Â鶹ÊÓƵ

The winter holidays is the perfect time to sleep in on cold foggy mornings, catch up with friends, catch a movie. But for Year 10 Boarder, Liv Hawkins, her June/July holiday was spent “working” - albeit on her passion in life: campdrafting. Liv, from Hughenden, said while the best part of her break was reuniting with her family and friends and spending time with her beloved horses, it was essentially a “working” holiday. She spent the better part of her holidays on a journey across Queensland, competing in various campdraft and challenge events. Liv and her family travelled across the remote roads of Outback Queensland in a truck with a living trailer, carrying nine horses, and a car. Their first stop was a two-day competition in the Pentland Campdraft. As they rolled into town ready for the first event of the season, Liv said she was nervous but excited. Though she didn’t place in the top ranks, Liv loved the experience and the chance to be among her competitors who have all become friends. Next stop was the Saxby Campdraft where Liv demonstrated her growing skills and dedication, securing a commendable 3rd place in the Juvenile Draft. However, the journey wasn’t without its challenges. A primary concern, obviously, is the health and happiness of the horses. Ensuring they were well fed, well rested and keeping the horses happy and healthy was paramount in importance. Liv and her family had to make sure the horses did not become sour from the repetitive nature of the competitions. Despite the difficulties, they worked tirelessly to maintain the well-being of their equine companions. The Mount Isa Campdraft, the Cloncurry Stockman’s Challenge and Campdraft and the Flinders Classic Challenge and Campdraft rounded out her holiday. Her 7th place in the Juvenile Draft division at Cloncurry was followed up by a 3rd and 4th at Flinders and she impressively clinched 1st place in the Encouragement Challenge. Liv said it was the perfect culmination of a winter holidays filled with hard work, determination, and passion. These achievements were not just personal victories but a testament to the support of her family and the bond she shared with her horses.

For Charlotte Ostwald, her last year in Boarding School is bittersweet. Head Boarder, Charlotte ‘Lottie’ Ostwald, has wasted no time in making the most of her final year in the MacLaren tartan. ‘It’s been a massive year, but such a rewarding one. Now that we are coming to the end, I have been reminiscing about Fairholme’, says Lottie. Between Lottie’s dual leadership roles as Head Boarder and Equestrian Captain, being one of Australia’s top ranked Combined Training Equestrian riders, and chasing her aspiring career goals, Lottie is most proud of her work she’s done in the Boarding House to support the wellbeing of her fellow boarding sisters. ‘With the help of the Boarder Prefects, I’ve tried to concentrate on the mental health aspect of Boarding. Being a Boarder is lots of fun most of the time, but it can be very hard sometimes being away from your family. As a Boarder, you have to find new support systems. ‘Through addressing mental health publicly and our Boarders’ gift project, we have focussed on bringing the girls from all grades together. I want each girl to know that they are supported and if they are struggling, they’re not alone and can reach out for help. ‘This year round tables were introduced to the Dining Room to help the girls build connections and foster a sense of belonging. This small change has certainly made a big difference. So much so that mealtimes are now much louder with all the talking.’ While being extremely fulfilling, juggling multiple leadership roles along with her academic and sporting commitments hasn’t been all smooth sailing for Lottie. ‘I’m not the most naturally organised person. I’ve had to really work on improving my time management skills to balance it all. I still feel that I have a long way to go, but challenging myself this year has helped me to improve a lot.’ As we race towards the end of the year and the many lasts for our class of 2024 cohort, Lottie still has so much to look forward to, including her final time competing at the Australian Interschool Equestrian Championships. Lottie earnt herself a spot in the Queensland Equestrian team following her achievement of not one, but two Queensland titles in high level classes. She was also acknowledged for her contributions and etiquette, being named as the Senior award winner by the Event Officials. ‘At Nationals, I am competing in my favourite discipline, Combined Training, which involves jumping and dressage. I have in the past done well at Nationals and although I’ll be putting in my best effort, I’m focussing more this time on enjoying my final experience and soaking up the electric atmosphere. ‘I’ve loved being part of Â鶹ÊÓƵEquestrian team, particularly as Captain this year. When I first started in Year 7, it was a small team and we’ve all grown together. It’s been great to follow each of the team members’ journeys and the growth of the team. ‘It’s really satisfying seeing the girls’ flourishing and achieving new personal bests. Everyone has worked so hard together as a team, cultivating a really supportive environment where everyone wants to do their best. ‘The team has done so well this year winning the Lorette Wigan Cup for the fourth consecutive year which is awarded to the Champion Equestrian Secondary School at the Interschool Queensland Championships. ‘I am in two minds about my final days at school. I am so excited to move onto a new chapter in my life, however it’s going to be very hard to say goodbye to Fairholme. “I will miss seeing my friends every day and it will be sad to farewell the teachers that have helped me so much. ‘Next year I’ll be hanging up the competitive Equestrian reigns for a little while to focus on university. I hope to gain entry to study Law and Commerce at UQ. I’m thinking I might want to work in Commercial Disputes one day or may be even go into Politics.’ Wherever life’s path ends up taking you Lottie, we’re sure you’ll continue to shine. 

