Over the past year, we’ve been putting the spotlight on the lived experience of boarding in the words of
Themes of community, resilience, and independence come through these stories regardless of what school they’re from.
Here is a compilation of our 2019 boarder stories.
Georgia Porteous: message to my younger boarder self
JANUARY: Georgia Porteous graduated from Kinross Wolaroi School in 2018. A boarder from Dubbo since Year 7, she was excited about boarding school for several years prior to starting. So much so, some were worried boarding may not live up to her high expectations. She looks back over the past six years of her boarding life to offer some advice to those who may be just starting out as a boarder.
Damon O’Sullivan: a once in a life-time experience
FEBRUARY: Apprehensive at first about the idea of boarding school, 15-year-old Damon O’Sullivan from Dubbo has come to see the experience as one to cherish.
Starting at St. Ignatius’ College Riverview in 2018 was a big change from what Damon was used to at home, but it was a school tour prior to starting that gave him insight into what life might be like there.
Riley Bomford: learning to be respectful in a shared space
MARCH: Riley Bomford is a leader at Calrossy Anglican School, a boarding school in Tamworth. From a farm near Barraba, the 17 year-old, Year 12 student has taken everything boarding has to offer since starting at Calossy in Year 7.
Highlights for Riley have included school itself, the courses (in English and history), and the social aspects of being with mates and meeting new people, as well as boarding. He spoke to Boarding Schools Expo about his time at Calrossy.
Asha Osborne: a support network of boarding sisters
APRIL: Fourteen year old Asha Osborne from Newcastle, was worried about homesickness until she arrived at the Ravenswood Residential College (RRC) to discover a strong support network for boarders, not only in the College but across the day school as well.
Lily Aveyard: fun, friends and sport
APRIL: Ascham boarder, Lily Aveyard from Tullamore is a Year 9 student enjoying the fun, friends, and sport on offer, as well as the many other opportunities boarding school brings.
With a tradition of boarding in her family, it was no surprise that Lily would go away for high school when the time came, but it’s something she isn’t taking for granted despite the difficulties that come with leaving home.
Torie Burton: fast-tracking tolerance and independence
APRIL: Like it is for any young person starting a new school a long way from home, the year has been a mix of excitement and homesickness for Torie Burton, a Year 7 boarder at Pymble Ladies’ College in Sydney.
When Torie isn’t boarding, she’s roaming the wide open plains 50 kilometres north-west of Coonamble, on her family’s mixed farming property. We caught up with her at home over the Easter break to find out how the experience has been for her so far.
Guy Campbell & Olivia Nolan: unprecedented advantages to boarding experience
MAY: Canberra Grammar School (CGS) has a rich heritage and culture developed through boarding, woven into the fabric of the school. Boarders, Guy Campbell and Oliva Nolan share their story of what the boarding experience has been like for them.
