Destination Boarding

Welcome back to Destination Boarding and our series of conversations where we introduce you to the schools that are heading up to Mount Isa with us, along with a few of the families that call the north west of Queensland and the Territory home. Today I had the loveliest conversation with Tom Floyd from John Paul College in Brisbane. Tom is a veteran of the Australian boarding school landscape having begun his career in boarding in 1984 at Guildford Grammar in WA - he was there for over 20 years. Fast forward through a pandemic that saw Tom and his wife exit WA and dabble in retirement. Definitely not suitable they decided and it was then that he was offered the position of Head of Boarding at John Paul College. JPC is a little unique, in that their boarding community is young - established in 2015 they’re relishing establishing their village as part of the larger school community.  Honestly it didn’t matter what we talked about, whether it was the ‘notion’ of boutique boarding, the cross cultural influences on the boarders as they move through their years at JPC or the independence developed by each and every boarder, Tom speaks with heart and a noticeable endeavour to continue to build his village. Enjoy my conversation with Tom Floyd. Thank you to Courtney Dunn for editing this podcast episode.  John Paul College: https://boardingexpo.com.au/schools/john-paul-college/ Boarding Expo: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardingexpo.com.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Boarding Expo 365: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/⁠

We’re back with another episode of A Road To Mount Isa and today I’m chatting with Head of Boarding at St Peters Lutheran College, Stuart Delaney. I was hit by the fan girl syndrome again with this chat… and if you can’t imagine why I would be fan girling over a conversation with a boarding school then let me throw a few names your way….. Ariana Titmus, Mollie O’Callaghan, Jack Cartwright, Shayna Jack, Elijah Wittington, and the rockstar of Australian Swimming coaches, Dean Boxall.  You guessed it, St Peters Lutheran College and St Peters Western Swim Club are one and the same. You must be a student at St Peters to even wet your big toe at St Peters Western Swim Club.  And it doesn’t stop there for this co-ed boarding school, their cache of champions across a number of sporting disciplines is quite outstanding. Think Tori Lewis, currently the fastest runner in the country. They can’t be beaten on the netball court, with a list as long as your arm of National reps, they’ve got current students already signed to AFL and Rugby union.  They welcome kids from right across Australia and overseas to board and have done since they opened their doors in 1945. In fact, St Peters began as a boarding school only with no day students. Now, they’re one of the largest schools in Queensland with around 2,300 students across two campuses. I won’t give our whole chat away here - we probably could have chatted for hours. St Peters history with boarders from rural and remote Australia is long and we’re looking forward to heading back to Mount Isa with them. Enjoy this episode with Stuart Delaney. Thank you to Courtney Dunn for editing this podcast episode.  St Peters Lutheran College: https://boardingexpo.com.au/schools/st-peters-lutheran-college/ Boarding Expo: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardingexpo.com.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Boarding Expo 365: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/⁠

Hello again. Most of you listening to this series where we introduce you to the amazing schools that are coming with us to Mount Isa will know just how beautiful Toowoomba is - best known as the garden city and only an hour or two from Brisbane. Today we’re chatting with Sharon Currie, Head of Boarding at The Glennie School which is located in the heart of Toowoomba. Sharon and her team lead their boarders with an optimism and confidence that seems to infect every area of boarding life not least the girls themselves. I asked Sharon how Glennie ensures that their broader school community understands the life of a boarder, not only during term time at school but their life at home. The enthusiasm Sharon responded with as she detailed the various initiatives undertaken was heartwarming. Whether it’s open days at the boarding house for teachers of boarders, whether it was visiting families where they live or simply knowing each girls space - their bedroom, how they decorate it with things from home or pictures… staff gain a great understanding of their charges from these simple practices. Glennie, like all of our schools coming to Mount Isa has a history of educating girls from our most remote regions and they proudly hold their boarders at the heart of everything they do. I hope you enjoy getting to know The Glennie School a little bit better. Thank you to Courtney Dunn for editing the podcast. The Glennie School: https://boardingexpo.com.au/schools/the-glennie-school/ Boarding Expo: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardingexpo.com.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Boarding Expo 365: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/⁠

