16 May 2018

Making the News

Between the 2nd and 4th of May the Making the News class was assigned the job of reporting on various STEM Festival events. The class had been taught many journalistic skills that would assist us in covering the event, but this was our first chance to put them into action. We were provided with the opportunity to replicate the role of a qualified journalist, collecting information and media on a STEM topic and then using it to form an entertaining story. In particular, as a class, we became aware of the time pressures which occur alongside publishing multiple articles each day. Many of us were scrambling to compound our ideas and put together high-quality pieces, a valuable lesson to take away from our tasks.

At the closure of each day at 3:30 PM, our class assembled within the ‘newsroom’ with members of the communications staff to discuss and pitch our stories from the day. After pooling our images together we also created ‘sells’ for Newington’s Facebook and Instagram social media pages. Upon completion, we had ‘the pitch’, where each writer spoke to the news editors as to why their story was the best and should be published in the daily newsletters. This was tough but allowed us to focus on the core of journalistic writing: know your audience.

Even though covering the Festival was quite strenuous at times, it did have its perks. A few of us were ecstatic to be allocated the role of covering the N2 Gelato taste testing. The N2 Gelato franchise held a lesson on the science behind creating their innovative flavours and those present savoured the final product. There were many memories that were created over the course of the festival, but without a doubt, the N2 Gelato taste testing conquers them all!

Sebastian Vardavas (10/MO) and Max Langford (10/LE) 

Click here to view the Making the News blog.

From the Head of Stanmore

Sunday, March 25 will remain etched in the minds of many Australian sports lovers as one of those moments that challenges, and potentially changes, perspective.  It was the day when the captain of our National cricket team, Steve Smith, Vice Captain David Warner and newcomer Cameron Bancroft were thrust into the limelight due to Cameron Bancroft being caught tampering with the ball in an attempt to gain an unfair advantage over the South African Cricket team.

On the Monday staff briefing following the incident I spoke about things staff may wish to consider should this discussion come up in their Mentor Group. Over the weekend I had spent time ferrying my son to cricket games with the travel time spent engaged in long discussions about the actions of the three Australians.  I knew he had taken the Steve Smith poster down from his wall and so I was keen to explore why.

It was an exploration I had with my son, and subsequently with many other Newington boys. More recently I even had the opportunity whilst interviewing some cricket mad grade 5 boys for entry to the College in 2020, to seek their thoughts on what the Australian cricketer’s motivation for cheating might have been. The responses were certainly varied, although the most common view was that the actions were due to an overbearing pressure to win.

We are blessed at Newington to have Ross Turner as the Director of Cricket. He ensures that coaches and boys understand that cricket is just a game, providing an opportunity for our boys to not only have fun, but to lead, to show integrity, to demonstrate good sportsmanship, and to win and lose with dignity. Ross often says that you learn more from a loss than a win, but do not be mistaken, he is a fiercely competitive individual who was an elite Cricketer. His exemplary modelling in approaching sport is founded in a desire to be competitive, complemented by an awareness that this should never be at any cost. He is uncompromising with his expectation of fair play and sportsmanship.

We may never know what happened in the Australian Cricket team’s dressing room that led to three people, who must love the game, to do what they did.  We do know that at some point the sense of perspective was lost, the ability to control actions was no longer present and in the face of hardship rather than persevering the option was to cheat. Our Newington school motto, ‘In fide scientiam’, tells us “to your faith add knowledge”. This motto comes from the second epistle of Peter who adds further in his epistle that to knowledge we should add self-control, and to self-control we should add perseverance. We applaud success at Newington, but we also embrace the struggle, and as an extension of our motto invites, retain self-control and be willing to persevere.

Mr David Roberts
Head of Stanmore / Deputy Headmaster

Did I ever tell you how lucky you are? – Adopting a grateful perspective

‘…A woman of the village, having learned that Jesus was a guest in the home of the Pharisee, came with a bottle of very expensive perfume and stood at his feet, weeping, raining tears on his feet. Letting down her hair, she dried his feet, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfume…..She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal…”’

(Luke 7:36-46)

It’s worthwhile considering what motivated this woman to so openly and freely express her gratitude toward Jesus. The passage states that she was forgiven many sins and so she was very grateful. She realised how lucky she was to be forgiven. Her guilt had gone and her sense of worth and zest for life had returned. The fact that she waltzed into a house that wasn’t her own, washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, dried them with her hair and soothed him with expensive perfume, highlights an outward expression of gratitude that did not take notice of the criticism and judgement of those around her, but rather gave her strength of character and determination that stemmed from the heart of being genuinely gratitude. To her, she was the luckiest person alive and that was all that mattered.

