Each weekend, the boarders who stay in at the College have the opportunity to get out of school for a while and go out on the “Sunday Activity”. The activity changes each week and throughout the year the boys have been treated to a very wide range of things to do.

On the first weekend of September, the boys headed off to Putt-Putt golf at West Ryde. Although most of them had seen Putt-Putt on television (Mr Bean) and in movies (Happy Gilmore), for the vast majority, this was the first time that they took to the greens themselves.

As an extra incentive, the winner was destined to get a free McDonalds meal on the way home. All of a sudden the competitive side of the boys came out!

The “Fun Run” was the first course undertaken. The boys realised that getting that little white ball in the hole was not going to be as easy as they thought. Travis Blair (Macksville) and John Chow (Papua New Guinea) led the charge leading after the front nine, however, Kobe Pitt (Moree) and Stephen Sia (Lord Howe Island) were hot on their tails and only one and two shots behind respectively. John was the one who was able to maintain his consistency on this course and finished with the lowest score of 49. Kobe had kept up finishing just one shot behind.

After a short break during which the course manager shouted each of the boys an ice-block, everyone headed to the “Water Course”. Hugh Edwards (Wellington) and Pat Hannaford (Braidwood) were determined to stay in the hunt while Tom Callaughan (Yass) somehow managed to lose his ball!

John Chow once again started on fire, going into the back nine ahead of everyone else. However, Travis Blair had different plans when, on the back nine, he managed to sink two ‘hole-in-ones’. His consistent low scores saw him take out the “Water Course”.

When the scores of the two courses were added together, John Chow was announced the overall winner and claimed the free Maccas meal. Most improved was undoubtedly Pat Hannaford who finished last on the “Fun Run” and then third on the “Water Course” with an amazing 16 shot improvement!

The boys appeared to greatly enjoy the relaxed experience, despite the anguish of hitting several of the obstacles … several times. It was quite frustrating to hit the feet of Bugs Bunny – only to look up and see him smiling at you. It is no wonder that Happy Gilmore lost the plot on his visit to a similar venue!

Pictured in Photo 1:  Hugh Edwards (Wellington) and Pat Hannaford (Braidwood)

Pictured in Photo 2:  Travis Blair (Macksville)

Well, we are certainly off and running for Term 3 and it has been a great start for the boys. It was wonderful to see them return fresh from their holidays and enthusiastic to be back around their mates (and school books too I am sure!)

From the sounds of it, the full three weeks was greatly appreciated and the stories from many boys have been entertaining to say the least! We had some boys travel overseas, others to the snow and of course, many of the boys were able to spend the time relaxing around the house.

This term is yet another busy one for us all. Winter sports finish, athletics season starts (and finishes) and summer sports start as well. Assessments continue in classes, there are a few academic competitions, some excursions and lots more! So I have no doubt that in 10 weeks time when we break up again for holidays it will once again feel as though time just flew!

Here’s to a great term for everyone!

Pictured in Photo:  Archie Davis (Sutton) and Charlie Smith (Bellata)

Written by Benedict Sutherland (Annandale)

I first really found out about robotics when I stumbled over an open computer lab when I was searching for a computer. Inside was the Robotics group, a teacher and two Year 8 boys. In the end, after the confusion, they asked me if I would like to join and hesitantly I said yes. As it turned out it was absolutely brilliant with about 10 boxes full of Lego, wires and who knows what else!

Unfortunately the weeks were slow and the two Year 8 students started to not turn up. This gave me the idea of getting other Year 7 students to join Robotics. At first I was criticised with some sentences such as ‘are you serious’ or the sarcastic ‘nice hobby’. But eventually I came across a few friends that were willing to join the group. Brandon Zhao (Bomaderry) was very enthusiastic and soon was getting way ahead of me with his robot. Sooner or later Bayley O’Donnell (Hong Kong) decided that making robots would be pretty cool and he started to help me make mine. He started saying ‘put this on’ or ‘but that would look really cool if we stuck that on’. It was even more of a perfect group when Luke Jolly (Freshwater) turned up with a year 9 student soon following.

Anyway my teacher and I had to explain the rules to Bayley and Brandon for the upcoming competition. I explained that there were two comps to enter, one being the Robot Dance and the Robot Rescue.

Robot Rescue involves you having to follow a black line with a colour sensor and reach a tin foil can. Once you get there, you have to get the robot all the way back with enough power with a timer of 90 seconds for the whole thing. The Robot Dance sounds easy but you have to keep the robot in time with the music that is playing. Good news is that you can choose your own music.

The great thing about Robotics is that the teacher only gives you small slices of help such as how to programme the robots’ movements. Once you know how to programme it and build it you are on your way to making a great robot. Another great thing is that you don’t have to know that much on robots because you just learn as you go.

