‘Time Dims Not Their Sacrifice’

Over the past month, the Anzac legend has been revived in vivid documentaries on TV, colourful posters on billboards and moving spreads in magazines and newspapers. As the nation stopped to commemorate those who gave the ultimate sacrifice on Saturday 25 April, and watched the live broadcast from Anzac Cove, the promise was fulfilled that 100 years on, we did remember them.

At 8:45 AM Wednesday 29 April, it was Newington’s turn to commemorate The Fallen. With 111 former staff and students who did not return from the War, this year’s parade was going to be a special one. Beautifully crafted banners featuring Newington’s Fallen boarded the driveway and Johnson Oval, and rows of white wooden crosses with names of the 111 brave soldiers line the lawn under the Lone Pine near Sevington. Old Boys, parents and family members of Newington’s Fallen arrived at the College just as Year 7 boys began handing out sprigs of rosemary and the Newington College Cadet Corps (NCCU) took their position on Johnson Oval.

The full College including Wyvern’s older boys sat on the banks of the oval as the NCCU marched on and the Parade began. This year, we welcomed a reformed Cadet Band that has not performed in nearly 40 years, and musicians from the Pipe and Drum band from PLC Sydney at Croydon.

After the Last Post sounded and the crowd took a minutes silence to pay respect to the dead, representatives from the College Council, Old Newingtonians’ Union, each Campus, and descendants of The Fallen laid wreaths at the Memorial of the Dead.

Guests and boys were then guided towards Centenary Hall for a Commemorative Service. During the service, Rev Williams delivered a homily that drew on the mixed emotions of madness, unexpected triumph and unifying power of the Gallipoli campaign. Year 9 student Lachlan McIntyre read “To our beloved dead”, a reverie written by Leslie Holdsworth Allen in 1921 about the Memorial to the Dead in the College gardens. Year 8 student Euan McKenzie, recently returned from attending the Anzac Day Ceremony in Gallipoli, also spoke about Gallipoli. He recounted the extraordinary pilgrimage that thousands make each year, but also the decency of the Turks who enable so many Australian and New Zealanders to visit and pay their respects after they too, had suffered enormous casualties on the same battlefield.

The stage lights then dimmed for the Roll of the Fallen, before a rousing rendition of Dear Newingtonia was sung from all in the Hall.

At the conclusion of the Service, while boys and teachers resumed class, a poppy ceremony took place for descendants of The Fallen in the vestibule of the Founders Building. There resides the College’s Roll of Honour for the First World War, listing Old Newingtonians who served and those who fell. The College’s Roll of Honour acts as a memorial like so many others that exist in schools and towns across Australia to honour their service and in remembrance of their sacrifice.

Time dims not their sacrifice. Lest we forget.

Meet our new Head of Lindfield

New Head of Lindfield Mr Ben Barrington-Higgs was officially welcomed on Friday, 24 April at a morning assembly held at Lindfield Prep. Standing among the crowd of excited Lindfield boys and staff members were a handful of men and women who had contributed to Mr Barrington-Higgs own professional journey, including a representative of the Headmaster of Trinity Grammar from Ben’s schoolboy days, and the Headmaster of Shore School in North Sydney where he spent early years in his teaching career.

Mr Barrington-Higgs comes to Lindfield Prep having recently been the Head of Primary at Yayasan Pendidikan Jayawijaya School in Indonesia – an IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) school. Following on with the tradition of having great IB educators at Lindfield, Mr Barrington-Higgs is an accredited PYP workshop leader. Below, is the speech he gave at his Commissioning.

I would like to thank everyone for being here today, Dr Mulford, Rev Morphew, Mr Isiais, our distinguished guests, Newington staff, parents and boys. I would especially like to thank Gabe and Mrs Ashworth for their kinds words, you have made me feel very welcome. In fact, I have felt nothing but warmth from the staff, parents and of course our amazing boys here at Lindfield over the last three weeks.

Discover what’s Possible – that was the first statement I read when I looked into Newington College last October.

The phrase Discover what’s Possible is how Newington describes its approach to boys’ education.

This phrase said to me that Newington is a school that actively challenges the boundaries, actively imagines and re-imagines education to enable Newington boys to meet the complex paradigms of our time.

So what have I discovered in my short time at Newington?

Newington is a school with high expectations for its boys, staff and parents. We are a Uniting Church school and we aim to develop a dynamic, personal relationship with God which we live out through acts of justice, compassion, courage and kindness.

This resonates with me as issues of social justice and civic engagement are very important as I have lived a lot of my life in a region of the world where there was often the absence of justice, the absence of equality and the absence of societal care for the less fortunate.

What else have I discovered?