In a showcase of talent and cultural heritage, Year 11 Boarder, Kaylah Daniel-Stafford, has once again made a mark in the Â鶹ÊÓƵOpen Art Prize, exhibiting a captivating painting that represents her cultural heritage from Kowanyama. Titled ‘Lilies in the Water,’ her piece holds significant personal and cultural meaning for Kaylah, as water lilies, known as ‘Maycheltrukeliy’ in the Kokoberra language, are her totem, given to her by her great-grandmother. ‘My grandmother does paintings as well and I was really inspired by her at a young age, and I want to be as good as her one day,’ Kaylah shared, reflecting on the familial legacy that ignited her passion for art. Kaylah’s piece stood out among 200 other submissions in the exhibition, earning her the inaugural Student Encouragement Award, a new honour donated and selected by curators Sandy Pottinger and Sue Lostroh, both alumnae of Â鶹ÊÓƵCollege. ‘I put a lot of work into it, many hours, and I can see it hanging in somebody’s home,’ Kaylah remarked with a blend of pride and humility. Despite her artwork not being sold, she found solace in the thought of gifting it to her great-grandmother, who not only shares her name but also serves as a profound source of inspiration. ‘My grandmother who is an inspiration said she really loved the piece also, and she helps me by telling me stories about my culture which inspires my work and express it in artistic form,’ Kaylah explained. Her connection to her culture is palpable in her art, especially in her depiction of the wet season when water lilies bloom among the rivers. ‘It makes me miss home, because during the wet season my dad would take us to drive to see the water lilies,’ she reminisced. Currently, she is working on a new piece for an upcoming exhibition with her grandmother, focusing on a landscape series that depicts how the country speaks. ‘I really want to pursue my art and be known in the art world.’

For Year 7 Boarder, Arabella Muenster, life at Â鶹ÊÓƵCollege looks a little different to home in the middle of Australia. Located an hour’s drive north of Alice Springs is Yambah Station, home to the Muenster Family and almost 5,000 head of Shorthorn cattle. Covering 2,310 square kilometres of vast open plains right in the centre of Australia, the property is one of the southernmost homesteads in the Northern Territory. A three-hour flight plus 2.5 hours of driving is quite the trip to school, but for Arabella its now the new norm as a Boarding student. Having previously completed her schooling via Distance Education, Arabella was eager to follow in her older brother’s footsteps and head off to boarding school. ‘I was a little nervous but more excited to come to Fairholme.’ ‘I was lucky that I already knew a few girls, some that I had met at orientation before starting.’ Arabella says learning by Distance Education was very quiet compared to now sharing a holme with more than 220 girls. Although she enjoys life on the land with her family, Arabella is loving the enormous variety of opportunities that Â鶹ÊÓƵoffers and the chance to make new friends. ‘I do miss my family but so far I’ve been lucky not to be too homesick.’ ‘It’s much easier being close to school and I like having my friends nearby.’ ‘I’ve joined the Â鶹ÊÓƵEquestrian team. It’s really fun and I always look forward to spending time with my horse.’ Just like so many of our Boarding girls, Arabella says that having her horse in Toowoomba helps her feel like she’s got a little piece of home with her. While we’re sure Arabella is looking forward to being reunited with her family on the holidays, for now she’s making the most of her new life in tartan.