Welcome back to our series ‘A ROAD TO MOUNT ISA’. This week we are having the most authentic real time chat with Genevieve McDonald. Gen is from Cloncurry in north west Queensland - well about 40 minutes south of Cloncurry on their family cattle station Brightlands. However, I caught up with Gen while she was at mini school at Gregory - about 6 hours north west of her home.  It was a hot day up north and she’d just had to do a bit of mechanical engineering to get the generator started again to ensure the caravan she was in had air con. She explained that living where they live necessitates that the Mums are definitely jack of all trades. This conversation is peppered with lively interruptions that honestly illustrate life in remote QLD - from coordinating flight logistics with hubby Alistair who was on his way to Gregoryl with the very important Year 6 Graduation cake to being shown mini school creations by an enthusiastic daughter Eliza.  We talked about the joys of mini schools which bring the kids together to learn and create and ultimately play - whether it’s a drama performance or swimming in the river after school. For these kids that learn in isolation these weeks are so so special.  The conversation led to boarding school and the opportunities for our most remote families when it comes to offering their kids a different experience to one that they’re used to and the very real role our Isolated Children’s Parents Association plays in advocacy for families from these regions of Australia. Our chat centred around the 25th Anniversary of Sports for Bush Kids week which, as you’ll learn, gives the kids their first taste of a variety of sports, music, drama and dance. And we’re heading up with 14 schools from all over Queensland to join the families in early December, we can’t wait. Enjoy my time with Genevieve McDonald. Thank you to Courtney Dunn for editing the podcast. Brightlands Station: https://www.mdh.net.au/brightlands.html Boarding Expo: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardingexpo.com.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Boarding Expo 365: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/⁠

Today I’m chatting with Simon Murphy, Principal of Blackheath and Thornburgh College in Charters Towers. Charters Towers is around an hour and a half from Townsville in far North Queensland. It’s a sizeable country town with around 12,000 people and there’s a cluster of boarding schools there - quite unique for a country town of that size. Simon mentions there’s three which employ over 550 staff and account for a combined 400 boarders. It must have a noticeable positive impact on the community I’m sure. We speak about their boarders, and their involvement in the town around them and the effect the schools’ commitment toward cultural change from within is having,  not only on their own school community but the community at large. There’s 160 boarders at BTC - 80 boys and 80 girls and Simon and I talk about the clear differences between the way the girl boarding students engage with their surroundings compared with the boys. He’s got a great insight into this. Our real purpose here though is to explore BTC’s long history and association with remote families - since inception in fact back in 1919 they’ve been educating kids from the most far flung corners of Australia and that hasn’t changed. Simon and his boarding team, led by Andy Thorne will be joining us in Mount Isa for our Popup expo event on the 2nd of December - it’s their 2nd visit with us and we’re looking forward to introducing them to more great families from the north west. Here’s my chat with Simon Murphy. Thank you to Courtney Dunn for editing the podcast. Blackheath & Thornburgh College: https://boardingexpo.com.au/schools/blackheath-thornburgh-college/ Boarding Expo: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardingexpo.com.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Boarding Expo 365: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/⁠

Today we’re chatting with Luke Baills from The Cathedral School in Townsville. Luke is the new Head of School having previously headed up Cathedral’s Junior School for 10 years.     Now it’s no surprise that Luke is looking forward to joining Boarding Schools Expo in Mount Isa. He spent 11 years as a Principal in and around Mount Isa, he actually met Steph his wife there. Steph’s family have a long history of cattle production up there and Luke’s keen to get back to the country he loves for our Expo.    You’ll hear during our chat that he’s absolutely invested in The Cathedral School and their reach into far north and western Queensland - a number of their boarders hail from the region and as Luke tells us, they’ve been prioritising boarding since inception well over 100 years ago and with a recent $14 million dollar investment into boarding, sporting and education facilities this commitment doesn’t look like it’s going to lose momentum anytime soon.   Enjoy this conversation with Luke Baills. Thank you to Courtney Dunn for editing the podcast. Boarding Expo: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardingexpo.com.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Boarding Expo 365: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/⁠

