Issue 6 2023

Issue#6 | 2023

Welcome

I hope that our community has enjoyed the warm weather and break from the College’s dayto-day activities. Not all have been resting, and there are several stories in this issue of the Buzz that highlight the efforts of staff and students to make our community and those communities we connect with better places.

I look forward to seeing you at the upcoming Celebration Night. In 2023, our Celebration Night will return to the Melbourne Town Hall. With many years away from that venue due to the impacts of the COVID pandemic, we will be returning to this iconic Melbourne venue. The event allows us to summarise the year’s achievements, acknowledge and recognise the accomplishments of our students, and celebrate with the Year 12 cohort as they complete their educational journey.

With Term 4 about to start, I encourage you to take some time to review what has been a very rewarding end of Term 3.

Mr Russell Deer Principal

The start to Term 3 provided an opportunity for students to reflect on feedback from their Semester One reports and the comments from their teachers at Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences. It was pleasing to hear that many students engaged in discussion with their families and staff around the progress in their learning, embracing an approach to becoming more self-managing students.

The activity around campus shows that students are engaged in learning about themselves and the world around them, striving to grow from their interactions with each other. The culmination of Curiosity Week took place this week, exhibiting experiments designed by Year 8 students around a facet of learning in Investigate for an audience of students and parents to enjoy. This visible reflection of inquiry and collaboration is a contemporary example of how the process and outcomes of learning has continued to evolve across our educational institutions.

The final day of term also brings the College together for the Performing Arts Competition Day (PAC Day). In 2023, our competition acknowledges the leadership of our students and staff in the Middle School, with performances created by our students in Years 5 to 8 alongside whole College songs. This is a reflection of the growing identity of the Houses in the Middle School and a testament to the hard work of many in our community.

When we return in Term 4, our students have only 41 days left in their current cohorts before they transition to their class groups for 2024 and begin the Headstart program. We will also welcome new students from our Year 5 and Year 7 cohorts for next year on Orientation Days that will be led by our current students and provide a great point of connection to build on in the year to come.

I wish all students and their families a safe and enjoyable time away from the College before we return to all the excitement of Term 4.

As we approach the end of winter and term 3, it has been a busy term, with much student growth witnessed through student experiences and achievements to acknowledge.

Within Year 9, the City Week experience allowed students to explore the urban environment, engage with local businesses and cultural institutions, and broaden their horizons beyond the classroom. The program contributed significantly to students’ personal and social development. During the same week, Year 10 work experience offered real work experience placements within various industries, providing insight into potential career paths and enhancing their understanding of real-world work environments.

The Year 11 cohort has focused on leadership in preparation for 2024. Student leaders have been selected, and I look forward to introducing the successful candidates to the College community at Celebration Night as future student leaders. Additionally, students have turned to 2024 subjects and planning, tailoring their learning to their interests and goals and preparation for VCE.

Several extracurricular trips are planned these holidays that provide students with valuable hands-on learning experiences and cultural excursions and experiences designed to enrich their understanding through exploration. I wish these students safe travels as they prepare to depart and look forward to their return and hearing about their experiences.

Finally, for our Year 12 students, the end of the academic year is quickly approaching, along with the summation of thirteen years of education. Students are now preparing for their final examinations and turning to embark on the next chapter of their lives. Year 12 students will during the holidays, complete practice examinations in preparation for their end-ofyear final examinations, commencing at the end of October. I am confident that students are ready to face the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. I extend my gratitude to the teachers, staff, and parents who have supported the students throughout their journey. I look forward to celebrating the final weeks with the Year 12 cohort before they depart the College.

I hope you enjoy your holidays, and I look forward to seeing all of the students in term 4.

Mr Rob Jenkins Head of Middle School

Ms Lisa Fritz Head of Senior School

“Good, better, best. Never let it rest ‘til your good is better and your better is best.”

