Post on 15-Aug-2020
31st May
Zone Athletics
31st May - 2
nd June
Limousin Youth
Cattle Show
31st May - 4
th June
NWEE - Coona
1st June
Venturers @
Wee Jasper
6th
June Students leave for
DESI
11th
June Students return from
DESI
12th
– 14th
June
Holbrook Sheep &
Wool Fair
14th
June
Riverina X-Country
15th
June
McCaughey Ball
16th
June
P&C Meeting
22nd
– 23rd
June
Shooting Group @
Bowral
27th
June
Yr 11 2014 Subject
Selection Presentation
Night.
Years 10 & 12
Parent/Teacher
afternoon.
28th
June
Years 7-9 &11
Parent/Teacher day
28th
June
Last day Term 2. No
buses.
1st – 6
th July
Canada Trip
14th
July
Students return to
school
Private Mail Bag Telephone: 02 69511500
YANCO NSW 2703 Fax: 02 69557297
Email: yancoag-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au
Friday 31st May, 2013
Term 2, Week 5
As you sow, so
shall you reap
Yanco Agricultural High School
Newsletter
UPCOMING
EVENTS
IN SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY
The team working at Bookham – 15 students from Years 10, 11 and 12 with staff –
Mr Jason Sachs, Mr Paul Bandy and Mrs Vicki Bradford and the Armour family – Louise,
Kellie and Tony
School ANZAC service – respect for those that have fallen.
YAHS represented at the Leeton ANZAC Parade
Red Shield Appeal
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT TERM 2 WEEK 5
I commend this newsletter to you and I hope you
will enjoy the many articles. Many staff and
students have contributed to the newsletter and I
would like to thank them for their efforts.
This edition features a theme around the amount of
work our students complete in both the extended
and local communities. Our front cover features the
ANZAC Day Service here at school just prior to the
holidays where a new recognition for the fallen was
incorporated into the service. Year 12 have made
and painted crosses with the names of the fallen that
were former Yanconians. These were placed by
students in the garden beds around the cenotaph. A
wonderful concept initiated and driven by students.
Many thanks to former student, Andrew Condon,
himself a retired member of the Defence Forces,
who gave the address. Mr Condon‟s address and
those prepared by our School Captains are printed
in this news and are well worth a read.
The contingent was only small but proud to
represent their school in the Leeton ANZAC
Service during the school holidays. Lauren and
Emma also marched at the dawn service with Mr
Press and Mr Hammond. A huge thank you to these
students and congratulations on a fine effort. A big
thank you to the Nevinson family who travelled
over from Hay to participate.
Recently, fifteen Year 10, 11 and 12 students
undertook the task of removing burnt and broken
fences and constructing new ones in their place
amongst the blackened and parched paddocks at
Bookham. Again see the full story in the news.
These students did a wonderful job and took great
pride in their workmanship in both difficult terrain
and very wintery conditions. Well done to all
involved.
Last Sunday 24 students joined many of the local
services to participate in the Salvation Army Red
Shield Appeal. Working with the locals over $8000
was raised on the day. Captain Phillip McCall
presented special certificates to the students and
thanked them for their efforts. Without our students
the coverage of Leeton and surrounds would not be
possible.
The school is most proud and pleased to support the
local community and students enjoy the
opportunities they receive to volunteer their
services. Recently the Year 11 students have again
begun their visits to Gralee Special School. This is
another student initiative which has great benefits
for both schools. More on this in the next
newsletter. There are many success stories of both
teams and individuals in the news and below are a
few snippets.
Rugby League – both our Open and Under 14
teams have had great success this year and have
progressed well into the later rounds of the
University and Buckley Shields. In 2013 we are
fielding some of the strongest teams for many years
and we are confident the success will continue
further. Individually, Open students Tom Webb,
Jesse McDonald, Keiran Fair and Tim Hillam were
selected to go to Canberra to contest the Greater
Southern Championships, and Tom was selected in
the final team to contest the NSW Championships.
In the Under 15 side Zac Saddler and Mitchell
Pippin were selected to go to Canberra and both
were selected in the Greater Southern team to
contest the NSW Championships. This event is on
at the moment. Many of these players have also
represented Group 20 over the last few weeks with
success.
Australian Football – all teams, both boys and
girls, opens and under 15‟s have had considerable
success in this code. Many of our school teams have
made finals which they will contest over the next
few weeks. Sebastian Webb and George Alexander
have been selected to play for Riverina Murray in
the State Under 15 Championships in the near
future.
Cricket – I am aware this is belated and a little out
of season but these students also need to be
recognised from the recent summer season. Steven
Burrows was named „Cricketer of the Year‟ in the
local „C‟ grade competition and was third in the
batting aggregate with 253 runs. Tim Hillam was
first in the bowling average in „C‟ grade with 5.64.
In the Senior representative awards the Keith Plant
Memorial Cricketer of the Year was awarded to
Alex McMaster.
Netball - Marnie Whytcross has been selected in
the 2013/2014 Far West Academy of Sport Netball
Academy Squad. Marnie attended trials for the
squad in October 2012 where there were girls from
all over the western division of NSW also trying
out. This included girls from Broken Hill, Cobar,
Bourke, Collarenebri, Coonabarabran, Coonamble,
Gilgandra, Lake Cargelligo, Nyngan, Walgett and
Warren. Marnie is now participating in several
training weekends and is gaining access to, and
working with, elite coaches and receiving assistance
to develop her personal training program. Marnie
has just recently competed in the Clubs NSW 2013
Academy games held in Wollongong in April and
has gained invaluable experience, playing against
very experienced and talented teams from mostly
around the Sydney region. She will continue her
training program and participate in more netball
carnivals throughout the year.
Music – Sally McNiff and Lyndsey Mitchell were
selected in the Riverina Central Choir and
performed in the In Concert performance at the
Sydney Town Hall. Nathan Morris was nominated
for Griffith Young Musician of the Year Award and
although not successful received a Highly
Commended Award and was requested to perform
at the presentation ceremony.
Squash – Gavin Evans has been selected in the
Riverina team.
Lawn Bowls – Sam Larsen has been selected in the
Riverina team.
Congratulations to all these students for a fine
effort. A large number of students have been
selected in athletics and cross country teams to
compete at regional level over the next few weeks.
Best wishes to these students as they strive to do
their best.
Former student Annabel Lugsdin was recently
announced as the successful applicant for the 2013
Peter Westblade Scholarship. The scholarship
encourages young people in agriculture to go
further and promotes the adoption of new
technology in the sheep industry. The winner gains
mentoring from industry innovators and leaders and
is involved in the Peter Westblade Memorial
Merino Challenge. The scholarship also provides
travel opportunities, research books, cash and in-
kind support up to the value of $10000. Annabel is
a project officer with Australian Wool Innovation in
Sydney and was heavily involved in the sheep
livestock program at Yanco. Congratulations
Annabel.
This is a short term and the end will come quickly.
Reminder to all parents that there will be no buses
at the end of term and parents are expected to
participate in parent/teacher interviews over the last
two days of term. It is expected reports will be
available on line well prior to this time but hard
copies will not be posted and will be able to be
picked up from the office prior to your interviews.
Year 10 will have an information afternoon on the
Thursday. Final details will be supplied after desi
but I would highly recommend that all parents of
Year 10 attend and receive the best possible advice
prior to students making their subject selections
early next term for 2014.
Remember Year 10 and 12 students plus their
siblings can book interviews for the Thursday 27th
and all other years have interviews on Friday 28th
Old Yanconian Ian Armour
June – the final day of term. Parents are requested
to work with us on this to allow the best access to
staff. An exception this year will be the families and
students travelling to Canada on the 28th
, they will
be able to book interviews on the Thursday.
Performance Night will be on Thursday 27th
so
come along and support your children and school
for this great night of entertainment. Miss North has
indicated this year will be the best yet and all
involved are very excited and enthusiastic about the
event. Admission for adults will be $5 and students
$2, payable at the door.
The website is working very well and thank you to
parents for your support. Again if it is not meeting
your needs and you have suggestions please don‟t
hesitate to pass them on.
A reminder to parents that the area around
McCaughey House is not a parking area and I
would request parents use the assigned parking
areas in the school. This is a student walk area and
with our buses continually on the move cars parked
in this area are making it very difficult for all
concerned.
