|
|
Home
 Publications High Notes Older Volumes High Notes, Vol 10 No 15, May 22 2009
High Notes, Vol 10 No 15, May 22 2009
From the Principal
High Talent
AAGPS Athletics Assembly Special guest, Aaron Hunt (SHS 1989), athletes, coaches, parents, staff and students, welcome to our annual Athletics Assembly. This year we have built on our performances in athletics from a good platform from last year. The training opportunities have been broadened and participation rates are high. I am encouraged by the enculturation of logbook accountability for boys who are engaged in training at weights, sprints, long distance work outs and scheduled training sessions. The more widespread this practice becomes, the greater the level of base fitness our students will attain for all sports. I want to acknowledge and laud the work of Robert Devlin as MIC who has really developed the athletics profile at High over the last few years. Thank you to Richard Ayre, HT Sport, for contributing his hurdles expertise and athletics management to the program. Jason Tassell has developed and monitored athletes through our electronic roll marking capability. Thank you to staff members Steve Codey, Mark Gainford and Wayne Baldock for their efforts. Our coaches Davina Strauss, Rebecca Elliott and Edward Ovadia have helped deepen our fitness and lift our skills bases. Thank you to David and Katrina Morrow for their assistance with High Jump. Thank you as always to the carnival volunteers, the parents and Sean Creer, who helped out at our invitational carnival and who are assisting us on Saturday. The half day invitational carnivals have been well attended and all boys get a chance to compete at the Homebush stadium. We are very happy about the GPS decision to move the athletics season back to its traditional place in the calendar. More seniors are competing again and there is a preparation lead in time for rugby and football. This morning I want to remind you all of the proud tradition High has in athletics. Thirty years ago High held its Athletics Carnival on Wednesday and Thursday, August 8 -9, 1979 at the Sydney Sports Ground. They did not have the advantage of synthetic tracks but ran on grass. The athlete of the meet was 14 Years Age champion, Alan Davies. He won the 100 in 12.5, the 200 in 25.6, the long jump (5.35), the triple jump (11.3), the shot put (13.07), the discus (36.18) and the javelin (39.31). He placed second in the 90 metres hurdles and the high jump. Alan qualified for the CHS state carnival in six events. He placed second in long jump at the GPS Carnival. At the school carnival, current celebrity Old Boy, John McGrath, won the 16 years 200 (25.5) and the 400 (56.5), the 110m hurdles (19.0) and was second in the 100. He was injured during a baton change at the GPS carnival and had to withdraw. He qualified for the CHS state carnival in the hurdles.
Another great performance came from Stewart Aikman. He won the Open 400 (57.7), the 800 (2.16)
and the 1500 (4.24). He also ran second in the 3000m. to Ian Hopkins who went on to win the event
at the GPS Carnival. The commitment of senior students at the time is demonstrated through the
efforts of Peter Ulm. He won the 200 (24.9), the high jump, long jump and triple jump and was
second in the 100 and 400. He just beat Aikman for Age Champion, due to his determination and
resilience over six events. At the 1979 AAGPS Carnival, held over two days, Friday afternoon and
Saturday, October 5-6, again at the Sydney Sports Ground, High had two wins and four seconds in
championship events. I am trying to demonstrate three ideas through these examples. First, it has
always been difficult to win at GPS level. In all the years before or since 1979, wins have been
scarce. On the other hand, there is an established tradition that good athletes should attempt
multiple events, not just at school carnivals but also at GPS level. Our athletes have really put
in their all for the school on the day. Remarkable achievements like the great distance treble by
Ben McKinley and the impressive double in 1990 by our special guest today, show what pride our
students have shown in competing for their school. Second, the purpose of competitors being there
is to score points for their school. If you can score points in an event, a championship event
particularly, you should make the effort to do so. The day is about school against school. We
need to beat TAS first, then Grammar, then Newington or Shore in the junior and / or senior point
scores. That won’t happen if good athletes do not compete at all for their school or sit in
the stands dreaming of their one big moment of glory when they could be out there adding to the
school’s points tally. I applaud particularly those athletes who have shown great High
Spirit and put their hands up for five, four or three events tomorrow. I commiserate with those
who cannot compete because of injury. Finally, I want to stress the point that, uniquely at High,
you have another chance at individual success. You are offered opportunities to test yourself at
Combined High Schools Competition. We support specialisation for success through this pathway. If
you want to concentrate on one event at CHS – fine - but the AAGPS carnival is High’s
athletics showpiece day. Do it for the team. Congratulations to all team members who have put in
the preparation, the seven weeks of training and the competition trials at carnivals. Well done
to all the people who helped them get there. All that is required now is for High boys to make
