ECHO magazine 2022

ECHO ISSUE #14 TERM 1, 2022

Featuring Interviews with MR STOCKER BEN BOSMANS HOUSE MUSIC HOUSE ATHLETICS CADET BIVOUAC

GREEN WEEK

CONTENTS 3 CREDITS 5 Mr. Stocker’s Insights

School Captain Interview

7

Green Week Shenanigans

9

House Athletics

Ryan Le

Editor:

Designers:

Daniel Strojek Christopher Khong Matthew Lau Alex Gao

Writers:

11

House Music

13

Cadet Camp

Pavara Jayawardena & Harrison Haintz Alan Tian & Cooper Carbone Ned Chesler & Henry Shirrefs Charles Lewis

Photographers:

Tin Lok Zhang Charlie Callaghan Daniel Feng Matthew Lau

EDITORIAL

The time has come for 2022’s first edition of the Echo magazine!

With our first full term back at school since 2019, I, your humble editor, invite you to have a flick through all the great things we, as a collected Senior School, have achieved in Term 1 at CGS. This year, after it seemed that most of the previous designing and writing team dipped to university, I’ve worked hard to establish a new era of motivated, daring students to do my bidding. Each page has been carefully constructed with the love and creativity of their designer brains and each article written with invigorating passion from the deepest depths of their heart – so, before you experience your enlightening journey through this magazine, let me prepare you for what you’ll see.

In this edition of the Echo, strap yourselves in as Pav and Haz dive into the fascinating world of drama with Mr. Stocker and explore the highs and lows of an amazing theatrical journey.

Then be prepared to be whisked away by Alan and Cooper as they delve into an interview with our School Captain, Ben Bosmans who has a word or two to say about his experience at CGS. Then a recap from the Towards2050 team to bring you back to the exciting Green Week and the great initiatives that were planned in events such as the scavenger hunt and amazing talent show. A quick showcase of the great House events that we all love and, for some, will fondly miss. And finally, a great report on the Bivouac Camp by Christopher Khong – highlighting the discipline and comradery that From the desk of the editor, Ryan Le

INTERVIEW WITH

MR STOCKER What has your career been like? (past plays, jobs, commercials/shows/movies) After I did my degree in drama and dance, I worked with a theatre and education company in New York for six months, attended classes in New York University and then came back and trained to be a teacher to have as a safety net. I then taught for a couple of years before I got my first professional theatre job, I went to Edinburgh Fringe Festival and performed in a play. Then for the next 15 years I worked professionally for numerous companies. I worked at some top English independent schools around England.

Why did you want to start teaching drama?

I have always been in educational theatre since I was a teenager, so being a teacher seemed like a natural choice after I stopped being an actor and a director in the professional educational theatre world. I worked with the English Shakespeare company for over seven years and had my own theatre company for a short while. I even performed as a mime artist in the British pavilion during Expo 1992, where I perfomed to over 250,000 people.

How did you get into the world of drama?

My great grandmother was an actress and was in over sixty films and many dozens of plays. She toured to Australia and South Africa with my grandfather who was an actor which is where he met my grandmother (my great grandmother’s daughter). My uncle was an actor and TV director and writer, so I am a fourth generation theatre professional. It’s in my family culture.

Have you had any bad experiences in the realm of drama? (you forgot lines, kids forgot their lines, etc) Ananias the Zealous: His prayer game is like no other. Played by Billy Allsop I almost lost my job as a mime artist because I wasn’t pulling my weight. After I realised Tribulation Wholesome: Our “very zealous that I worked hard to get back on track. This pastor”. Played by the most wholesome then led to a job working with the English William Lewis Shakespeare Company. You never know when one job done well leads to another.

Kastril aka the Angry Boy: Be careful round this one; he’ll quarrel you into, out of, What is a famous quote you live by? around and through a house, dragging his lovely sister after him. Played by Sam I like what Dr Hicks says. “Be kind”, I think Parmenter we should be kind to others, be kind to yourself, be kind to friends, and be kind to Dame Pliant: It was a different time I swear! your enemies.

