Writers
Jasper Chao
Lucas Andreopoulos
Ethan Aung
Ethan Aw
Aiden Chung
Aaron Huang
Jonathen Ke
Alex Lam
Ethan K Lee
Rowan Li
Derek Li
Joshua Lian
Evan Lin
Felix Lin
Oscar McLay
Jeremy Ng
George So
Sean Tseng
Larry Wang
Aaron Wang
Reily Wang
Isaac Wong
Winston Wu
Lucas Xuan
Justin Zhou
Nathan Liew
Ethan Choo
Aryan Bhalla
Takashi Canale
Daniel Chen
Daniel Chiu
Lucas Gu
Kaegen Ho
Zak Huq
Jenson Huynh
Adam Lin
Curtis Or
Akein Seekkuge
Jonathan Wang
James Wong
Jayden Woo
Aiden Yin
Tiger Yu
Lucas Qin
Aiden Tang
Henson Chen
Leo Chen
Marcus Chung
Joy Feng
Alex Liew
Chiron Liu
Eric Pan
Finn Schultz
Davyn Tin
Aiden Tsui
Otto Yang
Justin Yip
Jerry Tang
Hayden Chan
Aris Gu
Eric Guan
David Guo
Edward Ho
Shine Huang
Luka Lim
Aaron Luu
Lachlan Sun
Alan Tarn
Sean Zhao
Welcome to the first edition of the ECHO for 2026. And what a semester it has been. With campus life colourful as always, the range of activities these last few months have certainly left every student feeling fulfilled, be it on the sporting field or the music domain.
On the topic of music, this year’s edition of House Music brought a distinctly modern twist to a historic milestone. Read on for how each House fared this year.
Athletics day provides a day of sporting glory for some, and for others, it provides a time to sit in the shade and support their House (i.e. scroll reels). Keep reading for an insight into the fantastic effort, resilience, and interesting costumes from the Year 12s.
Off campus, the Cadet Unit was shipped off to their first camp of the year, BIVOUAC. A short weekend at Clifford Park provided a much needed break from school for the recruits, and a stressful yet fulfilling three days for our NCOs. The camp was complete with obstacle courses, water slides, abseiling and questionable night exercise storylines.
Next, we move off to Green Week, this time headed by Prefect of Sustainability, Rory Westcott. The week was characterised by fun activities that not a lot of people knew about, and one massive activity that many people showed up to (perhaps it has something to do with the food).
This semester is certainly a big one for all, and no less for the school’s prefects, as they step into their roles. Read on for the Prefect survey, where we gain an insight into our leaders of the school.
Sometimes at a school like ours, it becomes hard to remember how privileged we are. Thankfully, our Houses have been working hard to raise money for charities through Robinson’s street soccer tournament, Summons’ Gelati Day, and Macneil’s chaotic dodgeball competition.
Ever thought about what happens when students try to represent a country? The Gladwyn Cup tested our diplomatic wits, while the Uncensored Competition gave students the power to speak freely, leading to an interesting array of topics.
On the more niche side of House competitions was House Debating, which turned out to be less of a competition about speaking and more of a competition for which House could get their act together in time for each round. Just ask Bridgland for their thoughts.
If House Music was not enough performance for you, then the Mid-Year Concert should be more than enough. From the roaring crescendos of the Orchestra to the spectacular performance by Faith and Social Justice Prefect Joseph Ni, it was a spectacular reminder of the immense talent within our campus.
This year’s major production of The Count of Monte Cristo was an absolute triumph of revenge, betrayal, and spectacular period costumes. The cast and crew brought Alexandre Dumas’ epic tale to life with sharp swashbuckling choreography and immense dramatic tension.
For a lucky group of students, the term 1 holiday featured an unforgettable journey to the land of robots, futuristic cities. From exploring the cybercity Chongqing to navigating local markets, the trip offered invaluable cultural immersion and memories to last a lifetime.
I would like to extend my thanks to my Vice Captain, Lucas Qin, with whom this edition was made possible. Moreover, credit is due to Jasper Chao, head of writing, Ethan Choo, head of photography, and Aiden Tang, head of design. Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to all 70+ members of publications, whose meticulous efforts have helped craft the pages in this edition.
From the desk of the editor, Nathan Liew, Prefect of
Publications
Marking the first major milestone in the House events calendar, this year’s House Music competition challenged the Houses with a hyper-modern theme: “Songs from the 2020s”, leaving many of the student section excited for the music to come. From concertos and medleys to movie soundtracks and love ballads, the vast array of musical proficiency and talent left the audience entertained.