When Bella Horsburgh embarked on her journey at Â鶹ÊÓƵCollege in Year 10, she wasted no time making her mark. Armed with a Certificate II and III in Health Services, along with dual University subjects in Human Anatomy and Physiology, and Research Skills in Health Science, Bella’s career path was crystal clear. Having secured an early offer to pursue Medical Radiation Science with a specialisation in Diagnostic Radiography at Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, Bella expressed a sense of relief in knowing her destination. ‘Knowing where I will be going next year is a big weight off my shoulders, especially before the pressures of external exams set in,’ Bella said. As a Â鶹ÊÓƵBoarder who grew up in rural NSW and Dalby, Bella has always harboured a passion for rural health. Her firsthand experiences revealed the stark reality that those in remote areas lack easy access to health services available in major cities. ‘It’s so disheartening when patients are required to travel for hours to access essential care, which then sometimes results in severe illnesses.’ Looking ahead, Bella envisions “heading west” after completing her four-year course, driven by a profound desire to make a positive impact… but not before adding to her list of qualifications. ‘I am hoping to complete my two years’ in Post Graduate Sonography, so I’m even more skilled.’ While Bella may have a clear roadmap for the next few years, leaving Â鶹ÊÓƵis a bittersweet prospect for her. ‘It’s so very exciting to be finishing, and looking towards the future, but I will miss Boarding deeply. ‘The connections I have made will undoubtedly endure beyond graduation.’ 

My name is Caitlyn Bowling, and I started my journey back in 2021 in Year 10. I come from a small rural town called Wandoan, on a cattle property 50km out of town. From a school of about 70 students and being the only girl in a class with 7 other grade 9 and 10 boys, adjusting to the fact that I would be a part of a family with 220 sisters was – let’s say the least – a little daunting. I have a younger sister and brother and I thought that was a handful enough, let alone living with 220 others. My parents, having had their heads stuck in the sand of where to send me for so long, decided that we should probably find somewhere for me to go one year out. Â鶹ÊÓƵwas the first school we looked at, and in an instant, I knew this is where I wanted to go. I made my decision that day after our tour, not even considering any other schools. It was during my orientation that I had met my best friend, Amelia. Her constant smile and openness to chat to when I didn’t know anybody made coming here so much easier. Now lifelong best friends, I realise how important those little interactions are. While boarding was very foreign to me, I was ready for something different. My first day of Â鶹ÊÓƵwasn’t quite as I planned it; falling down the stairs and dropping my morning tea wasn't quite what I had in mind… thinking how could this get any worse? I was in a different school, eating different food at morning tea and was just trying to get through my first day, alive… but I survived. You may be known as the girl who fell down the stairs, but that doesn’t matter! When you are accepted, loved, and supported like you are at Fairholme, you learn that little things like this only help shape you into who you become. For me, this journey has now led me to the appreciative role of Boarder Prefect and the girl who only falls down the stairs maybe once or twice a term. I understand that boarding is hard for both parents and their daughters. It as much as your first day as it is theirs. While I may have managed to keep it all together, my mum, however, not so much. But YOUR GIRLS too, will survive this incredible journey and want to do it all over again as I do now, even if they fall down the stairs on their first day.

From the first day, marked by a flurry of photos captured by Amelia Webster’s mother, Lisa, to the warm welcome extended by her ‘Big Sister’, Emma Scanlon, the initial impression of Â鶹ÊÓƵfrom the Kingaroy Boarder was nothing short of amazing. ‘I remember my mum took so many photos on the first day; before we left home, when we arrived in the Boarding House car park, one by myself in my room, and one with my first roommates (Bridget Rea and Jo Cox),’ Amelia recounted. The Boarding House became a second home for Amelia, and within her first few day’s, bonds were formed and memories made. ‘I will miss chatting to everyone in the hallways, particularly in the Boarding House,’ she said, highlighting the strong sense of camaraderie that permeates our Holme. The tight-knit Boarding community provided opportunities for friendships that might not have blossomed otherwise, and conversations over dinner revealed a tapestry of backgrounds, enriching her perspective through the diversity of her peers. ‘My highlights as a Boarder have been getting to know people I never would have if our rooms weren't a few doors away from each other, and also learning all sorts of things from everyone's different backgrounds just by talking at dinner.’