At Holme Issue 5 - June 2022

ATHolme Issue Five | June 2022

AT HOLME

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S PEN Pondering Resilience in Blackall Resilience - If you put the word “resilience” on a poster, it would probably be under a photo of someone climbing a mountain, fighting a forest fire, or perhaps tending to patients in a Covid ward. But, in fact, it’s the small disappointments or frustrating moments that truly build resilience (Vance, 2021).

Tuesday 7 June 2022, it is cold: Toowoomba-esque winter-cold, and I am standing at the Showgrounds in Blackall, waiting to speak to the topic of resilience, as part of a panel. It is the 51st ICPA (Isolated Country Parents’ Association) Conference, and I am conscious that I am about to speak to a group of boarder parents, past boarder parents from country towns, properties, and communities- those who live and love bush life, those for whom the practice of resilience is a feature of daily life.

These are people who depend directly on the nuances of seasons and weathers, they know intimately, what it means to manage disappointment and reframe frustrations: impostor syndrome lurks within me – what can I offer to this conversation? Standing beside me, is Fairholme parent, Joy McClymont – pocket dynamo and founder of ‘Off the track training’ – she is a walking advertisement for resilience, perseverance, and grit.

There’s Linda Hansen, Chief Operating Officer at Outback Futures, Kevin Hillebrand, a Mental Health Social Worker with the Royal Flying Doctors Service, and Dr Toby Ford, CEO Ford Health – as facilitator. I am in exceptional company.

Toby challenged the way we define resilience, or certainly the way we sometimes view it. He reminded us, that inherent in the term, is the notion of flexibility, elasticity, adaptability. Yet, we often tie resilience to stoicism, don’t we – the ability to continue with impressive persistence, despite adversity. This is OK, he noted, provided we are not doggedly stoic. It’s flexible adaptability he advocates as pure resilience, it is the behaviour we have witnessed abundantly in this season of coronavirus, where the need for change, pivoting

behaviour, and flexibility has been demanded of us, more often than at any other time in recent history. Yet dogged stoicism, the ‘but we’ve always done it this way’ mindset often loiters in our DNA. Toby views this intractable worldview as a danger to our health.

Enter media personality Seamus Evans (of ‘Totally Wild’ fame) who also addressed the ICPA Conference a few days later, as ambassador for the Tourette Syndrome Association Australia.

‘To be resilient is a back pocket card that may or may not need to be played regularly throughout one’s life, but it will need to be played – it will.’

The crux of his message was about the value of flexible adaptability in the face of adversity. Humorously and also poignantly, Seamus shared his own story of managing neurodiversity through his life and particularly throughout his adolescent and young adult life, where he courageously turned this perceived flaw into his superpower. His mantra, in the most difficult of circumstances, has been- just one more step. Keep going. Do not give up. Eat that elephant one bite a time…

His presentation was a reminder that another important factor in achieving successful resilience is to know our destination. Seamus asked, what’s the point in bouncing back, if we don’t know where we are headed.

AT HOLME FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S PEN Continued...

Yes, it may seem that resilience is an over-used, hackneyed term, or one that has been given too much media focus. Yet, as a skill, its value sits high above an ATAR, a swathe of certificates or success on the sporting field. To be resilient is a back pocket card that may or may not need to be played regularly throughout one’s life, but it will need to be played – it will. Of course, the way we learn resilience comes from many sources – including our first and most important teachers: our parents.

when we allow our children to flounder, fall, adapt, and rebound. We do know that our own example is the most powerful tool in either nurturing or curtailing its development.

‘A parent’s resilience serves as a template for a child to see how to deal with challenges, how to understand their own emotions,’ (Siegel cited in Popek, 2018). How do we, as adults, demonstrate resilience in our own daily living? Importantly, how do we respond when our children struggle to self-regulate when faced with adversity or difficulty?

The back pocket card of resilience needs to be available to be played, because it will need to be played, for some – if we consider Seamus Evans, on a daily basis. Ultimately, the ideal would be that our children (and us) have the skills to reimagine our flaws as superpowers.

I once listened to Sports Psychologist, Dr Joann Lukins, share an occasion where a team she was mentoring, lost an important match, in the dying seconds. What did she say to them, what were her magic words, the audience wondered? ‘I said nothing,’ she told us.

In her view, at that moment, there was simply nothing to say that would be helpful. Perspective comes with time, but not two minutes after disappointment. We need time and the dignity of space in order to digest disappointment; if we are resilient, we will bounce back. There is no gene for resilience, therefore, in the nature versus nurture debate, it’s all about nurture. Thus, in not wanting to steal our children’s need to confront and negotiate disappointment, Lukins’ advice is noteworthy. Give space. Give time. Don’t over-talk.