// Hello again - this week’s pod chat brought me such joy. I’ve been a fan of ‘Miss Chardy’ for years and finally got the chance to sit down with her and get the real story of life on a cattle station in the middle of ‘bum truck nowhere’. For those of you not familiar with Dan’s alter ego ‘Miss Chardy’, she was born out of a need to connect with women everywhere and dispel some of the myths that surround our most outback women. I’ve been following along since the days when Miss Chardy and her neighbour, Mrs Savvy-B would meet on the boundary for a drink and a chat with the kids every week…. A committed journey of 120km. These meetings which turned into house weekends gave their children the joy of playing with other kids their own age - something we take for granted where we’ve raised our families.  Dan speaks about the journey to boarding school for her three sons, and the realisation that her youngest, Clancy really needed to head off a bit earlier as 5 years on his own with nobody his own age was not giving him the full breadth of childhood experiences. So so tough for any Mum. He’s thriving, by the way, down in Brisbane at Marist College Ashgrove. In fact, the whole family is thriving - and Dan is absolutely enjoying every moment of their years at Marist having made the trek from the Northern Territory down to Brisbane countless times. Dan is most recently renown for her published cook books - she’s a bit of a sour dough guru and regularly does lives on social media sharing her skills with followers all over the world. Her infectious zest for life in remote Australia is breaking down barriers between city and country and there’s nothing more engaging that watching Dan on her travels between Mittibah and Mount Isa or Brisbane or an overseas trip with her mum and sister, or doing what she does with so much love which is feed the station crew. Like she says, the cook holds the crew together - feed them well and they’ll be happy.Look I could keep going on with this introduction - we talk about ICPA, Sports for Bush Kids and her young life in Mudgee, NSW. But let’s get into this lively chat with Danielle Doyle ‘Miss Chardy’. Thank you to Courtney Dunn for editing the podcast.

Welcome to Destination Boarding – the little podcast that tells the big story about Australian boarding schools. I’m your host Amanda Ferrari from Boarding Schools Expo and in this series A Road to Mount Isa I’ll be introducing you to our schools that are heading to Mount Isa with us in December.  During this podcast series we’re looking forward to getting to know our Queensland boarding schools that little bit better. We’re exploring their connections to our most remote families and their commitment or sense of social responsibility to ensure that families have access to face to face engagement with a variety of boarding schools – we all know that a website can only tell part of the story. It’s the people that bring any story to life.  Imagine going to school, boarding school, where your learning was contextualised to suit where you were heading in life.  Where you had the chance to pursue your vocation, so to speak ? Where classroom time was alternated with workshop time. Where practical learning was in the next room to theory ? Where working in the industry you were keen on was experienced over months not one week. Where you developed your belief in your abilities and realised your potential. Where, upon completion of Year 12 you were not only industry ready but understood completely the responsibilities of being a practicing technician and a valued employee. Imagine then, being head of a school that is facing Australia’s job challenge head on and providing real solutions for employers - employers that are undertaking some of our nation’s greatest projects. Ross Jorgensen is the Principal of Tec-NQ based in Townsville, with campuses in Cairns and Mackay. But today we’re talking about Townsville because this landmark school has a boarding school too.  From Year 10 this co-ed school allows kids to experience each of their offered disciplines from automotive, to construction, plumbing, electrical, engineering, health and hospitality along with the Australian school curriculum they’re do weeks of each vocation.  Once they finish Year 10 they choose which vocation they’d like to strive for and strive they do, in an environment that completely replicates real world experiences - industry grade workshops and equipment. Industry mentors and expert teachers. In year 11 the kids will rotate every two weeks between classroom, trade workshop and work, with an added 13 weeks industry work experience. By year 12 the students are in the field for 21 weeks. All the while being guided and nurtured in a fraternity that meets their needs, their level of maturity and age. Sound too good to be true? Well it’s happening in Queensland, it has been since 2007 and I couldn’t wait to get the inside story this week with Ted-NQ’s head of school. Imagine being in a position where you get to facilitate the further education of our future workforce ? To see those young people grow and thrive learning in a way that suits them and provides so much value to their community. I know you’re going to want more information about this boarding school so I’ve put a link show notes. Enjoy this chat with Ross Jorgensen. Thank you to Courtney Dunn for editing the podcast. Tec-NQ: https://boardingexpo.com.au/schools/tec-nq/ Boarding Expo: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardingexpo.com.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Boarding Expo 365: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/⁠