Schofield kicked off the night with their heartfelt rendition of “Memories” by Maroon 5. Their strong use of dynamic variation helped to create a contrasting effect within the sections of the song, and was followed up by a deeply fervent performance of “I Found You”. Led by their passionate conductor Jasper Chao, their wide-ranging vocal cords duly impressed both the judges and the crowd alike.
Macneil looked to improve on a dismal 2025, ditching their infamous parabolic shape for a meticulously curated arrangement, showing that they wanted to start this year of House events on a “new note” - an act that shocked both students and Mr Bishop. Their much anticipated “What it Sounds Like” from the much-loved “K-Pop Demon Hunters” fully delivered on its potential, leaving students aghast at the prospect of a competitive Macneil House at long last. Proving it was no fluke, it was then followed up with pinpoint accuracy and attention to detail in “California Dreamin’”. A third place finish capped off their night, and their dream of finally having a House Lunch was realised as well.
Summons took to the stage their performance of “The Boxer”, a work promoting resilience and dignity. Led by Year 10 Ethan Zhao, their execution failed to provide a knockout blow and almost led to the referee (the judges), wanting to call a stoppage. However, this was greatly improved on by their part song “Carry You Home”, doing just that, resulting in some dignity being saved after all.
Steven presented to the audience the legendary theme song ‘I’m Just Ken’ from the Barbie movie, a work that blends elements of grief, love and self-identity. With the impassioned and professional Lachlan Millard as the only conductor, Steven boys truly embodied the spirit of the anguished Ken, letting the world know that they were ‘just Ken’ and nothing less. Unfortunately for them, the fate of Ken himself dawned upon them, for ‘anywhere else they’d be a ten’, yet the adjudicators’ sealed their spot at an unpropitious 7 . Perhaps the Latin songs were working in their favour after all. th
On a brighter note, Steven’s instrumental ensemble delivered a convincing performance of Superman. Christopher Ran, with his rich cello tone amidst the iconic melody, truly lived up to his status as a seasoned musician, blending harmoniously with the upper registers of Andy Lim’s tasteful violin playing. Equally as remarkable was the viola player in Isaac Field, who stood as the conspicuous centrepiece, drawing ears towards his unique playing. Perhaps the greatest advantage of Steven this year was Andy Tao, universally recognised as the most talented percussionist in the school. He truly added depth and colour amongst Justin Zhou’s piano part, reverberating in the auditorium much to the audience’s delight. Overall, the instrumental returned a most commendable 3rd place.
Much was expected of the double-time reigning champions, Clifford, who were tipped as favourites to become just the second House to secure the elusive three-peat. Their highly awaited musical item, led by maestro Leo Qi on the violin, and flanked by Joseph Ni and Gabirel Liu on the cello, took out 1st Place overall, putting them in a position to capitalise on their early advantage. Many in the audience thought the 2026 House Music Competition had been all but secured after their note-perfect renditions of “Die With A Smile” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” (we don't know who the original singer was thinking about when they wrote the song, but it must have been someone like Tyler Li), which left many crowd members wondering whether a standing ovation was in order. However, it was not to be, as the judges deemed a second place prize was worthy, leading to Clifford House Captain Joshua Lian reportedly crying himself to sleep that very night.
The 60th House Music Competition proved to be a tough outing for Bridgland House. From consecutive third place finishes in the past two years, the 60th House Music Competition turned out to be a certainly unforgettable night for the “Boys in Blue”, ultimately placing eighth across all three events. Their rendition of “Angels”, conducted by Harrison Lipscombe, although spirited, didn't quite strike the right chord with the judges this time around, with some staff being moved to tears. While it was a difficult result for the House to swallow, the performance gave the boys plenty of raw material to work with as they look to rebuild and find their rhythm for next year.
Robinson House’s unison song, “Easy on Me”, fell easily on the ears of some audience members, however did not fall too easily on the ears of some judges. However, they managed to deliver a standout performance with their part song led by the luscious and all-round king (he told me to say this), Luke Meaney, with their performance of “Just the Way you Are”, by Bruno Mars, giving them hope of a strong finish.
