Goulburn Valley Grammar School, Nexus 2, 2016

Nexus Spring / Summer 2016

GOULBURN VALLEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL

Netball for all abilities

Flying the flag

Acknowledging our indigenous history

Good sport

From the Principal University of Melbourne Network of Schools Project

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he school’s motto Semper Ulterius is one that applies equally to students, staff and the school as a whole. It challenges us all to identify the areas where there are opportunities to improve the achievement of our learning community. Since 2013 Goulburn Valley Grammar School (GVGS) has identified a strategic focus on improving student learning through a commitment to teaching quality and the adoption of evidence-based practice. One of the strategic initiatives emerging from this focus was to apply for membership of the inaugural University of Melbourne Network of Schools project. This innovative venture was the initiative of a number of staff at the University of Melbourne, particularly Professor John Hattie, an internationally regarded researcher and leader of school improvement.

We were delighted to be accepted into the inaugural network project. GVGS was one of only three independent schools in the network, the other two being Wesley College and Carey Baptist Grammar School.

The Network of Schools program involved a range of aspects including participating in regular network seminars occurring up to eight times per year. These seminars provided ongoing professional learning with readings and presentations from international researchers including Professor John Hattie, Professor Stephen Dinham and Professor Patrick Griffin.

Nexus

Editor: Terri Cowley

Design: Amy De Paola

Printing: Edge Print Group 1300 715 640

Thanks to: Richard Bryce, Shane McDonald, Chelsea Pohlner, Nicole Sleeth, Mark Torriero, Damian Trezise, Pam Wallace, GVGS Photo Media Group Goulburn Valley Grammar School Verney Road, PO Box 757, Shepparton, Victoria, 3632.

Telephone: 03 5821 8155 Email: gvgs@gvgs.vic.edu.au Web: www.gvgs.vic.edu.au

We welcome submissions to Nexus from staff, students, alumni and anyone connected with the school community.

Email nexus@gvgs.vic.edu.au.

COVER PHOTO:

Students Tannah Thorne (Year 11) and Serena Dallen (Year 7) celebrate their indigenous heritage.

Diary Dates

GVGS identified improving the quality of student writing as our focus area. This proved to be one of the most popular themes in the network. In response, GVGS developed a number of instructional improvement strategies. These included the introduction of teacher Professional Learning Teams in English and mathematics from Years 5–9. These teams of teachers worked together with a focus on improving the learning of all students at the year level.

We identified and implemented a school-wide language for describing and improving the qualities of writing titled ‘The Six Traits of Writing’. We also implemented new strategies to enable tracking of student learning growth in writing and other areas. We reviewed and restructured the Middle Years learning and teaching programs and leadership.

A specific writing-improvement plan was developed, which mapped out a three-year program to systematically improve the quality of student writing across the school. Initially this was focused in the English Department but later was expanded to include the whole school. Staff members have been involved in significant professional learning activities over the past three years. We are confident that the multiple strategies implemented in recent years appear to have had a significant impact on student learning growth in writing and mathematics.

On behalf of the school I thank Mrs Deborah Moore, the Director of Teaching and Learning, and Miss Kathryn D’Elia, Teaching Effectiveness Coordinator, for their steadfast focus on leading and managing the multiple strategies involved in this exciting project. They have worked together closely and supported many staff members in their efforts. I also thank the many teachers who have responded so positively to these initiatives.

Recently both Mrs Moore and Miss D’Elia gave an excellent presentation at the University of Melbourne Network of Schools Showcase event. Following this presentation, GVGS was contacted by Dr Faye Lambert asking the school to participate in a University of Melbourne Case Study of the journey of GVGS in this project. This case study will aim to ‘capture the richness of the program as it is currently operating ‘on the ground’ within a particular network of schools’.

Reunion

The Network of Schools program is about to end. GVGS is committed to consolidating and building on the initiatives developed through this project in the years ahead. We see a focus on writing improvement continuing, along with the use of professional learning teams and data to monitor student-learning growth.

In addition we are looking to new opportunities for development, particularly in improving student reading comprehension and teaching for deeper understanding.

Grandparents' Day

Enjoy reading this issue of Nexus, which highlights not only the school’s academic achievements but also those on the sporting field, on the performance stage and in the community.

Saturday, November 19, 2016 Class of 2011 – 5 Year Reunion

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Presentation Night

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

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From the outset we found the project to be very stimulating and, at times, challenging. The participating schools were provided with a rich range of research, evidence and theoretical frameworks to assist in identifying potential areas for school improvement. A particularly powerful tool was the demonstration of how the Network of Schools could use growth as a measure of student learning. Informed by these learnings, the leadership team at GVGS identified school improvement goals in which the network could best support us.

Goulburn Valley Grammar School

Semper Ulterius Mark Torriero, Principal

Raising the Aboriginal flag for GVGS are Tannah Thorne and Serena Dallen.

Acknowledgement of Country

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oulburn Valley Grammar School has implemented new protocols regarding the recognition and importance of Aboriginal heritage to Australia and the local region. The flagpoles at the front of the school are now flying the Australian flag alongside the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags. The continuing Aboriginal heritage, culture and community and its connection to the land on which the school and local community is situated is now formally acknowledged at school assemblies.

Principal Mr Mark Torriero said the change was in recognition of the fact that Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures are among the oldest living cultures in the world and that they form a central part in shaping Australia’s identity and the way we view life today. “By understanding culture and history and building stronger connections between Aboriginal people and the broader community, together we can remove barriers to participation in community life and, in the process, gain a deeper understanding of Aboriginal culture,” he said.

He quoted Kofi Annan, the former United Nations Secretary-General, who addressed issues of indigenous peoples in the Andes of Peru in 2003: “Let us all listen to the voices of indigenous peoples, and act as their partners to protect indigenous rights, particularly those of indigenous children. This will not only help to right historic wrongs and remove current injustices. It will truly enrich us all.”

Mr Torriero said the endurance of Aboriginal society across the continent was of global significance and the cultural heritage, places and objects associated with that society were a significant part of the heritage of all Australians. “They are a fundamental part of Victorian Aboriginal community life and cultural identity,” he said.

“An Acknowledgement of Country recognises that Victoria has a strong and proud Aboriginal history and complex ownership and land stewardship systems stretching back many thousands of years. It pays respect to the Traditional Owners.”

Creative endeavour A

new metal art installation has pride of place in the school’s Copulos area.

Titled “Creator of All Rivers”, the artwork features a laser-cut serpent design by artist Mr Jack Anselmi and was given to the school from the 2014 Year 12 Leavers’ Fund. Mr Anselmi was thanked for his design at a school assembly in June, as was former GVGS art teacher Mr John Lancaster, who translated the concept drawing into a digital format. Mr James Simson, from the school’s Maintenance Department, completed the structural work, assisted by Ms Angie Russi from Shepparton’s indigenous Kaiela Gallery and Art Coordinator Ms Deidre Belleville.

