On Tuesday 3 June we were thrilled to welcome author R.A. Spratt to the iHub.
A keen audience of 30 of our Year 10 students were treated to a workshop that looked into her own writing processes and the building blocks of writing as a discipline.
Year 10 students are studying R.A. Spratt’s novel, Hamlet is Not Okay - and the author’s insights, wit, and personal love and knowledge of Shakespeare gave our students some truly valuable insights.
There was a great deal of laughter, enthusiasm, and enjoyment of literature that afternoon - along with many book-signings and shared anecdotes with students that also loved and remember her junior fiction series: Friday Barnes, and Nanny Piggins.
Our BDC primary students were treated to a visit from a good friend of our visitor, Jacqueline Harvey - author of book series Kensy and Max, Alice-Miranda, Willa and Woof, and Clementine Rose. We’re so fortunate to have access to amazing Australian authors such as these!
On Friday 13 June, the HSC Agriculture and the Year 9-10 Animal Science classes ventured out to Farnworth, Glenreagh. During their visit they engaged in a range of activities including:
- Water and soil testing
- Cattle assessing, both condition and pregnancy
- Beehive maintenance, including alcohol wash varroa testing and resetting hive beetle traps, along with general observations and maintenance
- Farm management, the rotational grazing that is happening with our beef cattle is going well, with some winter supplementation of locally made silage
Thanks to Mr Kirk Taylor and Mr Arwel Green for helping to facilitate the activities on the day and thanks to Mrs Rebecca Smart and Mrs Fiona Harris for organising the day and driving the buses.
Three members of the BDC Equestrian Team, Cydni Lessels (Year 10), Jessica Sykes (Year 10) and Olivia Sykes (Year 8), ventured to chilly Coonabarbran for one of the biggest Equestrian Interschool events in Australia, the Northwest Equestrian Expo.
After a big day of driving on the 29 of May, a big 5 days were ahead for all 3 girls.
Day 1: The first day saw only Jessica start her competition in the eventing. Jessica and her horse Prince Dylan (an off-the-track Thoroughbred) had a personal best dressage test with a 68% to sit second in the class of 11 combinations. Jessica, unfortunately, had 2 rails down in the show jumping, which ultimately cost her the win.
Day 2: The second day saw all 3 girls compete in their classes. Jessica did her 95cm cross country with Prince Dylan, to finish clear for time and place 3rd overall. In the afternoon, Jessica started her modified pentathlon with her run.
Olivia competed in the dressage with her horse Carina Park Bondit (an off-the-track Thoroughbred (raced under Bondit)) to score a respectable 62% to sit in 7th in a competitive class. The combination then proceeded to jump a clear show jump round to move into 6th place overnight.
Cydni and horse Vivian (Quarter horse x Stock horse) competed in the combined training. Both Vivian and Cydni did their first dressage test and show jump round. Both took a lot of positives out of the experience and learnt a lot about competing. They also completed the Working horse challenge, despite not scoring as well as she hoped, Cydni showed an extreme level of understanding and horsemanship.
Day 3: The third day of competition saw Olivia continue with her final phase of the eventing. Olivia and Carina Park Bondit went around the track clear for time, an unfortunate spook leading to a refusal saw the combination kept off the top step but still ended up placing 8th.
Cydni and Vivian continued their Combined Training with a show jump round in the morning, and the pair both did their first show jump round. Both had lots of fun and learnt a lot!
Jessica continued her pentathlon with the High Point Score showjumping and equitation on her second horse, Carina Park Perigord (an off-the-track Thoroughbred (raced under Perigord)). Carina Park Perigord jumped a very nice round despite some rider errors. Unfortunately, a flare-up of an old injury kept Jessica from completing the remaining 2 events. The combination then proceeded to complete the six-bar. Carina Park Perigord was thrown into the deep end with very little practice of this setup. The combination got through the first round but knocked some rails in the second round due to getting quite eager and excited.
Day 4: The fourth and final day of competition for all 3 girls continued to be full of fun, learning curves and a bit of success.
Cydni competed in the Warrumbungle Way, a competition with 5 different disciplines including a whip crack, a mechanical cow, the water obstacle, the pick and choose and the freestyle. Cydni and Vivian had a lot of fun.
Jessica jumped 2 105cm show jump rounds. The first round was good, Prince Dylan had an unfortunate spook and refusal at a wall (which looks like an optical illusion), but on the second attempt, he jumped it with no worries; he also had the last rail down. His second round was very good for both Jessica and Prince Dylan's confidence. A silly rail at the first fence, but the rest of the round was confident and clear. Much to the team's surprise, the combination placed 3rd.
Olivia and Carina Park Bondit jumped in the 65-show jumping with 2 clears. Her first round in the morning was just not fast enough for the placings, but her second round in the afternoon was quick enough for 2nd in her division. Moreover, Olivia and Carina Park Bondit were announced Reserve Champion for their division! Olivia’s division had about 20-30 combinations competing!
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