On the 26th of March, Senior School
gathered for the yearly trip down to
Doncaster for Athletics According to one reputable source, tensions between
Houses were at an all time high after
Macneil’s performance in House Drama and House Music Luckily, this year’s
competition did not disappoint to be one of the most intense and close athletic days in the history of this fine school. The prize this year - same as always; bragging rights and the feeling of nationalism
running through one’s veins
Each and every House gave everything
they had, with Derham reportedly having one of their highest attendance numbers to date - what an improvement from last year! As usual, House-centred Prefects came dressed in all types of costumes Notable mentions should include Bridgland, its prefects including ViceCaptain Julian Ngyuen coming dressed in maid costumes - please ask them where they sourced such costumes Schofield came dressed in all sorts of manners, including Captain Jasper Chao in Waluigi costumes, accompanied by mustaches alike Looking towards Macneil, a common trend included banana costumes, and numerous teletubbies - also echoed by Schofield and Derham. Many Houses also opted to bust out the good ol’ zinc paste, for a touch of colour and making it look like everyone had been out in the bush, like a bunch of cadets (no diss)
The relays on the day were also incredibly exhilarating, as one particular Mr Jones regarded - they were worth double points. This year the relays might just be the most intense race it had ever been Teachers and students alike; regardless of House cheered for their comrades on the sidelines as all students were racing for national pride. Houses only beat each other by a close margin, like 0 000000000001E+25 seconds or something The Tony Zhang waste relay also made an appearance, led by Ms Menzies This was a well appreciated event, where Summons ultimately took the victory being the fastest House to sort rubbish Unfortunately, personal bids to call
it the Ivan Zhang relay were not successful by the Towards 2050 student group
We would give you the results, but then
realised that most people already know that SCHOFIELD WINS ATHLETICS 2026
For food, if you got a little hungry there
was a sausage sizzle provided by ROTARY
as always, which one contemporary
viewer noted “[was] useful to help satiate
the ever growing student hunger” These
snags were incredibly delicious and were
even eaten by the always busy
photography group that ran around the
track snapping amazing photos of many up and coming athletes We should also
note the weather The day was riddled
with terrible reports of the weather being absolutely atrocious - but somehow in true Camberwell fashion it did not rain the
entire day - until the end Like sausages in
a line on the grill (go buy 2027), the rain started pouring instantaneously the
moment the final relay concluded (won by Schofield hopefully)
Also, “rrrrrrrrrrrrrrROTARY” - Mr Jones
In the future, make sure to join Rotary so you can hide under the tarp when it starts raining
While indeed this is not designed to be a patriotic report, intended to be an entirely
impartial perspective; the glorious House of
Schofield was led to victory by the mighty
Jasper Chao After the writing of this article,
he said this quote verbatim“just glaze
schofield idk lol” . There’s your testament, and
here’s to glorious magenta Schofield.
Apparently we can’t end this article with
patriotism, so go train for cross country or
something by the time this comes out, in case Schofield dominates again. Don’t train
for Multi Sport though as we all know how that went
If you want the full page of results; including overall placings and year level results, I
wholeheartedly invite you to check out the Senior School update dated 2nd of April
(https://deeds cgs vic edu au/news/54759), so you can see how much Schofield dominated this year
Before the end of Term 1 was the annual ‘Green Week’. A couple of days filled with fun, sustainability-related activities (which not a lot of people knew about), all led by the students of the sustainability team This year ’ s fundraiser was in support of Eastern Food Rescue, a not-for-profit organisation saving food from landfill and supplying it to those who need it Over four days, activities were held for all students, including chalk art competitions, watching the teachers try eating insects and the highly anticipated ‘Green Week’ concert.
On Day 2, The Tony Zhang Relay Race occurred in Middle School athletics, where the team had to get across the finish line with the most correctly sorted items and win massive points for their House For anyone wondering where this came from, we have 2024 Sustainability Captain Tony Zhang to thank. He had a dream of combining sports and sustainability, and for the last three years, this waste relay has now become a permanent fixture at the Senior School Athletics Day
Day 3 of Green Week as a hidden gem for many as Mr Chan, Ms Whelan, Dr Khor, Mr Clark (our brave Cafeteria Manager), and Mark Carson (Chairman of Eastern Food Rescue) all lined up to consume a lovely menu of crunchy crickets, mealworms, and algae. And for those who didn’t rush home after the parent teacher interviews, the Towards 2050 beekeeping group assisted Henry, Backyard Honey Aparist, to pack down our school beehives for winter on level 3 of the Wheelton Building.
Written by Larry Wang and Jeremy Ng
On Friday, students contributed a $5 donation in exchange for the ability to express their unique taste in clothes And so, the school converged on the final event of the week - the Green Week Concert, a long-standing and coveted concert, blending passion for environmental awareness with musical talent (or a lack thereof). This year ’ s Green Week concert was an incredible showcase of student talent, although general consensus was that they need to turn the speakers down next year
Accompanied by the Rotary sausage sizzle, this years Green Week was able to *mustard* up a big crowd Despite some microphone malfunctions, the groups all pulled through with an engaging performance.
