One thing that I love about Joeys is that there is a genuine interest across all boys about how others are going – not just boys in their own form but throughout the whole school. The boys at Joeys are able to see the big picture and realise that everything is not just about them.

I have seen this so many times over the last few years, whether it be last year when I witnessed the Firsts Basketball players coaching the 13E team – in fact again this year I dropped down to the basketball and couldn’t help but notice that three of the Firsts players had placed themselves on the Year 10 stairs looking over Court 1 in order to watch the lower Under 13 teams play. I have seen First XV Rugby players running water on for Under 13 teams. I have seen senior swimmers take the younger boys under their wing in major GPS carnivals. I have been on Ski Trips where boys from every year group have been represented and all got along so well and only today saw a photo of the Football trip which is on as I write – again, the presence of such a wide variety of boys from all years was very obvious.

During the cricket season this relationship and interest across age groups was very evident. When it rains then unfortunately many cricket teams miss out on training due to turf pitches being unusable. However, this was to be no hurdle for our First XI Cricket who took this opportunity to train with our U13A team. It was wonderful to see Year 7 boys bowling at the First XI players and likewise for them to face deliveries from the fastest bowlers in the school. The First XI coaches (Mr Pat Rodgers and Mr Richard Casamento) were on hand to offer some further advice to the boys which only added to the superb experience for them. This was all on top of the First XI turning up to the first match of the season to cheer the Year 7 boys on.

It is always wonderful to see the Year 7 boys learning from the senior boys. It is very natural and I know that it means so much to the younger boys. Well done to the older boys across all sports for showing a real interest in the Year 7s. This is certainly a characteristic of our boys that we always want to maintain.

Photo 1:  Jason Wiradharma (Hunters Hill) bowls to the First XI players.

Photo 2:  Lachlan Day (Wagga Wagga) gets some tips from Mr Casamento.

Photo 3: The First XI team come over to wish the 13A team the best of luck in their first match back in March.