Thank you to the many parents who are using the
exemption forms to explain the absence of their
children. This helps the school greatly. Families
need to be aware that the exemption does not
necessarily also give exemption to any assessment
tasks due during this time. This particularly applies
to Years 10, 11 and 12. It is also a concern that far
too many students are requesting exemptions when
they should be in school in the classroom to
complete their studies. If parents have concerns
over these issues please don‟t hesitate to contact me
at school.
We have had our front driveway upgraded by kind
donations organised by the Owen James from
Downer EDI and supported by Andrew Twigg from
Milbrae Quarries. These Yanco families have
organised this greatly required donation and the
school is most grateful for this work as there is no
way the school could ever afford such an exercise.
Term 3 will see a new stage in the organisation of
the DEC. The new Executive Director for our area
has been appointed. Her name is Dail McGilchrist
and she will work out of offices in Dubbo, Wagga
and Warilla. She will be responsible for all areas
west and south of Orange, or the old Illawarra and
South East, Riverina and Western NSW regions – a
very large area. I would like to acknowledge the
work of our previous regional director, Mr Colin
Parker. Always an excellent support for this school
and we wish him well in the future. He finishes at
the end of this term. The Directors who will replace
our present SED‟s will be known shortly after their
applications closed this week. Once we know these
decisions I will pass them on.
Until the next news, I wish you well and hope to see
you at performance night and the coming parent
teacher interviews.
OLD YANCONIAN’S VISIT
One of the highlights for the school is the visits
undertaken by former students from long ago. Many
of these students have not visited the school for
many years and their eyes light up when they see
the many changes that have taken place over the
years. This photo is of
Ian Armour, who visited
the school on a recent
bustrip full of bowlers
from Canberra. He now
resides in Lyons in the
ACT and was a student
of the school from 1947.
He was delighted with
visit and very proud to
be a Yanconian amongst
his fellow bowlers.
Another visitor recently was 94 year old Henry
Johnson who has now written wonderful
information about his time at Yanco which we will
proudly in our archives. Henry‟s story will be
featured in the next news – it makes wonderful
reading.
If there are any Old Yanconians out there reading
this or you are a family or friend of one please have
them write their story so we can keep this
information and continually remind us of our past
and traditions.
Sam Barnes (middle)
John Duryea
NATIONAL CLAY TARGET ASSOCIATION
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Recently four of
our students
competed in these
Championships in
Perth and achieved
excellent results.
John Duryea, Sam
and Will Barnes
and Dane Doyle all
competed with
success. Will
competed in the
Sub-Junior section
and Dane in the
Junior and „B‟
grade competitions
with Sam and John
competing in the
Junior and „AA‟ competitions. The „AA‟
competitions are the highest grade and open to all
competitors including shooters from overseas.
Dane was successful in being placed second in the
National Double-barrelled Championship for „B‟
grade.
Sam was placed second in the junior (under 18)
National Double-barrelled Championship and was
also a member of the highly successful NSW Junior
Trap Team
John continued with
his excellent success
and was selected in
the Junior All-
Australian team of 3
which will compete
in New Zealand at
the World
Championships in
March 2014. John
had only recently
returned from the
Oceanic Games in Tahiti where he was competing
in the three-man Australian team. During his time at
the games John was awarded a Silver medal in the
team competition and a Bronze medal in the
individual competition.
Yanco is proud to have these quality sportsman in
the school and would like to congratulate them on
their success in such a highly competitive sport
where a majority of the time they are competing
against adults.
Yanco Agricultural High School P&C Association
CALLING FOR HELP!!
The 2013 YAHS Artshow needs a
P&C Artshow Coordinator/s.
If you can help in this very important role
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE
Contact Monique Owen on 0417 415 503
or email monique_owen@yahoo.com
The success and continuation of this event
is at risk if we cannot get a coordinator/s
to assist our Visual Arts teacher very soon.
Your help is urgently needed!!
Yanco Agricultural High School P&C Association
Private Mail Bag, Yanco, NSW, 2703
2013 Art & Photography Exhibition
Friday September 13th
Please see attached flyer for information and entry from.
School Captains and Vice Captains at the Old Yanconians Dinner and presentation
of the original architectural drawing of the rear of McCaughey House.
OLD YANCONIANS DINNER
The Old Yanconians dinner was held the night
before Gala Day and the School Captains, Sabrina,
Royce, Harriet and Murray, as well as senior
executives were
invited to
participate.
Additionally this
year John
Duryea was
invited to the
gathering to talk
about his trip to
Wales last year
where he
represented
Australia. This
trip was
supported by the
Old Yanconians.
This year the
1951 starters
presented the
school with a
magnificent piece of history led by Dick Jane Jnr.
This is a fully framed original architectural drawing
of the rear of McCaughey House. The school would
like to sincerely thank the Old Yanconians for this
magnificent gesture. It will be proudly displayed in
a prominent position in McCaughey House. During
the evening Mr Jim Ceely, a 1957 starter, made
comments in his toast to the Old Yanconians.
Following are his comments - makes wonderful
reading.
Toast to the Old Yanconians by Jim Ceely
“I feel very proud to be given the opportunity to
propose the toast to Old Yanconians. I do this on
behalf of all these distinguished gentlemen, who
like me, started at YAHS sixty years ago. The letter
I received from Leo promoting our reunion was like
a „call to arms‟. It took me back in time; sliding
down the bannister in McCaughey House, building
a hut in the bush, getting up before daylight for
dairy duty, boxing my mate on Gala day for the
coin shower, playing footy, dances in the hall and
the old movies on Saturday night. We arrived at
Yanco as boys but we left as young men, ready to
take on the world as Old Yanconians. I returned to
the area a few years later, a raw 19 year old teacher,
joining the first 26 settlers at Coleambally to set up
a school in a small abandoned mud hut. Word had
got around
before I
arrived that I
was an Old
Yanconian –
this meant a
lot to the new
farmers, they
felt I would fit
in, and I did. I
think I spent
more time on a
tractor than
teaching in
that first year
helping to
prepare for
that important
first rice crop.
The reputation and success of any enterprise is
under pinned by tradition and foresight. The legacy
we can give to the reputation of our school as old
Yanconians is by the contributions we are seen to
make in our communities through our life‟s
endeavours. I must congratulate the tireless work of
the Old Yanconians Union in its ongoing support of
the school and the organisation of this great reunion
dinner. We must all be proud to wear the tag “Old
Yanconian”.
FENCING AT BOOKHAM
In January the
temperatures were
intense and in the mid
40‟s when fire swept
through the farmlands
in the Bookham area,
including a number of
properties with close
connections to Yanco.
Tony and Louise
Armour‟s property
„Glenrock‟ was badly
affected with nearly
3000 sheep lost and
most of their acreage burnt to a cinder as the fire
rushed past on several fronts.
Both will agree they
were very lucky and,
with the help of the
bushfire brigade, the
buildings and major
structures were saved.
Their beloved horses
were also saved,
although ending up
tethered in the front
yard and in poultry
areas.
Many contributed to
the survival of the remaining stock and Blaze Aid
were also there in numbers to help replace the
fencing. In discussions with Tony it was suggested
that a group of students from the school could
spend some time on the property constructing
fences in some of
the more difficult
terrain. School
Captain, Royce
Johnston, took the
lead to organise a
team and ensure it
all happened.
On a bitterly cold
May weekend 15
intrepid students,
three staff and the
Armour family
embarked on the task at hand. Five kilometres of
fencing in very rugged
country which vehicles
could not penetrate. All
materials and equipment
was manually carted to
the positions by the
students and the work
was completed in very
quick time over the three
days of work.
Students included
Year 12: Royce Johnston, Alex Stewart, Rowan
Horne, Aaron Nevinson, Nicholas Allan, John
Duryea, Blaine Johnson,
Year 11: Harry Carey, Harley Bruce, Bailey
Taylor,
Year 10: Tom Smyth, Jack Pippin, Jayke Martin,
Cooper Thatcher, Toby Commens
Staff: Mr Jason Sachs, Mr Paul Bandy, Mrs Vicki
Bradford
The students can be justifiably proud of their efforts
in most unpleasant conditions and the school is very
proud of the way the students fulfilled their task.
All students in the group possess exceptional skills
and the job could not have been completed better if
they were a professional fencing team. All students
were keen to complete a worthy job and the
neatness of the finished product was testimony to
the pride they took in their workmanship.
The Armour family expressed their enormous
thanks to the boys for their efforts. This community
spirit is a wonderful asset to all involved and
something the school is very proud of.