Played by Adele Kotsopoulos

What are your thoughts on the recent controversy between Will Smith and Chris Rock?

I think that Will Smith was completely out of order. Violence is bad enough, but the way it unfolded on such a big stage, in front of a world audience, was a really bad example, especially given the violence of his youth. He should have been better.

Rapid fire questions!

Master Lovewit: “Master of the house, quick to catch yer eye/ Never was a passerby to Favourite pass himfood by” (except his butler Jeremy). He Sushi will beat you Sirrah. Played by Ceej

Favourite genre of movie Sci-Fi Favourite movie Everything Everywhere All at once

Favourite actor/ And who could actress forget de thelachorus Frances Tour

of gnomes who were quite literally tripping (especially on night 3).

Favourite place to The production travel was fishing great yet mad, Small village dazzling yet focussed. in Portugal

The insanity of the staging was perfectly complemented by Interviewed by the Jayawardena Elizabethan lines.

Pavara and

Harrison Haintz, Year 12

WORD WITH THE CAPTAIN OF THE SCHOOL

BEN BOSMANS

Cooper: What made you want to be School Captain?

Ben: Well I’ve always loved the school and I’ve always felt very involved with all aspects of it being School Captain is another way I can do as much as I can for the School and this community.

Alan: What would you like to do in the role? What are your main aims?

Ben: My main aims would definitely to be to get all those huge, whole-school events back up and running and making sure we have everyone as one group, because that’s something we really missed out on the last couple years, and I think it’s really important for a strong-spirited school like ours.

Alan: Out of all the whole-school events, what’s your favourite?

Ben: Definitely Hamer Hall or House Music.

Cooper: Now you do so many extra curriculars, debating, music, cadets, what’s your favourite and why?

Ben (after thinking for a while): It’s really hard to pick a favourite, but I’d say my top two favourites are cadets and music. I’ve always loved music since Grade 1 when I started playing an instrument. Cadets is also something I really love doing, I love teaching the content and having a group of boys around me.

Alan: What’s your most inspirational/favourite teacher?

Ben: It’s hard to pick, but favourite teacher so far I’d have to say Mr Worsnop. He was my teacher for my 3/4 in Year 11 and he really supported me through that.

Cooper: Best thing about CGS?

Alan: Rapid fire time!

Ben: I think the strong community spirit is something unique and special to our school, no one’s left out, we’re one for all and all for one.

Favourite subjects Methods and Chemistry.

Alan: …Worst thing about the school (if any): Ben: Oh I can’t really think of anything really. There really isn’t much. (Jokingly) I did get pretty annoyed when they took away Zooper Doopers from the canteen for a while, though.

Favourite Food Pizza Favourite Sport Hockey Sport you like to watch AFL Football team Hawthorn Nickname?

Bean Bosmans

Alan Tian and Cooper Carbone, Year 11

GREEN WEEK

zoom MS

As one of the core pillars of Camberwell Grammar, sustainability was on everyone’s minds during the final week of Term 1. After months of work meeting on Monday lunchtimes in the Quinn Lecture theatre (for those students thinking of coming along), the Towards2050 team brought together all aspects of our school to highlight the importance of living more sustainable lives.

Over the course of the week, students sampled school - grown produce, watched a documentary on reducing waste, traded in their old boots, enjoyed a spectacular concert and raised funds for the Australian Conservation Fund.

The theme activities revolved ames: First for of all, how arethis youyear today, Ms around Norris?waste and, more importantly, our ability to minimise it, reducing our impact on theMsenvironment.

Easy well, to implement-at-home Norris: I’m very thank you for ideas were at the forefront of Green Week asking. allowing students to pick their favourites and try something similar at home.

Alastair: And did you make your bed this morning?