Ms Angie Russi, Mr John Lancaster, Ms Deidre Belleville and Mr Jack Anselmi with the new artwork.

Goulburn Valley Grammar School

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Gemma Collins with player Leon Ahmet.

BELOW: All Abilities volunteers Eva Gauci, James Worsfold, Amy Kerr and Gemma Collins.

All abilities

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our Goulburn Valley Grammar School students took on coaching and coordinating roles in Shepparton’s All Abilities netball competition this year. The competition was played on Saturday mornings alongside the regular Shepparton Netball Association games and involved male and female players aged from 12 to 60, with disabilities.

Eva Gauci, Amy Kerr, James Worsfold and Gemma Collins continued the school’s strong relationship with GV Connect, working with about 14 students each week. “All four students have said that they looked forward to each weekend and really got to know all the players,” Principal Mr Mark Torriero said. “They were particularly excited that this was a great way to get involved in the community.”

Late checkmate

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late start led to a dramatic end for GVGS’s reign in the Independent Country Co-Educational Schools Chess competition.

Five secondary schools – GVGS, Highview Christian School, Bacchus Marsh Grammar, Braemar College and Girton Grammar – took part in the latest ICCES tournament, staged on August 3 at La Trobe University in Bundoora.

GVGS was represented by its senior team, led by Xavier Ainsworth and including Robert Li, Jack Morrissy and Scott Giddings. The intermediate team, led by Linal Amarasinghe, was made up of Hirad Norouzi, Lachlan Maskell, Lynton Hoey and Tim Robinson.

The junior team, led by Dinal Amarasinghe, included Shiv Dutta, Sajana Palawela, Seth Brennan and Reily Menhenett.

Chess co-ordinator, Mr Patrick Challis, said all three teams fought valiantly. However, a delay in one of the schools arriving for the start of competition meant GVGS senior players Robert Li and Jack Morrissy were forced to

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Dinal Amarasinghe and Reily Menhenett play chess for the school. play against each other – an unfortunate turn of events that was to have consequences late in the tournament.

The GVGS junior team won its section with 13 points, just topping Girton Grammar on 12 and Bacchus Marsh in third with 11.5 points.

“The very close last game of the last round decided the winner, with Dinal Amarasinghe victorious against his Girton Grammar opponent to bring home the win for GVGS,” Mr Challis said.

Solid play by the GVGS intermediate team saw its members go into the final round with an unassailable lead. Linal, Hirad, Lachlan, Lynton and Tim finished with 14.5 points with the runner-up, Braemar College, on 8.5 points. Linal Amarasinghe proved the best intermediate GVGS player with a perfect five wins for five games.

Equal first in the seniors’ section was GVGS and Bacchus Marsh Grammar with 12 points followed in second place by Braemar with 7

points. Mr Challis said Robert Li was the best senior GVGS player. “Unfortunately due to the loss of one point at the start of the match when two of our team members were required to play against each other, the count-back system caused Bacchus Marsh Grammar to be ahead by a point when the results were reviewed,” he said. “This meant GVGS did not get a clean sweep and meant the loss of the Perpetual Chess Shield that goes to the winner of the senior team.”

Leadership and teamwork

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ear 10 student Gemma Collins and Year 12 student Mitchell Cox (pictured below) have been awarded Long Tan Youth Leadership Teamwork Awards by the Australian Defence Force (ADF). First presented in 2006, the awards are aimed at encouraging the behaviours and attributes considered critical in Australia’s leaders of tomorrow. They recognise students who demonstrate values of leadership and teamwork within the school and the broader community, and who display strong values, such as doing their best, respect for others and mateship.

This year’s awards follow on from awards received by Goulburn Valley Grammar School students each year since and including 2013. The awards are an initiative of the Australian Government in conjunction with the ADF to encourage senior students to actively participate in the lives of their schools and communities. Today more than 2200 schools are involved.

History in the making G

oulburn Valley Grammar Year 8 students Daniel Sharrock and Ben Templeton (pictured) topped Victoria in the 2016 Australian History Competition.

The pair received a certificate and medal for their outstanding results.

Head of Humanities Dr Darius von Güttner told the Shepparton News the students – two of 200 at the school who sat the test – were not specifically taught for the competition, so it showed impressive general knowledge.

Some of the topics included in the exam were ancient and medieval history and

a timeline of historical events such as the bubonic plague. “The questions … are mainly based on interpreting and analysing a range of historical source material,” Dr von Güttner said. “In this way student success is not dependent on what content they have covered in their classrooms, but on their understanding of historical-inquiry processes and their ability to interpret and apply information.”

The Battle of Long Tan, Australia’s best-known engagement in the Vietnam War, holds a special place in the hearts and minds of the nation. These awards are a tribute to Long Tan veterans who showed determination, tenacity and compassion – the same attributes the awards hope to encourage.

The competition is produced by the History Teachers’ Association and relies on the support of volunteer teachers and Historicool magazine.

Following Fred’s example

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ear 6 student Edward Miechel has received a prestigious Fred Hollows Humanity Award after being nominated by his teacher Mrs Fiona O’Meara.

Mrs O’Meara told the Shepparton News that Edward contributed to the school community in the areas of sport, music and theatre. “More importantly, he is humble, honest and giving,” she said.

The awards recognise those who follow the compassionate example of the late Fred Hollows, a famous Australian ophthalmologist who restored the eyesight of countless people in Australia and other countries. The Benalla boy was one of 44 Victorians presented with the award at Parliament House in September. Edward is a junior guide at Benalla Aviation Museum, volunteering his time every Sunday. At the awards ceremony, Edward rubbed shoulders with Premier Daniel Andrews and Fred Hollows’ widow Gabi (pictured left).

Goulburn Valley Grammar School

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Year 9 student Olivia Quigley and fellow students knitting in morning tute.

News@Nine Community service

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tudents have been undertaking worthwhile community service as part of the Year 9 program. Year 9 Coordinator Mrs Glenys Lowden said: "This is their opportunity to support the community through action and to develop an understanding of the importance of service to others." She quoted author and psychologist Martin Seligman who wrote Authentic Happiness, which highlights the strengths and resilience people gain when they give to others. "This is a powerful tool in supporting student wellbeing," she said.

Student Rachel Thiel volunteered for a local primary school’s Net Set Go program, which introduces young children to netball. “At first I was skeptical about the commitment needed to complete community service but after finishing, I have discovered it is very rewarding,” Rachel said. “Once a week after school I would go to the school gym and spend an hour with about a dozen Prep/ Grade One students. I had so much fun with these children and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It was definitely worth doing and I am glad to have helped a group in the community.”