‘Did I ever tell you how lucky you are?’ is a relevant question that we should ask ourselves all the time.

Albert Einstein, the German theoretical physicist aptly quoted, “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” The perspective on life that we choose to embrace very much influences the way we treat each other, how we feel about ourselves and our strength of resilience amidst challenging times.

A former Newington staff member once shared with me how fortunate he felt to walk through the gates of Newington each day, entering into this oasis nestled within the busy inner west, being welcomed with smiles and at least seven personal greetings, all before he reached his office each morning. He reinforced how important this has been to him, contrasting this to the environment that he had previously worked, where it was easy to miss the beauty that surrounded him each day, robbed by the dominant lure for corporate success. I wonder how many Newington boys feel lucky each morning as they walk into school? There’s no doubt that one day they will, as evidenced by the 250 or more old Boys who celebrated the 70’s Club luncheon on Tuesday, May 8th with so much enthusiasm and gratitude. The key for our current cohort of students is to grab the opportunity to realise how lucky they are now, as it will make all the difference in their lives today. The encouragement is for each boy to ask themselves the question ‘Do I know how lucky I am?’ taking the time to acknowledge their good fortune as they relish their days here at Newington.

A pearl of wisdom, courtesy of Dr Seuss’s book “Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?”, published in 1973, reminds us of how important it is for all of us to adopt a clear perspective of how lucky we are;

When you think things are bad, when you feel sour and blue,

When you start to get mad, you should do what I do…

Just tell yourself, Duckie, you’re quite lucky!

Some people are much more…

Oh, ever so much more…

Oh, muchly much-much more unlucky than you!

Rev. Geordie Barham
College Chaplain

ANZAC Day Parade

Gathering on the Johnstone Oval on the 1st of May, The Newington College Cadet Unit’s ANZAC Day Parade remembered those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

After the sounding of the bugle by Cadet Lt William Van Asperen (ON 2006) to signify the commencement of the parade, the Newington Cadet band marched onto the parade ground at 8:40, under the gaze of the Official Party and a sunny, clear sky.

Highlights included the Cadet band opening the parade and the unit’s Colours being marched past by WO2 Matt Dyster (12/FL), CUO Anton Fichtenmaier (12/MO), CUO Jack Favero (12/PR) and CUO Jack Cambouris (12/KL). Both companies saluting as they passed.

2018 was the final Centenary year of the First World War so the parade honoured in particular those Newingtonians who laid down their lives during the last year of the war. Twenty-nine Newingtonians fell in 1918 in great battles on the Western Front, including Villers-Bretonneux, Hamel. Mont St Quentin and the Hindenburg Line, also in Syria and Palestine.

One such soldier was William (‘Bill’) Tasker (ON 1911), whose death on 9 August 1918 exemplifies both the selfless service and sacrifice and the loss of great potential in young lives cut short by war. Hailing from Condobolin, Bill came to Newington from 1906 to 1911, A sportsman of outstanding ability, he led Newington’s 1st XV in 1910 and 1911, also leading the Combined Schools XV in 1911. He played first grade rugby after leaving school, represented New South Wales and played six Tests as a Wallaby. Working as a bank clerk and having begun a part-time course in law, Bill enlisted in January 1915. He was severely wounded at Gallipoli and was invalided home, the shrapnel in his legs having ended his future on the sports field. After two attempts, he succeeded in re-enlisting in 1916 and was wounded two more times in action on the Western Front. He died of wounds received during the Battle of Amiens on 9 August 1918, three months from the end of the War

The ANZAC Day Parade was a great success. Mr Graham Potter, house master and science teacher called it “a spectacle beyond spectacle” and Inspecting Officer Lt. Col. Andrew Hine lamented that the cadet band’s performance this year was the best yet. With over 400 cadets on the parade ground, the morning was another year’s rousing salute to the ANZAC Diggers of our nation’s past.

Alistair Shaw (10/LE)

Counting the Beat

One of the highlights of last week’s highly successful 70 Club Luncheon was a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the first performance of the Cadet Unit Brass Band in 1958. The Band had been formed the previous year by Jack Butler, a teacher at Newington for thirty-five years and a special guest at the Luncheon. Many of his musicians from that era also attended.

The performance by the present-day NCCU Band was not only a wonderful part of the celebration but also a link to that earlier incarnation of the Band. Its history, however, goes back a lot further.

Newington’s first Cadet band was a drum, fife and bugle band formed in 1886. In addition to Cadet Corps parades, the band played at major school events, such as the raising of the first school flag in 1899, and remained a feature of the College’s musical life until at least 1911.

The next chapter in the band’s history started in 1949, when a drum band was formed. Not to be outdone, the Air Training Corps, Newington’s other cadet unit, formed its own drum band, often practising and parading with the Cadet drummers. By 1952 bugles had been added.