YAHS would also like to thank the Armour family
for the time and care they took with our team and a
special thanks to the staff, who gladly contributed
their time to make the initiative come to fruition.
NEW STAFF
Welcome to our new staff at YAHS in Term 2.
They all have a great desire to teach at the school
and are very enthusiastic about this opportunity. All
are highly skilled and we look forward to a long and
productive association.
It is my pleasure to introduce our new staff
commencing in Term 2.
Mr Phillip Ronald
I completed my Plant
Mechanic apprenticeship
in the mid-1980s and was
employed in the mobile
machinery maintenance
industry for over 20 years.
In this time I progressed
from apprentice through
the ranks to project
manager in open cut
mining. In 2000 I decided it was time for a career
change and followed a lifelong desire to teach
Industrial Arts. I accepted an offer to join an
accelerated teacher training program and began
teaching in 2003. Over the next 10 years I worked
in NSW schools teaching in the TAS faculty, and
the last 3 years as the Apprentice Master for a
mining company.
Mr Nathan Cassilles
Growing up in Western
Sydney I attended school at
St Gregory's College,
Campbelltown. It was here
that I developed a love of
all things sports related
along with my passion for
rugby league. This led me
into the career choice of
becoming a PDHPE
teacher. I attended the University of Wollongong
where I met my wife Sally Cassilles (Maths
Teacher). I have travelled the world and lived in
both America (teaching water skiing and wake
boarding at a summer camp) and England (casual
teaching in primary and high schools). I love that
we are at Yanco Ag, not only is it a great school full
of amazing people but it is literally one big family!
I boarded for my last 2 senior years at St Gregs and
it was in those years that I really appreciated what
the school was about and how special the
experience of a boarding school is! I get to
experience that feeling all over again and am
extremely grateful for that. I hope to become a
valued teacher at this school and an integral
member of what is the Yanco Ag family.
Mrs Samantha Irons
From 2004 to 2006 I
completed a Bachelor of
Medical Science at Charles
Sturt University in Wagga,
then a Diploma of
Education in 2007. In 2008
I worked as a Science and
HSIE teacher at West
Wyalong High School,
before moving to WA in
2009 with my husband. From 2009 to 2012 I
worked at Comet Bay College in various roles
including Science teacher, year coordinator and
head of student welfare. At the end of 2012 we
moved back to Narrandera (my husband's home
town). Since the start of 2013 I have worked at
Narrandera High School and now Yanco
Agricultural High School.
REGISTRARS OFFICE
Term 2 fees are now overdue. Please ensure fees
are paid in full unless prior arrangements or a
payment plan is in place. Please contact Registrar,
Julie Fitzsimon if you need to discuss outstanding
fees.
TRAVEL OFFICE
PVC claims are due at the end of Term 2. Please
note any claims received after this date will not be
processed. Please hand these in when you come to
pick up your child at the end of term. Electronic
versions of our PVC claims can be downloaded
from the Schools website under Forms / Travel.
A copy will also be emailed home to all families.
ANZAC DAY 2013 - GUEST SPEAKER
COLONEL ANDREW CONDON
Colonel Andrew Condon,
CSC (retired) grew up on
his Grandfather‟s World
War 1 settler farm at
Yenda near Griffith.
He attended Yanco
Agricultural High School
1976 to 1981.
In 1982 he joined the Army and graduated from
Duntroon in 1985.
His operational service includes Iraq in 2004 and he
was the Commander of the ADF Joint task Force
that conducted the evacuation of 5000 Australians
from Lebanon in the 2006 war between Israel and
Hezbollah forces, for which he was awarded, in the
2007 Queens Birthday Honours list, the
Conspicuous Service Cross.
He also had shorter operational visits to Timor,
Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Sinai and Sudan.
After 27 years in the Australian Regular Army,
Colonel Condon took up his current position as
Chief Executive Officer of Sydney Legacy.
Colonel Condon’s Anzac Day Speech
On or near the 25th of April each year, Australians
all round our nation, and around the world, gather
together to
commemorate the
first nationally
significant military
action fought by
Australian and New
Zealand forces at
Gallipoli during
WW1.
Anzac Day 2013
marks the 98th
anniversary of this
first significant
military action
fought by the
Australian and New Zealand Army Corps where
9000 Australians died at Gallipoli, while another
18,000 were wounded. They were our first Anzacs.
We gather on days like today to remember our
fallen Service personnel of all wars and subsequent
generations of Anzacs, with commemorative
services held at dawn, and at parades, and at
services such as this here at Yanco Agricultural
High School.
I am particularly
pleased that this year‟s
Yanco Ag Anzac
Service will include
the placing of white
crosses, each with the
name of a former
student who went on
to serve their country
in a time of war, that will be placed during the
reading of the Roll of Honour.
The student placing the cross
being from the same house as
the former student. The
reading of the Roll of Honour
of those who were killed in
war is an important tradition
for this school. A tradition
that started during World War
II where at each school
weekly assembly, the School
Principal would read out the names of former
students who had been killed in the War in the past
week. My father was a student at Yanco Ag during
that war and
recalls on one of
those
assemblies, the
School Principal
reading out
amongst the
names of those
killed that week,
the name of his
own son.
I left Yanco Ag
to join the Army
after my HSC,
and after four
years at Duntroon Royal Military College I had
postings around Australia and overseas. In 2004 I
was posted to a Coalition Corps Headquarters in
Baghdad, and in 2006 I was again on operational
service overseas for the evacuation of Australian
nationals from Lebanon during the war between
Israeli and Hezbollah forces. Shorter operational
visits included East Timor, Syria, Lebanon, Israel,
Sinai and Sudan. But let me say, having seen a number of countries
around the world ranging from 1st to 3rd world
nations, I came to understand how truly lucky we
are to live in Australia. We are very lucky to be
able to enjoy a quality of life that I believe is the
best in the world.
Not because of
material wealth, but
because of our
inherent freedoms.
Freedom of speech
and freedom of
association are basic
fundamentals of life
we in Australia take
for granted. We
have great public
institutions, we vote,
and we don‟t have to live in fear of surrounding
violence, we don‟t have compulsory conscription
for all 18 year olds into the military. Education and
welfare is available for all. Australia is a great
country, but we should not take it for granted and
work to keep it that way.
The Anzacs, and those that followed, who paid the
ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom and our
values, are our generation‟s inspiration for working
together with the same Anzac spirit of mateship,
loyalty and dedication, to work hard to ensure their
sacrifices are not in
vain.
This year is the 95th
anniversary of the
Battle of Villers-
Bretonneux when on
the 25th of April 1918
Australian forces re-
captured the town of
Villers-Bretonneux on
the Western Front in
France. Villers-
Bretonneux was the
most important of a series of battles fought by
Australians that resisted German attacks on the
Somme in the first half of 1918.
The German capture of Villers-Bretonneux at dawn
on the 24 April was the final effort of the offensive
that had commenced so successfully for the
Germans on 21 March 1918. Early in April the first
German attack towards Villers-Bretonneux had
been thwarted, but when the Australians had been
moved to another part of the front, the very young
British defenders on 24 April had little answer to
the German
advance, and the
village fell to
the enemy. Two
Australian
brigades, the
13th and 14th
Brigades, were
set the task of
retaking the
township.
During the night
of April 24th
, the 13th Brigade faced intense
machine-gun fighting before they could proceed.
The two brigades then linked up east of the village
to encircle the Germans. The allied attack to retake
Villers-Bretonneux was achieved at dawn on 25
April, through the fierce fighting.
The Australian Battalion that played a key role in
this action was the 33rd Battalion. One of the
members of the 33rd Battalion was Private Tom
Condon, who sent his two sons to Yanco Ag. Two
Grandsons also attended the school, and his Great
Grand Daughter is a current Yanco Ag student.
The counter-
attack cost
nearly 1,500
Australian
casualties, but
the action
restored stability
to this area of
the battlefield
and added to the
reputation of
Australians on the Western Front. During the
fighting in Villers-Bretonneux the school was
destroyed, and when the Australian diggers returned
to Australia, they raised the money required to
rebuild the town‟s school.
I was privileged to be in Villers-Bretonneux on 25
April 1993, for the 75th anniversary of this battle
and visited the school that still stands, complete
with Australian marsupials carved into the wooden
stairway in the main foyer of the school. What I
learnt was the people of this town had not forgotten
what the Australian diggers had done for them
during and after the Great War. When you walk
into the main quadrangle of the school, there is a
large sign, prominently displayed that reads, “Never
forget Australia”, and the school children sing two
national anthems, the French and the Australian.