I have been going around meeting and talking with the boys and finding out what it is that is important to them and it seems we like sport. We seem to successfully train, play and enjoy Rugby, Cricket, Soccer, Basketball, Swimming, tiddly winks you name it we play it, and I have also discovered that we have a love for music, the arts, family and our close school community.

I have discovered we are an inclusive school. We accept boys from all faiths, all cultures and all backgrounds. We want to make a difference in the lives of our boys and the lives of those people Newington boys will engage with as members of this great Australian society.

I have already discovered a lot.

It is my role as Head of Lindfield to provide an exceptional education for our boys, to equip them for whatever future they envision, so they actively contribute to the creation of a better, more just society and it is my role to ensure that each and every one of you boys has the confidence to ‘Discover what is Possible’, for yourselves, throughout your lives.

Thank you very much.

Mr Benjamin Barrington-Higgs
Head of Lindfield

Meaning out of Disaster

What a week or two of ANZAC commemorations on all three of our campuses it has been? I was so proud of the way our boys and young men honoured The Fallen, and those who have served their countries over the years gone by. Particularly at the senior campus we focused on our own Fallen from the First World War – 111 students and staff who gave the ultimate gift for their country.

It is most fitting that we do give significant focus on the centennial of the beginning of the ANZAC Legend, which of course was the landing of Australian and New Zealand troops on Turkish soil at Anzac Cove in 1915.

There is nothing to celebrate, or boast about, when it comes to the Gallipoli campaign by British troops (of which New Zealand and Australia were a part). This was basically a defeat at the hands of the Turkish defenders who lost 87,000 of their own men, compared with Australia’s 9,141 and New Zealand’s 2,799 (the other Allied countries saw 33,000 dead). Even the fleeting success of gaining Chunuk Bair and the Lone Pine Hill were quickly extinguished by a persistent and courageous Turkish counter-offensive and by the end of December 1915 the Allied Troops left the Dardanelle Peninsula once and for all.

As is true with individual life, so it is true of corporate, community and national life – often our tragedies, and tough times, become our greatest growth points and our most significant learning experiences.

For us in the Newington community we learn to value our past, even the sadder moments and the tragic circumstances and we treasure our history. What we do focus on, and rightly celebrate is the selfless sacrifice of so many and this adds a great strength of worth to embracing qualities of courage, endurance, resilience and altruism. May such character traits be forever encouraged in our boys as they grow into young men who hopefully will go out into this world as contributing and selfless citizens, and as the writer to the Hebrews puts it in our Holy Scriptures:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12: 1- 3)

Rev David Williams
College Chaplain

Junior and Senior Concerto Competition

Senior Concerto Competition

The Senior Concerto Competition was held last week in Prescott Hall. Resident Concertmaster of the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra Matthew Bruce (ON1987) adjudicated the event. The Hall was packed, with an array of highly talented musicians battling it out for the top position. Supported by a fan base of family, friends and teachers, the five finalists were:

Victor Dai (12/FL)
Alvin Song (12/PR)
Jeremy Sreejayan (12/KL)
Jeremi Campese (11/MA) and
Ari Volovelsky (10/ME)

In the end, Jeremy Sreejeyana (12/KL) won with a virtuosic four mallet display on the Marimba. He played Concerto for Marimba and String Orchestra by Sejourne.

Junior Concerto Competition

The Junior Concerto Competition was held a couple of days later, on Monday, 4 May and again Prescott Hall filled up with anxious musicians and devoted family and friends. Andrew Wang (10/FL) was the winner the night, taking out the top prize after playing the Third Movement of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor. Australian Percussionist Claire Edwards was the adjudicator at this event awarding highly commended prizes to:

Andrew Xie (8/PR)
Angellos Korsanos (8/FL)
Gabriel Haslam (8/KL) and
Nico Maclean (9/KL)

Congratulations to all the contestants in both competitions. Until next year!

Dr Luke Gilmour
Director of Bands

Irish Football Legend Damien Duff visits Newington

Newington College was the very happy beneficiary of a visiting sporting legend, former representative of Ireland Centurion and Chelsea Premier League winning star, Damien Duff, crutches and all. Damien took time off to call into Stanmore to speak to the Talented Athletes Support Program (TASP) boys and 1st and 2nd XI Football teams at a specially convened Q & A event in the Function Room last Wednesday. Damien also met a number of additional staff members and students as he toured the College campus. He was extremely impressed with the boys’ attitude and behaviour as well as the magnificent layout of Newington College.