Early in 1957 the decision was made to expand the Cadet band to a brass band. After a fundraising effort, the first instruments were purchased and a group of new musicians received training. While primarily intended to serve the musical needs of the Cadet Unit, it was hoped ‘…that this enterprise will give a much-needed lift to the musical life of the school.’ As well as marching at the head of the Cadet Unit during parades, the band played at weekly assemblies, Chapel services and a range of other occasions. Under Allan Bellhouse, AM, Jack Butler’s successor as Bandmaster, the band won a series of Cadet Band competitions between 1966 and 1970.

In 1980 it was announced that the Cadet Brass Band was to be revived. Training started late the following year, and its first public performance was at the 1982 Anzac Day observance. This version of the band was short-lived, however, and did not continue beyond 1983.

The most recent revival of the NCCU Band, like that of the 1950s, started with a drum band. An initiative of the Unit’s Commanding Officer, Major Rodney Wood, a Drum Corps was introduced in 2012, ‘adding a sound and rhythm that had been missing from our parades.’ The next year it marched in the Sydney Anzac Day march for the first time in thirty years. The revived full Band first performed at the Centenary of Anzac events in 2015 and continues to grace Cadet and other College events, continuing a tradition that now stretches back 132 years, and counting.

David Roberts
College Archivist

World’s Greatest Shave

For the second year in a row, a team of Year 12 boys and staff participated in the World’s Greatest Shave to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation. The group began their service learning initiative with an $8,000 goal. They quickly exceeded their target and set a new goal of $15,000. On the morning of 11 April, students and staff gathered at the Spaceframe to cheer on the Newington crew, who raised an inspiring $28,000! The funds will support vital research efforts and counselling/assistance for hundreds of families across Australia. 

Well Done!

Tree of Life

As part of our commitment to celebrating diversity, caring for others and imagining a better future, Newington College warmly invites students, family and friends of the College Community to attend an evening production of ‘Tree of Life’ at the Chatswood Concourse. This performance represents a significant opportunity to hear stories of courage, resilience and hope, as written and performed by refugee children. More information can be found on the Treehouse Theatre site.

As a community, we hope to encourage as many of you as possible to attend the production on Friday, 8 June, commencing at 7:30 PM. This will be a worthwhile event that will educate and inform whilst celebrating these young individuals.

Mrs Linda Munns-Conry, Head of Library, has seen the show and offered her reflections below:

The young performers created a spellbinding, authentic emotional landscape which invited the audience to share survivors’ experiences about which we know too little and should acutely understand. The performances were riveting and the truths told, enlightening. You left the theatre changed by the courage and generosity of the stories that were shared and which had unfolded in movement on stage. Through the powerful voices of the innocent, the ugly reality of the impact of violence and stolen choices was hauntingly revealed. An indelible memory.

A note from the Head of English, Mr Richard Wheeldon, on how this performance connects to the curriculum: 

Links to refugee voices and communities within the English curriculum at Newington are seen as important to the learning experiences we provide our students. In Year 7, the first text we teach is Anh Do’s memoir, The Happiest Refugee, which sets an important tone for the way that refugees should be welcomed and celebrated within Australia and elsewhere. In Years 9 and 10, episodes from the SBS documentary series, Go Back to Where You Came From, or the interactive graphic novel, The Boat, are used as art of our approach to topics around prejudice, war and marginalised voices. Given the ongoing refugee crisis around the world and the continuing discussion in Australia about our own responsibilities, including the Manus Island situation, a range of texts are used to supplement different units in senior English. There is a Yr 11 task, I’ve Got Something to Say, where some students might choose to write about the refugee crisis, targeting newspapers, politicians and a range of other stakeholders in the community to convey their ideas and opinions. In Yr 12, a unit called Representation and Text: People and Politics is well suited for a discussion of different refugee stories, developing links to political ideology, social ethics, and the effects of policy making on different segments of the community. In all these contexts, the NSW English syllabus provides a strong foundation for students to explore the role of language and communication methodologies between people in developing positive interaction and cooperation with others, and for students to explore the social, cultural, and moral dimensions of human experience.

Chatswood Concourse is easily accessible by car (dedicated parking is available) or public transport, with the bus terminal and train station close by. Bookings can be made through the Chatswood Concourse website. 

We look forward to seeing you there!