These people do not take their freedom for granted,
and always remember those who fought for that
freedom.
Today while there are over 3000 Australian troops
on operations in foreign lands, including
Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Israel, Sinai, Sudan,
and the Solomon Is., we gather on this special day
to remember those who have gone before us, who
have sacrificed
all to give us
the great
nation we
enjoy today,
for which we
here today
should never
take for
granted, and may all Australians continue to work
together with the same Anzac spirit to keep our
country free and strong, and maintain the same
values of those original Anzacs.
Lest we forget
ANZAC CAPTAINS’ SPEECH
I was recently asked the question “Why celebrate
Anzac Day, why not just tie it all in with
Remembrance Day on the 11th
of November?” This
seems a valid question.
Ladies, gentlemen & distinguished guests, we are
gathered here today to commemorate Anzac Day.
The 25th
of April 1915 was the day the first Anzacs
stormed the beaches of Gallipoli and consequently
received an absolute battering; many drowned and
were killed by Turkish fire before reaching the
beach. This battering lasted over 8 months and
resulted in the deaths of approximately 8,000
Australian soldiers. It was one of the greatest
imperial or allied setbacks of World War 1. It
effectively shattered Australians imperial illusions.
And yet we choose to remind ourselves of this
landing annually on the 25th
of April.
Why? Because Anzac Day is not only solely about
the human misery and mortal destruction the first
Anzacs faced upon the shores and cliffs of
Gallipoli.
Prior to the landing at Gallipoli, Australia was a
country little known by nations around the world?
But on that day, and on subsequent days, the
bravery of young men, their loyalty, devotion to
duty, leadership, teamwork, mateship &
determination were such that they became a nation
in the eyes if the world.
The Anzac tradition and spirit were established in
this landing, and their defeat, and carried on in
campaigns and wars, in which Australian soldiers
fought to defend our shores and loved ones and to
preserve the principles of freedom that we all
believe in today. These soldiers fought against what
they considered evil forces which could bring about
the demise of the common good throughout the
world.
From Anzac Day we learn of the camaraderie and
national spirit displayed by Australian soldiers in all
of these centuries‟ wars. Out of Australia loss come
understanding and realisation of the atrocities of
war, and provides insights about ourselves and our
country.
Anzac Day is a
day to display
our gratitude to
the men and
women who
fought and
sacrificed their
lives for our
freedom. With
the freedom and wellbeing of Australians future
generation in mind soldiers drove themselves into
the point of no-return and sometimes through it.
It‟s a day to recognise the sacrifice Australian
soldiers have made in their centuries wars, and to
pay our respect to those who made the ultimate
sacrifice for a higher purpose. It also recognises
Australia‟s national identity and to celebrate the
spirit of our nation which Australian soldiers of the
past and present contribute to.
The values of a Yanconian can be associated and
linked to those of an Anzac. The loyalty and
mateship we have in our own community is
something to be proud of. So as a Yanconian or a
person who interacts with
Yanconians, you should
realise that every day you
are living the kind of life
that many people went off
to war to defend and die
for. Past generations of
Australians saw need to
defend this way of life and
were prepared to do it with
their lives. For me, I think
this explains why so many
Yanconian‟s have served in war, because the spirit
of the Yanconian is as strong as the spirit of a
nation. It is an unmistakable link to the Anzacs and
we should be very proud of it. Without this sense of
unity that we Yanconians hold true, we would not
be doing the things we do today in our free and
democratic nation.
So in closing, I would just like to say that Anzac
Day remains a most important national day and I
trust it will always be so, providing an opportunity
each year for children, particularly, to
commemorate the ideals and remember Anzac Day.
Sabrina Finch and Royce Johnston,
School Captains 2013
Teresa Sutton & Clare Bolam( Yr 12
2012) congratulating Talosaga at his
Passing Out Parade ceremony.
PASSING OUT PARADE – KAPOOKA
A bitterly cold, windy and partially sunny day
greeted the family and friends of Talosaga Lelea
(Year 12, 2012) who gathered at the Kapooka Army
Barracks to congratulate him on his successful
completion of 83 days of extensive and physically
demanding training as an army recruit.
The Passing Out Parade address was delivered by
Major General Paul Brereton. In his address he
acknowledged that the recruits have demonstrated
great courage, initiative and teamwork to survive
the challenging training that was provided at
Kapooka in the utmost of adverse conditions. He
indicated that they had just completed the first
milestone of their long training process in a life
shared with their family in today‟s modern armed
service. The recruits were reminded that their
family had now been extended to include the
members of their platoon and in their new roles as
Privates in the modern day army that they need to
live by the motto of providing “Service before Self”
The recruits were also told that their role in serving
with the military involved them committing to the
fact that they are the future custodians of army
values and they are only one part of a tri service
team. As they develop within their military role
their job will be requiring them to be prepared to
serve either within the country or abroad and that
they will be involved in “service” that values a life
of safety and security that we in Australia take for
granted. Talosaga has now entered the formal phase
of his training as a Medical Operator and is
currently housed at the Bandiana Barracks in
Victoria. He is currently completing his Induction
course prior to this formal training commencing.
We as a school community wish Talosaga well in
his future career.
IN MEMORY OF BENJAMIN
(BEN) SAPUDJAGAD LAKSITO
30/11/1976 – 22/04/2013
During the Term 1 school holidays Ben Laksito
(Old Yanconian 1994), tragically lost his battle for
life as a result of a brain tumour.
Classmates of Ben, from the finishing Year of 1994,
Old Yanconians; Mr William Barwick and Mr
Alan Draper (Year Advisor), Mr Brian Roberts
(Principal 1994), Mr Greg Press and Old Yanconian
parents and many other friends of Ben were among
those who
met on the
picturesque
banks of
Lake Forbes
to remember
a remarkable
young man at
a memorial
service held
in his honour.
The service outlined what Ben had achieved during
his life by speeches from his Aunty and two Old
Yanconians and very close friends of Ben, in Ben
Alexander and James Hooke. An exceptional
moving song was also sung in Ben‟s memory by his
father Untung at the close of the service.
Ben commenced his studies at Yanco Agricultural
High School a little over 24 years ago in 1989. It is
interesting to note that the friends that Ben met on
that very first day have remained close mates since
that day. One of the special qualities that is unique
in a school such as Yanco.
The eulogy read at the service spoke highly of
Ben‟s character and in particular;
“The thing about Ben that you all probably know is
that he could never sit idle. If there was a sport to
play, a group to join or an adventure to be had, he
was there. Probably first, and certainly the best
prepared. He was amongst the smartest in the
school, but he was generous with those of us that
were less gifted than him. A keen outdoorsman, the
school environment couldn‟t have been better suited
to Ben; hundreds of acres of bush, a big river,
plenty of mates and lots of time. Ben was, as were
many of us, part of Scouts, Duke of Edinburgh and
Venturers. Trips, camping, canoeing, hiking,
abseiling and caving were constant and great fun.
Ever the achiever Ben attained the Queens Scout
award in Venturers which was quite a feat.”
Ben Laksito was the 4th student in the school to
achieve this highly coveted Queens Scout Award.
After school “Ben was always going to be in great
demand, and it came down to a two way tussle
between the Defence Force and BHP”. Ben chose a
cadetship with BHP. After completing his cadetship
he decided it was time to explore the world and
along this journey he explored more about himself
and as he travelled he truly developed a philosophy
about what life meant to him and how he should
contribute in some small way to assist those less
fortunate than himself.
“The Ben that returned from his travels started to
focus on that want to change the world, and he
decided he was going to do it one non-English
speaker, or one youth, or one non-English speaking
youth at a time. Ben undertook leadership roles in
outdoor education, continued his exploration of the
world and ultimately found himself performing
those two things simultaneously. It was in Canada
that he was concerned that something wasn‟t quite
right. A pause was put on his world changing
aspirations and it was quickly confirmed that he had
a tumour. On return to Australia, he was to truly
discover the extent of the beast in his head.”
“The road to
recovery from the
initial surgery was
not so much
governed by Ben‟s
body as it was by
his will to get on
with life. He was
told that the
tumour was
inoperable, but we
all know how that
turned out. Once
strong enough,
Ben tested himself with employment in a Bakery in
Balmain, and from there began preparing himself to
take a new path in life. That path was to be
teaching. In the later period of his life Ben
struggled not to define his existence by his illness.