Megan Winzer volunteered with The Smith Family Student2Student program. “We joined with the understanding that it wouldn’t be an easy road but it would be a rewarding one,” Megan said. “We received a short training session from our local specialist to inform us of how the program operated, including confidentiality and how to deal with all the mishaps that may occur during the 18 weeks. We received our books in the mail and phones to call our buddy (a younger student who was struggling in reading and needed a little help). We would call our buddy at least twice a week, for half

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an hour or as long as the buddy wished.

There were plenty of complications and no one had it easy. But we persisted and we were rewarded by hearing the improvement in our buddies’ reading. We realised what an achievement and feeling it is to know we are helping someone else. I encourage anyone who is persistent and patient to join the program.”

to the challenges and opportunities the program provided,” Mr Torriero said. “They represented the school very well and adapted to the experience of significant independence in managing time and making transport decisions in order to reach scheduled programs. They were clearly quite comfortable and confident in navigating the CBD and in managing public transport.”

Urban experience

Students knitted scarves, which were well received by the Salvation Army, and many donated other items to support the organisation’s work with the homeless in Melbourne.

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ear 9 students spent two weeks in Melbourne in August-September exploring issues such as governance and equity as well as developing the confidence to make decisions in relation to public transport and navigating their way around the city and suburbs. This ‘urban camp’ experience has been part of the Year 9 program for 16 years and is one that many former students recall fondly.

“I was fortunate enough to be able to visit them and sat in on a presentation in relation to the publication of The Big Issue, a fortnightly paper that is sold in the city or by subscription, with proceeds going to the support of the homeless,” Principal Mr Mark Torriero said. “The presentation was thought provoking and educative on the marginalisation of some people within our community. Of course, such a presentation added further credence to the work that students have done already this year with the Amnesty sleep-out and Diversity Day.” The experience is a key element in preparing students for the transition beyond school to university. “The students rose

Diamond-studded ball

The presentation of 37 couples was witnessed by about 700 people who enjoyed a meal and entertainment at the school’s annual Presentation Ball at Shepparton’s Eastbank Centre in August. The group of 74 presentees was instructed in dance by Mr Bruce Harris.

The theme of the evening was Diamonds Last Forever, with superb decorations created by the parent decorating committee and assisted by supporters Sabac on High gift shop.

Mrs Faye Kerr was MC for the evening with Mrs Genevieve Bihun and Mr Mal Widdicombe acting as Student Presenters.

Entertainment was by band Entourage. The school’s Parents’ and Friends’ Association provided vital support, under ball coordinators Mrs Mary Bayly and Mrs Pamela Pogue.

Thanks to other sponsors Purdeys Jewellers and Echuca Luxury Houseboats.

Thinking visually

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eacher Mr Tim James (above) has visited the “home” of Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) and learned valuable insight into this teaching strategy thanks to a prestigious scholarship.

VTS improves critical thinking and language skills through discussion of visual images. Although usually linked with discussions of art, where it improves participation and self-confidence among students who struggle to express themselves, it can also be applied to other academic subjects.

Visual thinking was developed by researchers at the Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, both in Boston, in the early

1990s. It has since been adopted by museums and schools internationally.

Mr James’ scholarship, awarded by Independent Schools Victoria, covered all expenses for this year’s VST teaching program in Boston, conducted from September 12–16.

Mr James will continue to develop lessons based on visual thinking and will deliver face-to-face VTS learning programs at the National Gallery of Victoria from May 3-7, 2017, during the Arts Learning Festival. His skills in this proven teaching strategy will benefit his GVGS students now and into the future.

Goulburn Valley Grammar School

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School Captain Profile

Good sport A

s an accomplished athlete, academic and current School Captain, Liam Schreck does not lament the fact he has virtually no free time on his hands – he’s too busy loving his final, frantic but fun year at Goulburn Valley Grammar School. “This has just been one of the best school years for me I can imagine and I’ve really enjoyed all my school years,” Liam said, with an infectious enthusiasm. “If I had one thing to say to someone starting here at Grammar, I’d just say really enjoy your time here. My time has gone so fast but I’ve enjoyed it all.”

When he did arrive in Year 7, Liam credits his experience at primary school as having played a major part in the self-reliance and motivation needed to make the most of the opportunities on offer at GVGS. From Prep to Year 6, Liam attended Zeerust Primary School. In all those years there were never more than 20 students – not just in his year level, but the entire school enrolment. In fact in Liam’s final year at Zeerust, where he was also School Captain, there was just one other student in Year 6.

“It was tricky for the teacher at the time, teaching the different year levels,” he said.

“But by the end of it, the kids are able to teach each other. So I could help the Year 5s, for example, and get my own work done as well.”

Liam agrees the experience was helpful to his current role as School Captain at Grammar: “I think it really helped because I was used to a really good, close environment in school where everybody got along and you work with and learn to help the younger ones along. Certainly the first few months at Grammar were a bit different – I had a class that was bigger than my entire school!” he said. “But to be honest I really enjoyed having more people around, it gave you more personalities to interact with and I really enjoyed that and just having more and different interest groups to be involved with. The GVGS society is also just really caring and kind and it’s really a great place to be. I know sometimes bigger atmospheres aren’t always this way, but GVGS is – it’s why I enjoy it so much.”

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Goulburn Valley Grammar School

Liam was admittedly shy in his middle years, so he took up public speaking at GVGS and is now not daunted by addressing a large audience. Having come from an academic family – dad Darren Schreck and mum Jodie Willmott are teachers – Liam inherited a good study ethic and was never pushed by his parents to perform.

Liam has earnt credits and distinctions in English, Science and Maths, however it is in sport where this student is perhaps best known in the wider school community and state and national school competition.

Apart from sharing joint captaincy duties with Mandhree Ekanayake this year, Liam has long been a school leader in sport at GVGS. This year he is Athletics Captain, Cross Country Captain, Senior Hockey Captain, House Athletics Year Level Champion, and an occasional but accomplished footballer and swimmer. “Dad was always a little bit sporty but I’ve done a little bit more,” Liam said. “Cricket and footy come into it but I’m concentrating on athletics and hockey. It gives me something else, besides school, I really enjoy,” Liam said. “Sport also keeps me grounded.”

That may be true mentally, but Liam’s commitment to sport means he’s constantly on the move. In the winter hockey season, for example, Liam’s club commitment to Essendon and representative commitment to the state squad meant that, on occasion, he was attending training in Melbourne three or four times a week – all the while being a fulltime student and school leader.