City Week Work Experience

This term, I was one of the Year 10 students who got the chance to complete a work experience placement for a week. I was lucky enough to get a placement in the office of local state MP Mary-Anne Thomas, and I spent a week behind the scenes learning about the mechanics of government, parliament, and ministerial offices. I was also able to assist constituents with their matters, and I got to meet many of the fantastic staff who are the reason that both the Victorian Government and Victorian Parliament are able to function. The highlight was being able to spend a day in the Victorian Parliament, where I got to attend Question Time (sadly Premier Daniel Andrews was away sick), meet parliamentary and ministerial staffers, and also meet members of Parliament such as Treasurer Tim Pallas, Transport Minister Ben Carroll, and best of all, Acting Premier/ personal hair inspiration Jacinta Allan. I loved having the chance to see democracy in action and I am so grateful to have had the chance to complete this work experience placement. Thank you so much to everyone who made this possible!

Sasha Andersen

I did my work experience at Ocean Controls, an electrical engineering company in Melbourne. It was great, well, besides the daily 4-hour commute. Some of the tasks I did were coding, soldering and desoldering components, design, packaging, and shipping. I worked with a small team of great people, who taught me lots, and made me feel like a proper part of the team. The workplace had a really nice, relaxed feel, and the owner even brought her dog. All in all, it was a great experience.

Ari Scheltema

On City Week I found CERES excellent because I got to care for the environment. Someone’s trash can be another one’s treasure. When we examined the playground’s equipment and found out where the items came from.

I found the amazing race the best experience it was a good team-building experience with peers I had not worked with before.

I learned during city week managing time is valuable while in a place like the city and when you are in the city time is often of the essence.

In the lead up to city week I was curious what we were going to do in the city and how independent that we would be. Some things that I found enjoyable was doing the amazing race, the queen Vic market and the project.

The days before city week had me excited and in anticipation for what was coming, but also nervous for things like our project and if it would turn out good or not. There were many enjoyable experiences in the week, but my highlight was booking a meeting room in the state library and discussing and working on our PowerPoint there. I learned that collaboration and agreement is very important when working in a large group! Our project was on film around Melbourne and how it has influenced the people of Melbourne.

I learned how to get around the city better, the names of the streets. The amazing race was fun to get around the city as quickly as possible and the food challenge showed us what we could buy with only a small amount of money. The jail tour and courthouse were fun to enjoy what others would in the past. Overall city week was a great experience to be able to get out of the classroom and into the city. As our school is from the country, we don’t get to experience the city rush, and busy atmosphere as much as we would if we lived there.

I was looking forward to city week in the build-up as I was looking forward to having the freedom and doing around the CBD with my friends, but the thing enjoyed the most was the amazing race as we were in smaller groups and most of the stuff was around Melbourne Central.

Kiana Theodore

Sasha Anderson

As we come to the end of Term 3 fatigue and stress become more apparent within our school community. These interconnected states often go hand in hand, creating a challenging cycle for individuals.

Stress, whether originating from academic, work-related, or personal pressures, can trigger a physiological response in the body, leading to heightened levels of stress hormones like cortisol. Prolonged or excessive stress can disrupt sleep patterns, resulting in insufficient or poor-quality sleep. This, in turn, contributes to feelings of fatigue and low energy levels during the day.

Fatigue intensifies the effects of stress by making it harder to cope with challenges, concentrate, and manage emotions effectively. The cycle perpetuates as stress-induced sleep disturbances lead to further fatigue, exacerbating the individual’s ability to handle stressors.

Addressing both fatigue and stress involves holistic approaches, including stress management techniques, lifestyle adjustments, regular physical activity, relaxation practices, and establishing healthy sleep habits, aiming to break the cycle and restore a sense of balance and wellbeing.

The importance of rest and recuperation during school holidays cannot be overstated. These breaks provide a valuable opportunity for students to recharge both physically and mentally after the demands of academic responsibilities. Engaging in continuous learning and meeting deadlines can lead to burnout and stress. School holidays offer a chance to step away from the routine, giving students the space to relax, pursue hobbies, spend quality time with family and friends, and explore activities that bring joy.