Damien was born in Ballyboden, County Dublin and was signed by Blackburn Rovers at age 16. His early potential quickly manifested itself in England and superlatives about this young genius abounded as he made his first team debut at 17 years old, lighting up stadiums throughout England and was very favourably compared to a certain Ryan Giggs – he of 13 record breaking Premier League medals. Damien also catapulted into the upper echelons of international Football as he was star player in Ireland’s sensational third place finish in the U20 World Cup in Malaysia. Consequently, he was voted into the Team of the Tournament. At 19 years old, Damien had a steady career in the Senior International level and he continued to have an absolutely dazzling career with the “boys in green” as he reached the staggering total of 100 caps for his country, including appearances at the finals of the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea, and the European Championship finals in 2012 in Poland / Ukraine.

Damien won the League Cup with Blackburn and helped them to finish sixth in the Premier League qualifying for the UEFA Europa League trophy. Chelsea seized the opportunity to sign the most coveted winger in England when they paid him 17 million pounds in 2004. When Jose Mourinho became Chelsea manager, Duff and Arjen Robben became the most feared attacking cocktail in the Premier League as the blues won back-to-back Premiership titles. Mourinho’s admiration for Duff was public and generous.

Later Damien moved to Newcastle United and then to Fulham where he enjoyed a very successful career reaching the Europa League Final. He enjoyed great rapport with the London-based fans, being voted Player of the Year on a couple of occasions – an achievement bestowed on him at Blackburn Rovers.

Damien is currently finishing his career with Melbourne City, a season cut short from injury. With a career total of 612 matches, mostly at top premier and international levels, and with 82 goals to his name, it was his ability to literally tear opposing defences apart with his scintillating blend of pace, deception and coruscating changes of direction and inch-perfect crosses. In this department he had few peers and he created many goals and opportunities for teammates.

Damien was a fantastic role model for young boys and sportsmen. His attention to detail with his lifestyle, diet, nutrition and rest was ahead of his time. His training standards and application standards in preparation always singled him out as a match winner and a game changer. His public persona has always been of humility – “his feet have always done his talking”. He has a beautiful wife, Elaine (from Bray) and two lovely children, Woody and Darcy.

His determination to come to Newington College despite being based in Melbourne simply underlined his character and his loyalty. All of his ex-team mates speak glowingly of the player known throughout Ireland as simply “Duffer”.

The reaction from the boys since the visit has been powerful and many were struck by Damien’s lack of ego and his friendly disposition. A real reminder to all our aspiring athletes that success is reflected in your off-field lifestyle as well as your on-pitch performances.

On a personal level it has been a great honour for me to work with Damien at international level for 12 years. Being the Performance Analyst of the Irish International Team has given me a unique insight and experience into top class players, teams and managers. Damien will always be a star for me. He had the ability to light up a ground anywhere in the world and get people off their feet. Only the greatest have that extraordinary capacity.

A final measure of the man was his appreciation and respect for other people and cultures, demonstrated in iconic fashion with his bow to the Japanese people when he scored in the 2002 World Cup finals in Japan. He garnered a whole generation of Japanese fans from that single moment, showing the true class which always earmarked him as the exception not the rule.

Mr Brian McCarthy
Director of Football

One World, One Talk – WonTok Conference 2015

At the end of Term 1, a handful of Year 11 boys took part in the annual WonTok Conference hosted by Abbotsleigh. Led by College Chaplain Rev David Williams, our boys sat alongside peers from five other schools to participate in an open and free discussion on issues relating to world poverty.

Participant Marco Stocca (11/LE) said that the name of the conference was taken from Papua New Guinean pidgin to mean “one talk” and “one world” was a good reminder of the reason they were there.

“There were many discussions and games, which helped us understand the problems [occurring as a result of world poverty].”

“We were also very fortunate to have special guests from the Philippines, to share their experiences,” said Nicholas Adgemis (11/JN).

Year 11 student Callum Lowe-Griffith (11/PR) said the question and answer sessions with people who had been directly affected by poverty were eye-opening and refreshing.

“I believe everyone had a great time talking about the harsh truths of poverty and getting to know how we can help people in need overseas.”

However, at the core of the WonTok Conference is the development of empathy for those who we don’t know and who live far away according to Jack Ryan (11/KL).

“A number of activities illustrated the everyday struggles of those in poverty which led us to the conclusion that solutions can be effective only through self-determination, not an imposition of values on a community,” he said.

Self-determination and access to agency became a greater topic of discussion as the groups moved out of defining and identifying poverty to trying to come up with solutions as to how it can be reduced.

“In short throwing money at a problem will do little to fix it” said Alex Barrat (11/JN). “Infrastructure and education planned in conjunction with the affected communities are the two keys to reducing global poverty. It’s the classic story of how giving a man a fish is not as worthwhile as teaching a mean how to fish.”

Having basic facilities such as clean toilets goes hand in hand with self-empowerment. “They are a key in the push to get more young girls through school and into meaningful positions in society,” continues Alex Barrat.

“The lack of toilets, although it may seem trivial, is a major reason for girls not attending school,” he said.