Religion and Ethics Day

The Newington College Religion and Ethics Day brought together distinguished philosophers, theologians and religious leaders for a wide-ranging discussion of religious and moral issues. Students from Newington, Santa Sabina College and Pymble Ladies College were joined by Religious Studies teachers from all over Australia and New Zealand, as well as Newington parents and guests. One of the highlights was a panel discussion chaired by ABC broadcaster John Cleary. HSC students provided the questions, with topics that were challenging and provocative, including the relationship between morality and religion, Islamophobia, religion and politics, environmental issues and same-sex marriage. The panelists included Amna Karra-Hassan (Australian Federal Police), Rabbi Zalman Kastel (National Director of the Together for Humanity Foundation), Fr Aloysious Mowe SJ (International Director of Advocacy and Communications, Jesuit Refugee Service), The Reverend Dr Gordon Preece (Director of the Centre for Christianity and Society, Melbourne) and Venerable Tencho (former Director of Kunsang Yeshe Retreat Centre in the Blue Mountains). All the speakers showed a willingness to tackle difficult and controversial issues in an atmosphere of openness and mutual respect. The large audience was left in no doubt about the about the importance of inter-faith dialogue and the ethical insights of the world’s great religions.

In the afternoon, Professor Peter Singer, Australia’s best-known philosopher, gave a fascinating lecture on ‘Ethics and the Meaning of Life, explaining the importance of Philosophy in the Australian curriculum and the need to address pressing global issues, particularly world hunger and poverty. The day concluded with a debate on Euthanasia and Medical Ethics: ‘Victoria’s legalisation of voluntary assisted dying sets an example that other Australian states would do well to follow.’ There were, not surprisingly, strong feelings on this issue but the participants helped to clarify the issues and there was a high level of debate and discussion.

I am grateful to all the colleagues and students who helped to make this such a successful event.

Dr Jeremy Hall
Head of Philosophy and Religious Studies

Printing the Past

Year 8 Visual Arts students recently completed a unit of work where they used archival images of Old Boys in different contexts for inspiration. A cropped, focused section of the image was then used as a starting point for the artists as they created their unique etched designs. Luke Canter (8/JN) shares his process below.

I have chosen this image due to heavy, unintentional symbolism of the original photo – the appearance of a periodic table in the background was the main stylistic inspiration; I noticed the lack of elements such as Nihonium, Tennessine, etc. and the theme of linear historical presentation formed. I interpreted the sudden change of hue from black to lighter shades of grey to be symbolic of disruptive innovation, whereby education is permanently altered. The hands of the teacher are central to the meaning of the image; due to the unique permutations and intriguing polymorphism of the fingerprints, and the capability of the hands to impact humanity’s future by artificial means further reinforced these motifs.

This work represents the way in which historic progress affects personal identity – in this case, from the perspective of the student, where disruptive innovations lead to fundamental change in the way teaching occurs.

To depict the often cyclic, Hegelian dialectical nature of modern history, where one innovation invariably leads to another synthesis of a competitor, I have divided the frame into three distinct sections, where an abrupt, high-contrast gradation of dark to grey shades occurs. The asymmetrical composition of the cropped frame is an analogy for the chaos resulting from such systematic changes, wherein there is no orderly structure. 

China Tour 2018

A group of Chinese language students spent school holidays on tour in China. Daniel Bordina (10/ME) shares his experiences below.

Travelling overseas is always a challenge, no matter the period or location. Whether it be jetlag, language, food, or developing new relationships.

Travelling with family or by yourself is an adventure on its own but travelling with your peers and teachers provides you with knowledge and experience that you will treasure for years to come. Through every high and every low you will experience it and persevere alongside your peers and teachers.

Unfortunately, the 2018 China Tour began with quite a sizeable low.

20 bleary-eyed boys and three equally tired teachers arrived at Sydney airport at 6:30 AM, some travelling close to an hour to the airport. After the round of farewells and compulsory group photos, the boys flowed through the check-in and customs process with ease.

It all seemed to be progressing well until we were hit with the first of three delays that would have us stranded in Sydney airport for 12 hours. The boys handled this unfortunate circumstance with great maturity and at 6:30 PM we were in the air, headed for Shanghai.

We arrived safely in Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport at 2:30 AM local time (4:30 AM AEST) and then endured another hour of getting through customs and collecting baggage. All in all, a tough trip for the whole group.

Perseverance is not something you are born with. It is a skill you develop and master. Determination is central to Chinese culture and has been displayed on many occasions during their illustrious history.

This unfortunate circumstance provided us with the determination and discipline to get the most out of the trip as we knew that it would be challenging. Although the tour was during the school holidays, it was not a vacation. While normally during school holidays students would be recovering from the term before and enjoying their free time, we were on a tight schedule, from sunrise to sunset. This trip tested us both physically and mentally for the duration.