“I’ve been making the most of it,” he said, particularly of hockey and athletics, which has routinely taken him interstate as a Victorian representative competitor. “The travel and experiences have been great for myself and all the family. The school’s very good with it, always encouraging that I follow my sports, even this year when I was School Captain.

During the interview [for the position] we talked about this commitment and the school was very encouraging. If I have to leave class early or attend an event they always ensure that I am up to date with things.”

Liam credits Mrs Chelsea Pohlner, Year 12 coordinator, with first-hand help in juggling competing commitments, maintaining his studies and managing his time. For the latter, he also commends Mandhree. In the last autumn/winter edition of Nexus, Mandhree credited Liam with being incredibly supportive of her and having a different, complementary leadership style that made the pair a good team.

Liam agrees the two complement each other.

He is in awe of Mandhree’s organisational skills and ability to be focused and prepared on every occasion. “She is incredibly organised and has been a delight to work with this year,” he said.

As for himself, Liam said he has a more relaxed leadership style and likes to emphasise the enjoyment he’s experienced at GVGS and encourages others to take advantage of it – although Mandhree has taught him to plan ahead and prepare whenever possible for their duties.

It’s good advice, however Liam is someone who takes it all in his stride, so to speak. He said Mrs Pohlner has often commented that, with all that Liam has on his plate at any particular point in time, he should be stressed out – but he’s not. “You know, with all that I do, I’m busy but I just love doing it, so it doesn’t really bother me how much time I spend on the road or in the car or doing work, I’m happy with all of it,” Liam said.

Sport commitments in Melbourne and regional Victoria meant Liam built up his “L” plate hours in record time. However he is grateful to his parents, especially father Darren, for those driving commitments that have taken him many hours to and from home. “Dad has spent countless hours in the car with me,” he said.

“They [my parents] are on the road with me all the time and I don’t know how they do it.”

Liam said the commitment has increased with the sporting prowess being shown by his younger siblings; Emily in Year 8 at GVGS and Aden in Year 5 (with his fellow 18 other primary students at Zeerust Primary School this year).

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Student leadership

Interschool concert A

terrific evening of community building, school bonding and fine music was enjoyed by about 300 guests at the second annual Shepparton Interschool Concert.

Held on September 9 in Founders Hall, the night showcased a wide variety of compositions, genres and styles featuring student musicians from throughout Shepparton.

Bands representing Shepparton Christian College, Shepparton High School, Notre Dame College, Wanganui Park Secondary College, McGuire College, Mooroopna Secondary College and, of course, Goulburn Valley Grammar School, gave an enthusiastic crowd plenty to enjoy.

competition] is all about you and how you are going on that particular day.”

Whatever the future may hold, Liam said his year as School Captain has been great for his personal development and confidence as an individual and a team player. “I’ve really enjoyed my year,” he said. “I have learned to work collaboratively with the teachers and the students. I’ve been there for six years and it seems like yesterday that I first arrived. I’ve loved it all.”

The concert raised more than $1400 for local community organisation People Supporting People. There is a strong commitment from the schools involved to continue the event in future years.

BELOW BACK ROW FROM LEFT: Bailey Gall, Liam Schreck, Winton Findlay and Matthew Smith.

FRONT ROW: Emma Pell, Bahati Nyangela, Mandhree Ekanayake and Georgia Anker.

Shepparton News

Liam describes Saturday mornings at the Schreck home, in rural Bunbartha, as a logistical exercise in working out how he, Emily and Aden will meet their weekend commitments: “There’s a lot happening with who’s going where and what’s going on. My parents have a lot of juggling to do. My brother probably plays as many sports as I do and my sister, with her netball… well, I don’t know how they [my parents] really do it. We’re just at different places all the time and at three or four different locations each day, maybe even Melbourne, so they just do a fantastic job.”

The leadership and hard work of Music Prefects Georgia Anker, Winton Findlay and Emma Pell helped make the evening a success. Special thanks went to Mooroopna Secondary College students and their Music Coordinator, Mrs Lindy Tennant, for organising this year’s event.

Liam said at this point in his life, at the end of Year 12, sport has taken on greater career significance and yet remains a source of great enjoyment. “Sport is something I’ll continue with and I take it very seriously,” he said. “But it’s also something I can escape into, and something I find really fun for me.”

Liam said sport science studies is his ideal career path. “This would be working with your AFL clubs or soccer clubs or the AIS to help athletes develop,” he said. “It’s working with athletes to help them improve, to rehabilitate and function best for the dynamics of their sport.”

The starting path may well be Melbourne University and a bio-medical degree, however Liam intends to keep his own options open at an elite sporting level should that opportunity come. He said he enjoys team sports such as hockey because they are less stressful than individual athletic completion: “It [athletic Goulburn Valley Grammar School

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Our School Liberia The school has thrown its weight behind past student Nicola Sutton, the project manager for a school in Liberia, by providing her with computers and science equipment for underprivileged students.

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icola Sutton said she always intended to share the goodwill and good fortune that saw her receive an academic scholarship to attend Goulburn Valley Grammar School for her VCE years.

But few would have expected those good intentions to go to the extremes this 2002 graduate and former Stanhope girl is living today.

For the past five years Nicola, 32, has worked for what is officially called the Liberia Renaissance Education Complex in Monrovia, the capital of this small, impoverished nation on Africa’s west coast.

Less officially, the complex is simply known as ‘Our School Liberia’ – serving some 330 students from nursery (age 4) to 12th grade (up to 21). Made possible through a Swiss-based foundation and benefactors around the world, Our School Liberia was established in 2006 with the vision of providing underprivileged children of this war-torn country with the greatest gift to help them face a challenging future – a good education.

Nicola is project manager for Our School Liberia, which combines all the duties of a principal, teacher, administrator and even a cleaner. “On paper I’m the interface between the people who support the school financially and day-to-day operations, but it’s not uncommon to see me fixing plumbing, teaching a class, managing a budget or negotiating with Liberian politicians,” she said. “It’s incredibly diverse and can be intensely frustrating, but is very rewarding – right now I can’t see myself doing anything different.”

The rewards are in delivering an education of a standard not unlike an Australian school.

While the amenities are quite basic – power is available for only a few hours a day from diesel generators, for example – Our School Liberia has small class sizes of around 25, decent, donated resources and staff comprising some of the best trained teachers in the country.

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Goulburn Valley Grammar School

“The school day would be familiar to GVGS students – a brief morning assembly followed by classes from 8am to 2.30pm,” Nicola said.

“Subjects are pretty similar; a 10th grade GVGS student would find plenty of parallels in our 10th grade maths class for example.”

Our School Liberia, however, is far from the norm for the country, where the economy was devastated in a civil war lasting more than a decade and the Ebola outbreak of 2014. For young Liberians lucky enough to attend school, they would be in classes of up to 90 students with blackboards, bare floors and no running water, electricity or sanitation.