Overall, the day was both productive and challenging. Elliot Ulm (11/LE) said. “Learning about the different issues occurring around us everyday made myself, and others involved in the conference, more aware of how grateful we should be, as well as inspiring us to make a positive impact towards those who are in need.”

Jack Jacobs (11/FL) agreed and said, “this unique event delivered an inspiring and emotive insight into the Global Poverty issues that grip our world, and simultaneously encouraged Year 11 boys to take the initiative to realise their upcoming role in this issue.”

Carpe Noctem – Year 11 Latin Boys at Classics Dinner

On Thursday, 26 March eight Year 11 Latin students attended the Classics Dinner held at St Ignatius’ College, Riverview. Dressed as Romans, they ate a three course dinner and mingled with Latinists from other schools. Prizes were awarded for the best fancy dress as well as the winner of the Classical Quiz. Thankfully, no slaves were poisoned and senators and soldiers alike made it home safely despite distraction from the muses of PLC School and the goddesses of Ravenswood School for Girls.

Many thanks to all the boys for attending. A great night was had by all!

Mr Mark Chambers
Latin Teacher

Lewis Ulm (11/LE) on the benefits of Peer Support

Peer Support is a great school initiative that allows an easier entry into high school for Year 7 boys, while also giving Year 11 students the chance to undergo training for the program. For the program, nine boys are selected per House to become leaders of Peer Support groups consisting of Year 7s from the same House group.

During Term 1, groups discussed several issues and strategies that can be employed in regards to starting high school and life in general. Some of these topics included resilience, empathy and problem solving. Personally as a group leader, it was truly special to watch the confidence, values and friendships of the boys build and grow, and it was definitely a beneficial experience for my group, my co-leaders and myself.

Lewis Ulm (11/LE)
Peer Support Leader

Mettle Tested and They Came Home Shining

Over the Term 1 holiday period Newington boys Makuach Maluach (11/FL) (NSW County) and Grant Anticevich (11/KL) (NSW Metro) were in Ballarat, Victoria battling the other States and Territories for the right to call themselves Australian Under 18 Mens Basketball Champions.

With each boy’s team suffering only one loss throughout the tournament, they found themselves head-to-head in the Gold medal game. In a grueling battle, NSW Country were able to break away late in the contest to record a 82 – 66 victory and claim the title of National Champion. Newington Basketball congratulates both boys on their outstanding efforts. We certainly like the look of those Gold and Silver medals!

Mr Rex Nottage
Director of Basketball

Year 8 take care of Business and raise money for Vanuatu

As part of Year 8 Business, students were set a “Mind your own Business” Team challenge. The boys were placed in randomly selected groups and were set the task of developing a product or service to be sold in the playground during lunchtime in the final week of Term 1.

Each enterprise was expected to develop a sound business plan, produce and market their product or service and then submit business accounts and records.

The enterprises included sausage sizzles, snow cones, cake stalls and pass the ball competitions. The activity provided practical experience in running a business to complement the theory covered in class.

Each year the profits from projects like these are given to a charity chosen by the students. This year, the boys raised a total of over $1,700, which they decided to hand over to the College Chapel to be distributed to the Red Cross Cyclone Pam Vanuatu Appeal.

Well done to the boys for combining their entrepreneurial skills with the Service Learning principles of the school!

Mr Stephen Roberts
Business Studies Teacher

Euan McKenzie’s (8/JN) prilgrimage to Anzac Cove

Speech given by Year 8 student Euan McKenzie at the Newington College Centenary Anzac Service on Wednesday 29 April 2015. Euan and his mother Rosalind had the opportunity to attend the Centenary of Anzac Day Dawn Service in Gallipoli on 25 April 2015 in Turkey.

Lest we forget. It’s clear that we don’t. I was privileged to be one of over 10,000 Australians and New Zealanders in attendance at the Dawn Service at Anzac Cove last weekend.

I was invited because my great great uncle Joe Pestell fought at Gallipoli . Great, great uncle. That makes him sound like an old man and yet he was the same age as the Year 12 before me. If it had been the 21st Century Joe would have done his HSC, done schoolies, been accepted to do Law at Sydney uni and started studying. Instead it was 1915 and he was one of the first to join as an Australian soldier.

I know many of you have ancestors and family who have suffered or fought in wars. My experience reinforces to me that your family stories are precious. Sitting at Anzac Cove, looking up at the impossible cliffs that the soldiers had to climb, I had a realisation. Our ancestor legends are like the Dreaming of the Aborigines. I understand connection to land. Anzac Cove is our sacred place. Anzac Cove is our place of pilgrimage.