Model self-regulation and hence the first step towards responsive resilience.

Whilst ‘one of the great skills of parenting is knowing how to challenge, when to challenge, how much to challenge’ (Masten, cited in Vance, 2021), we do know that resilience is best developed

Our children’s resilience is not best represented in posters about mountain climbing or firefighting. It is best evidenced in small ways that cumulatively build a flexible adaptive worldview and allow them to recover from hurt, pain and disappointment without our intervention or over-soothing behaviours.

Just one more step. Keep going. Do not give up. Eat that elephant one bite a time…

Dr Linda Evans | Principal

REFERENCES Popek, E. (2018). ‘To Raise Resilient Kids, Be a Resilient Parent.’

The New York Times. March 28, 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2022 https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/28/well/family/to-raiseresilient-kids-be-a-resilient-parent.html Vance, E. (2022). ‘The Secret to Raising a Resilient Kid.’ The New York Times. Sept. 14, 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2022 https:// www.nytimes.com/2021/09/01/parenting/raising-resilient-kids. html

AT HOLME

Painting a bright future ‘I have always been drawing – ever since I was first able to hold a pen I have been immersed in artistic impression.’

Year 12 student, Sarah McMaster, always knew she was going to be an artist. From drawing on kindy paper to practising techniques passed down from her art teachers, she soon discovered her passion for life-like imagery.

‘Impressionism typically captures movement really well and I always strive to use aspects of it in my own work,’ Sarah said.

Sarah has already enjoyed some highlights over her short journey as an artist including ‘Most Promising’ prize at the 2022 FACETS Art Exhibition.

Adding to the excitement of the award, her watercolour of Toowoomba’s Japanese Gardens was among the many pieces that sold, and she said she couldn’t have been more excited.

‘I was overjoyed that someone would appreciate the artwork that I had spent so much time trying to perfect.

The entire experience was exciting and was really rewarding to receive so much positive feedback.’

The Visual Arts Captain is just five months shy of finishing at Fairholme College, and says she hopes to combine her love of art with psychology.

‘I plan on studying visual art and psychology at university. While I’m not entirely sure what I want to

do with my future, I know I want to do something that allows me to be creative and help others.’

While Sarah isn’t focusing on any future exhibitions at the moment, she says she’s been enjoying painting pet portraits for her friends.

‘I’ve also been working on building up my portfolio for the future, but for now I’ve had so much fun seeing the joy on my friends faces when I give them a portrait of their four-legged friend.’

And as for what she’ll miss most about Fairholme...? ‘Most definitely the friendships, the acceptance and the encouraging culture of Fairholme and being able to see my peers and close friends every day.’

8 Years Madison Conwell - First Ella Pauli - Second Charlotte Lazell - Third 9 Years Elizabeth Riddle - First Evie Brassington - Second Ava Farr - Third 10 Years Lucy Barnes - First Lily Gipps - Second Maddie Moore - Third

Junior Athletics Fairholme Old Girls Association Relay Trophy Black House and Powell House Paul Cotterell Field Events Champion Trophy Lola Marjoribanks

Brownlie House Trophy

Black House 692 points Powell House 570 points Cameron House 517 points Stephens House 494 Points

11 Years Lola Marjoribanks - First Nethuli Weerasooriya - Second Nisali Weerasooriya - Third 12 Years Tongyu Zhang - First Josie Ostwald - Second Greer Goodger - Third

In the limelight

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On Saturday evening, 11 June, the Arts Department held their biennial ‘Limelight Concert’, showcasing our amazing plethora of talented students at Fairholme.

A wonderful audience of more than 150 guests enjoyed an exciting program that included over 110 students in an array of dance, drama and musical performances as well as a visual arts presentation.

The evening was hosted by our Prefect of The Arts, Eliza Kingston (Instrumental Music) and her wonderful team of Arts Captains, Charli Cumming (Dance), Yalnaz Wahab (Debating) Cosme McPhie (Drama), Skye Bleney (Choral Music), Mahsa Nabizada (Public Speaking), Quinn Procter (Sound & Lighting) and Sarah McMaster (Visual Art).

All 21 performance items included in this year’s Limelight program were highly polished, extremely entertaining and contributed immensely to the resounding success of the

evening’s concert.