Overall, the standard of the acts in the concert itself was variable Standout performances (if you could heard it) include Sam Page's rendition of "I've Been to Bali too", as well as an interesting cover of Copacabana, with a very convincing performance given from Milton Leung.
Closing off the concert was a classic, student-led band, “The Versaces” (named by drummer Esmond Tsoi), who delivered an electric rendition of The Killers' classic anthem Mr Brightside. Incredible singing, accompanied by a rock guitar, crazy percussion, and a voice crack or two from Aiden Tsui, cemented the performance as one of the highlights of sitting on the cold concrete of the amphitheatre
All around, Green Week once again proved to be a great tradition Thank you to all the dedicated students and teachers who performed at the concert, the hard work of staff volunteers, and the enthusiastic support of everyone who attended. Keep this going guys!
During Term 1, the Cadet program embarked on a three day bivouac at Camp Clifford. The camp was a true crucible of resilience and an unforgettable experience for everyone that went as a member of Cadets under the lead of SCUO Archie Sproules and WO1 Josh Lim
We arrived at the training area with excitement and anticipation for the biggest field exercise of the year. From the start, the camp was filled with challenges, surprises, and a fair share of chaos.
We departed school at 1:00 PM on Friday, and any lingering boredom from the school week was immediately replaced by a surge of excitement for the days ahead. Stripped of our former comforts, we were forced to quickly adapt to the harsh, unforgiving elements that would continue to challenge us throughout the duration of the camp.
During the first few days, platoons took part in navigation tasks, section challenges, and night exercises under the bright light of a full moon.
As soon as we arrived, we were separated into our respective platoons and gathered for a safety briefing from the staff members who had volunteered their weekend to support us.
Following the briefing, we moved out to establish our positions and prepare for the first major event of the camp: the Night Ex After consuming a less-thanappealing dinner of ration packs supplemented by our own stashes of candy canes, the senior section set off to conduct a lantern stalk, while the recruits prepared for their own introduction to night operations
The true test of our grit began when the sun dipped far below the horizon, leaving us with nothing but our uniforms and the camaraderie of our peers to ward off the chill under the moonlit sky. We spent two gruelling nights freezing under basic hutchies, fully exposed to the biting night air. Constructing these shelters quickly became a lesson in precision and preparation; we learned firsthand that a poorly tied knot or a misplaced peg meant a miserable, sleepless night in the pouring rain or a chilly night
The daylight hours offered no respite. We were welcomed by the remaining packets in our rations and the heavy rain that soon flooded the entire campsite, drenching us completely.
The intensity only escalated during the field drills, where Platoon Sergeant Luke Wu directed the recruits to crawl through the deluge, leaving them caked in mud and grime as they fought their way across the open field There was no sympathy to be found in the ranks, as masculine senior Platoon Commander, Sergeant Nathan Liew, maintained a disciplined standard while patrolling 2 Platoon
While the recruits pushed through the mud under the watch of Sergeant James Bui, the seniors had the amazing opportunity to explore advanced cadet simulations Surrounded by wilderness and wildlife in the pouring rain, they ran through scenarios ranging from tactical drone operations with Sergeant Jerry Tang to field camouflage techniques with James Lyster, proving that morale could thrive even in the worst weather.
As Saturday afternoon transitioned into evening, the focus shifted from rigid fieldcraft to a series of morale-boosting events The highlight of the night was a self-made talent show hosted by 1 Platoon, which provided a much-needed break from the gruelling elements. The competition was fierce, showcasing a surprising amount of hidden talent within the ranks Sections like 1-3 Charlie showed immense resilience, stepping up to perform as a beautifully coordinated choir that captured the spirit of the weekend. However, in a controversial turn of events, their stellar performance was narrowly and some might argue, unfairly edged out by the judges in favor of Harvey Beckett’s stunning a cappella solo performance.
By the time we crawled back into our hutchies that second night, the laughter and friendly rivalries from the talent show had taken the edge off the cold, reminding us all of the unbreakable bonds forming within our unit, with the echoing laughter of Toilet Master Corporal Ethan Choo’s ghostly appearance
By Sunday morning, the unforgiving weather finally broke, welcoming us with a sunny day for once. The clear skies provided a massive boost to our morale just as we faced the final, most gruelling physical trials of the bivouac. First came the mud course, a gritty test of pure endurance. Caked in wet earth and pushing through intense physical exhaustion, we quickly realised that individual strength meant nothing without collective momentum.
