Stories of Howqua Memories from our most recent Howquarians

“Even though it had a few difficult challenges along the way, that’s what made it special and exciting. At first, I didn’t think I would be able to do any of those crazy things, like 18km up a mountain. But, after going through that year, turns out it was possible, and I did it.”

~ Ellie, Year 10 (Gillespie 2022)

“On the last night of Howqua, we had all pulled out our sleeping setups for the last time with our closest friends. We had saved weeks of nightos and arvos for a big feast. We remembered all our favourite memories we had shared and cried when the feeling of realisation hit that this was our last night together.”

~ Jiah, Year 10 (Cramond 2022)

“On our six-day hike, our route was changed due to severe weather. This meant that on the last day, we walked up Reception Hill onto campus. It was very exciting and rewarding to walk up Reception Hill for the last time with my six-day group.”

~ Alice, Year 10 (Gillespie 2022)

“The tension in the air when they announced we were going home for the second time [due to lockdowns], a moment that I realised everyone truly had become a community - we all cried together.”

~ Grace, Year 12 (Kirkpatrick 2020)

“Term 3 was the best term, I learnt both downhill skiing and cross-country skiing. The Falls Creek trip at the end of term 3 was a fun experience, the view was amazing, and we went on night skis.”

~ Cindy, Year 10 (Kirkpatrick 2022)

“My favourite Howqua memory was at the very end of the Buller to Stirling 17-km run, catching my breath at the summit of Mt Buller looking out at all the mountains that I know so well now, mountains I climbed and reflecting on the memories I made climbing them. It was the perfect goodbye to my year.”

~ Harriet, Year 11 (Cramond 2021)

“I remember on my first day of the three-day [hike], my group had just summited Mt Cobbler. It was a clear day, and we could see what felt like everything around us. We could see where we had come from and where we were going to end up. The plan was to have a quick lunch and then keep moving on, but we stayed up there for hours. Zoe had bought her ukulele with her, and we all sat in a circle singing songs and talking about what we had planned for the hike. It felt perfect, the year was coming to a close and it was a time that allowed me to reflect on the year.”

“As circumstances regarding the Covid-19 pandemic worsened throughout the year, our school decided that in order to maximise our Howqua experience and evade the risk that we would go home and be unable to return, we would stay up there for the full 10 weeks of Term 4, and not go home for the mid-term exeat. Despite missing our families, I think we all had a great time during Term 4. I personally loved all the exeat activities the teachers organised for us (treasure hunts, a coffee cart, beeswax wrap making), and being up there with all my friends felt like a holiday — we blocked off all the windows in the house with paper to make full use of the sleep-ins. I think that this was such a special and unique experience, providing us with extra fun and more challenges to grapple with. I wouldn’t change anything, even if I could.”