Another fact that surprised me was how many people recognised the Newington uniform. I wore it proudly to represent my school at both the Dawn and Lone Pine services and it amazed me how many people came up to me to shake my hand. Indeed Major General Mark Kelly who delivered the Lone Pine service spoke to me warmly of Newington.

Finally, the night before the service I was in my hotel watching tv and saw an ad that that showed a long shot of thousands of white grave stones. The words came up on the screen, Gallipoli 100. I realised it was a presentation to commemorate the Turkish involvement in the Gallipoli campaign. This reminded me that the 25 April was not just about us but the Turks who have their own family histories of bravery and loss. New Zealand lost 2,500 soldiers, Australian lost over 8,000 men, but few will be aware that the Turks lost over 85,000 troops.

This makes it all the more impressive that the Republic of Turkey allow Australians to revere Anzac Cove as a sacred place.

To be at a Dawn service anywhere is moving. To be at Anzac Cove for the centenary of the landing was a special privilege. We will remember them. Lest we Forget.

Euan McKenzie (8/JN)
Student

Anzac Centenary Homily

The College Chaplain Rev David Williams gave a moving homily at the Newington College Centenary of Anzac Memorial service last week to a crowded audience of Newington boys, parents, Old Boys and family descendants of The Fallen 111 in Centenary Hall.

One hundred years ago, on the 25th of April, 1915, the day dawned fine and clear. The first wave of Australians landed on the beach at Gallipoli and fought their way through scrub and gullies up the ridges of Anzac Cove.

The New Zealand soldiers, waiting their turn on landing-craft, were unstinting in their praise of the Australian advance: as a Kiwi Sergeant wrote; “There were no orders, no proper military ‘team work’, no instructions, just absolute heroism.”

It was late morning when the first New Zealanders began to land, into a scene of upturned boats, scattered gear, and dead men littering the beach. A private with the Canterbury infantry wrote in his dairy, “the noise was terrible, one continuous roar of rifle and shellfire mingled with the cries of the wounded and dying.”

Now 100 years later, we ponder the tragic absurdity of Gallipoli – the Anzacs being sent into a war zone, not knowing why they were going; just that they were ordered to be there by their generals, ordered to land on Turkish soil.

A tragic irony that would eventuate, after all the turmoil and suffering on both sides, was to see the enemy become a friend and brother. Even during conflict there are many stories of kindness and friendship being exchanged between Young Turks and the Anzacs. One of the moments that stood out for me from our Remembrance presentation just now, is that picture of an Australian soldier kneeling in the mud to give a wounded Turkish soldier a drink of water. That scene is so much a symbol of how the warring sides over the years have become united in a bond that flourishes to this day. What crazy madness, full of contradictions and unanswered questions – waste and misery and defeat.

And yet to this day – the 25th of April, and that particular battle at Gallipoli will stand forever, etched in Australian and New Zealand history, and in so many ways has forged our identity and character as nations.

It is a day, where from defeat there is a victory, and it is a victory which is writ large above each and every one of you, because for 100 years the call has been to ‘Remember them’, and here WE are, remembering them.

On that day 100 years ago, courageous Australians and New Zealanders gave us that first Anzac day, forging in bloody sacrifice the bond that ties our two nations so closely to each other.

They were a wonderful mix of men – miners, rouseabouts, railway workers, tradesmen, lawyers, timber cutters – they were atheists, agnostics, Roman Catholics, Protestants and Jews – but they went as one, in our uniforms, under our flags, and in our name.

Each one of them lies as a silent witness to the future they have given us. Indeed, ‘time dims not their sacrifice’. We honour them best by the way we live our lives today, and shape our nation for the future.

We have this one chance at life – as they did. To change our world for the good, to oppose evil in all its guises… to be the best we can be for each other, and to make our world a just, free and peaceful place.

To the Christian ear, I hope this approach to our “one chance at life” sounds very familiar, because within it you can hear the voice of Jesus talking about being prepared to lay down our life for others.

There is a story from the Western Front – a Sergeant Simon Fraser spent three backbreaking days bringing in the wounded from No Mans Land, rising from out of the fog and breaking through Fraser’s exhaustion came a lone voice calling out to him, “Don’t forget me cobber.”

Sargeant Fraser didn’t, we won’t, we never will. We will remember them.

Lest we forget

AMEN

New Exhibition: Newington and the Great War

As part of the College’s Centenary of Anzac commemorations, we present a new exhibition, Newington and the Great War, in the Chaplain Peter Swain Archives Exhibition Room.

The largest section of the exhibition, titled ‘Newington Soldier’, links the stories of 28 Newingtonians who served in the First World War, along with two staff members on Home Service, with items from the College’s archives collection and on loan. Also a mix of collection and loaned materials is the ‘Relics of War’ section, displaying items from military training, Gallipoli and the Western Front. ‘Making Young Soldiers’ examines Newington’s part in the Compulsory Military Training scheme in the years before the War. ‘Remembering’ looks at First World War memorials and other forms of remembrance at Newington and elsewhere, and features 49 war memorial ‘tree plaques’ on public view for the first time since the 1960s.