Ms Norris: Yes, I did. Lucky.

James: If you could be a number, what number would you be? 11. Why?

Ms Norris: Because it is neat. It’s tidy. It’s

streamline. And it’s my favorite number.

James: Sure enough, you’ve actually thought about it before clearly. Alright.

Some people really hate math – they just dislike it. Why do you think they’re wrong or just why do you think they can enjoy maths?

Ms Norris: I do think that it polarizes

The documentary series by Australian comedian people. And I think if kids think that they Craig Reucassel War on Waste was introduced can’t do it early on, then they decide they to students, giving them a great idea for family hatenight. it, andHaving they will no longer it aonly movie a veggie patchgive is not go. hobby So, I think if we who can encourage a fun for those want some them fresh air to just keep trying, one day that light bulb of and a full stomach, but also limits the amount will go on, then they’ll startintothe love it. packaging andand emissions created process of getting the food from the farm to your table.

The footy boot drive got students thinking about how to recycle items from around Alastair: Whythe did everyday you choose to be a math theteacher house that can’t go of in instead thebeing normal recycling bin. a PE teacher?

And the kangaroo snags devoured by nearly every Senior School Ms Norris: Well, I student reminded know I look very them that there aresports ways capable. to eat But in fact, I’m meat and be ecoprobablyat thea conscious lot time. better at same

maths than I Written am atbyPE. So, I Henry Shirrefs, 11 really had noYear choice.

I chose to teach what I could understand and what I could do

Ending our first full term back at the school since 2019, the annual Green Weekofproved to beisas Ms Norris: The best aspect Summons exciting, engaging and educational as ever. While the sense of connection and community, isolation issues threatened to disrupt the week, I think. And I think all the boys know that. many activities still went ahead. Green Week My focused priorityoniswaste, always participation; it’s 2022 in particular.

not winning. Even though I’m not always

Onright, Monday, freebelieve pumpkin soup wasthey on offer I truly that.

When all from the canteen, made from our very own participate, we win. So that’s what I think pumpkins (from the CGS garden patch). This is the best, worst bit about summons. tasty soup might’ve also provided energy for Therepartaking isn’t one.in the week’s scavenger hunt, anyone which launched on the same day.

Wednesday saw the Plus Shop host a footy boot drive, allowing for boots to be Alastair: Okay, fair enough. How was your donated to schools around Australia without access to sporting shoes. Green long service leave? cupcakes were also on offer to incentivise the students to come down for a tasty recess treat.

By no surprise Friday, the last day of Green Week and the term, was bursting Ms Norris: Well, it was, it was nothing like with energy. With proceeds going to the Australian Conservation Foundation, I expected. I had planned the trip of a members of CGS were encouraged to dress casual for the day, but hopefully lifetime.

It was my first service with a splash of green.

Forlong a long, hard leave working term, we were rewarded with ever.

And I ended up spending 15 weeks Kangaroo sausages, with such ordered and structured queuing that would put watching the garden, and other sausagepossums sizzles to eat shame.

feeling just a little bit frustrated. So, it was

Tying it all together in the end was the Green Week concert, arguably one of a good break. I did lots of walking and lots the most exciting events on the CGS calendar. A bit of music, singing and light of photography and paint work. I taught hearted trivia proved to be an entertaining lunch. The winners of the CGS honey myself how to paint but no Italian or logo design competition and scavenger hunt were also revealed.

French landscape painting. So, pictures, A special thanks to Ms Massey, Mr Hone anditthe Towards2050 team for pulling just dreams, unfortunately.

But yeah, offwas another great weekwasn’t to mark the Iend of a busy good; it just what hoped it term. would be.

Written by Ned Chesler, Year 11 James: Obviously despite the negatives of lockdown, what’s your favourite thing about it?