There is one thing that really stands out, and that is
that Ben just couldn‟t stand still. Everywhere was
just a stepping stone on the path to somewhere else.
The end of the journey was not defined, and even
recently his mother suggested that he was still with
us in these late stages simply because he kept busy.
Despite his physical limitations over the last four
months, he decided to undertake new challenges
and new interests in a diverse range of activities that
he could manage in the back yard veggie garden,
blogging or communicating using any form of
communication that was available.”
Ben had a concern over the legacy that he was not
able to leave in the world prior to his departure but
those who have known Ben well all agree that just
allowing us to play in some part in his life was
something that was special and those times will
always be greatly treasured .It can be said that Ben
Laksito in the face of great adversity lived and
displayed the YAHS school motto: “As you sow, so
shall ye reap”.
Ben Alexander, James Hooke (Yanconians 1994)
and Greg Press.
PARENT RECOGNITION
The following article appeared recently in The Top
Wire, the newsletter of the ICPA. Kerrie has been a
parent at YAHS since 2006 and actively involved in
our P&C. Well done Kerrie.
Parent Acknowledged with Public School Award
Kerrie Johnston is a valued and active member of
Rankin‟s Springs Branch of ICPA having held the
position of Treasurer for many years. When Kerrie
won this award I was thrilled but not surprised.
Even though we talk quite regularly, Kerrie likes to
fly below the radar, therefore we would never have
known about this well-deserved award. Anything
Kerrie supports she does 100% and always to
perfection but would never want thanks or
recognition for her efforts, which are always far
beyond what is required of her. Kerrie‟s husband
Alan is a wonderful support to her and together they
are the best role models for their beautiful family.
This is what drives Kerrie in her endeavours – to
make the lives of all children better, with a good
education and the opportunities that can bring.
Rankin‟s Springs Branch congratulates her on this
wonderful award. We are very proud to have her in
our Branch and call her “Friend”.
Andrea Finch, Branch President
Kerrie Johnston – Public School Parent of the
Year
Naradhan Public School‟s Kerrie Johnston was
surprised at a recent school assembly when she was
awarded the prestigious Public School Parent of the
Year award for the Riverina region. Kerrie received
the award from Riverina School Education Director,
Mr Geoff Pellizzer, after being nominated by the
Principal, Crystal McGuigan.
Kerrie has been an untiring supporter of the school
for the past sixteen years, having begun her
involvement even before her four children started
school, by becoming a member of the Isolated
Children‟s and Parents Association, where she still
plays an active role. She has been a dynamic
member of the P&C during the past decade and a
half, organising school events, including the 75th
anniversary celebrations and school fundraisers.
Kerrie is a talented volunteer at the school, offering
her expertise is music by conducting singing
lessons with the students on a weekly basis. She has
been an enthusiastic supporter of their involvement
in KROP (Kids Rapt on Performing) in Griffith,
their performances for the elderly and for
community members and has been a huge help in
past years when the children participated in
Eisteddfods.
Mrs Johnston was overwhelmed by the honour and
thanked her family for their support of her efforts
and acknowledged the rest of the strong parent
network at the small school.
SHOPPING AT WOOLWORTHS
From April 8th
– June 9th
when shopping at
Woolworths you will be given one Woolworths
Earn and Learn point per $10 spent. Remember to
collect your stickers and support YAHS. All
support for the school is greatly appreciated.
CROSS COUNTRY REPORT
In contrast to last year Cross Country we were able
to use both boys and girls bush as part of the course.
On a perfect day at Yanco students were able to
take full advantage of the weather to post some
strong times.
Age Champions
AGE Boys Girls
12’s Max Hatty Amber Bevan
13’s Dylan Whiley Brianna
McAuliffe
14’s Reid Burley Loren Gregory
15’s Gavin Evans Brydie Mannion
16’s Andrew Reid Erika Quinn
17+ James Leane Sabrina Finch
Our School team will be participating in the Zone
Cross Country held on Friday 24th
May. This year
we are lucky enough to be holding the Zone Cross
Country at our school. Hopefully we can use the
home advantage to get more Yanconians through to
Riverina.
UNIVERSITY SHIELD UPDATE
Last week Yanco continued on their winning way
with a solid win over Griffith High School, 38 - 18.
Griffith proved to be a determined and enthusiastic
opponent with the score close in the first half. In the
second half the team used their considerable fitness
and teamwork to overpower the gallant Griffith
side. Well done lads. They now move onto the next
round, most likely against a school from Wagga.
RIVERINA SECONDARY SCHOOLS
NETBALL KNOCKOUT 2013 –
WAGGA CARNIVAL
On Wednesday the 22nd of May, Mrs Thurgood
took 10 girls to Wagga to compete in the Riverina
Secondary Schools Knockout Netball Carnival. Try
outs were held earlier in the month and many girls
from Years 9 to 12 turned up. In the end the team
selected to play included:
• Sabrina Finch – Year 12
• Natalie Rayment – Year 12
• Grace Cornish – Year 12
• Melanie Guttler – Year 11
• Lilly Serafin – Year 11
• Grace Skipworth – Year 10
• Meg Potter – Year 10
• Marnie Whytcross – Year 10
• Courtney Menzies – Year 9
• Jane Goldsworthy – Year 12
We had an early start, leaving at 7:15. As cold as it
was at Wagga, we jumped right into our first game
against Wagga High playing a very good game and
catching right up to them but, in the end, losing by
10 goals making the score 35-25. Wagga High then
went on to win their division and the whole
knockout so it was an extremely good effort for our
first game together as a team.
The next game was against Griffith High. Again
everyone played extremely well with Mel, Marnie
and Grace Skipworth playing great Defence, Lilly
and Grace Cornish holding up the mid court.
Courtney, Nat and Sab also shot really well. We
ended coming out on top with the score being 34-6.
The same went for our third game was against
Tumbarumba. After a number of injuries on the
other team Yanco won strongly with the final score
of 56-2.
After a short
lunch break
and a lot of
rain, we went
back out, cold
but confident,
for the semi-
finals. We
played against
James Fallen
and even Mr
Benjamin noticed the obvious height difference
between our teams. Still we fought hard and it was
a very close game, the wet conditions making it
very difficult,
but after a
long, hard
game James
Fallen got the
best of us and
beat us by six
gaols 23-17.
Even though
we didn‟t win
every game it was a very enjoyable day and
everyone had a great time. Especially as Mr
Benjamin took us to Maccas afterwards. Thanks to
Cherie Potter who came and umpired all of our
games for the day. Also a big thankyou to Mrs
Thurgood for organising everything and training
our team and just making it a good day in general,
and to Mr Benjamin for driving.
By Meg Potter Year 10.
HARMONY DAY POSTER COMPETITION
REGIONAL WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Congratulations to Karley Clissold (Regional
Winner) and Kirsty Clark (Regional Runner Up) on
their success in this year‟s Harmony Day Poster
Competition. Yanco Ag entered along with a
number of other schools in the region and we are
thrilled with the results. Karley and Kirsty have
been invited to an awards presentation at NSW
Parliament House later next month where the
overall state winner will be announced.
Harmony Day is a day of cultural respect for
everyone who calls Australia home – from the
traditional owners of this land to those who have
come from many countries around the world
(harmonyday.gov.au)
CHESS REPORT
On Monday 20th
May, the Yanco Agricultural High
School First Grade Chess Team (Chess Club 7) and
Mr Gifford set off to Wagga Wagga to try and stay
alive in the knockout round of the Country
Secondary Schools Chess Competition. Yanco
emerged victorious with Jeremy Hillam, Breanna
Carr and Jack Semmler winning their games.
James Wade lost in a tight game but hopes to
achieve a better result in the next round. After the
competition games were out of the way, everyone
decided to improve their skills with some chess
doubles games which tested even the most skilled
chess players. A big thanks goes to Mater Dei
Catholic College for the games and hospitality and
congratulations to Yanco Agricultural High School
First Grade Chess Team for their solid 3-1 victory.
Mr Gifford would also like to extend his
congratulations to the four players who
demonstrated great sportsmanship and humility in
their victory. At the end of the day friendship and
chess were the real winners.