In the afternoon, many Sergeants and CUO’s came together to create a show for all at the stage, with an ecstatic performance of Stateside by Pink Pantheress where hopefully someone puts a video here.
From the mud, we moved to the abseiling tower, where many confronted deep-seated fears on the sheer drop. Descending the tower required us to rely heavily on our trusted equipment and the steady, roaring encouragement of our peers below This high level of trust carried over perfectly into our final challenge: the crate stack. It was an exercise in intense coordination and balance, where a single miscommunication or sudden lapse in focus could collapse the entire effort
By the time the transport arrived to bring us back to school at 3:00 PM on Sunday, the physical toll of the weekend was undeniable. We were utterly exhausted, sun-baked, and caked in dried mud Yet, beneath that surface fatigue lay a profound sense of accomplishment We had left the school gates on Friday as a collection of individual students, but we returned as a cohesive, battle-tested cadet unit, bound together by shared hardships and an unbreakable camaraderie.
To end if off on a happy note from our SCUO Archie Sproules “It was fun, I hope you had fun, I had fun ”
Question 1 - What’s the worst excuse you’ve told a teacher?
I’ve never needed to tell a bad excuse :)
Submitting an empty google doc and pretending like the file broke when I just hadn't done the work yet
- Archie Sproules
Question 2 - If the school gave you unlimited funding to implement one thing, what would you do?
Roomfull of air fryersthat students can use - Nathan Liew - Max Korganow - Orlando Rofe
Question 3 - If you could relive one moment at school, what would it be?
Year10Englishwith Mr.Hone.Ifyou knowyouknow - Nathan Liew
Feeling the aura of Clifford perform Bruch's Piano Quintet for House Music 2025
Question 4 - Do you have a hidden talent?
I don't think so, it must be so well hidden that I can't find it
- Max Korganow
Chanting 'SCHOFIELD' each year before House music (it only sometimes works but it also transfers to assemblies)
- Jasper Chao
I’m reallygood at Uno - Will Nethercote
I can juggle mandarins - Josh Lian
Question 5 - What’s your biggest hot take?
- Jasper Chao Max's jokes are actually sometimes good
It’s not that hard to keep ur shirt tucked in - Archie Sproules
- Noah Smith Food tastes better when it’s on special
3 of me could beat Mike Tyson - James Bui
Question 6 - What’s a weird thing you believed as a kid?
Santa would get into my house by the remote controlled garage every Christmas because my house doesn't have a chimney. Also that he could turn invisible and that was how he didn't set off security cameras
- Nathan Liew
Santa wasn't real.
- Jasper Chao
- James Bui
Global warming was going to literally light the world on fire in the next 10 years There were only 11 months, November and October merged into Noctober
If I swallowed a black watermelon seed, a watermelon would grow in my stomach
- Josh Lian
- Noah Smith
Question 7 - What is the most unethical but legal thing you have done as a kid?
Question 8 - What’s the best part about being a Prefect?
People asking "why is your tie different?"
- James Bui
The Annual Summons Gelati Day held in Term 1 was an amazing success, bringing together Junior,
Middle and Senior School students together for a sweet treat and a great cause During the Junior
School Gelati Day, the rain threatened to make the event unenjoyable, but thanks to the smiles and energy of the Junior School boys, all tubs of chocolate, lemon and strawberry were sold out, proving to be a successful day! The Middle and Senior School students showed off their excitement as well, with lines longer than your usual cafeteria line, and all tubs left empty All money raised this year goes to Orygen, an organisation that supports youth mental health and helps young people get the support they need All cones sold on the day allowed for students to contribute to a cause that supports young people’s mental health and makes a genuine difference in people’s lives, simply by buying a scoop (or two) of gelati The organisation of the event, especially the number of Summons
volunteers, allowed for this year’s event to run smoothly, and raise money for a worthy cause.
Throughout week four and five of Term 2, Macneil’s dodgeball matches provided plenty of entertainment for participants who were ready to dodge some balls, and what little
crowds showed up to watch Originally consisting of 10 teams of students, the number of competitors quickly dwindled down
across the span of the two weeks The winning team of “Hardwood United” also
played a grand final match against a group of teachers, aptly named the “final boss” , including big names such as Mr Jeacocke and Mr Rayner
With the opportunity to
spend $5 to bring back a player, some students did not hesitate to spend their
savings to revive
themselves, with one
student reportedly
spending a whopping $60 just to lose the match anyway.