“We know we are fortunate to have great supporters who allow us to provide our students with a better learning environment, so we try and share that by working with other schools in the area to help raise the standards across the board, extending Our School’s reach as best we can,” Nicola said.

The project manager has in turn reached out to GVGS. Nicola wrote to her old school earlier this year enquiring about any equipment or resources GVGS might be looking to retire. “Having contacted Shane McDonald we have been overwhelmed by the response from GVGS with the donation of a large number of netbook computers and a huge amount of science equipment,” Nicola said.

“Access to quality science equipment was well beyond our budget for this year, so the donated equipment will enable a far greater ‘hands-on’ experience for our senior students,” she said. “Having more computers available also allows us to restart our computer program, which had floundered due to ageing equipment failing and the difficulty in finding reliable replacements in Liberia,” Nicola said. “I’m truly humbled by this generosity.”

While Our School Liberia is changing lives, Nicola said day-to-day living in Liberia is a constant challenge for her and fellow staff

members and volunteers who grew up in first-world countries.

“Shortages of essentials like petrol, oil and foods occur sporadically and there is often a lack of skilled, trustworthy people capable of performing tasks we take for granted, such as mechanics, doctors and police, and you can get vexed at the speed at which certain things break down in the trying conditions of heavy rain and high humidity,” Nicola said.

“That said, you learn from these experiences how to better self-manage, become selfreliant and take a step back and breathe.”

Nicola said the biggest lesson for her has been how people with a shared vision can make a positive out of the little that might be available to them. This included, for example, teaching the first senior classes in a storage cupboard until a proper classroom could be built.

“Equally, when Ebola took off throughout the country and the government closed the schools, we didn’t want our kids falling behind on their schooling and waiting around terrified of what might come,” Nicola said.

“We wanted them focused on their future so to keep them on track we set up a homeschooling program where parents could

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Former students

CLOCKWISE FROM MAIN PHOTO: A student of Our School Liberia with a laptop donated by the school; a lucky kindergarten student begins school life; Nicola Sutton with students.

collect and submit homework packs without the fear of potentially infectious interaction between their children.”

Nicola said she has also appreciated the warm and welcoming nature of the Liberian people and the way whole communities care for children. “It’s very common to see people taking children who are not their own into their home and sending them off to school, because the child has been orphaned or simply because they’re in a better financial position than the child’s parents and they want to help out.”

Nicola said an Indonesian trip with GVGS and subsequent university studies in international development led to a desire to live and work in some pretty diverse locations. For the foreseeable future, however, Nicola said Our School Liberia is home.

“Having watched a group of students go from kindergarten to 5th Grade in my time here, it’s hard to think of leaving,” she said. “Many of the skills I’ve learnt in Liberia are clearly transferrable but I don’t know where that might lead yet. What I have learnt is to never turn down an opportunity which may lead you across the globe – and scares you just a little!”

Get Involved

There are many ways the GVGS community can get involved in the work of Our School Liberia. The Facebook page (Our School Liberia) or its website, www.our-school-liberia.com, have a wealth of information, including opportunities to donate to the school or even volunteer. Nicola also invites any correspondence or ideas to help the school by emailing her at ourschoolliberia@gmail.com.

Goulburn Valley Grammar School

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Former students Class of 1992 student Kristen Hilton.

Advocating human rights

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tamping out discrimination is the role and goal of Victoria’s Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. In many ways, its new Commissioner has been on a quest for tolerance, fairness and respect long before her appointment.

From attending the United National Youth Summit as a Goulburn Valley Grammar School delegate in the late 1980s to launching the first Amnesty International branch in her hometown of Kyabram, Kristen Hilton has been a humanrights advocate since her early teens. After five years at GVGS, Kristen studied law where her work with community legal centres and Victoria Legal Aid saw her delivering legal access to some of the state’s most vulnerable people.

On June 1 of this year, Kristen became Victoria’s Human Rights Commissioner. She took time out from a busy schedule to take part in a Q&A reflecting on her school days, career and personal mantra in life: “Get involved!”

How did your time at Goulburn Valley Grammar School influence your passion for human rights?

I loved learning and I soaked up the academic and creative environment. I was on the school debating team and took advantage of opportunities such as attending the United Nations Youth Summit as the school delegate.

When I attended GVGS it was a relatively new and, in many ways, progressive school but it was not free from bullying and I know that not all the students had a great experience all of the time. One of my close friends at school was gay and as a 14 year old in a country school in the 1980s that was not easy.

As much as I remember some lovely, funny, stimulating times at school I also reflect on how schools, like our community, can include and exclude. My passion for human rights really comes from an understanding that the world is weighted unjustly and wanting to do something about it, and a belief that regardless of our differences we all want to feel valued and connected.

Eleanor Roosevelt, one of the founders of the modern human-rights movement, famously said: “Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home – so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person;

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the neighbourhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerned citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.”

Did growing up in regional Victoria, and attending a regional high school, have any bearing on your professional success?

In a word, yes. Much of the discussion and debate is driven by the big metropolitan centres with city people in mind, so there’s sometimes a sense of disenfranchisement for those living in regional areas. That has made me very mindful of how some voices struggle to be heard or are left behind.

I’ve made a point over the years of ensuring that we don’t forget about people in rural and regional areas and that’s something I am keen to build on in my role of Commissioner.

The sense of connectedness that I was lucky enough to experience while growing up has stayed with me and I feel a genuine responsibility to listen to what all Victorians have to say about the issues that concern them, regardless of where they live.

What advice would you give current students to achieve their potential in their future professional or personal endeavours?

I often think it’s very tricky for students as they are increasingly expected to have their future

mapped out sometimes before they even finish high school.

To me the most important thing is to pursue things you are genuinely interested in because it stands to reason that if you are excited and engaged by something, you’ll want to do well.

Unfortunately, sometimes our measure for success is defined only in terms of our work and we forget that positive and supportive relationships are the things that give us the confidence and self-belief to achieve our potential.

How can young people play a role in human rights advocacy?

Get involved! When we talk about human rights that’s a pretty broad area so my advice is to find something you are passionate about, learn as much as you can about it, and see if you can find a way to make a contribution. Social media means that we can be involved and connected in ways that are new and constantly evolving. But, that online connectedness does not always substitute for meaningful, face-to-face engagement.

Find out about the opportunities to volunteer in your local community and listen and learn from people around you, particularly people who have a different life experience. Take time to read and think and be curious. Our world moves very fast so carve out space in the busyness to develop your own views and ideas.

The best human rights advocates I know have at their core, kindness, compassion and a deep curiosity about the world around them.