Accompanying Newington and the Great War is a slideshow of 92 photographs of Newington and Newingtonians from the War period, plus a range of computer-based resources.

The Chaplain Peter Swain Archives Exhibition Room is open from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM each week day and at other times by arrangement. Please contact Mr David Roberts, College Archivist, for more information.

Mr David Roberts
College Archivist

Sport Report

Swimming

In Term 1 of 2015 Newington capped off another excellent Swimming season by winning three out of a possible four trophies. The Junior (12–14 Years) and the Intermediate (15–16 Years) sections of the swim team both won Premierships while Newington also secured the AAGPS Open Relays Trophy in the process, breaking a GPS record for the 6 x 50 m Freestyle All Age Relay in the ultimate race of the season.

For the sixth season in a row, Newington was the top AAGPS Swimming School based on overall points gained.

A large number of swimmers from Newington went on to represent GPS at the Combined Independent Schools (CIS) Swimming Championships. Callum Lowe-Griffiths (11/PR), Jason Hartill (10/MO), Marcus Dadd (9/ME), Jack Xu (7/ME), and Edward Wydell (7/ME) all qualified to represent CIS at the NSW All Schools Carnival.

Basketball

As winners of the AAGPS competition, Newington played Barker College (winners of the CAS) and Oakhill College (winners of the ISA) to determine the CIS Champions for 2015. First up was a Barker College home game which was fitting as both teams had participated in a pre–season camp in October 2014 and were now going to finish the season in a important contest. The scoreline saw Newington victorious 79 – 53, but it was not a true reflection of the contest where an 8 point difference was the margin until the last quarter. Next was Oakhill College at Oakhill; a full house with half the crowd being girls certainly didn’t help Newington’s focus. In a physical game Newington were able to hang on to record a 51 – 39 victory. Next up for the team is the NSW State Championships against the top two CHS teams and the winner of the Catholic Championship. The one day competition will be held in Terrigal in early September.

Congratulations to all the boys and coaching staff.

Nepal Earthquake Fundraiser

As you are aware on Anzac Day this year, Nepal was hit by an incredible earthquake. This natural disaster has claimed the lives of more than 5,500 people with the number growing as more people are accounted for. Newington has been travelling to Nepal for the past 20 years and many of our boys have worked and lived at various small villages affected by the earthquake. Only as recently as the Christmas break did 30 Newington students travel to the Beni Community Health Service Centre in Nepal.

To help those less fortunate in Nepal the Newington Community aims to raise $5,000 to help aid the recovery process. We would be enormously grateful for any donation you could make to this worthy cause during our upcoming events and fundraisers.

Alternatively, If you would like to donate directly to an organisation on the ground in Nepal we urge you to consider SOS Children’s Village International. Newington has had a long and proud relationship with SOS, which includes our special connection with the SOS Hermann Gmeiner School in Bhaktapur.

SOS Nepal commenced its own relief efforts within 24 hours following the earthquake. Meals and shelter are being provided for hundreds of homeless people by SOS Nepal. There is no doubt that many more children have been orphaned by this disaster and as a consequence SOS Nepal will be called upon to broaden its support for parentless children yet again.

To find out information on the SOS Nepal relief here.

To donate online directly to SOS Nepal, please click here.

Thank you in advance for your generosity to assist those who are in desperate need of our help in Nepal.

Edward Treloar (12/FL)
Deputy Senior Prefect

What is sinusitis?

With the cool change in weather, I am not surprised at seeing more boys with head colds and also quite a few last week complaining of sinus pain.

Sinuses are hollow cavities in the skull located in the forehead, cheeks and between and behind the eyes. They are lined with the same mucous membrane as the nose and mouth and help prevent infection by trapping particles of dust, dirt or other pollutants. Sinuses are all connected to the nose by tiny tunnels that can easily get blocked with mucus.

Sinusitis can be an acute infection following a common cold. Or it can be a chronic infection lasting longer than 12 weeks due to untreated allergies or if there are structural problems with the nose. Sinuses are usually not fully developed until early teens so young children do not commonly get sinusitis.

Typical symptoms of sinusitis may include:

Blocked nose
Facial pressure over the sinuses, especially when leaning forwards
Bad breath and reduced sense of smell
Green/yellow thick discharge from the nose
Pain in your teeth
Ear fullness/pressure
Fever
Cough

Sinus headaches are often at their worst in the morning because fluids have been collecting all night long. Best if you don’t lie flat at night.