Jack Semmler committing to
a sneaky sacrificial Queen move
Kirsty Clark Year 9
Karley Clissold
Year 10
Jeremy Hillam, deciding which
best way to trap his opponent
Breanna Carr is all smiles
after her victory.
James Wade thinking eleven
moves ahead
Sally McNiff and
Lyndsey Mitchell
Ellen Shepherd & Vanessa Patey
Awarded Gold
Hong Kong skyline
RIVERINA CENTRAL CHOIR IN CONCERT
On May 12th
-14th
we got the opportunity to go to
Sydney and sing at the Town Hall in the „In
Concert‟ directed by the Arts Unit. We travelled to
Sydney by train with the Riverina Regional Choir
which we attend once a
month in Wagga
Wagga. We had a full
day of rehearsals for the
concert that night. The
choir consisted of 650
other students and two
different orchestras
from schools from
Sydney. It was amazing
to be able to sing with
such a big group of
people but also with a
full orchestra. It was a great experience to be able to
sing in Town Hall and we loved every minute of it.
We would also like to thank Miss North for driving
us to and from Wagga Wagga once a month just so
we can rehearse with the regional choir, so we can
have opportunities like this, as well as Judy
Gollasch, the regional choir director, who took us to
Sydney.
By Sally McNiff and Lyndsey Mitchell
HONG KONG TRIP
From the 11th
to the
18th
April, Vanessa
Patey and Ellen
Shepherd travelled
to Hong Kong to
compete in the fifth
Hong Kong
International Youth
Music Festival
against 11 other
groups. The West
of the NSW Divide
wind ensemble
consisted of 45 high
school students
from 17 different schools. During the 3-day festival,
apart from competing, the band participated in
workshops and master classes at St Paul‟s Co-
educational College and at the Good Hope School,
as well as enjoying a few concerts by professionals
and the Good Hope School choir. The band was
awarded gold for their performance and on the
second last day of the trip the band had the
opportunity to perform at Hong Kong Disneyland.
While they were in Hong Kong they also got to
explore the night
markets and enjoy a
light show on the
harbour, having a
sightseeing tour and
being taken to a huge
music store. Vanessa
and Ellen both had an
amazing time and really
appreciated the
experience.
Mitchell Ryan "Bouldering"
Negotiating our way around
the base of the climb.
VENTURERS – THE ROCK BUSH WALK
On Saturday 18th
May, Andrew Thorn, Mitch Ryan
and Damian Cox went with Mr Press on a fact
finding mission to The Rock National Park.
We left school at around 10 o‟clock in the morning
and made our way to Lockhart where we stopped
for morning tea. After this we proceeded to The
Rock National Park passing through some
interesting small towns on the way, such as Tootool
and Milbrulong. When we arrived at The Rock
National Park we enjoyed preparing a rather large
BBQ lunch.
We started the bush walk at about 1pm and our first
objective was to find some suitable rock climbs on
the North East Face of The Rock and establish the
marked routes and codes that had been painted
along the base of the ridge line of the climbs. The
marked climbs that we discovered were then related
back to some established notes that had been
written in the early 1990s that guide the rock
climber along the safest route to the top of the cliffs.
After we were
satisfied with the
climbs that we had
found and discussed
what equipment we
needed to complete
the climb at a future
activity we then
walked around the 1 ½
km of the base of the
cliff line to assess any
other possible climbing routes. Walking along this
path proved difficult with loose underfoot rocks but
we managed to work our way along the contours to
exit the bush at the trail leading up to the summit of
the Rock.
At this point we were about 15 mins from the
summit and Mitch and I proceeded to the top. From
the top of The Rock the view was excellent, we
could see the whole district and we could also see
Galore Hill, where we sometimes go abseiling.
After this we headed back down the track to the car
park. After returning to the bus we estimated that
we walked about 8km during the day and cooked
dinner.
The day was enjoyed by all and we are certainly
looking forward going back with some gear and do
some of the rock climbs we found.
By Andrew Thorn YR11
FISHING AT BLOWERING DAM
On Friday the 5th of May the Yanco Ag fishing
club set off for Blowering Dam with high
expectations for a line tensioning weekend. We
arrived late that arvo and started to set up camp
before dark. Thanks to the parents for getting the
wood before we got there. It was great being able to
get that fire started straight away before it cooled
off too much.
The next morning we were straight into the action.
We had some groups enjoying a fish off the bank
and groups of 3 or 4 out on the water trawling. This
would not have been possible without some of the
parents generously lending us their boats.
Out on the water Tom Newbigging reeled in an
impressive 44cm yellow belly, being the only
reasonable fish of the weekend, it was fantastic to
get it in the boat. The next day it was time to leave.
With no rush we packed up making sure nothing
was left behind, put the boats on the trailer and
headed off back to school.
All the students would like to thank Peter Fraser,
Alan Briggs, Bernadette Smith, Mr Sachs and all
the parents and friends who helped out over the
weekend. Without you we could not have made this
trip happen. We all really enjoyed it.
Thank you.
Will McLean.
VENTURERS CAVING TRIP TO BLUE
WATERHOLES.
On Friday the 3rd of May, the YAHS Venturer unit
set off to camp at Blues Water Holes (North
Kosciuszko National Park) on one of our caving
adventures.
We arrived at about 11:00pm at the Mount
Coolamine campsite, set up camp and went to bed
around 12:30am on Saturday morning. We had a
late rise and cooked brunch at around 8:00am. After
a good feed of bacon, sausages, and eggs we headed
further down the Blues Waterholes track to the start
of the walking tracks towards the caves.
The first cave we ventured into was Murray‟s Cave.
In the cave we experienced many different unique
formations and many old signatures dating from
1902 to the present. We arrived at the sump of the
cave to find the water levels about 3 metres below
what they normally are. After exploring this cave
we hiked a long trek around the ridgeline and back
to the bus to have lunch at 3:00pm.
Once we had finished lunch we were back on the
track and heading to the Coolamine cave, we
explored this cave for around an hour and a half.
The features we negotiated around in this cave
included tight squeezes and wide open, but low
level, chambers. We explored a little bit more
around the joining of Coolamine main and
Coolamine right, this part of the cave was left for a
return visit in the future as it would take at least
another 2 hours to crawl through this section. When
we exited this cave it was starting to get dark so we
decided to get back on the track and head to camp,
where we had
a late dinner of
steak, sausages
with mashed
potatoes and
later with soup
being served
around the fire.
The next morning we were off to an early start. We
headed to Barber‟s cave for our last adventure of
the weekend. After we had been tested with a few
creek crossings through the base of an enormous
rock gorge we were at the entry of Barbers‟ cave.
We entered this cave through its exit hole at river
level and throughout the cave we encountered many
different problems from rock falls to carefully neg-
otiating ledge climbs. We had to climb up a rock
fall to go down deeper into this cave which included
exploring several smaller tunnels. To get out of the
cave we had to climb up a rock face. Mitchell
finally found his way through the maze of small
tunnels and led us out of our last cave of this
adventure. We made our way back to camp where
we started to pack up and head back to school. The
Venturers that attended this trip were: Andrew
Hulak, Mitchell Ryan, Lyndon Edgerton, Bailey
Cox, Andrew Thorn and our Venturer leader, Mr
Greg Press.
By: Lyndon Edgerton and Mitchell Ryan
AUSTRALIAN STOCK HORSE NATIONALS
TAMWORTH
On Friday the 3rd May, Carrie Hammet, Sheri
Hammet, Johanna Graetz, Will Peterson, Jess
Afflick, Erika Quinn, Courtney Stubberfield, Jack
Kimpton and Ryan Van-Gemert travelled to
Yanco‟s first Tamworth Australia Stock Horse
Nationals till Friday the 10th
May.
All successfully
competed in a range
of events, from
dressage test, led and
hack classes to
working and station
horse. In the led
section, Jess Afflick
led Rayma China
Girl to Champion
Led Mare 4 years old
and Jack Kimptom
led Rayma Spices to
win 1st in the
yearling led gelding. In the ridden events Jess
Afflick rode Rayma China Girl in the pleasure stock
horse mare 4 years old to be placed 4th, Erika
Quinn rode Pendergast Paris in the novice stock
horse mare 5 years and over, to be placed 3rd
and
Sheri Hammet rode Rayma Just a Doll to be a
finalist in English Attire.
In the dressage, Courtney Stubberfield showed very
successful
results by
taking out the
highest youth
points score
and placed 2nd
in dressage test
2C, along with
Will Peterson
taking out a 6th
and 10th
in two of his dressage tests.