Welcome to Destination Boarding – the little podcast that tells the big story about Australian boarding schools. I’m your host Amanda Ferrari from Boarding Schools Expo and in this series A Road to Mount Isa I’ll be introducing you to our schools that are heading to Mount Isa with us in December.  It’s our second event up north and this year we thought it was a great idea to coincide with Sports for Bush Kids week – a week where around 70 families travel hundreds of kilometres from Karumba in the north, Richmond to the east, Windorah to the south, and west into the Northern Territory, to take part in a number of sports. It’s hosted annually by the Isolated Children’s Parents Association Mount Isa Branch of the Air and this year, 2024 is their 25th Anniversary.   During this podcast series we’re looking forward to getting to know our Queensland boarding schools that little bit better. We’re exploring their connections to our most remote families and their commitment or sense of social responsibility to ensure that families have access to face to face engagement with a variety of boarding schools – we all know that a website can only tell part of the story. It’s the people that bring any story to life.  Boarding school is part of life for our rural and remote families and none more so than those in far north west Queensland and the Territory. We are excited to bring boarding schools closer to them so they can explore their options and meet key representatives from each school and really focus on discussing the key elements of what each school can provide for their biggest asset – their country child.  We’re so grateful to the 14 schools that will be joining us and encourage any others that are listening to register – it’s not too late to join the podcast event. Joining us in Mount Isa this year is Anglican Church Grammar School from Brisbane. Well that’s their ‘official’ name but Churchie is how they’re known.  I was looking forward to this chat as the new Head of Boarding at Churchie is Mike Symons, who has recently relocated to Brisbane with his family following 15 years at The King’s School in Sydney. Mike sat down with Churchie’s Headmaster, Dr Alan Campbell to talk to me about their boarding program and their very strong ties to rural and remote families. Mike and Alan were completely engaging and the impassioned way they talk about their involvement with the education of young men from country Australia further cements the values on which Churchie was founded. These chats go beyond the brochure, beyond the website. They show you that the people that lead our boarding schools do so with heart and an authenticity that can only provide assurance to families that their children are in good hands.  Mike Symons became synonymous at King’s for community engagement and putting out a welcome mat that truly ensured everyone that came across his path was at ease. Whilst it’s early days for Mike at Churchie, you can absolutely hear that his practice of heartfelt leadership will endure and that Churchie will, without doubt, benefit from his appointment. Churchie is hitting the road with us again this year as we head to Mount Isa and we’re looking forward to having them.  Thank you to Courtney Dunn for editing the podcast. Churchie: https://boardingexpo.com.au/schools/anglican-church-grammar-school-churchie/ Boarding Expo: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardingexpo.com.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Boarding Expo 365: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/⁠