At the start of Term 2, the highly anticipated annual
Robinson Street soccer tournament began This year, the competition would support the John
Moriarty Football Foundation, an initiative designed
to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
children through soccer camps. Playing their
matches during lunch on the Jack Tobias Oval,
student-led teams clashed with the common goal of entering the finals. Teams were placed into their respective brackets and over the course of three
matches fought to qualify for the playoffs. During week 7, the playoffs began, and within a week, only
two teams were remaining. The finals were nothing short of ecstatic. First was an exhibition match
between the teachers and prefects, and to top it all off, the grand finale to the tournament itself.
Congratulations to CBH, who secured the win,
cementing them as the 2026 street soccer champions.
Overall, the competition led to an astounding time for players and viewers
alike. Furthermore, the event succeeded in supporting the John Moriarty Football
Foundation, raising over 1000 dollars
Written by Sean Tseng
The Gladwyn Cup is an annual gathering of the Model United Nations (MUN) Security Council; held intraschool in the Camberwell Room With 15 member states and 30 delegates, students participated in a series of three mock resolutions; with the ultimate goal to pass each respective resolution individually In contrast to other MUNs, delegates could come in business attire that “represented” the national attire of that given country For example, for China you could wear communist attire, and in Russia you could bring fur suits (someone totally did that in Seniors this year)
Some more background information; the three resolutions encompass two prepared resolutions and one impromptu resolution.
However much preparation or how much material you bring into the room dictate how well someone goes on that Basically the resolutions go like this; some country yaps about why it’s good, another one supports peace, and then another says NO IT’S TERRIBLE AJSDJASKDJLKASJK and it gets rejected. So, you as a non-permanent member/competent country wanting peace must be the wonderful magical liaison that brings these two together Just remember, the actual United Nations doesn’t do much either so anything you do is a bonus
Now some politically correct analysis of the event The MUN was a wonderful experience for experienced debaters and public speakers to collaborate in a format unbeknownst to them previously It cultures these skills while also navigating the landscape of negotiation, diplomacy and democracy (somewhat)
Students enjoyed the pizza dinner; provided on the school’s accord - while the judges worked tirelessly somewhere private to tally the scores If you are thinking of judging a MUN, maybe reconsider - there are like a bajillion sections with five subsections each The delegates were also scored on informal negotiation, which included pretending your enemy country that was blocking your otherwise alright resolution from passing WASN’T your friend that you were goofing off with in Commerce the morning of. If contemporary audiences (AKA you, the reader) are wanting to participate in a similar type of MUN, registration for the inter-school Evatt Competition opens in Semester 2; while Gladwyn will occur in late Term 1 next year again
Over the week, a multitude of students participated in the Uncensored speaking competition where
enthusiasm, humour and pas
over rigid rules and technica
competition began on Wedn
senior school students (Perry talked about their interests in
scene Starting the competit
about what makes a good co hilarious, and had everyone in and smiling. His jokes flow speech; they weren’t forced
induce a laugh from the audi by Perry’s speech on the sta
Perry brought both fast-paced and light-hearted
humour to the room Bringing the lecture hall to life
with his references to popular digital culture.
George then closed out the afternoon by tackling
a topic every older student in the room could
relate to: how middle schoolers often walk in the most obnoxious way possible He mimicked the
chaotic, slow-motion wandering of the
underclassmen, perfectly capturing the frustration of trying to get to class on time while
navigating crowds of juniors who seemed
completely unaware of their surroundings His
physical comedy and exaggerated descriptions
had the crowd laughing in agreement, perfectly
wrapping up the first day of presentations
Ultimately, it was George’s hilariously accurate
crowd-pleaser that took home the crown, earning
him first place in the competition His victory
perfectly capped off a week that proved the best
speeches aren't the ones that follow a strict
script, but the ones that simply make the audience a part of the experience
Written by Winston Wu
Throughout Terms 1 and 2, the annual House Debating competition was undertaken by the Senior School students. Historically a competitively competitive competition, the competitors were competing to win the competition Schofield, as the reigning champions, were looking to defend their title, while the other Houses were riled up and ready to go, especially Bridgland after coming dead last in the year prior.
In the first round, Bridgland emerged as an unstoppable force, sweeping their opponents and winning every single one of their debates Their speakers delivered excellent rebuttals and logical substantives, leaving the rest of the field scrambling to catch up.
