocalists performed at the Kingfisher Concert and the Year Seven project- based learning initiative highlighted the importance of student engagement. Improved NAPLAN results were welcomed this year, as was the introduction of Certificate IV in Business for VET students. SEMAPHORE | 2019 5 THE GSG COMMUNITY We acknowledge the terrible Thank you to the School Council Parents and Friends destruction fires caused across under the leadership of Chair, Mrs the country, including in our own Audrey Jackson AM, which has P&F President, Mr Jason Pages, region. Just before New Year, we shown courage in listening to the was integral to the planning and were called upon to support the school community and providing success of this year’s key P&F activity, community in its hour of need in stability around the issue of tuition the Kingfisher Fair. He was ably response to fires in the Stirling fees. It is reassuring that we have a supported by: P&F Secretary, Ms Ranges. Two hundred and fifteen Council in tune with the community. Mandy Wignall; Dads in the Great firefighters attending the fires were Southern (DIGS) representative, accommodated in the school’s Mr Darryl Hancock; Junior School boarding houses, with additional Staff Updates Representative, Mrs Tracy Ravenhill; airconditioned tents delivered from Middle School Representative, I acknowledge long-serving, retiring Perth set up on the school oval and Mr John Byrne; Senior School staff for their years of service to the in the Multi-Purpose Sport Complex. Representative, Ms Jennifer Wingard; school community: Catering for the firefighters and Boarding Representative, Mrs (breakfasts and lunches) was Mr Bill Dwyer, who commenced Mary Gillam. Thank you to Year and provided by Catering Manager, Chef in 2007; Boarding Representatives for their Nick Harvey, and Chef Jaydn Steele, commitment to improving the parent Mr Rod Marsh, who commenced with 1600 meals and 800 nights of experience, and to parent volunteers, in 2003; accommodation supplied. sport coaches and assistants, team Mrs Sue Osborne, who When our community comes managers and supporters. commenced in 2006; and under threat, our values drive us to help in whatever way we can. Mr Rod Gillies, who commenced We are indebted to the courageous in 2014. 2020 in Focus firefighters who put their lives on Mrs Angela Ferreira and Mr Brett In 2020, the school welcomes the the line to save others, livestock, Tompkin served the school with first intake of Pre-Kindergarten towns, farms, and native flora and distinction as Heads of Boarding students, affectionately known fauna. Our hearts go out to all who Houses. Both will transfer to as Djindas in recognition of our have suffered losses and our support leadership positions within the Indigenous heritage. continues to go to those who give school. Ms Kate Douthie, Head of selflessly to support our community. A number of Year Ten students will Year Eight, returns to the family participate in a Leeuwin voyage from farm, and English teacher, Ms Perth to Albany in March, which 2020 and Beyond Martha Barnard-Rae, is pursuing a promises to be spectacular. career outside of education. VET pathways will continue to Next year, as our school vision I thank all staff for their continued be strengthened and broadened; states, we will continue to strive efforts this year, including the sustainability will continue to be to be a learning community in Executive, Middle Management, explored with a focus on waste and which students develop confidence, Teachers, Education Assistants, water; the construction of a new wellbeing and a sense of belonging.