An event such as this requires significant teamwork from all involved and I wish to acknowledge the dedicated Arts staff, who assisted in the preparation of items, rehearsals, conducting, accompanying and stage management on the night, including Mrs Katrina Bailey, Mr Andrew Burow, Mr Morgan Chalmers, Mrs Brooke Choice, Mr Alexander Dixon, Ms Pamela Duane, Mrs Elizabeth Egan, Mr Andrew Egan, Mr Rod Egerton, Mrs Fiona Hamill, Mrs Natalie Rawle and Ms Karen Wighton In addition, I would also like to acknowledge the kind assistance from Mrs Claire Bourke, Ms Emily Young, Mr Chau Chuc, Mr Brian Schmaker, Mr Paul Corkery and the Kitchen staff, the Facilities Gentlemen and Mr John Sessarago for photographing the event; SOFA members, Mrs Viv McCollum, Mrs Elissa Dowling, Mr Darren Lewis and Mrs Sue Anderson for their kind assistance on the night; and the members of the

Sound & Lighting Crew for their technical work behind the scenes.

On behalf of The Arts Staff, I wish to congratulate everyone who contributed to the success of this concert. Feedback from the evening has been wonderful…

‘Congratulations for last night’s lovely evening of entertainment at the Limelight concert. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening highlighting the diverse talents within the Fairholme Arts community.’

‘Thank you for the time and effort that the many Fairholme staff & SOFA members put into making this a wonderful success.’

Congratulations on a well-organized and beautifully presented concert event. Showcased the diversity of the Arts so well.

Karen Hayward | Head of The Arts

AT HOLME

AT HOLME It’s been a big week for our Fairholme Mooting team. Two Fairholme teams competed against 96 other teams in the Bond University Virtual National High School Mooting Competition.

Skye Bleney, Katie Stevenson and Amelie Clifford made up the first team while Monika Bruggemann and Eva Quinlan were the duo team.

But exactly is a ‘Moot’?

According to Katrina Maher, Head of Department Business, a Moot is a legal argument based on a prescribed set of facts – the Moot problem.

IT’S A MOOT point MOOT /mu:t/ adjective, verb 1. subject to debate, dispute or uncertainty.

2. raise (a question or topic) for discussion; suggest (an idea or possibility)

‘Mooting is designed to give an insight into the operation of the legal system and to simulate as closely as possible the operation of a real court.’

Ms Maher said participants are given the facts and the relevant law is provided to them. Students must explain the relevant legal principles, illustrate the application of those legal principles to the facts and convince the court your client should succeed.

‘So, Monika and Eva were the ‘Barristers’ advocating on behalf of the Prosecution in front of a judge.

‘There is a Moot problem (our case) and the girls provide the relevant pieces/sections of legislation and ‘real’ cases that apply to the facts of the Moot problem,’ Ms Maher explained.

The Fairholme duo team (Monika and Eva) progressed to the Top 10 (final round) while Eva also received an ‘Honourable Mention for Advocacy’ in the preliminary round. Well done, girls!

Sporting successes

Toowoomba Secondary School Sport and Darling Downs Cross Country Championships

The Fairholme Cross Country Team performed extremely well on a wet and muddy course. In the Secondary Team (best four runners) competition, Fairholme won all six age groups and were then ultimately declared Overall Champion Girls School.

Top six in age groups included: 13yrs – Abigail Barnes (1st), Imogen Allen (5th), Georgia Brassington (6th); 14yrs – Julia Wainwright (3rd), Rose Ramia (4th), Evie Armstrong (5th); 15yrs – Mackenzi Schefe (1st), Abbie Lord (5th); 16yrs – Laura Patterson (5th), Amelia Ramia (6th); 17yrs – Emerson Hamblin (3rd); 18yrs Bronte Lane (1st), Monika Bruggemann (3rd), Libby Clark (5th).

School Championships, with top six finishes going to 12yrs - Addi Attrill (3rd) and 10yrs – Lucy Barnes (1st). Great runs by all our girls and both selected in the Downs Darling 10-12yrs team.

Darling Downs Vicki Wilson Regional Finals Despite the windy and freezing conditions, our netballers put on a strong performance at the Darling Downs Vicki Wilson carnival last week.

All 12 students have been invited into the Darling Downs Secondary School Sport team to compete at the State Championships early next term.

Our Junior 1 team won their final against St Joseph’s College, while our Senior 1 team lost the final against Downlands College. Both teams will go through to the State Championships, to be played in August. Congratulations also to our Junior 2 team who also made it to the finals and won against The Glennie School and our Senior 2 team played with true Fairholme spirit all day to finish third in their pool.

We had five Fairholme girls compete in the Darling Downs Primary

Great work to all the girls and their coaches!