HOUSE ATHLETICS On the 22nd of March the clouds began to part and the bright rays of the sun shone down onto the field, revealing the multitude of events that would soon be filled with the competitivefilled spirit of the Camberwell boys. The much loved day of House Athletics came about to once again test how unfit everybody had really become over the summer holidays – now with the edition of a sausage sizzle to complement the two minute noodles and occasional hotpot lying around the stands. If you looked around, you’d see the common Camberwell sights such as Mr. Ruffles in his infamous Vector jumpsuit, a blow up dinosaur or two (this time with a giant egg), the sweat stains emerging from the Steven boys’ tops and the badly drawn zinc marks that covered the entire face of some who roamed the track.

Except for those who stayed home because they had obviously fallen ill the previous day, had a sore ankles and were afraid of the land (referring to a certain swimmer), the field was filled with a flurry of colours and it was apparent that everybody gave it their all, fighting for their House, breaking personal bests and enjoying a day out with their mates.

Shotputs were shotted, discusses discussed and hurdles were hurdled along with sand filling the shoes and underwear of those who enjoy leaping into a sandpit. But despite all of this, there was a clear highlight of the day that managed to bring all eight Houses together in quite a miraculous display of comradery and fellowship, really defining the community that

school that allows students of from all year levels of Camberwell Grammar to band together like brothers. This single moment came in the final 1500m of the Year 12 A’s Medley Relay when all seven Houses but Summons had passed the finishing line. And when all seemed lost, Tom Cooper emerged from the bend of the track running a race he didn’t even sign up for – but despite this unfortunate situation, the hunk-a-chunk of a man pushed through, putting 200% into each stride, and with each step a larger crowd appeared behind him until almost every single boy was pushing along with him, cheering him forward and towards the finish line – it was beyond spectacular.

A few days passed and the crowd in assembly was filled with the sounds of anticipation, waiting for the results to be announced. Dr. Hicks slowly walked on stage and announced that SCHOFIELD and CLIFFORD had both won Athletics and at that moment Summons was once again robbed, Stevens cried in the corner and Robinson rejoiced as the joint win meant they came 7th instead of 8th.

Congrats to Pav and Lidong for leading their house to a victory.

Written by Ryan Le, Year 12

House Music

need for only one song, every house except Macniel and Robinson (both doing a Vance Joy song) decided to ditch their Melbourne song, which sadly highlights the lack of song writing ability our great city has.

The competition got kicked off with Clifford, performing Make them Hear You which brought musical theatre to a live audience who unfortunately, could, for the most part, not hear them. Faisal Al-Sabbagh, the only voice you could actually hear, brought the fire that extinguished Macneil’s flood to House Music came around again, as it does to claim a solid 3rd placing. (almost) everyone’s delight every year; it was the time for a few people to pour their heart and Next up was Bridgland, fresh of their soul into the arranging and teaching of their miraculous victory last year; led by songs, while everyone else complains about Music Captain Freddy Branson, it was, as losing their sleep in. Due to the menacing loom expected, musically solid but let down by of Covid-19, House Music could not return to an interesting song choice of All Out of the festival night that it once was, despite great Love, whose pop nature did not translate pleading from the House Captains; instead it that well to a part song. was cleaved in half, and performed in chunks of four Houses at a time, followed by all the instrumentals during lunchtime. This was not the only unique thing about this years House Music, because for the first time in what seems like forever Steven was not the defending champion!

The theme was the much-maligned choice of a Melbourne Artist, however, due to the changed

Text Place

Robinson then performed Riptide, accompanied by a guitar and drummer, the only House to get creative on that front. The song was a surprising success, with Ishaan Nandurkar winning the award for most aesthetic conducting.

Macneil followed with the second Vance Joy song of the competition, the less famous Fire and the Flood. It had a rocky start, with many spectators unable to tell if they were singing in parts or just incredibly out of tune, but finished off strong, saving it from the dreaded wooden spoon.