To sum it up Robotics is a great and fun way to spend your afternoon instead of wasting time on the computer and I’m really glad I accidentally found it otherwise I wouldn’t have it to look forward to in the afternoons. It really is a ‘nice hobby’.

Pictured in Photo:  Bayley O’Donnell (Hong Kong), Luke Jolly (Freshwater), Brandon Zhao (Bomaderry) and Benedict Sutherland (Annandale)

Written by Tom Callaughan & Henry Lawler

On Sunday the 14^th March the Year Seven boarders who stayed in for the weekend went bowling at “King Pin” bowling centre at Darling Harbour. It was a great event which was enjoyed by all.

Hugh Edwards (Wellington) kicked off with a great seven pins in his first ball … unfortunately this was followed by a gutter ball. Ben Ticehurst (Hunters Hill) came next and repeated this with a seven himself. Then it was Tom Callaughan (Yass) to have his bowl scoring with a six. Clearly I wasn’t the best … nor was I the worst! Will O’Leary (Elong Elong) only knocked down one pin in three frames! However … as you will see … Will had his revenge planned!

We went through the frames with a close finish looming between none other than Will O’Leary (who must have only been bluffing early in the game) and Hugh Edwards. It was Will who ended up with an incredible ‘come from behind’ win on a score of 67. He was ecstatic. Hugh on the other hand was devastated but should not be upset having come in second!

The race for third was also close between Tom and Ben with Ben needing a spare in the final frame. It wasn’t to happen and Tom slid into third place.

While all that was happening Lincoln Mooring (Bourke) and Henry Lawler (Dubbo) were the only two Year 7 boys who were playing against the Year 8s.

Henry’s first bowl was a good one which scored an eight and Lincoln repeated this with an eight of his own. By the eighth frame, Henry was on 52 and a Year 8 boy was on 48 and Lincoln was on 12. By the last frame, Henry needed one more pin to draw and two more win, so he bowled, it was a gutter ball the second and last chance to win so he bowled his final ball … it was going dead straight … but then started to drift to the left … but then hit the left part of the pins knocking over three of them and putting him on 77 – so he won by two pins.

Over all … a great day. Thanks to Br Anthony who took us to the bowling and we are looking forward to getting even better scores next time we go!

Pictured in Photo 1:  Travis Blair (Macksville), Kobe Pitt (Moree), Hugh Edwards (Wellington), Will O’Leary (Elong Elong), Ben Ticehurst (Hunters Hill), Zack Dennis (Bathurst), Lincoln Mooring (Bourke), Henry Lawler (Dubbo), Tom Callaughan (Yass), Patrick Hannaford (Braidwood) and Stephen Sia (Lord Howe Island)

For most families, Friday night is often a relaxing evening. In Year 7, we try and make the evening a little less formal for the boys as well. On Fridays this term we have run a different programme to normal week-nights. We start study a little earlier than usual and have a longer first session. This allows the boys to get their homework completed.

At 6:30pm the boys then head over to Number 1 where they are able to have a great run-around on our fields either playing touch-footy, kicking the soccer ball or having a hit of tennis. The boys also have a BBQ for dinner.

Although over the last few weeks we have been hit by rain on Friday nights this has not dampened the spirits of the boys who last week took on Mr Elias (the youngest of our Boarding Team) in a 300m sprint. With no boys beating him, the challenge was then set over 100m – but this time with no head-start to Mr Elias. After a questionable start, Mr Elias led over the first 50m only to be drawn in and beaten on the line by Ben Williams (Hunters Hill). By Ben beating Mr Elias, he won a prize for all the boys who competed!

Last night the sun shone through and the boys were able to have a large and fast game of touch footy. With about 20 a side on Number 2, the scores were drawn at the end of the evening with the only casualties being a very sore Boarding Coordinator the next morning!

The boys appear to greatly enjoy the modified programme on Friday evenings – with only a couple of weeks left of day-light-savings I am sure they will make the most out of it over the final weeks of term.

Pictured in Photo 1:  Kobe Pitt (Moree), Dillon Farmer (Colvelly), Travis Blair (Macksville), Tom Horton (Mosman), Nick Rowell (Collaroy), Conan Chu (Strathfield South)

Pictured in Photo 2:  Tom Callaughan (Yass), Joey Masur (Collaroy), Will O’Connell (Gladesville), Sam de Courcy (Greenwich), Jono Chambers (Wildes Meadow), Dillon Farmer (Clovelly), Lochie Simpson (Chifley), Dom Maurici (Woolwich) and James Goodman (Hunters Hill)