Physically we were challenged every single day we were on the trip. Early morning wake up calls were not uncommon and late nights exploring were an integral part of our education. The late-night river cruise along the Bund in Shanghai provided us with stunning views of the Shanghai skyline. Whilst visiting the Temple of Heaven, the group participated in the morning exercises alongside the locals. From climbing the Great Wall to consecutive days of walking 20+ km seeing the Terracotta Warriors and the Forbidden City, it was no wonder that when we got on the buses many boys would fall asleep. The Panda Sanctuary in Chengdu was a great experience for many boys while, up until the last day of the tour, we were still experiencing China by exploring the traditional section of Hutong in Beijing. Our rickshaw drivers were challenged in cycling us around the area.

Mentally, the use and expansion of the language tested our mental endurance throughout the trip. Our mental capacity was especially challenged using tones in the Chinese language. The use of the wrong tone can result in confusing yet sometimes amusing outcomes. Many times, over the trip the use of our language was tested, but most of all during our visit to RAFZ BDA Experimental School Beijing China. It was there that the language barrier was truly significant. At the school, we participated in a wide range of activities, including taekwondo, paper cutting, calligraphy and even a basketball match. We were treated to a delicious lunch and given handmade gifts made by the students.  Looking forward to the future, a possible opportunity to go on exchange to the school will provide an extra level of education for Chinese students.

The fact is that we could not have completed this trip without the support of each other and our teachers. Ms Wang, Mr Bennett and Ms Gonzalez were integral in our enjoyment and education throughout the trip. Having a group of your peers around you when you travel gives you a new sense of energy and perseverance. Travelling with your peers is the best way to discover new aspects of your own character and influence other people along the way. With every experience that challenges you, it increases your tolerance and ability to overcome adversity and although it was a difficult adventure at times, it was worthwhile to expand our knowledge of the Chinese language.

Travelling in China made me realise how little of the language and culture I really know and how much I want to expand my knowledge of China and improve my language skills. A truly memorable trip that I recommend to all Chinese students.

Here is what other students on the tour had to say…

While the tour began with setbacks, we persisted with the intention of finishing the tour having made the most out of every opportunity, even after a nine-and-a-half hour delay on day one. “Making the most out of every opportunity” was my mantra at least, and I think that myself, as well as most of the boys on the tour, took it up and fulfilled it. Dhruv Kumar (10/JN)

The China tour not only provided me with the opportunity to practise and improve my Mandarin speaking skills but also to learn more about the culture. Although there were many great experiences throughout the China tour, the most memorable experience was participating in a chemistry class at a local Beijing middle school. Liam Pidcock (11/MA)

Travelling to China with some good friends is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was great being able to spend time in a foreign place and experiencing the culture alongside some mates. An added bonus was the freedom to go out of the hotel and not to be treated like little kids. Harry Garofani (10/MA)

Japan Tour 2018

The football experience in Japan was extremely challenging and lots of fun. We faced some of the best youth teams in the whole country such as JFA Academy Fukushima and put up a great fight against each team and played our hearts out. It was a great experience and we all had lots of fun, one of the best moments of the football tour was when Ben Clarke (8/MA) scored our first goal of the tour against a top club. We were trained by some incredible coaches, some ex-professional Japanese players, and current coaches of J-league clubs. We learnt many new things from each training session and every game we played. One of the main things we learnt was the Japanese way of playing football; quick two-touch passing, controlling it on your back foot, switching the play and so much more.

Not only did we play football but we had many cultural experiences too. We did many traditional activities and visited some significant Japanese sights. We cooked traditional recipes such as soba noodles and omurice, which is a Japanese style omelette, in the heart of Tokyo. We visited the Tokyo Skytree and got to see Tokyo city from 250 metres up. We were lucky enough to see the Sensō-ji temple which is one of Tokyo’s oldest temples founded in 628. We also took a trip to the zoo and saw animals like pandas, polar bears and flamingos. We took a Japanese drum lesson and watched some talented local school students play them.

Other than the football and cultural parts of the tour, we were fortunate enough to take a trip to one of five Disneyland Parks in the world. Although it was rather packed, and you would be lucky if you were to get on five rides overall, it was still great fun. The hotel we stayed in was unique with dome-shaped rooms next to a theme park which provided amazing light shows every night. Everyone was also fascinated with the futuristic automatic toilets.

We discovered a lot about the Japanese locals and the country itself. There are lots of things that make Japan unique. They have an incredible culture with interesting traditions they are willing to share with tourists and foreigners. They have a big history which is reflected through temples, are and old cities. The people are extremely respectful and polite to everyone.

The benefit of the players and coaches going to Japan was to expand our footballing attributes and skills and to learn the Japanese way of playing it. The teams we played against were incredible it shows that there are different standards above GPS football. We were privileged to experience an outstanding culture in a completely different country. Overall it was a great tour that wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for the organisers and staff who did a great job and were very supportive and helpful.