Derham, always in the running for last place, went with meme choice of I want it that way. The arrangement was good, but heavily optimistic, falling very flat when attempting to move into three parts; despite this, the last place it received was unfair due to some questionable performance by later Houses (cough cough Schofield and Macneil) The next group of 4 got started with Schofield, who made the popular choice of Take me to Church; which despite the blood curdling yells from conductor Andrew Ngyuen, also fell a bit flat, except in the chorus which appeared to be the only part Schofield actually knew.

Coming next was demi-god Andy Bishop with Summons, making his second appearance as a conductor, being the only Year 11 to step up last year. It ended up with an honourable second place, despite being almost entirely unison.

Finally the competition finished with sweaty Steven, trying to reclaim their crown after last years, disappointing second place.

In keeping with their character, they sang a song in latin, which the judges awarded as the best song of the bunch.

I will quickly move through the instrumentals. A few highlights were Bridgland’s excellent performance led by Freddie Branson and Mathieu Ly,

Derham coming in last despite not deserving it (again), Steven having the stunning original composition of Eugene Goh, and Schofield winning despite having their original song stolen from right under them.

So, after a week of anticipation, the results were eventually announced. The top three from both the instrumentals and singing were said first, but with no clear winner becoming apparent. The odds were either on Clifford, Steven or Bridgland, and drum roll…. It was a three way tie between Steven, Summons and Clifford (I hope that was as anticlimatic as the actual reveal). And yes, Bridgeland came equal 5th in a 3 horse race.

But, as we all know, the real winner was Clifford because C comes first in the alphabet.

Written by Charles Lewis, Year 12.

CADET CAMP

WRITTEN BY CHRISTOPHER KHONG, YEAR 9

On the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of April, the CGSACU undertook Bivouac, an exciting camp for recruits and seniors alike. Initiated into the command structure, the recruits from Year 9 were quick to take to the various well-planned activities, coordinated by the talented Year 11s and 12s in the upper section of Cadets.

Our first-night exercise was the lantern stalk, a slow process of getting called ‘logs with hats’ by the various Q-store members and high ranking CGSACU members in an attempt to secure glow sticks in the dark. The recruits employed various strategies to secure points for their sections, such as leopard and stomach crawling. Some recruits even decided to employ differing strategies, walking around pretending to be seniors!

The next day the platoons did the fieldcraft bullring, a series of rotations focussing on different elements of the cadet fieldcraft. These included more stealth, hand signs, call signals and a focus on camouflage. The recruits were taught the 5Ss and M by their corporals and sergeants. After a quick lunch, the sections began a navigational exercise and were given a compass, map, coordinates and an out of battery GPS. There was a slight hiccup in the fact that the points sometimes required the NCO at the activity base to yell out for the section to find them. The activities included shelter building, more stealth and of course the most critical part of cadets, the game bang.

The second-night exercise was 'crimson dragon' which consisted of two separate activities, both centred around stealth. One involved throwing glow sticks at corporals and sergeants whilst staying hidden.

The other required us to crawl and manoeuvre ourselves towards a

hostage, free them and perform first

The final activity was the jez cup, another rotation based activity where each section competed for points. The various activities included masterchef where we attempted to not poison Warrant

Officer Class One

Cheong, a talent show and various other activities. Section 1-4 Charlie came out on top, winning in a variety of activities.

aid on the hostage. In the hostage exercise, the

Platoon 3 members even started trying to hunt the Platoon 4 sergeant!

Now, some cadets may say that the activities were the best part of Biv, but others will point to the ration packs. Though containing some interesting oddities such as matches that failed to light despite most people’s best efforts and sweetened condensed milk, some cadets revelled in the various options and created monstrosities such as both vegemite and jam on a cracker.

Bivouac acted as a fun introduction to cadets for the recruits, and has all of us excited for the next camp, Annual!

CAMBERWELL GRAMMAR SCHOOL MAGAZINE 2022 ISSUE #14