Welcome to Destination Boarding – the little podcast that tells the big story about Australian boarding schools. I’m your host Amanda Ferrari from Boarding Schools Expo and in this series A Road to Mount Isa I’ll be introducing you to our schools that are heading to Mount Isa with us in December.  It’s our second event up north and this year we thought it was a great idea to coincide with Sports for Bush Kids week – a week where around 70 families travel hundreds of kilometres from Karumba in the north, Richmond to the east, Windorah to the south, and west into the Northern Territory, to take part in a number of sports. It’s hosted annually by the Isolated Children’s Parents Association Mount Isa Branch of the Air and this year, 2024 is their 25th Anniversary.   During this podcast series we’re looking forward to getting to know our Queensland boarding schools that little bit better. We’re exploring their connections to our most remote families and their commitment or sense of social responsibility to ensure that families have access to face to face engagement with a variety of boarding schools – we all know that a website can only tell part of the story. It’s the people that bring any story to life.  Boarding school is part of life for our rural and remote families and none more so than those in far north west Queensland and the Territory. We are excited to bring boarding schools closer to them so they can explore their options and meet key representatives from each school and really focus on discussing the key elements of what each school can provide for their biggest asset – their country child.  We’re so grateful to the 14 schools that will be joining us and encourage any others that are listening to register – it’s not too late to join the podcast event. Thanks for listening to our podcast chat this week. We’re on our journey to Mount Isa this week with St Hilda’s School located on the Gold Coast. Can you imagine heading off to boarding school from one of Australia’s most remote regions and landing on the sunny Gold Coast, home to miles and miles of golden beaches, theme parks, international events and let’s face it…schoolies week! I’m pretty sure I would have thrived as a boarder at St Hilda’s.  The girls have access to all that the coast and it’s waterways offer, surf sports, rowing, swimming… incredible facilities on campus and off. Today I’m chatting with Amanda Rigby, the Head of Boarding at St Hilda’s School and I remained fascinated with the notion of receiving a top notch education at a boarding school located in our country’s most renown holiday destination. Needless to say there’s more to St Hilda’s than it’s location and Amanda warmly effuses the essence of community and education that exists for close to 185 boarders from all over the country, and overseas. We talk about St Hilda’s connection to our most remote families in the north west of Queensland as we prepare to head up to Mount Isa. I’ve said it before, we’re truly grateful to the schools that our coming with us and this series serves to share the good news about these awesome boarding schools.  Thank you for listening and please follow our podcast Destination Boarding and share this episode with a friend - or any of our episodes. Thank you to Courtney Dunn for editing the podcast. St Hilda's School: https://www.sthildas.qld.edu.au Boarding Expo: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardingexpo.com.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Boarding Expo 365: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/⁠

Welcome to Destination Boarding – the little podcast that tells the big story about Australian boarding schools. I’m your host Amanda Ferrari from Boarding Schools Expo and in this series A Road to Mount Isa I’ll be introducing you to our schools that are heading to Mount Isa with us in December.  It’s our second event up north and this year we thought it was a great idea to coincide with Sports for Bush Kids week – a week where around 70 families travel hundreds of kilometres from Karumba in the north, Richmond to the east, Windorah to the south, and west into the Northern Territory, to take part in a number of sports. It’s hosted annually by the Isolated Children’s Parents Association Mount Isa Branch of the Air and this year, 2024 is their 25th Anniversary.   During this podcast series we’re looking forward to getting to know our Queensland boarding schools that little bit better. We’re exploring their connections to our most remote families and their commitment or sense of social responsibility to ensure that families have access to face to face engagement with a variety of boarding schools – we all know that a website can only tell part of the story. It’s the people that bring any story to life.  Boarding school is part of life for our rural and remote families and none more so than those in far north west Queensland and the Territory. We are excited to bring boarding schools closer to them so they can explore their options and meet key representatives from each school and really focus on discussing the key elements of what each school can provide for their biggest asset – their country child.  We’re so grateful to the 14 schools that will be joining us and encourage any others that are listening to register – it’s not too late to join the podcast event. Today I’m chatting with the energetic Head of Boarding at Marist College Ashgrove, Jim Noble.  Jim has been a dedicated leader in Queensland boarding schools for years now and his role at Marist cements his love of educating rural kids, giving them not only a love of learning but a truly immersive experience in city living. Marist College Ashgrove is a little unique for a city based school, in that it’s located so close to  Brisbane’s CBD though sits on close to 60 acres of land, trees and open spaces for the wildest at heart.  Jim recognises that this is an incredible gift for their boys that come from our most remote regions – definitely cushions the blow of landing in the big smoke, as we discuss in the podcast. Enjoy this conversation with Jim Noble on our podcast. Thank you to Courtney Dunn for editing the podcast. Marist College Ashgrove: https://www.marash.qld.edu.au Boarding Expo: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardingexpo.com.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Boarding Expo 365: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/⁠