Tyler Kang (8/ME)

Newington Rugby Visits South Africa

The South Africa tour was an amazing trip for us rugby players. Not only because it was a rugby tour, but also because we experienced a different lifestyle, a different culture and their traditional ways of living that differ from ours. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I’m sure the rest of the boys enjoyed. We went on safaris, went to a nice water park and experienced some traditional ways of living (food, culture, etc.). We won all of our games and even made new friends as we travelled from place to place.

South Africans were really polite and kind enough to help us throughout our tour. We learnt about the ancient history of the country, political history and much more than we expected. The beauty of nature within South Africa was extraordinary! It was calm, peaceful and relaxed. The staff and boys made new wildlife discoveries on the safaris and experiences we had each day. We also learnt about the strong relationship between nature and the people of the country.

It was an amazing trip. I grabbed and made use of every opportunity I had to learn and to experience new things in life, for this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I might never get in the future. So it was a great trip.

Tua Mahe (12/FL)

AFL Tour to Perth…a first for Newington

From the 26th to the 29th of April, I was lucky enough to take part in a fantastic inaugural AFL Tour to the most remote capital city on Earth; Perth. Being the first ever Newington tour to the West Coast, we were the pioneers. Seeking to go where no Newington man had gone before, to play, experience, and involve ourselves in some of the most incredible, and obviously difficult football games we could possibly take part in.

Being just the second official year that Newington has offered AFL as a sport, the growth has been exponential with an enormous array of players coming from a wide array of established sports; some with little to no experience in AFL, while others have played consistently throughout their entire lives. Like most of the older boys, I started playing AFL in 2017, the inaugural year, ‘shaking in my boots’ as to what to expect due to my lack of experience. Thankfully, due to the strong culture and values that were instilled into the team, no man was left behind, and as such, each of us improved comprehensively throughout the year. At the emergence of the 2018 season, this mentality and spirit shows no signs of slowing down, especially with the formulation of this tour, as each of the boys who took part, no matter their level of skill, supported each other and were ready and willing to brave the unknown of opponents over in Perth.

DAY 1

With weary and fatigued eyes, we shuffled our way onto the plane. Finally landing after five hours, we took off as fast as we could into the city (well as fast as it took security to search Perry May’s (11/MO) bag for an apple that he carried from Sydney). Our accommodation was in the Scotch College Boarding House where we made ourselves at home; familiarising ourselves with the grounds around us, warming up and training for a couple hours before arriving at the wrestling session. The session was strenuous, yet incredibly rewarding, as it allowed some of us to increase our strength in tackling. With our muscles aching, our tour shirts already drenched in sweat, and Lucas Ward (12/MO) with a towel somehow drenched in cologne(?!), we headed off to replenish and soothe our muscles with a dip in the Indian Ocean. The soft sand and refreshing water were juxtaposed, with the incredible sites at Scarborough Beach, questionable ‘budgie smugglers’, and a sombre sunset in the distance. We finished off the day with dinner at Grill’d, heading home to rest.

DAY 2

There are good ways to wake up, but a 2km run to and from Swanbourne Beach was not one of them. We carried on through the morning with as much vigour and energy as we could muster, as we went through a two-hour training session, complete with grand proclamations from Tom Longmire (9/ME) to “check out my snaps, boys.” We then hurried off and enjoyed a leisurely afternoon of beach volleyball and swimming at Hillary’s Boat Harbour & Floreat beach, before eating pizza in Freemantle for dinner. At long last, we arrived back at the Boarding House, psychologically preparing ourselves for the game ahead, including various calls by Riley Holmes (11/PR) to “get a good sleep gents, big game tomorrow,” multiple times throughout the night.

DAY 3

The day had arrived; it was the big game day. Still sore, but brimming and tingling with both excitement and energy, we immediately set off down to the field to face our opponents. Scotch proved extremely formidable foes; each singular moment of play was constantly a struggling contest between both sides, never ceasing to fade in our intensity. Scotch, who fielded a mix of 1st and 2nd XVIII players, only slightly gained the upper hand with points during the initial term, but this provided them with the edge on their home turf, slotting far more away with greater accuracy. We were, unfortunately, unable to make too much of an impact with the chances we had. Although each team had a succession of relatively equal chances, it was Scotch who made good use of their own home field to slot more points.