Adequate rest is essential for cognitive function, memory consolidation, and overall wellbeing. By allowing themselves to disconnect from the pressures of school, students can return refreshed, with renewed focus and energy, ready to embrace the challenges of the upcoming term. Balancing productivity with rest during school holidays not only supports academic success but also fosters a holistic approach to personal growth and mental health.

The Australian resources listed below are reliable sources of information and support for individuals seeking to understand and address issues related to fatigue and stress in the Australian context.

1. Beyond Blue - Stress and Anxiety: Beyond Blue is a prominent Australian mental health organization that offers a wide range of resources related to mental well-being. Their section on stress and anxiety provides information about the causes, symptoms, and strategies to manage stress effectively. Visit: Beyond Blue - Stress and Anxiety

2. Black Dog Institute - Stress: The Black Dog Institute is dedicated to understanding, preventing, and treating mental illness. Their page on stress offers insights into stress management, its impact on mental health, and practical steps for reducing stress. Visit: Black Dog Institute - Stress

3. Head to Health - Stress and Anxiety: Head to Health is an Australian government initiative providing digital mental health resources. Their page on stress and anxiety offers information, resources, and tools to help individuals manage stress and anxiety effectively. Visit: Head to Health - Stress and Anxiety

Wishing our school community; our staff, students and parents/caregivers, a wonderful, rejuvenating Term 3 break.

Mrs Emma Grant Dean of Wellbeing and Culture

As we approach the end of Term 3, it is inspiring to reflect on the number of learning opportunities that have been offered to our students, contributing to our vibrant and engaging College environment.

This term saw the return of live theatre performances by the Complete Works Theatre Company. The group performed both “Othello” and “Macbeth” in order to bring these Shakespeare plays to life for our Year 10 and 11 English students respectively. As one of our Year 11 students commented, this performance not only enhanced student understanding of the literature studied in the classroom, but represented an “exciting” return to live performance after the disruptions of the last few years.

In Middle School, our Encounter teachers have been busy organising a range of learning opportunities. Medieval Day took place this term providing an immersive experience linked to the Year 8 Mediaeval History curriculum. As part of this experience, students were able to get involved in wide-ranging activities, including castle making, archery, jewellery making and chess. In addition, this year, Book Week focused on the theme Read, Grow, Inspire. Amongst the many activities taking place during this week, students were invited to come along dressed in costumes linked to a book or character, or inspired by the Book Week theme. Our students were thrilled to see both Buzz and Mr. Deer take part in this celebration of the connections we make through storytelling and books!

It has also been a very busy few weeks in Investigate with various teams representing the College in the Mathematical Association of Victoria Games days. These days allow our enthusiastic mathematicians to work with other like minded students from across the state to showcase their problem solving skills and, on some occasions, come back to school with a prize or two for their efforts. In addition, our Science Week focused on the theme of Innovation: Powering Future Industries. This provided some of our Year 7 Investigate classes with the opportunity to collaborate with our senior students and engage in a number of science workshops. This was a huge success with both Senior School and Middle School students enjoying their time together.

A number of students also voluntarily participated in the ICAS assessments this term. ICAS is a world-renowned academic competition that is designed to assess students’ higher order thinking and problem-solving skills. All students adopted an organised and diligent approach to the tests and seemed to enjoy the challenge that they provided. We look forward to celebrating their achievements in the next few weeks.

Finally, NAPLAN results have now been made available to students and their families. These results provide information about individual student achievement against established proficiency levels. Whilst it must be acknowledged that the data provides only a snapshot of student achievement, a number of strengths can be identified, including both reading and numeracy across the College. We are now using this data to help us to enhance each student’s learning, reflect our teaching and learning program and set goals for future improvement.

I would like to thank all our Instructional Leaders and teachers for taking the time to organise and assist with these enriching experiences, thereby supporting the College’s vision to “engage, stimulate and challenge every student”.

Ms Lisa-Jayne Lacey Dean of Learning and Teaching

“Fatigue and stress are like unwelcome companions on a challenging journey; while they may accompany us for a time, it’s essential to pause, rest, and reassess our path, for only through these moments of respite can we regain the strength to navigate life’s twists and turns.”