Entering the second round as the undisputed favorites, Bridgland suffered an unfortunate blow, their Senior As team conceding to none other than Derham House and the Captain of Debating, the delightful, charismatic, Matthew Stephen This dramatic failure blew the competition wide open, setting the stage for a tense and dramatic final round
Throughout the competition, all speakers were scrutinised carefully by the adjudicators, allowing for a fair and honest debate
As the third and final round concluded, the judges tallied the scores, and a definitive hierarchy finally emerged from the dust of the ideological battlefield
When the final results were announced, it was Schofield that ascended to the top of the podium, claiming first place after a display of consistency, teamwork, and persuasive power, continuing their winning streak Clifford secured a well-deserved second place, while Summons rounded out the top three with a strong third-place finish Even though Bridgland had a strong start, in the end they finished fourth, somehow tying with the House which has the Captain of Debating, Derham While Macneil, Robinson, and Steven fought valiantly throughout the three rounds and provided their own moments of brilliance, the final laurels belonged to Schofield The tournament served as a fantastic showcase of the school's analytical talent and the spirit of House competition
On the 21st of May, the musical ensembles of Camberwell Grammar School hosted an unforgettable concert To open the concert, Philharmonic Orchestra performed a mythical rendition of ‘The Fantastical Quest’ by Tim Gray, followed by ‘Gravitas’ by Newbold. This was quite a standout performance, as it was led by student conductor Jeremy Shen - it had been a long time since a student conducted an item; with the exception of Hamer Hall. Next up was SS Winds, playing the classical tune of ‘Amazing Grace’ - this was coupled with the first movement from Darklands Legends, forming a memorable contrast. The Junior School Choir was very successful in delivering their two pieces, ‘Why We Sing’ by Gilpin and ‘Kusimama’ by Papoulis by using their angelic voices
A gap filler by Evan Cooke performing ‘Is He?’ was well received, and the Middle School Concert Band proceeded to play ‘Byzantine Dances’ and ‘Cloud Dancing ’ As usual, Drumline provided a clear contrast, with numerous false finishes. Highton led people through Dvorak’s Serenade for Strings, and surprisingly selections from the movie Psycho Audience noted the disco-like lights and surely remarked to themselves about the theme of murder pertaining throughout.
To conclude the first half of the concert, Joseph Ni and Mr Bishop led the Chamber Orchestra with the virtuosic third movement of ‘Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto’, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd We kid you not, as musicians on stage with Chamber Orchestra never have we heard the back half of Middleton Theatre that loud While we didn’t get to the 15 curtain calls that Mr Bishop and Joseph hoped for, it was one of the most successful performances in the PAC to datewe think.
To commence the second half of the concert, the Senior School Choir sang the beloved Disney tune ‘When You Wish Upon A Star’. Quoting from Mr Bishop himself, “I have never seen so many people actually turn up to choir!” The list of classics didn’t end there as the Percussion Ensemble followed with the music from ‘Super Mario Bros’ arranged by ensemble conductor Mr Scott Weatherson Angliss Strings then performed another piece composed by Newbold titled ‘Iditarod’, and the CGS Chorale delivered a throughout and demanding program consisting of these three pieces: ‘Make You Feel My Love’ by organist Anna Lapwood, ‘Whenever the Wind is High’ by Louis, and ‘Stevenson’ by McNeal The pieces also featured the CGS pipe organ, which added a variety of textures and colour to the music If you ever wonder where your school fees went, take a moment to look at the big piece of wood and assorted metals - then you’ll know where they went Estimates have been taken for its price
Up next was a traditional Spanish piece - ‘Granada’, by the Guitar Ensemble, and the Senior School Concert band succeeded with the well-loved ‘Jupiter’ by Holst, but arranged by Curnow. It was noted that it had connections to hymn “I vow to thee my country”, which sparked humorous memories of having “round vowels” and not sounding like you were from far north Queensland. Lachlan Barnes then took the spotlight with ‘Vienna’, then the CGS Symphony Orchestra played the Ravel orchestral transcription of Mussorgsky’s ‘Baba-Yaga’ and ‘The Great Gate of Kiev’ from Pictures at an Exhibition
To conclude the night, Mr Bishop conducted the Combined Choir and the Symphony Orchestra in the Mass Song item, staging an unforgettable arrangement of the Beatle’s ‘Eleanor Rigby’. Tom Klebanowski, William Nethercote, and Harrison Lipscombe took turns to sing the melody, while the soft and lyrical lines of ‘look[ing] at all the lonely people’ by the choir and the lush and rich harmonies in the strings accompanied them During rehearsals, the school had never heard so many Altos sing that loudly before, nor the Trebles - it was the Tenors that suffered the most from the large orchestra dragging many talented vocalists out. Enough yapwhile Mr Bishop didn’t crash out as much as he did just the year before, the School Choir was whipped into shape during rehearsals. At the end, the item was a huge success as the audience enjoyed a fresh arrangement of the Beatles’ classic by Cody Fry, while others really resonated with the words of the music. The applause was broken by the encore piece ‘Radetzky March’ by Strauss, and Mr Bishop led the audience and the boys to clap along with different dynamics. Rhythmically speaking, it should NOT have been that fast of a tempo - intonation was very questionable across the symphony orchestra - but as long as the crowd had fun, who cares?