In the working classes, Carrie Hammet placed 4th
in
novice working mare with Rayma Simplicity and
Courtney Stubberfield placed 5th
in the novice
working gelding. Johanna Graetz, Carrie Hammet,
Erika Quinn and Courtney Stubberfield all
competed in the mare and gelding station horse
event. The overall week was successful and the
equine team would like to thank Paul and Vicki and
the parents who made the trip possible.
By Johanna Graetz and Carrie Hammet
ANGUS YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
On the 29th
and 30th
of
April I had the privilege of
attending the Angus
National 2013 Conference
held in Wagga Wagga,
after winning a scholarship
provided by Angus Youth
Australia. The two day
program was jam packed
with speakers from all over
the world who had to come
together to share their
knowledge. The days covered a range of sectors
about the beef cattle industry from seed stock
programs to the direction of the Angus Australia
society.
I found the days to be of great interest, as I was able
to get a good look into a well-developed industry
from a youth‟s point of view. I was given a
wonderful insight into animal genetics and the
different things that are involved to be able to get
the best results. It was also an eye opener of what is
achieved from simple DNA testing, and how it can
change the value of your stock and blood lines.
The two day conference was a wonderful learning
experience and enables me to further my knowledge
on the beef industry as well as providing me with a
fantastic network opportunity as I meet amazing
people from all areas of the industry, both in
Australia and overseas.
I am very grateful for the opportunity that the
Angus Youth provided me with and I would highly
encourage others to also become involved in Youth
programs, to develop their skills and improve their
industry knowledge.
Inez Mara Year 12
Keiley O'Brien
ROYAL BATHURST
SHOW REPORT
On Wednesday 10th
April, Paul Bandy,
Vicki Bradford, Bobby
Hammet, Sonya
Afflick, Louise and
Kellie Armour, Shirley
Worley, Alison
Prentice, Nicole and
Maryanne Paulston,
Tracey Stubberfield,
Carrie and Sheridan
Hammet, Erika Quinn,
Caitlyn Beer, Jess Afflick,
Blake Paulston, Courtney
Stubberfield, Grace Armour
and myself travelled to
Royal Bathurst Show. We
rode on Thursday, Friday,
Saturday, and Sunday. On
Thursday we had Pony club
events with Courtney: 1st
Girl rider 15 and under 17.
On Friday we had Australian Stock Horse Classes
and Caitlyn jumping. We were very successful with
many ribbons including; Jessica Afflick: 1st ASH
Junior Handler, 2nd ASH Led Mare, and 4th Hack
Mare. Erika
Quinn: 2nd ASH
Led Mare, 3rd
ASH Junior
Handler, 2nd
ASH Junior
Working. Carrie
Hammet: 2nd
ASH Junior
Handler, 1st ASH
Open Working, 1st ASH working rider under 18,
and Reserve Champion
ASH Working. Sheridan
Hammet: 3rd Novice
Hack. It was a very
successful day. On
Saturday we had Caitlyn
Beer: 2nd Led Clydesdale
Mare, 1st and Champion
Driven Clydesdale.
Sheridan Hammet: 1st
Ridden Pony, 1st Led
Riding Pony, 1st
Ridden Riding
Pony, 1st and
Champion Ridden
APSB Riding Pony.
On Sunday Caitlyn
Beer: 3rd Ridden
Buckskin. All in all
we had a very
successful and fun
weekend. I would
like to thank Paul
Bandy, Vicki Bradford and all Parents who made
this weekend possible. It was fantastic.
Will Peterson.
MURRAY GREY YOUTH AMBASSADOR
On the 14th-16th of April-
the first weekend of the
school holidays, Year 12
student Keiley O‟Brien
left study behind to attend
the 2013 Woodburn
Murray Grey Youth
Ambassador Awards, held
in conjunction with the
National Murray Grey
Show and Sale in Wodonga. Keiley participated in
the Youth‟s programs as well as the Murray Grey
Education Day and an Invite Only Leadership and
Life Coaching Clinic conducted by Jennie Wright
from Boil-The-Billy. Overall she said the
experience was very rewarding and allowed for
both her knowledge and leadership within the beef
industry to expand to a personal high. Keiley then
went on to be named the 2013 Junior Murray Grey
Youth Ambassador and gained a scholarship to
attend either the National All Breeds Junior Heifer
Show in Dubbo N.S.W. or the South Australian
Junior Heifer Expo in Adelaide S.A. to be decided
later this year. This is the second year in a row that
Keiley has been selected as the Junior Murray Grey
Youth Ambassador.
Rose Nevinson
Junior Judging
Dubbo Show - Goolgunya Shield
DUBBO SHEEP SHOW
Yanco‟s White Suffolk Stud sheep and students
have just spent four days at the Dubbo Sheep Show.
The show encompassed a large number and range
of sheep breeds, with a large White Suffolk
representation of 196 stud sheep. This benefited the
students immensely as they did a lot of networking
with stud breeders
and other schools,
and gained a lot of
industry knowledge.
The students
exhibited the stud's
sheep in the Open
Classes against some
of most influential
studs in Australia.
We are very proud of
our stud's progression
within the White
Suffolk Industry. One
of the most notable accolades we received was in
the Pair of Milk Tooth Ewes Open class, where we
placed sixth in a field of fourteen against elite studs.
Our proudest highlight was placing fourth in the
Open Objective Ewe class against a field of twenty
sheep; which was the largest and most competitive
class in the White Suffolk Judging. This class is
judged using objective eye muscle and fat depth
scan data, live weight, and subjective visual
appraisal. This encompasses the direction of our
breeding objectives towards improving
performance, and is the culmination of several years
of selective breeding using LAMBPLAN database
of Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs).
This allows us
to produce and
market a ram
bred especially
for producing
supermarket
trade prime
lambs.
On the final
day of the
show, the
Junior Judging
and Handling competitions were held. The students
performed exceptionally well against over one
hundred other young competitors. The students
were required to demonstrate their knowledge of
ram and ewe selection by accurately judging
Merinos, short wool and long wool meat breeds of
sheep, which were Border Leicesters and White
Suffolks, as well as parade sheep for judging of
their handling skills. Lindsay Brown, in Year 7,
won first place in the
Under 15 years Merino
Sheep Junior Judging,
with Tom Arnold in Year
8 placing second. Rose
Nevinson and Andrew
Hulak of Year 10 were
selected for the finals of
the Over 15 years Merino
Sheep Junior Judging,
with Rose Nevinson
placing fifth overall.
Charles Hogan, in Year 8,
placed fifth in the Under
15 years Meat Sheep Junior Judging and in the
Under 15 years Junior Handling competition.
Emma Gale and Colleen Head from Year 10 were
selected for the finals of the Over 15 years Meat
Sheep Junior Judging, with Colleen placing fourth
overall. Aiden Raeck of Year 10 was also selected
for the Over 15 years Junior Handling Competition
finals, receiving a commendation from the judge for
good sportsmanship when he helped another student
who had lost control of her sheep. Special mention
must also be made to Tom
Arnold, who assisted Jeff
Sutton, of Wattle Farm
Border Leicesters, prepare
and parade his sheep for
judging on Friday and
Saturday. This embodies
the outstanding work ethic,
initiative and leadership
qualities that YAHS is
renowned for. Overall, the
students did an outstanding
job preparing and
presenting themselves and
their sheep, and
demonstrated excellent initiative, teamwork and
leadership skills throughout the show. YAHS
students are an absolute asset to the school and the
wider Agricultural community.
Year 11 Ag. Weighing sheep
Pregnant ewes
YANCO WHITE SUFFOLK STUD TO BEGIN
LAMBING
The school‟s McCaughey White Suffolk stud‟s one
hundred and forty breeding ewes are about to start
lambing on the 25th of May. They were scanned for
pregnancy in March to identify whether they are
carrying single or multiple lambs, and have been
moved onto lucerne
pastures. Many of
the year groups have
been involved in
crutching and
branding the ewes
with numbers on
their sides to
identify them in
preparation for
lambing. The green
brands, which are
stamped on both
sides of each ewe correlate to their ear tag number,
and allow us to identify exactly which ewe owns
which lamb, and who that lamb is sired by. Our
Stage 5 and Stage 6 Primary
Industries students will be
checking the ewes and tagging
and weighing the lambs at birth.