If you hear the music...

What a fantastic Term 3 it has been for the music department. The competition was on to get a practice room at lunchtime. Performing was front of mind, starting with the musical Oliver and ending with PAC Day. Just under 20 events provided lots of opportunities and scope for making music, with performances continuing throughout the term at Assemblies and a multitude of popular and stylish restaurant lunches and dinners.

The Jackson Hall series culminated on 31 August with VET students’ last performance of their programs for their SACs. Finnian Farrell guitar, Oskar Lelia piano. Sophie Janusko voice, Max Den Dryver, Rachel Aarons voice and Sarah Hibbins piano with Mathilda Yap performing earlier August.

On 14 September, the VCE solo performance repertoire students Maximilian Jeffcoat-Holm drumkit and Ridley McNamara-Moyle electric and acoustic guitar performed their 20-minute recitals, with an introductory solo guitar performance by Finnian Farrell.

Congratulations to all the students who started practising their performance skills at these events, giving joy to all. And our very best wishes are with the VCE students for their performance examinations in October. You’ve got this!

Our Gala concert in Heyward Hall on 7 September attracted more performances than we could accommodate. In the end, there were 31 items performed by 50 students on 3 pop-up stages with the colourful lighting that reimagined Heyward Hall. Technical support and sound production were provided by the very capable VET students Nadav Bowman, Darcy Thomas and Jack Goodsell.

Congratulations to the following performers who performed in the Gala concert: Julia Sykes first violin, Leila Jacobi second violin, Lauren Ho violin, Lucy Sykes cello, Edgar Hayes drumkit, Jack Barton piano, William Campbell guitar, Alyssa Hennessy drumkit, Alice Scanlon voice, Duncan McLay guitar, Emily Shumack Smith voice, Leo Sanderson guitar, Charlie Petschel guitar, Choristers; Sophia Wellington, Sienna Ranson, Genevieve Gray, Harper John, Chelsea Hallam, Tara Wilmann, Abigail Campbell, Beatrix Bruce, Lola Bonello, Flynn McKie, Emily Peeler, Elena Hudson and Iris Cross, Akira Mishima-Hardy piano, Freya Fischer guitar, Evie Dowling piano, Jessie Goodwin-Rewi drumkit, Jasper Ranson drumkit, Matthew McKay piano, Lachlan Costello, Cameron Shumack Smith piano, Annie Brocklesby piano & voice, Edith Bruce guitar, Dylan Anderson-Treacy guitar, Ari Scheltema piano, Charles Reeves double bass, Tom Lineham drumkit, Jonathan Manglaviti alto saxophone, Evans Family Trio (Joe, Amelia and Chloe Evans), Scott Larsen alto saxophone, Pippa Koster conga, Ella Petschell voice, Lachlan Martin and Jack Goodsell drums providing accompaniment.

An enormous amount of work went into each and every one of these events and supporting the students in their preparation. We are very grateful to our music staff for this support both within and outside of school hours.

Booking in for instrumental lessons:

Our instrumental music program continues to grow and places are filling up fast. Pre- payment is required to reserve your space. To book your lessons on-line please use this link: https://braemar.xportal.myxplor.com/bookings?category_id=271&name=Instrumental+Music+Lessons

And do contact me with any questions regarding your child’s learning.

Music support – Wednesday lunchtimes Music Club

In term 3 a lunchtime music club started in senior school MC2 for anyone to drop in and get support with any aspect of their music learning. Students are welcome to bring their lunch. This will continue in term 4.

Dr Jacky Ogeil Director of Music

Sport Update

Term 3 has become a huge sporting period for Braemar College. It has been busy from beginning to end with teams and individuals competing across many different sports. August has become a very busy month for us particularly when teams advance beyond district level. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many different staff who attend our varied sporting events to either coach or administer. They provide great support and enthusiasm to our students. I would also like to take this chance to thank the parents that attend the varied competitions to support their child/ren and the respective Braemar teams. Below is a list of sports competitions that Braemar was involved in over the term. I congratulate all students that attended and competed for the College and congratulate the following teams as they advance through to the next level of competition.