As Riley graciously accepted his ‘Man of The Match” award, we had a fantastic BBQ supplied by their AFL support group, before we had to scurry as fast as we could, to catch the ferry bound for Rottnest Island. Here we toured around on bikes, taking in the beautiful lush, exotic bush and wildlife, including the fabled Quokkas that are selectively native to Rottnest. After pulling over and swimming at a few beaches (including a mini-water park where Stirling May (10/MO) was shot off a large inflatable pillow like a catapult, with Lucas as the catalyst, only to have parents and park staff gawk in horror as he soared airborne). We later returned to Perth, having dinner before once again in Fremantle, promptly going to bed, preparing for yet another game the following morning.

DAY 4

To conclude, we faced another immensely, tough opponent in the form of the Hale School. Like Scotch, the competition was ferocious, each team pushed to its limits. Unlike Scotch, we managed to be more accurate with our chances, slotting several goals, although not quite matching Hale’s own barrage of goals. We played with much passion against their second XVIII team, despite us having multiple younger boys (including to name just a few: Pat Christensen (10/MA), Tom Longmire, Nick Bulley (10/LE), Callum Sharp (10/JN), Atticus Bertrams (10/KL), Rex Quail (10/PR) and Oscar Britt (10/LE) who stepped up incredibly well, giving some of the opposition a run for their money.

We must acknowledge the legendary “CP,” the fuel in our engine, our source of inspiration, knowledge and power who was instrumental in directing our team spirit. Thanks to the genius of Lucas, we developed multiple chants to rattle the Hale changerooms in his honour. At last, we headed back and prepared ourselves to depart Perth, taking in as much scenery as we could, until finally, we boarded back the plane back to Sydney; exhausted, tired, zapped, jet-lagged, yet satisfied, delighted, and most importantly thrilled for the sparkling anticipation for the season ahead.

We are all extremely grateful to be part of this tour, and all the tireless effort put in by some of the greatest and finest people we could ever hope to have. Thank you so much Rev Barham, Mr Wales, Dion Zissis and all those who made this fantastic trip possible! We are all very grateful!

Philip Langshaw (11/MA)

Sport Report

BASKETBALL

Congratulations to the following boys have been selected in the NSW CIS Opens Basketball team:

Reed Nottage (12/LE)
Matur Maluach (12/FL)
Brandon Freire (12/PR)

The boys will represent CIS against CHS and CCC in June. Well done boys.

FENCING

Congratulations to Joshua Roncolato (11/LE) and Tom Barker (12/FL) after their recent performances qualified them for the National Fencing championships in July. Congratulations Josh and Tom.

ROCK CLIMBING

Congratulations to Benjamin Firth (7/PR) who represented NSW at the 2018 Australian Youth Climbing Championships. Ben won the Speed Climbing event and was named the Youth C (12-13 year old) National Speed Champion. An outstanding achievement Ben, congratulations.

 SWIMMING

Congratulations to the boys listed below on their representation at the recent NSW All Schools Swimming Championships.

Aiden Fisher (12/FL)
Jack Rudkins (12/MA)  
Luca Polvere (12/KL)
Lachlan Sheehy (11/JN)
Marcus Dadd (12/ME)
Harrison Loeffler (8/ME)

The boys came away with two bronze medals in a tightly fought day of competition.

DIVING

Congratulations to Ellis Khu (7/JN) who recently competed at the CIS Diving Championships, Ellis placed first and qualified for the NSW All Schools championships. Congratulations Ellis.

Rowing End of Season Dinner

On a sensational May evening and after a competition strong season, Newington’s amazing Rowing community came together at Centenary Hall, on Saturday, May 5, for our annual End of Season Awards dinner. A night where we celebrate the boys’ incredible achievements of the 2017/18 season – giving recognition to their sheer determination with grueling early mornings at the boatshed, grinding through strength sessions at the MMRC, the focus on perfecting each stroke and turn at the catch – all the time having the next erg test gnawing away in the back of their minds. Make no mistake; rowing is a beautiful sport.

Led by our immensely focused Director of Rowing, Mr Richard Roach and MC’d by Newington College Rowing Association’s President – the unstoppable Marty Nicholas (ON 1987), the night saw no less than 42 boys receive awards for excellence in rowing.  Taking control of presentations on the night were some of our Year 12 rowers – Captain of Boats, Richmond Sear (12/MA), along with Alexander Potter (12/ME), Josh Bowd (12/LE), Luca Roncolato (12/LE), Adam Martin (12/JN) and Riley Vaughan (12/MO) – who kept the laughs flowing and reminded us all, that rowing at its core, is a load of fun.

Through the incredible generosity of our Rowing community and Old Newingtonian’s, the Awards Dinner opened with the official christening of 7 new boats – 2 VIII’s, 1 Quad and 4 single sculls. Newington Rowing is proud to name boats after our Old Newingtonian Rowers and those that competed at Olympic level. We are truly thankful for their ongoing support and guidance throughout the season.