Academic excellence

Elite aviator I

t’s safe to say Edwin Borrman has gone higher, flown further and definitely many times faster than any student before him. That’s a big call considering the accomplished alumni before and since Edwin graduated 15 years ago, in the Class of 2001. However when measured in air miles, altimeter readings and breaking the sound barrier, this former Goulburn Valley Grammar School student of six years has set some high and nigh-impossible benchmarks.

Edwin describes his career capabilities a little more succinctly: “A little more power definitely puts a grin on my face”. Edwin is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) fighter pilot and a flight lieutenant. More to the point, he is one of our few elite aviators to be checked out on perhaps the world’s most advanced fighter jet of our time – the F-35A Lightning II.

part is determining what my priority is at any given time and where do I look to get that information. This course has given me great insight as to how our future F-35A pilots will transition directly from the Hawk to the F-35A.” The supersonic, stealthy jet has extraordinary acceleration, agility and 9G manoeuvrability and is set to replace our able, but aging squadrons of F/A-18 Hornets.

By 2023, three Australian squadrons based at RAAF Tindal and Williamtown are expected to be operating the F-35A.

ABOVE: RAAF pilot Edwin Borrman and (above) Edwin in an F-35A Lightning II.

Edwin is the son of Pip Borrman, a national stunt pilot champion fondly remembered for his regular aerial displays over Shepparton. Pip was tragically killed in an accident during a practice session at Shepparton Airport in 2009.

Commonly known as the Joint Strike Fighter, the F-35A is set to become the backbone of the RAAF’s fighter capability far into the future when the first of 72 aircraft arrive in Australia in 2018. In May of this year, Flight Lieutenant Borrman became just the third Australian pilot to qualify on the F-35A as an instructor. This year, he has been learning the complexities of the aircraft in the skies over Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, USA, with fellow RAAF pilots Andrew Jackson and David Bell.

Edwin advised aspiring aviators – or anyone aiming for excellence in their respective career choice – to never give up on their goals. “You have to work hard, and sometimes it feels like that hard work will never end,” he said. “Eventually it will pay off and you will be glad you put the extra effort in. It took me two attempts to join the Air Force. Once I got in, I was nearly suspended during early pilot training for repeated below average flying performance.

“The training went surprisingly quickly, although I did rely upon my previous experience in the F/A-18A and instructional experience in the Hawk 127 to help me through,” Edwin said. “Technically the jet is amazing, there is so much situational awareness on display. The hardest

“I was fortunate enough to have some very supportive people around me, both instructors, friends and family.

I overcame those hurdles and went on to achieve many things that others couldn’t. I still feel very privileged to be where I am today.”

Goulburn Valley Grammar School

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From Hairspray to Shrek

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his year has been an outstanding year for school theatre productions. The vibrancy of the 1960s was brought to Westside Performing Arts Centre when the school’s senior production of Hairspray! The Broadway Musical was staged in May. This sold-out production has been nominated for a prestigious Georgy Award showing the incredibly high standard achieved by the very talented cast.

The plot of the musical is based around Tracy Turnblad (Annalise Foott) who dreams of TV stardom, and high school hunk Link Larkin (Adam Sizer). When a detention encounter gives the wannabe teenybopper the dance moves she needs to make it onto the all-powerful Corny Collins Show, Tracy realises that her dreams

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could finally be coming true.The show wowed audiences with a kaleidoscope of song and dance, tackling some serious social issues along the way.

In August students from Years 5–8 staged Shrek Jr, the Musical, which is a musical version of the popular movie. The show was a crowd favourite, featuring plenty of humour and fabulous costumes. Tom Janke played the title role, ably supported by Mia Lawley as Fiona.

Both musicals were directed by Mrs Helen Janke, with Mrs Genevieve Bihun as musical director and Mrs Jodie Keady and Ms Nicole Sleeth as co-producers. Miss Chelsea Baker was choreographer for Hairspray and Miss Maddi Jenkins was Shrek choreographer.

School productions

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HAIRSPRAY PHOTOS ABOVE FROM FAR LEFT: Hairspray Cast; Annalise Foott as Tracy Turnblad and Emily Bolton as Penny Pingleton; Ronald Lawrence and Anson Kearney as Wilbur and Edna Turnbald; Abbey Zito as Motormouth Maybelle.

SHREK PHOTOS FROM FAR LEFT: The Duloc People behind Lord Farquaad played

by Thomas Loughnan; Mia Lawley as Princess Fiona; Thomas Loughnan; The young Shrek family Kelsey Schultz, Layla O'Callaghan and Djembe Archibald; Merdi Yamfu Bwanga as Donkey with Tom Janke as Shrek.

Goulburn Valley Grammar School

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Courting the big time I

t is a testament to his modesty and maturity that aspiring basketball player Bailey Michel answers most questions with the same opening phrase: “Well, I was fortunate enough to …” For example, Bailey “was fortunate enough to captain the Goulburn Valley Grammar School to victory in ICCES competition” in June and “was fortunate enough to be nominated as Youth Player of the Year” in the 2016 Big V Division 1 Men’s competition.

However Bailey was brought to a halt in highlighting how he was again “fortunate enough” to top the men’s league in three-point conversions for the season. “Hang on Bailey – there is no real good fortune in being able to score almost every second long-range shot in a basketball game, is there?” he was asked.

Bailey laughingly conceded that his 46 percent shooting accuracy from field goal range represented many, many practice sessions of rigorous and repetitive shots at the net: “I couldn’t give you a number, but for every threepointer scored in a game it would represent thousands of attempts in practice.”

For 18-year-old Bailey, that practice started at about age 10 in his Shepparton yard. “Mum got me a basketball ring for Christmas and I was introduced to the sport,” he said. “I enjoyed my cricket, footy and soccer but from the first time I was introduced to basketball, from the first time I picked up the ball, I just loved it.”

Bailey said that by about Year 10, when he transferred from Notre Dame College to Goulburn Valley Grammar School, he began to focus all his sporting energies on basketball in an attempt to achieve his best form.

That included high-school basketball at GVGS, culminating in captaining this year’s victorious team at the Independent Country Co-Educational School’s winter carnival. It also included joining the Shepparton Gators, first as a junior and then as a younger member of the senior men’s division.

Initially playing off the bench, Bailey had a breakout season this year after stepping into the very big shoes of Shepparton star Rob Sartori. The veteran guard seriously injured his knee and Bailey found himself on court for longer and saddled with far more leadership and responsibility.

Bailey responded, averaging about 12 points a game and as many as 24 in a single outing, in a league that is a big step up from high-school

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competition. “These are fully grown men and basketball is a really big part of their lives. It’s tough,” Bailey said.