18/07 - WR Division Soccer

20/07 - ICCES AFL Carnival

22/07 - All Schools Cross Country

We had a record number of students run for Braemar at the All Schools Cross Country event. Three of these students went on to run at the National Cross Country Championships in Canberra.

Well done to Ruby Ellis, Nysa Males and Tyler Theodore.

It is also worth mentioning that Braemar placed 2nd at this years ICCES Cross Country Event. This is our best place at this comp since rejoining the association.

25/07 - ICCES Chess, Debating and Cross Country

26/07 - MR District Basketball

02/08 - Netball Vic School Champs

22-27/08 - Vic Interschools Snowsports Competition and Camp Experience

25/08 - MR District Hot Shots Tennis

25/08 - Premier Schools Girls Football (Soccer) Comp

29/08 - Netball Vic Champs Finals

30/08 - MR District Athletics Carnival

01/09 – Vic MTB Orienteering Championships

07/09 - WR Division Athletics

08/09 - MR District T20 Blast Cricket

Mr Matt Ellis Director of Sport

Braemar Cadet Unit

Our Cadet Unit recently enjoyed a number of their usual signature events. The Annual Cadet dinner is an opportunity for our Cadets to experience a formal dining in night. The evening also provides an opportunity to reflect on the past year and to celebrate the achievements of the graduating Senior Cadets. Several special guests were in attendance, including leaders of Cadets in Victoria, members of local RSLs, supporters of the unit and the parents of the graduating Cadets.

As the incoming leaders of the unit begin their command, they guide the unit on their annual camp. In 2023, this was Operation Emu, a week-long activity conducted at Puckapunyal Army Base. Our Cadets were camped on the range and participated in many activities as a unit and in conjunction with other school units.

In the words of one of our Cadets, CDTCPL Ben Bezzina: for the last few days, the Braemar Cadets have been participating in their largest camp of the year, Exercise EMU. Cadets spend a week at the Puckapunyal Military Area learning new skills, building on pre-existing ones, and having fun and bonding with one another during various activities and games, including Survival, Shelter building, Observation Posts, Patrolling, Signals and more!

We thank the many supporters and volunteers who made this week a successful learning experience for our Cadets.

Our cadets now prepare for their Term 4 activities and the recruiting drive in Term 1 2024.

College Production

Oliver Jr, our first whole-school Production in many years, was an overwhelming success. Performing to sell-out shows at the Kyneton Town Hall, nearly 100 students from Year levels 5 to 11 displayed outstanding camaraderie and supported each other to ensure the shows were both a joyous and mesmerising experience.

College productions, whilst certainly demanding on both staff and students, provide unique opportunities and a range of priceless benefits. As one parent wrote of their children’s participation; “The final product was simply outstanding. From the stalls, it was evident how much the cast were driven to succeed…I have watched my two children face personal, theatrical and relationship challenges throughout the months leading up to [the] weekend. The production has provided a platform for them to face these in a supported environment. They have grown in confidence and they both show a new recognition of their self-worth. These are the things that teaching and learning are really about.”

RUOK? Day

Recently, our Wellbeing and Culture team were featured on the National ABC news in a feature piece about student wellbeing. The story coincided with the release of data from Beyond Blue focussing on wellbeing in schools, R U OK Day and the release of resources for wellbeing in schools from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA).

The link here will take you to the story. Our thanks to the students, staff and leaders who confidently spoke about their experiences on this very important issue

Stage 3 Technology Hub

If you visited the Woodend Campus near the end of term, you might have noticed more temporary fencing being placed at the eastern end of Pod 6. This fencing is the first step towards the next building stage for the College. This stage will see a technology hub being built. We plan for the building to be ready to use at the start of the 2025 school year.

The building will have three distinct technology areas: an art, digital, and food technology space. The classrooms will be flexible; however, they are targeted towards these learning areas.

There are already spaces in the current building for digital technologies, which support our MAKE subject and an Art room. These rooms will revert to classroom spaces in 2025.