This is the first year that the lambs
will be tagged with electronic
identification tags to assist in
recording production traits and
information for the lamb‟s
lifetime in electronic format.
Weighing the lambs and recording
whether they are a triplet, twin or single is the first
step in a long line of data collection for the
performance database, LAMBPLAN. Later in the
year, at weaning and at four months old, the lambs
will be weighed again and scanned by an ultrasound
scanner to determine the depth of their eye muscle
in the loin area and fat coverage. All of this data
goes to Sheep Genetics Australia, to produce
Australian Sheep Breeding Values, which are
estimates of how valuable an animal‟s genetics are
based on traits that are desired by commercial prime
lamb producers. These traits include early growth of
the lambs, so that
they reach market
weights earlier and
greater amounts of
muscle and fat on the
carcase. Despite the
negative perception
of fat by many
consumers, fat is
actually important for
meat flavour,
juiciness and
tenderness, and for
the survival of lambs.
Students will be involved in all of this data
collection, and will be able to see how this data is
transformed into these values, and
what their significance in for
commercial producers and in a
ram breeding operation. The rams
produced in this year‟s lambing
will go through our rigorous
selection process and be available
for the public to purchase next
year. There are currently 12 month
old rams available for purchase
from the school, all of which have
Australian Sheep Breeding Values data for use as a
selection tool.
For any enquiries about these rams or the stud,
please contact our Farm Foreman Natalie O’Leary
on 0427 498 788.
Pregnant White Suffolk Ewes on Lucerne Paddocks
Agrifoods Naranderra Excursion
Agrifoods Naranderra Excursion
Planting trees
Stage 5 Agrifoods planting new gardens
Agrifoods - Repotting plants
AGRICULTURE OUT AND ABOUT ON THE
YANCO FARM
Students in the Agriculture, Agrifoods and Primary
Industries subjects have been getting amongst it
when it comes to operations on the school farm and
garden.
Many of the year groups have been involved in
planting windbreaks using native trees and shrubs
on the top block of the farm, across Euroley road,
adjacent to the irrigated Lucerne paddocks. There is
little shelter on that part of the property, and the
windbreaks are being planted to reduce the potential
for wind erosion, and to provide shelter for
livestock. This has involved Year 9 and 10
Agriculture, as well as Stage 5 Agrifoods and
Primary Industries.
The Stage 5 Agrifoods students have been involved
in re-potting plants donated to us by the Narrandera
Forest Nursery during an excursion in Term One,
before it sadly closed its doors in April. They have
been planting some of these plants, in the newly
landscaped gardens outside the TAS classrooms,
which have all been planted with water-wise native
plants, and mulched with rice straw.
Year 8 planting market
gardens
Year 7 working on their veggie patches
Stage 5 primaries -pigs
Jack Pippin and Phoebe Priestly
mouthing rams
Year 7 working on their vegie gardens
Year 11 and Stage 5 Agrifoods students had the
privilege of listening to our consulting Agronomist
speak about Lucerne management, the varieties
which the school farm grows; their winter activity
and their suitability for grazing and hay cutting.
These include Sardi 9, Genesis 7 and Titan 7. He
also spoke about integrated pest management and
grazing management for stand longevity.
Stage 5 Primary Industries has spent Term One
looking at Workplace Health and Safety, and is now
looking at livestock behaviour, handling, health and
welfare. They have been observing the natural
behaviours of flocking animals such as sheep and
cattle, and intensively farmed pigs, and learning
how to use these to their advantage when they are
handling and moving them.
Year 7 and 8 Agriculture have been working hard
constructing their garden beds, raising seedlings
and planting for their vegetable patches and market
gardens. The students have planted cabbages,
broccoli and other winter vegetables in their
gardens.
Repotting trees
Year 8 students standing proudly behind
their market garden
The chestnut colt we chose.
Karly Clissold with a
stallion
Emily Belling with the
colt's father
Sarah Oost with a mare
Breanna with the mare
CLYDESDALE HORSE REPORT
On Saturday 25th of May, Paul Bandy and a bus of
equine students set off to Mr & Mrs Colin Brown‟s
Clydesdale stud, “McMurchie”, to select some
horses for the
Melbourne Show
2013 and the
Sydney Show
2014. Overall
there were around
30 horses on the
property, includ-
ing four stallions.
Scanning the foals in
the paddock, the
Equine Show Team
picked out a chestnut
colt. His colour is the
traditional Clydesdale
colour type and he was
sound in all aspects.
With this decision
made, the Equine
students were able to
have a look at three of
the four stallions and
then at a herd of
seventeen mares, all
differing in colour. A
young filly was
selected as well. The
experience was
fantastic with students
getting up close and
personal with these giants of the horse world.
Many thanks to Mr
and Mrs Colin and
Karen Brown for
having all of us
there.
By Breanna Carr
Murray Smith, Sabrina Finch,
Royce Johnston & Harriet Condon
TERM 1 COMMENDATIONS
Year 7: Amber Bevan, Zara Carlson, Sebastian
Clarke, Emma Cullen, Abbey Curran, Brad Daunt,
Hayley Dowling, Jackson Doyle, Mitch Dunne,
Blake Haddrill, Max Hatty, Georgina Hughes,
Annie James, Bryce Johnston, Thomas Kimpton,
Lyndsey Mitchell, John Mullins, Vy Owen, Kaylee
Radburn, Olivia Reid, Cameron Saul, Zoe Thomas ,
Ethan Viant, Jasmine Whitehurst.
Year 8: Thomas Arnold, Reid Burley, Charlotte
Butt, Grace Daunt, Ben Davis, Jaclyn Dwyer, Kylie
Fairfull, Gemma Fisher, Austin Flamisch, Madi
Gillett, Loren Gregory, Abbie Hurst, Grace Kalinin,
James Kearines, Hannah Kolve, Emily Parker,
Connor Ricciarelli, Angus Smyth, Jake Smyth,
Arabella Tobin, Alison Treloar, Dylan Van Gemert,
Chloe Ward, Dylan Whiley.
Year 9: Olivia Alexander, Grace Armour, Amber
Arthur, Cody Brown, Claudia Cheers, Kirsty Clark,
Tarhlia Claydon, Zoe Cumming, Connor Edmunds,
Nicole Fairley, Liam James, Deanna Johnston,
Meagan Lette, Erika Lucas, Brydie Mannion,
Cambell McMaster, Sally McNiff, Matthew Owen,
Ryan Pike, Claire Tagliapietra, Hannah Walker,
Lucy Webster, Angus Wilton.
Year 10: Jane Arndt, Harry Beal, Caitlyn Beer,
Toby Commens, Lyndon Edgerton, Stacie Fraser,
Arnah Garwood, Andrew Haenig, Colleen Head,
Natalia Henderson, Luke Horrobin, Georgia
Howard, Cameron Ingram, Heidi Johnston, Samuel
Larsen, Joshua Leonard-Mclean, Liam McCallum,
Jock McPherson, Nathan Morris, Rose Nevinson,
Sarah Oost, Jack Pippin, Meg Potter, Aidan Raeck,
Andrew Reid, Rebecca Ritchie, Grace Skipworth,
Thomas Smyth, Candace Staker, Eaden Turner,
Brad Willis.
Year 11: Grace Alexander, Joshua Beer, Amellia
Butt, George Calman, Emily Crick, Zoe Dunn,
Jacquiline Ervin, Melanie Guttler, Maddy Haddrill,
Emily Head, Zoe Howe, Jessica Johnston, Hayley
Mildren, Amy Miller, Jack Moran-Turner, Teia
Oliver, Ashley Pike, Cameron Read, Samuel Ryan,
Adam Saul, Lilly Serafin, Mitchell White, Chelsea
Whytcross, Carl Williams, Rick Worland.
Year 12: Emma Carmichael, Courtney Cheers,
Harriet Condon, Damien Cox, Tavia Dalton, Trevor
Dowton, Sabrina Finch, Emma Freeman, Laura
Gaffey, Jane Goldsworthy, Johanna Graetz, April
Harvey, James Hincenbergs, Melanie Jenkins,
Royce Johnston, Robert Leane, Denise Littlehales,
Jesse McDonald, Keiley O'Brien, Vanessa Patey,
Emily Pike, Cherie Potter, Lucy Simmonds, Rachel
Skinner, Murray Smith, Billie Stenhouse,
Alexander Stewart.
Gem Achievers
School Captains and Prefects