Written by Sean Tseng and Isaac Wong
1.Head of Derham: Mr
2.Head of Clifford: Mr
3.Head of Macneil: Ms
4 Head of Robinson: Ms
5.Head of Bridgland: Mr
6.Head of Steven: Dr
7.Head of Summons: Mr
8.Head of Schofield: Dr
The story follows Edmond Dantes (played by Thomas Klebanowski), who seems to have everything in life set out for him. He has a fiancée, many friends, and is well-liked by everyone. This makes some of his friends jealous, leading them to betray him by framing him for treason. Edmond Dantes goes to prison and returns as the titular ‘Count of Monte Cristo’, finding a huge fortune left for him. He then proceeds to get revenge on all his “friends”whohadbetrayedhim.
The beautiful costumes made by Mrs Bennie and Breanna brought a new life to the characters that they had never seen in rehearsal, the props made by Mr Wager and Erica made sure the audience always knew what was actually going on, and the tech crew, headed by Mr Feldt, added sounds and lighting thatbroughtessentialdetailstotheplay
Backstage of the play was a lively area. While we couldn’t be too loud (the audience would hear),therewerestillpeoplechatting,working, realising last minute they had to be on stage, and informing others that they were on stage. There was a great sense of camaraderie within thecast,andthatshowedbackstage.
Overall, The Count of Monte Cristo was a delightful performance, and I believe everyone in the cast, crew, staff, and audience thoroughly enjoyed the final product, and it was definitely worth all the time spent translating, costume, and set designing, and rehearsing.
What’s that? I’m supposed to tease next year’s musical?
Uhhh….
It’sFrench?
Written by Aaron Huang and Jonathan Ke
At the start of the Term 1 Holidays, 20 Camberwell Grammar School students, along with four teachers, embarked on an unforgettable journey through China Travelling from the ancient, historic city of Xi'an to the ultra-modern streets of Shanghai, the tour was a perfect blend of deep history, cultural immersion, and cutting-edge modernity
The tour kicked off in Xi’an, where we experienced a unique exchange program at a partner school Students completely immersed themselves in local school life, shadowing local students, practicing our Mandarin skills in real-time, and learning traditional arts like calligraphy and martial arts
Beyond the classroom, we uncovered the breathtakingly imposing Terracotta Warriors. Standing face-to-face with the underground army, we were amazed to see that each face was individually sculpted with an almost inhuman-like realism and detail. .
Once we arrived in the capital via high-speed bullet train, we eagerly disembarked to check off some major bucket-list landmarks We climbed the winding, rugged steps of the Great Wall, navigated the massive, majestic courtyards of the Forbidden City, and explored the historic, bustling alleyways of historic streets
Slowing down the pace, we moved on to Suzhou, often called the "Venice of the East " This city was famous for its scenic gardens and flowing waterways We spent our time wandering through world-famous UNESCO Classical Gardens, which felt exactly like stepping directly into a traditional Chinese ink painting from the Tang dynasty We also took a peaceful boat ride along the ancient, willow-lined grand canals, taking in a completely different side of Chinese history
We concluded our incredible tour in ultra-modern Shanghai. To finish the trip, we wandered the trendy, tree-lined streets of the Former French Concession, enjoying the perfect mix of global history and modern vibe
From practicing Mandarin with local friends in Xi'an and watching delivery robots cruise the hallways of Beijing, to the serene waters of Suzhou and the neon-lit malls of Shanghai, this tour provided memories and bonds that the 20 students and four teachers will cherish for a lifetime
1.Head of Derham: Mr Miriklis
2.Head of Clifford: Mr Lockwood
3.Head of Macneil: Ms Toh
4 Head of Robinson: Ms McCowan
5.Head of Bridgland: Mr Clifford
6.Head of Steven: Dr Berg
7.Head of Summons: Mr Catanzariti
8.Head of Schofield: Dr Mandusic
GRAMMAR SCHOOL STUDENT MAGAZINE ISSUE #22