The exciting addition of food technologies will support the facilities and staff on the Mt Macedon Campus, freeing up the kitchen and Jackson Hall for Senior School use. In addition, this Middle School food technology area will expand this hands-on curriculum area and encourage our Middle Schoolers to engage with paddock-to-plate concepts. More to come on this exciting development.

Solar@Braemar

The Multi-Purpose Hall, or MPH, is moving towards completion. The building recently had its roof fitted and is moving towards lockup.

The subsequent phases of the building are exciting, and we are now revisiting the solar panel initiative launched earlier in the year. For those who missed those details, our Parents and Friends are supporting outfitting the MPH with solar panels and providing a battery storage option. Both the panels and batteries can be used as a teaching opportunity for students in the Investigate, Make and Sciences. The added benefit will be that a solar feed will support the electricity usage at the Woodend Campus. On future builds, solar installations and energyefficient materials and systems are being designed into the plans, which is really exciting. The Mt Campus has also been included in our Solar planning, and during the holiday break, over 200 panels have been installed on the roof of the Brooksbank centre, creating a 95kW solar array. This initiative sees a greater reliance on electrical heating and cooling rather than the current heating-only option of gas, which we are phasing out where possible.

Performing Arts Competition (PAC) Day

What a difference 12 months makes! Last year, following a fantastic day of student-led entertainment, the heavens opened, and PAC Day finished with a torrential downpour, creating a saturated dance area and a very wet student cohort, but not this year.

The weather was fine and warm, and young people and staff enjoyed the final day of term three with the sun shining. The day started with House Drama, conducted on the two campuses. Each house had to compete in a short, fast drama presentation form, which was a lot of fun. The senior schooler’s schools then were bussed to the Woodend campus. Greeting them was the delicious aroma of a sausage sizzle, which the service focus teams, who are fundraising for activities in Lilla, Nepal, Cambodia and, in 2024, Borneo.

After the refreshing lunch break, followed by some outdoor chillout time, students assembled in preparation for the final two events: House Ensemble and House Song. Each house ensemble performance was 12 minutes long and consisted of a Middle School performance and a Senior School performance. All the ensembles provided powerhouse performances with a wide variety of tunes being performed. As the scores were tallied, our Year 12 band, “Sack of Flour”, recent winners of the Macedon Ranges Battle of the Bands, performed.

We were down to the business end of the day, with our House Songs being performed. This component of PAC Day sees each of the six Houses on the stage with the entire house singing a song with adapted lyrics.

The points were tallied, and the winners were:

Drama

Year 5/6: Ward

Year 7/8: Baker

Year 9/10: Farley

Year 11/12: Baker

Drama winner: Baker

Ensembles

Middle school: Clyde

Senior school: Clyde

Ensemble winner: Clyde

House Song

3rd place: Farley

2nd place: Baker

1st place: Ward

PAC Day Totals

6th place: Harry: 226.5

5th place: Farley: 285.5

4th place: Ward 289.5

3rd place: Clyde 301

2nd place: Darling 316.5

1st place Baker: 318.5

Thanks to all of the houses for a strong presence on the day and the many staff who made the day possible. PAC Day is a real team effort and a fantastic way to finish Term 3.

Overseas and Interstate Trips

Our suite of 2023 overseas and interstate trips is well underway. These holidays, Braemar had groups in Cambodia, the Northern Territory and Far North Queensland. All staff and students are now safely home. Evaluating the impact of these experiences can be viewed in numerous ways. The impact these communities have on our travellers is invaluable and measured by the smiles and deep topics of conversations; our impact on the communities can be measured in hours and financially. Collectively, Braemar students in the past two weeks, have experienced diverse environments, provided over 1500 hours of community service, and contributed over $5,000 to the economies of the communities in direct donations. They have also supplied valuable tourist dollars to each of the communities they have visited.

The Cambodian Group were the first group to jet off. They worked in the north of Cambodia in the small village of Treak. The students had an opportunity to rekindle the work done by past Braemarians at this amazing community school outside of Siem Reap. The group then relocated to the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penn, where they visited many sites that reflected the recent history of this country, including the Pol Pot era. They also worked with the Free the Bears in the “Keeper for a Day” program. This valuable experience provided insight to our students about bears and other animals in Cambodia and how they are a valued and integral part of the natural environment, and the manner in which the charity supports them to be no longer exploited or abused.