The Shepparton Gators lost out in the second round of this year’s finals but Bailey was honoured to be nominated for Youth Player of the Year.

Bailey is grateful to Basketball Victoria and GVGS for the opportunities to excel in his chosen sport. Late last year, he won selection to an intensive, representative training squad and toured basketball facilities in Italy and the United States. The tour was to include France, however terrorist activities negated that sidetrip.

However that extended the opportunity to spend more time in the US, where the aspiring Aussies could test their mettle against high school teams on the east coast of America.

Bailey said this was exposure to basketball in a way that was not about a sporting pastime or extra-curricular activity, but an actual way of life.

Bailey said the Americans have an allconsuming, “play-to-win mentality”. “The highschool teams in America, well they are hugely talented players,” Bailey said. “It’s not really a major sport in Australia but the money and effort that goes into it in America – it certainly opened my eyes a bit.”

The prospect of a possible scholarship to play and study in America has shifted, in the immediate future, to Bailey considering his options in Australia. He is currently looking to progress into the South East Australia Basketball League (SEABL), which is a big step up again from Big V. Recruitment to a league team will hopefully result from Bailey’s intention to study commerce and arts in Melbourne next year. “After that, I may be able to progress into Australia’s NBL,” Bailey said.

He would not bite at the prospect of future Olympic selection, but said he had his late night and early morning viewing to finally commiserate with all Australians at the Boomers failure to win a medal in Rio. “That was disappointing,” he said. “They played some really good, all-round games.”

Bailey said whatever happens in the future, he is grateful GVGS has recognised how important basketball is to him personally, and possibly professionally, even though playing his chosen sport can’t last a lifetime.

“In Year 12, it’s particularly difficult to mix

the importance of studying and trying to find time for school and sport,” he said. “But they get behind you. Mrs Pohlner has been really supportive, in particular. She is there for me to help get me through the year,” he said, in reference to Mrs Chelsea Pohlner, Year 12 coordinator.

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Shepparton News

Sports achvievers

Olympic ideals

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ear 12 student and Sport Prefect Isabella McLeod has been awarded the prestigious Pierre de Coubertin Award. This award is presented annually to someone who has demonstrated the ideals of the Olympics in their time at school. Being involved in many sports and representing the school in at least one Olympic sport to a high level, is just one part of the criteria. Demonstrating fair play, aiming to achieve their best and teamwork are others.

Isabella has been involved in ICCES Athletics (and was a year level champion at this event) and she has played netball at primary, junior, intermediate and senior levels for the school. She has been a strong competitor in ICCES Cross Country and has competed in aerobics for the school at state level. Isabella has been an outstanding contributor to Goulburn Valley Grammar sport for eight years.

Pierre de Coubertin fought hard to bring athletes together from all over the globe, with the underlying principle of bringing countries together to enjoy the benefits of sport. The fruits of his work continue today in the form of the modern-day Olympic Games.

Isabella made a submission on how sport enhances communities as part of the award selection. In reference to Aussie Rules, she said: “Each game brings about a new chance for social cohesion, a new chance to take advantage of the power that the popularity of an AFL game holds. The power of a football game should not be underestimated. For many years, we have come to experience the way that it can change our society, and today it is imperative for promoting issues of public importance.”

While Bailey has indeed had a fortunate 2016 on the court and in the classroom, he is hopeful on some more progress this year in terms of biology. Bailey, at 188cm (or six foot, two inches in the old system) is a tall teenager by any standard. However on the basketball court he does look up to a fellow players: “So I would still hope I have a bit of growing left to do!”

In particular, she mentioned efforts in the AFL to stamp our racism.

“Through the AFL, the racism that has been engraved in our culture and a major flaw of our history is now being addressed, and we are able to tackle the prevalence of racism on our wider community,” she wrote. “Through sport, we have found a whole new way to promote fairness and equality in our community. The AFL indigenous round is one example of this.”

Goulburn Valley Grammar School

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Clean sweep Equestrian win

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he depth of equestrian talent at Goulburn Valley Grammar School was on display in April with the GVGS Gold team taking out the North Eastern Interschool Equestrian Team Challenge.

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oulburn Valley Grammar School has finished up another hugely successful year of junior competition in the Shepparton Badminton Association, with a clean sweep in all grand finals for the first time.

The A Grade Pelican team consisting of Akshat Ragade, Ross Buonomo, Harismita Rupeshraj, Louisa Taylor and Hannah Thiel (above right) played Wanganui Red in the grand final, eventually flying to an 11-point victory. This level produced some high-quality close matches with GVGS winning 4 out of the 5 doubles. Wanganui Red then reversed that in the singles winning 4 out of 5. With both teams on 5 games each, the result went to points, with GVGS clinching the title.

In B1 Grade, the GVGS Condors of Hayden Reynolds, Akhil Gadde, Jaxon Walker, Shiv Dutta, Jeffries Jacob and Sebastian Blackmore played GVGS Brolgas Declan Weston, Oscar Routley, George Graham, Mitchell Mechkaroff, Matthew Rehm and Michael von Güttner. After two points separated them after doubles, the Condors, made up of Year 7 students, defeated their Year 9 counterparts by 32 points.

In B2 Grade, GVGS Falcons (Matt Bitcon, Luca Mamone, Zachary Wallace, Lachlan

Cross country

Heywood and Matthew Carter) played GVGS Herons (Isabel Long, Amy Long, Nicholas Waller, Gabi Hall and Harry Burgess). This was an interesting outcome with the Herons winning more matches 6 to 4, but losing the overall premiership on points.

C Grade (Primary) provided the match of the night with the top-placed GVGS Kookas (Jordan Wallace, Alessi Mamone, Ethan Heywood and Corey Pike) taking on the second-placed SBA Vikings. Each team won three matches with every match having a margin of two points. At the end of the six games the scores were locked at three games, 92 points each. The premiership was then decided by an extra match with players 1 and 2 from each team combining to play the extra doubles. Games are played to 15 and once again it was locked at 14 all. GVGS Kookas managed to keep its nerve and win the decider 16-14, capping off a terrific season for GVGS. The club thanked Year 12 student Ross Buonomo (above left) for being a wonderful contributor to GVGS badminton over many years. Thanks to Mr Glen Edwards, Mr Matt Plant and Dr Darius von Güttner, who acted as badminton coordinators.

