School Captains What can you tell us about revisiting Timbertop?
We are delighted that Hannah Robertson (Yr11 Cl) and Charlie Vickers-Willis (Yr11 FB) have been chosen to represent our School in the challenging role of School Captains for 2010. As we farewell our 2009 School Captains, Claire Hamilton (Yr12 Cl) and Will Balmford (Yr12 M), Light Blue spoke to Hannah and Charlie about the year ahead.
Charlie Vickers-Willis Some people liken Geelong Grammar School to a journey. What has been your journey at the School? My GGS journey has been a very long one that has taken me to every corner of the school, through every campus. But it has been fantastic. From prep at Glamorgan, to Year 12 at Corio, each year has been a different experience. Some experiences have been a challenge, and some have been brilliant fun. I believe that Timbertop is the best example of GGS life, as it personifies the so-called “journey” that GGS is. It was very difficult, but at the same time it provided me with such a sense of achievement at the end. Looking back, I miss the place incredibly as the experiences and life lessons I gained up there are second to none. You recently spent a weekend back at Timbertop visiting students transitioning into Senior School. What can you tell me about the weekend and what was the message you passed on to these students? The weekend at Timbertop was fantastic. As we walked around the campus on our first night, visiting each unit, the whole school was buzzing. It seemed that although the year group knew there was still some while to go, they were starting to realise what they had achieved. The night we spent at the Darling Huts with the school prefects provided the group with a lot of inspiration. The brainstorming and ideas for the coming year were fantastic. Together we wanted to pass on the message that any concerns or doubts about the transition were not worth thinking about. Yes, the transition is a challenge, but they have spent a year facing much more significant challenges. So how hard can changing campus be? We also promised that we would do our utmost to make their transition as smooth as possible. 6
What is your vision for 2010? Hannah and I both have a vision for a wider sense of community throughout the whole Geelong Grammar School. Yes, each campus is a wonderful community. A great community is what GGS prides itself on and rightfully so. But we feel there is a lack of connection between the campuses, and specifically Middle School and Senior School. In addition, we also have a vision for increased school spirit. House spirit at the school could not be greater. But our spirit as a school on the whole at APS Sporting events is very poor. If this is increased we also feel that it could help with the sense of community that Hannah and I endeavour to reach. Whatever conclusion arises next year, we are sure it will be a great one.
Hannah Robertson What can you tell us about your Geelong Grammar School journey? I believe that any school provides an individual journey for each person, whether they are a student, teacher or assistant. However, I have found over the many years I have spent at Geelong Grammar that its ability to teach not only academics but social and emotional intelligence is what sets it apart from the rest. There is no doubt that my journey at Geelong has consisted of its fair share of challenging moments. What can one expect when placed in a boarding house full of teenage girls? But I also know that those challenging moments when added to the great moments such as Timbertop and Senior School are the ones that have helped form my personal yellow brick road through my journey at Geelong.
Revisiting a place that made such a big positive impact on my life socially and emotionally is never an easy thing to do. Though I still remember thinking to myself on the hardest runs or hikes “get me out of here”, I would probably give anything to go back there now (especially in the exam period!). When Charlie and I along with our group of school prefects were given the chance to revisit the good old days, we knew that it was the perfect time to speak to the current Year 9s about the issues that were concerning them regarding Senior School. Most people had their fair share of concerns, which is expected when one is moving from a place so secluded from the human race (even Antarctica gets more visitors) to the big, wide sprawling spaces of Corio. Issues of transition, older year levels and work levels were common questions asked, but Charlie and I made it clear to the group that we have been in their exact position and had felt exactly the same way. I think what the Year 9s tend to not realise is that Timbertop is the hardest year of them all. It is at Timbertop that you begin to really get to know yourself, your friends and others surrounding you. You learn to push the capacity of your mental, social, physical and emotional strengths to their outer most limits. Our main aim was to make it clear to them just how important it was to hold onto those factors when making the transition into Year 10 and, as clichéd as it sounds, to just be yourself. What is your vision for the year? A vision is useless unless put into action. In order to improve certain aspects of the school our vision must be realistic and logical and at the same time be approved and supported by the general school body. In the few productive brainstorming sessions Charlie and I have had together, as well as the ones with the school prefects, there is a general consensus that we want the School on a whole (Toorak, Bostock, Middle School, Timbertop and Senior School) to become a tighter community. At the moment we both feel that we are five schools with the same name instead of one school with five campuses. 2010 marks a new beginning for us all. It also provides a chance for the general community, whether they are in middle school or senior school, to work together to improve certain aspects of the school that we feel may need improving. Next year GGS is blessed with an amazing group of school prefects whom Charlie and I both know will help us in our journey of leading the school.