The day following the Cambodian Group flying out, 36 students and staff gathered at the Melbourne airport before jetting to the Red Centre. Following many years of connection to the Lilla community, the 2023 group enjoyed this unique environment and supported the Lilla Community for the upcoming sports and storytelling event, which is being held in the coming weeks.

Finally, our Year 8 students and three staff flew to Cairns to experience the wilds of Far North Queensland. The group explored the tropical north and participated in a valuable Great Barrier Reef data-gathering exercise.

None of these programs are possible without a dedicated team of volunteer staff and leaders. We are grateful to those staff who made all these experiences possible, from the logistics of organisation and communication to the staff who volunteered their holiday time to attend. We are blessed to have a giving community.

With the safe return of the September break program, the final two programs for 2023 are ready to go. The Great Vic Bike Ride (GVBR) is held from 25 November to 3 December, and in 2023, the students and staff ride from Orbost – Wonthaggi.

Finally, our Nepal Schoolies Alternative group fly out after the Year 12 Valedictory and spend 20 days in Nepal, including working at the Ghat School, a school we have supported since 2013 and trekking to the iconic Mt Everest Base Camp. The final fundraising effort for this group takes place on 5 October in the form of a Nepalese-themed dinner. The link is on socials and here. If you are able, we would love to see you there. The funds raised this year will be used to refurnish the classrooms which have fallen into disrepair.

Get to know us...

Peter Carmody

Braemar is a part of the strategy to move to this area of the world. With family in Bendigo and Melbourne, a place in between to live and work is a practical solution. Like most people my age, I have had a variety of positions over the years mainly teaching in private and government schools. Interspersed with time as an IT Manager and other occupations. My children are grown and have careers of their own. A 2 year old Granddaughter completes the circle. I enjoy sport and participated in my younger years in a variety of sports. I now play veterans cricket and aim to run and ride again after a knee operation I look forward to working with this very genuine community that is Braemar.

SchoolTV Special Report: R U OK? Day

Emily Kilic

‘I completed my Applied Science degree at RMIT University. Once I completed my course, I took a year off university and worked at Dorevitch Pathology as the Specimen Reception Trainer. I am now completing my Pharmaceutical Science Degree at RMIT.’

In 2009, Gavin Larkin, a bereaved son, and Janina Nearn, a television producer and reporter, collaborated to change the behaviour and stigma surrounding mental health. Together they developed and created R U OK? Day. Born out of the tragedy of his father’s suicide in 1995, Gavin focussed the campaign on building the motivation, confidence and skills of the helpgiver – the person who can have a meaningful conversation with someone who is struggling with life.

Understanding the growing challenges related to mental health among young people is an important consideration. Anxiety, depression and self-harm –– are all causes for concern. Factors like academic pressure, social media, family dynamics, and societal expectations, are contributing to these issues. It’s therefore crucial for parents and caregivers to take action early, remove the stigma around discussing mental health, and offer accessible support to address these issues and the wellbeing of their children.

R U OK? contributes to suicide prevention year round by urging people to invest time in personal relationships and empowering informal support networks to identify signs of distress. We urge all families to take part, emphasising the value of genuine human relationships and reminding everyone to ask the important question, “Are you OK?”

Engaging in R U OK? Day activities goes beyond the classroom; it’s a commitment to our students’ overall development. By talking openly about mental health, schools create safe spaces where students feel understood, valued, and supported. As parents and caregivers, you can contribute by fostering open conversations, normalising feelings and breaking down mental health stigmas. Participating in R U OK? Day promotes compassion and shows our dedication to the wellbeing of the entire school community, reaffirming that together, we can truly make a difference.

This Special Report provides guidance on how to talk to your child about mental health and engage in meaningful discussions. We hope you take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Emma Grant Dean of Wellbeing and Culture