Welcome to Destination Boarding - the little podcast that tells the big story about Australian boarding schools. I’m your host Amanda Ferrari from Boarding Schools Expo and in this series A Road to Mount Isa I’ll be introducing you to our schools that are heading to Mount Isa with us in December.  It’s our second event up north and this year we thought it was a great idea to coincide with Sports for Bush Kids week - a week where around 70 families travel hundreds of kilometres from Karumba in the north, Richmond to the east, Windorah to the south, and west into the Northern Territory, to take part in a number of sports. It’s hosted annually by the Isolated Children’s Parents Association Mount Isa Branch of the Air and this year, 2024 is their 25th Anniversary.   During this series we’re looking forward to getting to know our Queensland boarding schools that little bit better. We’re exploring their connections to our most remote families and their commitment or sense of social responsibility to ensure that families have access to face to face engagement with a variety of boarding schools - we all know that a website can only tell part of the story. It’s the people that bring any story to life.  Boarding school is part of life for our rural and remote families and none more so than those in far north west Queensland and the Territory. We are excited to bring boarding schools closer to them so they can explore their options and meet key representatives from each school and really focus on discussing the key elements of what each school can provide for their biggest asset - their country child.  We’re so grateful to the 14 schools that will be joining us and encourage any others that are listening to register - it’s not too late. This episode was so so good. I managed to catch up with Katie Brown from Escott Station near Burketown in far North Queensland. She was smack bang in the middle of Gregory mini-school and still carved out half an hour or so to chat with me about all things ICPA, Distance Education and what it’s like to send kids to boarding school from such remote regions. Katie went to school in central Queensland, she was a day girl at a school that had boarders and as we know, boarders can have a massive impact in any day kids life given half the chance. She headed north to work as a governess on a station near Windorah, and, the rest is certainly her history. She met hubby Bernard in that first year - he was working on a neighbouring station - and together they have managed stations across northern Queensland and the territory. Katie is a massive asset to remote northern Queensland. She’s a woman with an infectious energy and to say she’ll have a crack is probably an understatement. She’s the current President of ICPA’s Mount Isa Branch of the Air - a branch which meets online and covers much of the top end of Australia. Part of her role is ensuring equity of access to educational opportunities for remote children and tackling issues in relation to secondary education whether that’s boarding schools, travel, assistance and the myriad of unique challenges that arise when home is hundreds of kilometres from a major centre. One of the things we wanted to talk about is Sports for Bush Kids week which is held annually at Mount Isa to bring kids from Mount Isa School of the Air, Cloncurry and other towns together to learn sports, compete in sports and as I learned during our conversation, explore other extra curricular activities that wouldn’t normally be available to these kids. We could have talked for much much longer but mini-school was waiting! Hope you love this chat with Katie as much as I did. Thank you to Courtney Dunn for editing. History of Escott Station: http://dropbears.com/australia/morning-glory/escott-history.htm Boarding Expo: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardingexpo.com.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Boarding Expo 365: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/⁠

