Blue Mountains Grammar School Newsletter Vol 2, 17 th February, 2017 FROM THE HEADMASTER The Story of Two Horses It has been great to see the School brought back to life this past week. I commend the entire school for the settled and very productive start to the year. The positive attitude displayed by the students as they have commenced classes has been very impressive. Last week at Assembly, I mentioned to the students that just prior to Christmas, I travelled with my family to the New England Tablelands in northern NSW where I used to holiday as a boy with my family on a large sheep and cattle station near Tenterfield. I have very fond memories of those holidays – not only because of spending time with my family, working at various activities on the farm, but because the farmer would give me an old ute to drive for the time we were there. It was, in fact, where I learnt to drive and I remember clearly that the gear lever was on the side of the steering column – “three on the tree” was the term they used. The brakes were also in a pretty bad state. My return to that area, however, also reminded me of a scene that I feel illustrates the importance of caring for one another. The property we used to stay on had a second homestead that we rented from the farmer. Just beside that homestead was a paddock with two horses in it. From a distance, both horses looked the same, apart from one being larger than the other. Close up, you could pass your hand in front of the eyes and around the head of the larger horse and notice something interesting - it would not flinch - this was because it was blind. The property owner had chosen not to have him put down, a rather rare thing to do on a working farm, but had made the horse a safe and comfortable place in which to live. This was very compassionate on the farmer’s part. However, as you stood nearby and listened, you could hear the sound of a bell. It was coming from the smaller horse in the field which had a bell attached to its halter. The ringing of the bell let the blind horse know where the other horse was, so he could follow.
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Blue Mountains Grammar School Newsletter Vol 2, 17th February, 2017
FROM THE HEADMASTER
The Story of Two Horses
It has been great to see the School brought back to life this past week. I commend the entire school
for the settled and very productive start to the year. The positive attitude displayed by the students
as they have commenced classes has been very impressive.
Last week at Assembly, I mentioned to the students that just prior to Christmas, I travelled with my
family to the New England Tablelands in northern NSW where I used to holiday as a boy with my
family on a large sheep and cattle station near Tenterfield. I have very fond memories of those
holidays – not only because of spending time with my family, working at various activities on the
farm, but because the farmer would give me an old ute to drive for the time we were there. It was, in
fact, where I learnt to drive and I remember clearly that the gear lever was on the side of the steering
column – “three on the tree” was the term they used. The brakes were also in a pretty bad state. My
return to that area, however, also reminded me of a scene that I feel illustrates the importance of
caring for one another.
The property we used to stay on had a second homestead that we rented from the farmer. Just
beside that homestead was a paddock with two horses in it. From a distance, both horses looked the
same, apart from one being larger than the other. Close up, you could pass your hand in front of the
eyes and around the head of the larger horse and notice something interesting - it would not flinch -
this was because it was blind.
The property owner had chosen not to have him put down, a rather rare thing to do on a working
farm, but had made the horse a safe and comfortable place in which to live. This was very
compassionate on the farmer’s part.
However, as you stood nearby and listened, you could hear the sound of a bell. It was coming from
the smaller horse in the field which had a bell attached to its halter. The ringing of the bell let the
blind horse know where the other horse was, so he could follow.
As you watched these two animals you'd see that the horse with the bell was always checking on the
blind horse, and that the blind horse would listen for the bell and then slowly walk to where the other
horse was, trusting he would not be led astray.
When the horse with the bell returned to the shelter of the barn each evening, he would stop
occasionally to look back, making sure that the blind horse wasn't too far behind to hear the bell.
This simple story illustrates something important for us to remember as we start another year. Like
the owner of these two horses, we shouldn’t discount others just because they are different from us,
or because they have problems or challenges that we may not understand. We can always find a way
to help and encourage each other.
Sometimes we are the blind horse, being guided by the little ringing bell of helpful friends. And at
other times we are the guide horse, looking after and encouraging others to find their way.
That’s just the type of place that BMGS is. We help and guide one another.
Icebreakers Evening – Our Welcome to New Parents!