The awards night has also grown to become Rowing’s major fundraising event for the year.  We are incredibly grateful to the rowing community who donated to our silent auction. We know that those who went all out and bid big are taking home some fabulous events, experiences and items and it is through the ongoing fundraising support of our parents and friends that Newington Rowing continues to thrive.

And finally, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped in all the big and small ways to bring together the End of Season Awards Dinner and make it a truly successful night.

Tara Rennie 
VP – Major Events & Fundraising 
Newington College Rowing Association

How to Manage a Burn

A burn is damage to the skin or body caused by flame, chemicals, friction, electricity or radiation.

Burns are classified as:

  • Superficial (painful) affecting the outer layer of skin
  • Partial Thickness (painful) affecting a deeper layer, the dermis
  • Deep full thickness (painless) affecting all layers of skin and tissues underneath

Patients with facial, neck and inhalation burns can have difficulty maintaining their airway and deteriorate rapidly. Burns to the face, hands, genitals and feet should always be referred for medical attention. Dial 000 or 112 from a mobile for an ambulance.

Always ensure it is safe for you to treat the injured person.

Treatment for Contact Burns:

  • Stop the burning process – get the person to Stop, Drop, Cover and Roll to help smother the flames.
  • Immediately run cool running water over the burn for 20 minutes. This is effective up to three hours after the injury. Cooling for longer than 20 minutes is not needed.
  • If possible remove all jewellery or constrictive clothing that has not adhered to the skin.
  • Remove wet clothing that is not sticking to the skin as hot fluids retain heat.
  • Cover the burnt area loosely with cling wrap (not the face) longitudinally along the burn rather than around the burn. Or use other lint-free dressing.
  • Keep the rest of the person covered and warm. Remember, cool the burn, warm the patient.
  • If it is an arm or leg that is burnt elevate the limb to reduce swelling.
  • Never use ice, creams or lotions as first aid for burns and do not pop the blisters.

Electrical burns such as lightning strikes can cause other injuries including cardiac arrest and loss of consciousness. In these cases, you will need to turn off the power without touching the person if safe to do so and commence CPR if needed. Call an ambulance.

Treatment for Chemical burns

  • Remove contaminated clothing, taking care to avoid contact with the chemical.
  • Dilute the chemical by immediately running cool running water on the area for one hour or until the stinging stops.
  • If the eyes are affected flush immediately and continuedly. Call the ambulance. Flushing is more important initially though than transfer to hospital. If only one eye is affected place that side of the head down to avoid spread to the unaffected eye.
  • Refer to the Safety Data Sheet for specific treatment if available.
  • Call the Poisons Information Centre for advice 13 11 26
  • Do NOT use cling wrap for chemical burns as you may be keeping part of the chemical within the wound.

Burns are often treated with special ‘wet dressings’ e.g. Acticoat which can be left in place for several days. Some of these dressings contain silver which helps prevent the growth of bacteria and must be kept dry in between visits to the Doctor or Hospital. It’s important to give pain relief initially and again before dressings. 

Being able to provide early, effective burn treatment gives the best opportunity for wound healing.

Margaret Bates
School Nurse

 

P&F Celebrates 90 Years

Happy Birthday Parents and Friends of Newington, you are 90 Years young and have many reasons to celebrate.

The Newington P&F Ball will be held on Saturday, 1 September 2018 at the Hyatt Regency, Sydney. The evening will be a celebration of 90 Years of the P&F and your opportunity to thank Dr David Mulford.

Dr David Mulford retires in 2018 after leading the College for ten of its most successful years ever. As a driving force behind the renewal of the College, he is leaving magnificent legacies – physical, educational and pastoral – that will serve the sons of Newington for many generations.

However, it is the legacy of ‘Diversity’ for which David most wants to be remembered and it is therefore fitting that he has generously allowed his name to be applied to the College’s latest Bursary – The Mulford Bursary.

The Mulford Bursary will be the primary fundraising focus for the Endowment Fund for 2018 and the P&F are proud to be directing all funds raised at the P&F Ball to the Endowment Fund through The Mulford Bursary and Celebrating Diversity.

Gather your table of 10 Parents and Friends or purchase your individual tickets and the Ball Committee will seat you with your preferred year group. To purchase tickets please click on this link before 24 August 2018.

Happy Birthday one and all and let’s Celebrate.

Cyclone Relief Update

Thank you to everyone that made the effort to contribute to and help load the cyclone relief container for our friends and family at Tupou College.

The container made its way across the Pacific Ocean and arrived yesterday. I am sure your donations will be much appreciated and well utilised.

Life has now returned to a regular routine at Tupou College.

Cameron Quince
Head of Fletcher House