the effort to go out to Homebush to support our team tomorrow. Aaron Hunt's Address Staff, Parents, Guests & Students Good afternoon and thank you for inviting me to speak at 2009 探花视频 GPS Athletics Assembly! It is with great pleasure I am here today. Sydney High has always been a fine academic institution and sport plays a major role in creating a balance, and channel for a boy’s development. The knowledge acquired through competition both as an individual, and part of a team, are handy skills to possess. The joy of winning – the pain of defeat – the pride in being part of a winning ream – the wanting of the return match to square things up – are all emotions you learn to manage through sport, and will recall later in life! Indeed doors open through sport in later life – at business meetings or proposals or even job interviews you encounter GPS & CAS Old Boys and the conversation invariably turns to sport – and the questions “What sport did you play?” And the reply – “yeah, I rowed” or “played basketball” or “cricket….” It is your extra school/study participation – that opens doors – and can create opportunities! Honestly, I have never bumped into a GPS or CAS Old Boy at a meeting or seminar or at a hotel or game somewhere who’s asked me if I STUDIED Geography….? Taking nothing away from the importance of study and learning – the conversation is usually about sport! It is said – Perception is Reality. Unfortunately the perception in the Old Boys community is that Sydney High has lost its sports credibility in recent times…. I disagree! If I can, I want to read my Athletics Captains Report from 1989… “There seem to me to be three main reasons for our relatively poor performance at GPS level: 1. We are intimidated by the other members of the AAGPS 2. A number of good athletes are reluctant to commit themselves to competing on Saturdays 3. We lack rigorous training” Walking the corridors as a student for 6 years, I never saw any additions to the GPS Champions Honour Roll upstairs on the landing. NOW – I see in the last 20 years since I left, we have been GPS Premiers in: Soccer Cricket Basketball Rifle Shooting Tennis NSW CHS 15 yrs Basketball Champions 2008 I believe… And I’m happy to say – I noticed we won the GPS cross country running in 1996! I can assure all the boys here – not just the Athletics Team – but every boy in the Great Hall – The GPS Honour Roll – the so-called hall of fame or gallery of honoured students and Old Boys – YOU WANT TO GET AMONGST THAT! If you ever want motivation before a big competition or exam – go there – soak it up – want to be part of it – hopefully it won’t just provide inspiration, but motivation as well! I congratulate you boys for being selected to represent High at the GPS Athletics Championships – and as an Old Boy and sportsman it makes me proud to see the Honour Roll and Gallery today. I challenge you – you boys here today – to be the best you can be…. To be GPS premiers – if not in 2009 – then to the junior boys to triumph in the coming years. To the 2009 GPS Athletics team, I wish you God Speed and good luck! Thank you. Aaron Hunt 
From the Canteen TeamPlacing a lunch order each morning before school from 8.30am to 9.00am assures you get your favourite for lunch. When placing your lunch orders watch out for our daily specials such as Hokkien noodles with beef and black bean sauce ($4.50), Hot beef and onion rolls with gravy ($3.80), Chicken sweet corn soup ($2.50), all homemade, available during the cooler months.
Our volunteers and staff would like to convey their appreciation to the many, many boys who
continue to be courteous to us when we serve you each day. It lightens the day for all of us but
particularly for the volunteers who are not paid to work in the canteen so we can raise valuable
funds for the school for the benefit of all students.
SHS Cadet Unit
CHIEF OF ARMY’S CHALLENGE
Our team : Staff Sergeant Johan Santoso worked hard in preparing the team. A handsome trophy was awarded and can be seen in the trophy case in the foyer. The team will compete again in October for the right to represent the state in the National Challenge.
F88 STEYR SHOOT
ANNUAL CAMP
ADULT STAFF VACANCIES
Boggabilla ExchangeJune 22 to June 25 the students from Boggabilla Central School will be coming to Sydney Boys High on their annual exchange. The proposed itinerary is attached and once again we are after families to take billets. If you are able to take billets for 2 nights on Tuesday June 23 and Wednesday June 23 please contact Mr Barris in the History Faculty ext 126.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
P&C: High SocietyThe Bulletin Board for Sydney Boys High P & C
Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea Thursday 28 May Come and mingle with the staff in the Staff Common room or the Quadrangle (weather dependent) from 10.30am. Please bring a plate of morning tea to share and a donation for the Cancer Council. If you can't make it, you can donate online at and search under 'NSW' for our morning tea name, which is '(Sydney Boys) High Tea.' Upcoming Parent Meetings & Events (details in High Notes)
If you would like to have any parent community news or upcoming events included in High Society, please contact Julie Connolly, P&C President, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 0418 470 203.
Music Notices
Marching Band
Music Camp All students in the Performance Music Program are expected to attend (including Year 7 students who began learning an instrument this year). If you have NOT made payment arrangements and returned notes to the school’s main office, please see the Music Staff ASAP.