My colleagues and I look forward to welcoming new parents to the P & F Icebreakers Evening on
Friday 24th February commencing at 7.30pm in Coorah. This opportunity will enable you to meet with
teachers to discuss how your son or daughter has settled in and embraced the start of the School
year. Members of Staff and the Board will be present and new parents from Senior, Junior and
Preparatory Schools are encouraged to attend this most relaxed and enjoyable evening.
Students’ Achievements
Congratulations to Tom Weaver (Year 12) and Griffin Katrivesis-Brown (Year 12), who have both
been selected as 'Griffin Ambassadors' for the Griffin Theatre Company; to Lucien Robba (Year 11),
who has been selected as a 'Young Wharfie' with the Sydney Theatre Company, and to Darius
Williams (Year 12), who has been working professionally as an actor with ATYP (Australian Theatre
for Young People). Darius has been performing in the show 'Intersection'. One of the writers involved
with the project is Zoe Ridgway (BMGS Year 12, 2012).
Also, during the recent holidays, Bella Stiene and Darius were selected for the ATYP (Australian
Theatre for Young People) Sydney Festival residency and they performed at the Sydney Festival.
Well done, to Tom, Griffin, Lucien and Darius and Bella for these wonderful achievements.
T. Barman
Headmaster
FROM THE CHAPLAIN
I wonder if you have ever built up an event in your mind and then have it all go horribly wrong. It is
interesting how many such stories are linked to Valentine’s Day, weddings or similar occasions, when
we are caught up in the madness of Love. Like the Italian wedding (11th July 2009) during which a
microlight plane was hired to fly past and throw the bouquet; unfortunately the bouquet tangled with
the plane’s rotor causing it to crash, narrowly missing a nearby hostel. Fortunately, only one person
was injured and they later made a full recovery.
Maybe we try to celebrate these days and events in such a big way because we want to create a
lasting memory; we want to sustain the event in some manner beyond its elapsed time. Ultimately, I
wonder if we hunger for a love that lasts forever and our grandiloquent gestures are a way of
aspiring towards eternity. Miguel de Unamuno once said, “This God, the living God, your God, our
God, is in me, is in you, lives in us and we live and move and have our being in Him. And He is in us
by virtue of the hunger, the longing, which we have for Him, He is Himself creating the longing for
Himself.”
The Bible seems to make it clear that God wants to sate our hunger for lasting love. We don’t need to
make do with whatever makeshift alternatives we can cobble together. From the very beginning of
the Bible and all the way through, the message is that God’s love for us is bigger than we can
imagine and that it will last longer than anything else we may experience in life.
“The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn
you with unfailing kindness” (Jeremiah 31:3).
A. Dane
FROM THE PARENTS’ AND FRIENDS’ ASSOCIATION
2017 Blue Mountains Charleston Challenge
As you may be aware, the Hydro Majestic has been a tremendous supporter and sponsor of Parents’
and Friends’ Association functions over recent years.
On Saturday, 25th February, the Hydro Majestic will be hosting the 2017 Charleston Challenge. This
is an annual challenge to break the world record for participants dancing the Charleston, which the
Blue Mountains community held for several years until 2015. If you would like to take part in this
year’s attempt to break the world record and return the title to the Blue Mountains, participants
must register online.
Parents are advised that this is a Blue
Mountains community event; it is not a BMGS
or Parents’ and Friends’ Association event.
Due to another School event taking place on
that day, and various co-curricular
commitments, there will be no members of
staff in attendance in an official capacity.
Registrations to this event are independent of
the School and all enquiries should be directed
to the organisers. To register to dance or find
out more information on the Charleston world
record attempt visit:
www.roaring20s.com.au, and
www.charlestonchallenge.com.au, or
http://roaring20s.com.au/events/the-
charleston-challenge/
Save the Date:
Sunday, 19th March Fashions for the
Perfect Afternoon Tea
Tuesday, 21st March, Annual General
Meeting
Don’t miss the next Parents’ and Friends’
Association fundraiser! Fashions for the
Perfect Afternoon Tea promises to be a
wonderful afternoon and offers a rare
opportunity to view some of the exquisite
fashion items from the renowned Darnell Collection. Curator of the Collection, Ms Charlotte Smith,