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airley ran home to a convincing win in the annual school cross-country competition held on a chilly day in July. Fairley finished on 47 points, a clear winner ahead of Dunlop (42.5); Ryall (40.5) and McLennan (30). Year level winners were: Year 5: Tessa Kelly, Eric Dillon Year 6: Therese Cameron, Angus Burston Year 7: Lilia Tennant, Billy Browne Year 8: Taryn Cameron, Ciaran Mawley Year 9: Sinduri Iyengar, Jack Harcoan Year 10: Gemma Collins, Charlie Hill Year 11: Victoria Stock, Angus Press Year 12: Amelia Vaughan, Liam Schreck

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Held at Tatura Park, the consistency and composure of team riders Olivia Bolton, Taryn Cameron, Sophie Belcher and Nicholas Grant amassed an overall score of 157 to top the point score among 31 schools competing in the challenge.

The GVGS Blue team, comprising Ava Kelly, Therese Cameron, Sienna Harris and Felicity Grant, placed fifth with 92 points while GVGS White (Laura Schwarz, Corey Pike, Trinity Cameron and Cody Pike) did well to finish in 17th place.

With 135 riders competing at the event, some outstanding individual results were added to the GVGS tally from current and future students.

Year 7 rider Sophie Belcher, riding Banbury Park Celebration, was overall winner in her year level. The same honours went to Nicholas Grant (Year 5). Olivia Bolton (Year 9) and Trinity Cameron (Year 4) were runners up in their year levels and Ava Kelly (Year 12) was third in her section.

GVGS equestrian co-ordinators Mrs Maree Arnold and Mrs Sally Belcher said the performances at this year’s North Eastern Interschool Equestrian Team Challenge were a display of enthusiasm, great teamwork and a high level of sportsmanship across the two days of competition.

Winter winners

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ix schools travelled to Shepparton when Goulburn Valley Grammar School hosted the annual ICCES Winter Tour on June 16 and 17. Students competed in basketball, hockey, netball and soccer. Despite very cold conditions, the competition was strong with high levels of skill and team play. GVGS teams performed strongly with the senior boys’ basketball, girls’ soccer and senior girls’ netball teams all putting in winning performances.

Bacchus Marsh Grammar School finished first overall with GVGS equal second with Girton Grammar School. Braemar College, Hamilton College and Highview College followed.

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Sports competitions

Girton challenge he Pelicans proved their mettle on August 9 when Girton Grammar School made the trip across from Bendigo for a football and netball clash on the GVGS home ground.

Competition kicked off from 11am with the junior girls' and boys' football. Elle Brooks helped lead the junior girls to a narrow two-goal victory over Girton, winning 34-32. Elle was named best on ground and was ably supported by the defensive capabilities of captain Molly Rae. There was no such close contest in the junior boys' footy, which GVGS won convincingly by 117 points with the final score being 125-8. Dylan Cox and James Butts scored five and four goals, respectively, while Huw Jones was named best on the field.

In the intermediate netball, GVGS put in another strong showing to win 38-27. Year 10 student Lucy Eishold’s consistency on the court earned her best player honours.

Girton regathered to win the senior girls’ netball, prevailing in a tough defensive match to finish 41-35. Isabella McLeod shone in a losing side being named the best player for GVGS. In the final match of the day, the senior football team was superbly led by captain/coaches Hamish Rowlands and Mitchell Cox. Again, the Pelicans triumphed with a comfortable 113-39 win. Among a team of high performers, Year 11 student Kyle Orchard took out the medal for best on ground.

Athletics success

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oulburn Valley Grammar School finished a highly successful ICCES Athletics campaign with an amazing five year-level champions and a third place overall behind Ballarat and Gippsland Grammar Schools.

The carnival was held in May at the Lakeside Stadium – Albert Park, the premium athletics venue in Victoria. “Despite the relatively small size of our student population compared to many of the ICCES-member schools, the GVGS team had very strong competitors,” Athletics coordinator Mr Shane McDonald said. “This outstanding result is a reflection of the team effort and participation of the students. Many students competed outside their area of skill and comfort to ensure events were filled. On an individual level, the effort of students was also outstanding.”

Year 12 student Janna Lawson was awarded ICCES Age Champion while Year 9 student Leia Varley set ICCES records in javelin, shot put and discus.

Other year level winners were Daniel Lawson (10), Emily Schreck (8) and Sophia Varley (7).

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Shepparton News

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ICCES athletics medal winners.

Netting a win M

embers of nine teams gave their best in the Shepparton Netball Association Saturday competition this year, with one team winning its division and five other teams making the finals.

Members of the under-15 division 2 team (Year 8 and 9) were grand-final winners, ably coached and managed by Rochelle Chadwick and Suzanne Watts. The team was made up of Rachel Thiel, Ellie Chadwick, Eliza Keady, Gabrielle Hall, Leah Ratcliffe, Larissa Watts (best and fairest), Paige Nelson, Sarah Davies and Nicole Dainton.

The under-13 team, under-15 division 1, under-15 division 3 and both division 1 and 2 of under-17 also made the finals series.

FROM TOP: Gabrielle Hall; Under -15 division 2 premiership team.

Goulburn Valley Grammar School

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RIGHT: Lauren Formica and Mandhree Ekanayake go head to head. BELOW: Season winners Girls' Open Gold team and Boys' under -15 Blue team.

Shepparton News

Soccer double

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oulburn Valley Grammar School brought home two premierships in the Shepparton Junior Soccer Association Saturday competition as part of its biggest season yet. The under-15 Blue boys’ team took on the might of Notre Dame College in its grand final. Notre Dame had only been beaten once in the season and was a clear 17 points ahead of the second-placed Blue team at the start of the finals. Despite being physically battered and bruised, and going 0-2 goals down by the 18-minute mark of the first half, Blue was able to persist and stay focused. Two goals off the sublime left foot of Teng Kuol

equalised by half time, then with about 10 minutes left to play, Jacob Watts put the mighty Blues in front. Coach Russell Ingram had done a wonderful job and was justifiably proud.

The Open Girls’ Gold team was possibly even more of a success story. Fielding as few as eight players in some games and despite being second last on the ladder before the last of the season’s games, Gold beat all comers and made it to the grand final. Gold fell behind the GVGS Blue team early in the first half and were down 1-2 at half time. Within the first few minutes of the second half, Blue was desperately unlucky

to hit the crossbar and then the right upright post in the one scramble forward. Gold managed to repel them, took the ball down field and equalised. The score stayed locked at 2-2 until full time and was still the same after extra time. It came down to a penalty shoot-out and Gold prevailed 3-2 to complete the fairytale victory. Blue had won the Premiership the previous two seasons and players were magnanimous in defeat.

Commiserations went to the GVGS Senior Boys’ Gold team, which was defeated 1-2

by Notre Dame in its grand final after a penalty went against it late in the second half.

www.gvgs.vic.edu.au

Verney Road, PO Box 757, Shepparton 3632, Victoria, Australia.

Telephone: 03 5821 8155 Facsimile: 03 5821 9337 Email: gvgs@gvgs.vic.edu.au