You may also experience a worsening of the headache when the temperature of your environment changes suddenly.

Approximately 40 per cent of acute sinusitis cases resolve spontaneously without antibiotics. For those with bacterial causes – Amoxicillin is the antibiotic of choice.

Other treatments/advice:

Drink plenty of fluids – this helps keep the mucus secretions thin
Inhale steam by leaning over a bowl of hot water or using a steam vaporiser. Inhale the steam for about 10 minutes. Mentholated preparations, such as Vicks VapoRub, can be added to the water or eucalyptus oil. Taking a hot, steamy shower may also work
Use a humidifier (and clean regularly) during winter to stop dry air from irritating your sinuses
Saline nasal sprays or irrigations can be used two to four times a day to clear the mucus. Make your own – with 1 litre of hot water, 2 teaspoons of salt and 1 teaspoon baking soda/sodium bicarbonate – allow to cool. It is important to tilt your head to the right for 10 seconds and then the left for 10 seconds and then pinch the nose and lean forwards for 10 seconds. This will assist in nasal drainage.
Decongestant nasal sprays or tablets which shrink the swollen lining of the nose and sinuses may be helpful. These should only be used for a short time (no longer than 3 days unless under medical advice) as prolonged use can cause more congestion and swelling.
Nasal corticosteroid sprays can be effective in reducing inflammation and in shrinking nasal polyps. If used correctly these sprays are not absorbed into the blood stream and can be used for longer periods.
Antihistamines may help if allergy is a factor.
Comfortably hot compresses can be placed on the face.

Surgery – may be indicated in chronic persistent sinusitis. If the adenoids are chronically infected, removing them eliminates a focus of infection and can decrease recurrent sinus infection. Repairing nasal septal deviations, removing polyps or draining sinuses may also assist.

Complications from chronic sinusitis can include infection in the bones around the sinuses occasionally involving the brain, middle ear infections and swelling and infection of the tissue around the eyes.

Sister Margaret Bates
College Nurse

‘Real Deal’ Real Madrid are in town!

Newington College’s proud sporting tradition takes another step into the realm of history-making as our College gets ready to host the first ever Australian Coaching Camp conducted by “Los Blancos” – the legendary la decimal European Champions, Real Madrid.

The world’s most famous and successful club is teaming up with the “Black and Whites” in a two week project where two successive Players Clinics will take place from 29 June to 2 July and 6 July to 9 July. Real Madrid will be sending two of their highest ranked Academy Coaches to Buchanan Oval to put on four sessions a day for players from Years 3-12, with the groups separated by age criteria. What makes this project even more appetising for our Football community is that our students (Wyvern and Lindfield included) have exclusive access to places until 8 May. At present over 200 of the 400 places have been booked. Booking is available online through the Real Madrid at Newington insite.

For the uninitiated, Real Madrid were, and still are, the standard bearers of world class Football and “galactico” players. Remarkably under the revered Ferenc Puskas and Alfredo di Stefano, the Madrid giants won five successive European Cups, a feat never repeated since. That brilliant teams of the 1950’s, 1960’s are still regarded by some as the best club side in world Football, is something not to be taken lightly.

Since then the club has gone on to attract some of the greatest players in the world from Ronaldo (Brazil), Ronaldo (Portugal), Zinedine Zidane, Figo, Roberto Carlos, David Beckham to the present glittering array of Rodriguez, Casillas, Bale, Benzema and the 2014-15 World Player of the Year, Cristiano Ronaldo, is formidable.

Real Madrid’s clinics will give our boys an insight on how the best coaches in world Football develop players and a wonderful week is promised for all the boys as they learn new skills, experience new games and above all, have a fantastic week. A full Real Madrid kit is provided as part of the cost.

One other superb development is that Newington College will host over 200 of Sydney and New South Wales top Coaches in two Coaching Seminars in the Old Boys Lecture Theatre hosted by the Academy Coaches from Real. This is a major contribution to Australian National Football, NSW Football and the entire Sydney Football fraternity. A chance to learn how to develop teams and coach players to the top of Europe.

Roll up, roll up quickly boys, as places are going quickly.

The “Real Deal” is in town – don’t miss them.

Mr Brian McCarthy
Director of Football

Jamie Gorgovski signs up with “cosmic football” giant Borussia Dortmund

What does it take for a young Sydney boy to reach his dream and sign for a European “cosmic football” giant such as Borussia Dortmund?!

The first thing is exceptional talent and technical brilliance, which all the Newington College coaches associated with Jamie can attest to. Indeed many of these coaches played an important, if understated role in Jamie’s elevation to the professional ranks. But for that talent to stand out so stunningly at the age of 15 in an Under 18 competition is testimony to the latent potential and mentality of this young gun.