Our Summer Series of Destination Boarding the podcast is here. We are often asked how we select our students for this series. Well, it’s quite simple…Each year we produce the Australian Boarding Schools Summit, an online event just for families of boarders where we discuss all things boarding.  There are a number of schools from across Australia that partner with us to cover the costs of producing around 3.5 hours of content that you can watch on demand throughout the year.   Each of those schools are asked to nominate one of their boarders for us to speak with about settling into boarding school. Around half of our partner schools are represented in this series. Today we hear from Aspen Moore a boarder at Pymble Ladies’ College. Aspen is from Dubbo, NSW and started boarding school in Year 7. This is our second annual Summer Series “Nailing Homesickness”  and this year Amanda chats with boarders from across Australia, all the while she’s on a mission to help our new boarders for 2024 feel that little bit more confident about heading off.  “I ask the students the same 6 questions for each interview and you’ll hear that each of their insights are different,” Amanda said. “The boarders I get to talk with offer such wise and heartfelt tips about how to cope with the feelings of homesickness along with advice on settling in at your new boarding school. Who better to talk to than the boarders themselves!” We would love you to share our Summer Series with any new boarders in your world. And if you enjoy the podcast please help us grow our listener base by following, liking and rating.  We hope you and your family enjoy our Summer Series and if you happen to have a new boarder in your household we wish you all the very best of years ahead. Pymble Ladies' College: ⁠https://www.pymblelc.nsw.edu.au/ Boarding Expo: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardingexpo.com.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Boarding Expo 365: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/⁠

Our Summer Series of Destination Boarding the podcast is here. Each week right through the summer school holidays we’ll be having short chats with the boarders themselves.  We are often asked how we select our students for this series. Well, it’s quite simple…Each year we produce the Australian Boarding Schools Summit, an online event just for families of boarders where we discuss all things boarding.  There are a number of schools from across Australia that partner with us to cover the costs of producing around 3.5 hours of content that you can watch on demand throughout the year.   Each of those schools are asked to nominate one of their boarders for us to speak with about settling into boarding school. Around half of our partner schools are represented in this series. Today we hear from Gemma Turkington a boarder at Wenona School. Gemma is from Griffith, NSW. This is our second annual Summer Series “Nailing Homesickness”  and this year Amanda chats with boarders from across Australia, all the while she’s on a mission to help our new boarders for 2024 feel that little bit more confident about heading off.  “I ask the students the same 6 questions for each interview and you’ll hear that each of their insights are different,” Amanda said. “The boarders I get to talk with offer such wise and heartfelt tips about how to cope with the feelings of homesickness along with advice on settling in at your new boarding school. Who better to talk to than the boarders themselves!” We would love you to share our Summer Series with any new boarders in your world. And if you enjoy the podcast please help us grow our listener base by following, liking and rating.  We hope you and your family enjoy our Summer Series and if you happen to have a new boarder in your household we wish you all the very best of years ahead. Wenona School: https://www.wenona.nsw.edu.au/⁠ Boarding Expo: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardingexpo.com.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Boarding Expo 365: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/⁠

Our Summer Series of Destination Boarding the podcast is here. Each week right through the summer school holidays we’ll be having short chats with the boarders themselves.  We are often asked how we select our students for this series. Well, it’s quite simple…Each year we produce the Australian Boarding Schools Summit, an online event just for families of boarders where we discuss all things boarding.  There are a number of schools from across Australia that partner with us to cover the costs of producing around 3.5 hours of content that you can watch on demand throughout the year.   Each of those schools are asked to nominate one of their boarders for us to speak with about settling into boarding school. Around half of our partner schools are represented in this series. Today we hear from Annabelle Williamson a boarder at Melbourne Girls Grammar School. Annabelle is from Quambatook, a town in northern Victoria. Annabelle headed off to boarding school in Year 9. This is our second annual Summer Series “Nailing Homesickness”  and this year Amanda chats with boarders from across Australia, all the while she’s on a mission to help our new boarders for 2024 feel that little bit more confident about heading off.  “I ask the students the same 6 questions for each interview and you’ll hear that each of their insights are different,” Amanda said. “The boarders I get to talk with offer such wise and heartfelt tips about how to cope with the feelings of homesickness along with advice on settling in at your new boarding school. Who better to talk to than the boarders themselves!” We would love you to share our Summer Series with any new boarders in your world. And if you enjoy the podcast please help us grow our listener base by following, liking and rating.  We hope you and your family enjoy our Summer Series and if you happen to have a new boarder in your household we wish you all the very best of years ahead. Melbourne Girls Grammar School: https://www.mggs.vic.edu.au/ Boarding Expo: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardingexpo.com.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Boarding Expo 365: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://boardingexpo365.vfairs.com/⁠