Music Tour Meeting
Education Expo Week
Music Parking
Cabaret Night
ANZAC Day - Photos
Piano For Sale
SBHS Debating
FED Final Series
Friday 22nd May – Coaching Only The Grand Final will be held at SBHS so I look forward to a huge crowd of supporters for all of our teams!
GPS Debating Competition 2009
Debates shown in bold will be at home.
A Reminder for Boys in Selection Debates More information can be found at and will be emailed to you on a weekly basis. Please CHECK YOUR EMAIL regularly and ensure we have current contact details for both students and parents. PARENTS: If you are not receiving weekly emails about debating please email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and ask to be added to the parent group for your child’s year.
Dana Quick
AAGPS Athletics ChampionshipsOn Saturday the 16th of May, our athletics team competed at the 114th Annual Combined Athletics Championships at Sydney Olympic Park. Despite the windy conditions, an impressively large number of High supporters, from students to parents to teachers, were present throughout the day, filling the bay in the stadium we had been given this year. Seven weeks of hard training had led to great improvements among our athletes during the season, and after a week of lighter training, we were fresh and well-prepared to help the school to defeat our rival GPS schools. Like last year, we achieved two individual victories – a great result. Christopher Morrow easily defended his high jump win from last year, jumping 1.9m in the 16s – 14cm higher than his closest competitor. Ivor Metcalf also found success while jumping, clearing 1.7m to take out the 14s high jump, before achieving 3rd place in the 90m hurdles. Our runners in the 13s age group performed exceptionally. Anton Brokman showed remarkable endurance in competing in the 400m, 800m, 1500m, 90m hurdles and shot put, picking up valuable points with three 5th places and a 4th. Maurice Lam also ran well, placing 3rd in the 200m, and 4th in the 100m. Another impressive performer in this age group was Eugene Lee, who took 4th in the long jump. To cap off the success of this age group, Hayden Lam finished 3rd in the 100m division, and Dominic Mah 2nd in the 90m hurdles division. Mention must also go to Michael Phung, who placed 3rd in the 100m (12.19) and 3rd in the long jump (5.58m). High’s success in the high jump continued in the 15s, when Harry Heo jumped 1.68m for 3rd. Brian Kelly in the 16s had a memorable day, with three 4th places, in the 100m (11.81), 200m (24.00) and long jump (5.73m). Now with the label of High’s fastest runner after Joshua Tassell of Year 12 unfortunately got injured, Kerrod McPherson ran superbly to finish 3rd in the Opens 100m (11.44) and 4th in the 200m (23.39). Jeremy Rajendram was also a stand out, jumping 6.1m in the 17s long jump for 2nd place. Sydney High’s 4x100m relay teams overall put in a great performance, with 4th places in the 13s, 14s and Opens. High’s middle and long distance runners also performed admirably. In the 14s, Lloyd Perris amazed everyone in the stadium with his devastating kick, coming from behind to achieve two 2nd places in the 800m and 1500m. In the 16s 1500m, Samuel Lane of Year 10 finished 4th with a great time of 4:22.2 after competing in the 800m. Not to be outdone, his older brother Harrison ran his fourth and last Opens 3000m, running a personal best time of 9:18.9 to take 4th place, before running bravely from the front of the pack in the Opens 1500m, again finishing 4th. And finally, Adam Booth of Year 9 showed great promise in the Opens 3000m, and is sure to improve on his solid effort in the coming years.
With so many outstanding performances in all ages, we keenly awaited the announcement of the
results for the junior and senior teams. A 6th place in the junior division equalled our position
last year, as did our 8th in the senior division. That a slight sense of disappointment among our
athletes accompanied these results shows how far our athletics program has come over the last few
years. In the junior division we finished only 12.5 points behind Grammar, while in the senior
division only 7 points separated us. Nevertheless it was a superb effort by our athletes,
maintaining our success from last year in the junior division and extending it to the senior
division, where we improved our points score by almost 14%. If not for a few key injuries and
absences, we may well have been celebrating a 5th place for the juniors, and a 7th place for the
seniors, something that has never seemed possible during my time at this school. This vast
improvement is a testament to the tireless effort put in by the coaches, teachers and volunteers,
and most of all, the dedication of all the athletes.
Australia's Biggest Morning TeaAustralia’s Biggest Morning Tea is one of the Cancer Council’s leading fundraising events and the largest, most successful event of its kind in Australia. Over $60 million has been raised since it first began in 1994. Thursday 28 May @ 10.30 am Funds raised during Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea go towards Cancer Council research, prevention, education and support. Teachers, Parents and Friends are all invited. Bring a plate of food, a cup and your generous support to our fundraising event to be held in the courtyard(weather permitting) at 10.30 am.
|
Sydney Boys High School