The next ingredient for a player in Oceania to attract such global interest is relentless desire and fathomless practice. Even a brief trawl through Jamie’s sporting CV reveals an incredible record of coaching clinics, courses, clubs, trials, matches and an insatiable appetite to succeed. But the addition of a supportive family, friends and school is a priceless commodity, without which most perish and fall short of their ambitions.

German clubs, with their recent Champions League successes and the national teams whom rise to become World Champions, are notoriously renowned for their attention to technical development. Allied to the Bundesliga’s athletic reputation and an endless production line of superbly gifted players, the four times ‘weltmeister’ have replaced the Spanish ‘maestros’ of the recent past as the world leaders in Football development.

Jamie’s exploits with the GPS winning Newington College team played an essential part in his development. Playing with older players and some excellent fellow Football technicians under the tutelage of Mr Justin Verco and Mr Brian Baker, honed his combative side against the might of Scots, St Ignatius’ and Joeys. A real measure of his fanatical drive to succeed is that Jamie embraced challenges beyond his years. This will stand him very well in the heartland of industrial Germany.

Jamie will succeed doing what has brought him this far, but taking on the additional pressures and challenges that go with a young aspiring professional. Dortmund supporters are among the most seismic of Football doyens, but always give their players and managers magnificent support and encouragement. The great “yellow wall” holding almost 30,000 supporters in one stand is the largest single populated stand in Europe. For Jamie to one day run out into that awe inspiring amphitheatre will, indeed, make many Newingtonians, past and present very proud indeed.

Jamie is very fortunate that Borussia Dortmund are a club that is famed for its Academy and take a special pride in producing their own stars, with Reus, Mario Gotze, Gundogan, and Schmelzer all home grown and all world established players. Borussia Dortmund also boasts one of the most innovative and technologically advanced player development systems. Their reactions cage is now the envy of Europe and Jamie has already tasted that “recipe”.

With Jamie’s Macedonian heritage, he need look no further than Goran Pandev, the country’s most celebrated player, 2011 Champions League winner with Mourinho and scorer of the all important second goal which defeated Bayern Munich in the final.

Jamie has already exhibited many of the qualities to attract suitors. Now that he has done, other characteristics will be needed. Competition against some of the best young players in Europe, South America and Africa (already on Dortmund’s books). The challenge in developing his core strength to one day train with the first team players. The inevitable topsy turvy vicissitudes of injury, loss of form and another – “new kid on the block”.

That he has signed for a club that will give him the best possible chance to overcome those obstacles there is no doubt. To have impressed Academy Director and Champions League winner ( and scorer in the final ), Lars Ricken speaks volumes for Jamie’s progress to date. All in Australia and New South Wales must take special congratulations and gratitude for providing Jamie with the infrastructure and opportunity to make that quantum leap.

Outgoing Borussia Dortmund Manager, Jurgen Klopp has become a German icon, nationally and internationally. His signature is being chased by all of Europe’s elite, yet he built his reputation on working very hard with the young and upcoming Dortmund Academy boys who have gone on to World and European Cup success. Jamie will enjoy that same support and encouragement, the rest as they say is “up to him”, with a little help from some prayers from the Class of 2014 and all his Newington mates.

Take a leaf out of Irish International and Hull City Premier League player, David Meyler, Jamie, who upon leaving for his trial at Sunderland said to his father, “I won’t be coming home again. I will be a professional footballer no matter what.”

In the end it’s determination that makes the difference, but home support and away expertise will one day see Jamie in the famous black and yellow striped shirt, not dissimilar to the Newington “Black and White”.

Good luck Jamie.

Mr Brian McCarthy
Director of Football

Teachers show true grit at Cross Training Challenge

At 6:00 AM Tuesday, 10 February, 13 Newington staff members committed to a six week cross-training challenge. This was the second of its kind and involved two mornings a week, and an additional third morning for those were keen for a bigger challenge.

After I finalised the ‘class roll’ in the first week, I realised that we had a mixed bag of participants and that this term would be an interesting one. Apart from the usual suspects from Edmund Webb Boarding House such as Mr Tom Lever and Mr Troy Stanley, this time we also had a fearless group of Music teachers led by Head of Music, Mr Mark Scott.

Initial testing at the start of the program showed some impressive results as well as areas for improvement across all participants. Then, participants were placed in two teams based on their testing results and from here on, we had some group sessions that involved team challenges which led inevitably to some individual battles.

On Thursday, 19 March testing was repeated and each participant was up for the challenge wanting to better their initial efforts. Results were outstanding with some participants improving certain fitness measures by a whopping 50 per cent.

Special mention goes out to all those involved who grit their teeth and really played the cards they were dealt – literally!

Mr Nathan Parnham
Strength and Conditioning Manager