This month in sport

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State versus state

The Boarders enjoyed pizza and friendly rivalry last week as the blue and maroon fought it out in the first game of the State of Origin!

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Year 8 mother daughter

Holidaygood reading guide

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The Thursday Murder Club | by Richard Osman

Still Life | by Sarah Winman

Audience: Adult can be read by 12+ although interest level in elderly protagonists may not be appealing

Audience: Adult

Have you ever wondered what you would do if you lived in a retirement village?

Coopers Chase retirement village residents Elizabeth, Ron, Ibrahim and retired DCI Penny Gray, in order to stave off boredom, had formed the ‘Thursday Murder Club’ with the aim of solving cold cases. However, when the novel begins, Penny has been moved to the Willows, the high care nursing section, as she has advanced dementia.

final book as I really disliked what she did to her main character in the final book.

Slow-paced saga following a collection of English people who have loose connections to Florence.

Numerous references to Room With A View. A meandering read that took me a while to get into due to the range of characters, and lack of plot development – definitely character driven and for those who would prefer to be in Tuscany…isn’t that most of us?

So, we initially meet Elizabeth asking fellow resident Joyce, also a retired nurse, her opinion about the length of time it would take for a person to bleed to death from a particular knife wound.

From this discussion, Joyce is hooked and fills Penny’s vacancy in the ‘Thursday Murder Club’.

A real murder presents itself to the delighted Murder Club members, and the plot rivals British TV show Midsomer Murders with its twists and turns, and a plethora of potentially guilty suspects.

Despite the potentially bleak plot premise and numerous deaths there is a humorous-undercurrent, and a subplot about the importance of keeping friends and interests/hobbies.

The wonderful message seems to be that just because these elderly people have moved into a retirement village, they have not left behind the skills of their working lives and their desire to problemsolve. Definitely follow it up with Osman’s second book The Man Who Died Twice.

The Good Girl’s Guide To Murder | by Holly Jackson Audience: YA 13+ This series will appeal to fans of Karen McManus books such as One of Us is Lying. However, this trilogy is a true series, and the books must be read in order.

Congratulations

Pippa Fitz-Amobi decides to research a murdersuicide from five years ago in her hometown to explore the role of the media. In doing so she uncovers that the murder suicide was actually a double murder and the killer is still out in the community.

My personal suggestion is to only read the first two books, which are excellent and engaging for murder mystery fans, and leave the

Congratulations to three of our drama students, Ruva Maphosa, Cosme McPhee and Rachel Yap who were successful in their audition for the Empire Theatre’s Senior IMPACT Ensemble.

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OLD GIRLS new committee

Giving Back

You can help a future Fairholme girl by financially supporting a scholarship, or simply providing funds for a uniform, a new schoolbag or her first Panama.

Fairholme Old Girls Association Special Fund: BSB:638-080 Account No: 700398S24

We are excited to introduce our newly-elected Fairholme Old Girl Association (FOGA) Committee for 2022!

We welcome President Sarah Jane Macdonald, Vice President Rebecca Vonhoff, Secretary Georgia Soutar, Treasurer Naomi Aird and Patroness Marie Cameron. Sarah Jane (FOG 2010), a lawyer with Macdonald Law, already has great plans for FOGA including networking events, mentorship programs and Old Girl Reunions.

‘It’s about connecting our past with the present and engaging old girls and new in a vibrant space.

We are so grateful to the outgoing committee for their work, commitment and dedication in safeguarding the history and relevance of FOGA. I am looking forward to continuing to strengthen the bonds of Fairholme Old Girls. Once a Fairholme girl, always a Fairholme girl.’

Upcomingevents Term 3 Commences 12 July Founders’ Day 15 July MS & SS Athletics Carnival 22 July Fairholme Fathers’ Dinner 22 July Be A Fairholme Girl For a Day 2 Aug

Kindy/Prep Kid For a Morning 12 Aug Pupil Free Day (TBC) 2 Sept Term 3 Concludes 15 Sept Fairholme Fashion Week 17-22 Oct Spring Fair 22 Oct

in the diary

Fairholme College Spring Fair - Saturday October 22, 2022

Why not consider a Spring Fair sponsorship? This opportunity not only affords excellent exposure for your business, but a great financial benefit to the school’s P&F Association - funds raised go directly back into our girls’ education and facilities.

If you would like to take advantage of one of our sponsorship packages, contact our Spring Fair Sponsorship Co Ordinator Pam Brown at springfair@ fairholme.qld.edu.au FAIRHOLME COLLEGE | Wirra Wirra Street Toowoomba | (07) 4688 4688 | communications@fairholme.qld.edu.au