On Sunday 26th March, over 80 students from the Music Department's senior ensembles traveled to Fairbridge Village (an hour south of Perth). We spent two and half days doing intensive rehearsals...and during the free time...studying, jamming, chatting, playing basketball, climbing trees and generally messing around. Most people agreed the food at Fairbridge was way better than you expect at camps. On Tuesday we got on the two coaches and traveled back to Perth and performed our first concert at Brentwood Primary School. The next day, we met again to travel around three more primary schools, presenting concerts at Mt Pleasant, Booragoon and Winthrop Primary Schools. Our Music students entertained and inspired over 1000 children at these local area primary schools. Thanks to everyone involved, including the adult volunteers: Alison Miller, Victor Yong, David Hulbert and Anna Edwards. The ensemble conductors were Paul Hines, Kirtsy Hulka, Christine Stapleton and Tim Stapleton.

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This is my third year at Applecross SHS and I am very impressed and enjoy working here. The staff and students are all so friendly and supportive.

I commenced my nursing career in 1976 at Western Australian School of Nursing (WASON) and had varied experiences at different hospitals during my nursing training. I did most of my practical experience at Royal Perth Hospital.

I went to Kalgoorlie Regional hospital for my first and third year in nursing training and thoroughly enjoyed my nursing adventure in the mining/gold town.   After my general training I returned to RPH as a graduate nurse and worked in various areas of the hospital and in the staff “Pool” which was mainly in the busy areas of the hospital. I worked between Emergency, Intensive Care and Coronary Care Units and enjoyed this part of nursing and almost did my Critical Nursing Degree, but chose Midwifery in 1981 at King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH). This was another enjoyable part of nursing which I loved! I delivered plenty of babies at KEMH and the eldest baby I delivered is 35 years old and she is my best friends daughter and I am her Godmother!

In 1982 I commenced work at Rockingham/Kwinana District hospital (RKDH) and worked between the Emergency and Maternity departments. This was a real eye opening experience for a new graduate midwife, as on my first shift on the Maternity ward at RKDH, I had three ladies in labour to look after and one of the ladies was ready to deliver her baby! Talk about sink or swim! Luckily I had the husbands supporting their wives which helped me to triage the deliveries!!  I did survive that shift and worked at the hospital for twelve years in-between having my two sons.  My eldest Son Scott was born in 1985 and followed soon in 1986 by my second son Jarrad.

In 1990 I was offered a job at RKDH to be the triage nurse in the Emergency Department and Maternity and worked part time 6pm – midnight.   I also assisted with the Immunisation program for the Town of Kwinana on a monthly basis.  In 1998 I was asked to join the Immunisation Team for the Peel Area to do the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) program offered to all primary school children.  I took secondment from the hospital for three months and enjoyed having weekends off and NO shift work.  The Immunisation Team that I was part of  immunised 12,000 students in three months.

In 1999 I was offered a job in Community Nursing and my first High School was Rockingham Senior High. This was a real challenge for a new community nurse but again I survived and continued with community nursing.  I worked at Rockingham for 6 years and thoroughly enjoyed the challenges that faced me as a community nurse.  The staff here were very hardworking, caring and supportive in their roles and a pleasure to work with.

In 2006, I applied for the job at Rossmoyne Senior High School and worked there for nine years and thoroughly enjoyed my time there also.  I commenced here at Applecross SHS in 2015 and am really enjoying working here with staff and students and thank you all for your support.

I am married and have 2 sons, 5 sisters, 10 nieces and nephews and 4 great nieces and nephews, my father passed away in 2014 at almost 90 and my mother is 85 alive and well and keeps us all busy! I enjoy catching up with my family, big circle of friends and relatives. My husband and I enjoy dancing, travelling and socialising.

The Year 9 HASS Academic Extension class has recently been involved in the Hard Boiled Humanities Competitions. Students had to choose a historical figure that interested them and then design an egg to represent the person they had chosen. This is used as build up to the National History Challenge that is being organised by the HASS Academic Extension Coordinator, Cassy Don.  Students had a free choice over who they based their egg model on. We saw eggs based on characters as diverse as Steve Jobs, Donald Trump, Tutankhamen, Elizabeth I, Ned Kelly, Beyonce, Nelson Mandela, Einstein, Sir Isaac Newton, the Wiggles,  Freda Kahlo, Marie Antoinette and many more. 

Students in Year 7, 8 and 9 HASS Academic Extension classes will soon begin working on the National History Challenge. Other students can also enter. See your HASS teacher or Ms Don. More information can be found at the National History Challenge website http://www.historychallenge.org.au/

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The Student Council excursion was held at Mt Pleasant Bowling Club.  The excursion was aimed at improving the cohesion between the different year groups that comprise the Student Council.  There was a particular emphasis on welcoming the Year Seven councilors to the group and assisting them in their new roles. 

The day commenced with a number of activities organised by each year to encourage communication between year groups.  The lower year school councilors were then provided with guidance from the year 12 student councilors to improve their fundraising proposals. These proposals were later shared with the group as a whole, where further feedback was given from other years.

A presentation was conducted by the Student Representative Council regarding its role in the school community. The focus was then turned to a discussion of the ways in which we, as representatives of the student body, believe the school can be improved. This discussion elicited a diverse range of ideas from each year group. These ideas were collated to be examined at a later date.  

The day concluded with what is likely to have been one of the clumsiest games of duck duck goose ever to be played, though it was effective in encouraging interactions between year groups.  The excursion was a useful and fun means of introduction for the Year Seven councilors as well as great opportunity for all councilors to share ideas.

Patrick Brennan-Walker Year 12 Student Councilor

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