On the Grapevine

The 15-year-old Year 10 student’s transition to the larger school has proven to be the right one. Possessing a strong desire to study aeronautical engineering to become a pilot, she has found the best aspect of the school includes a greater emphasis on study and being encouraged by her teachers to always apply herself and learn more.

Helena understands if she is to be accepted into the Air Force, or to study at university to achieve her career goal, she will need a high score and appears determined to achieve it.

The prestigious regional school of almost 500 students includes 50 girls and more than 30 boy boarders who are privileged to have their own separate bedroom accommodation and an opportunity to make many new friendships amongst fellow boarders.

“I am now living with 50 sisters! It’s definitely very different to home, always being surrounded by lots of people, but I really like it,” Helena said.

After dinner during the week with her fellow boarders there is homework or study time for 1.5 hours in the library and the time is well spent to ensure students keep up to date with all their classes. Helena loves mathematics and science, subjects which are a must for her future career.

“They just make sense,” she said.

Outside of school hours, Helena, a keen and talented soccer player, attends training two afternoons a week with Wodonga Diamonds. On game days she plays with under-17s and more recently has been selected to also play with the division one senior women’s side, where she is the youngest in the team.

Helena played for five years at Cobram Roar and has taken all she learnt there even further to become a skilled and valuable goalie with the Diamonds.

Each Friday evening she returns home to Cobram to spend quality time with her family, mum Liliana, dad Albert and brother Dante, while working a part-time job on Saturday and returning Sunday to play her much-loved soccer.

Then it’s back to the boarding house and her new school friends and a brand new week begins.

School history: The Scots School came into being in 1972 with the amalgamation of Albury Grammar and Woodstock Presbyterian Girls School, the oldest regional boarding school in the state of NSW. Today the Scots School campus covers 11 hectares and is situated in the centre of Albury.

High tea at Byramine Homestead

Byramine Homestead is offering a special treat during the months of June and July when it will host a number of traditional high teas.

Tempting and delicious homemade cakes, slices, scones, pastries and gourmet sandwiches will be offered, together with bottomless amounts of coffee, tea, juice and unlimited champagne.

Sound tempting? Then it definitely sounds like it’s time to treat oneself and celebrate mid-winter.

Dates were set for Sunday, June 4 and 18; and July 2, 16 and 30. However demand has been extraordinary and the only dates remaining are Sunday, June 18 and Sunday, July 2, between 10.30am and 12pm.

If you wish to book, do it today as very few seats are still available. Contact Byramine Homestead on 5748 4321. Oh, I almost forgot, the cost is $35 per person.

Hive of activity at Strathmerton community tree planting

Undeniably Strathmerton is a small town and yet when something needs to be done, people come along. Consequently there was a hive of activity at Strathmerton Reserve last Saturday morning when enthusiastic locals came along to assist in planting 300 native trees which included eucalypts, wattles, melaleuca and bottlebrush, which are bound to attract an abundance of birdlife, situated on a sizeable area adjacent to the golf course where it had been stipulated that they should be of a variety that would reach a height of at least 2m.

Initiated by the Strathmerton Community Steering Committee and funded through the Australian Government’s Planting Trees for the Queen’s Jubilee program, approximately 40 people arrived with gloves and spades in hand to plant the tiny trees propagated by Jeanette Graham on her hobby farm outside of Strathmerton.

The ground had been prepared well for planting by the unofficial ‘Mayor of Strathy’ Philip Ross-Soden who was recently awarded Citizen of the Year for the Moira Shire and is also treasurer of the steering committee.

One little chap Axle Hawthorn, 5, attended with mum Sarah, secretary of the steering committee and was proud of his efforts. “I planted four trees,“ he said with a proud smile.

Others worked diligently over a two to three-hour period, concentrating on ensuring their little plants were secure in the soil, watered and placed in tree tubes. There was a role that morning for everyone, including Lions Club members who were kept busy cooking delicious egg and bacon rolls for the hungry workers, generously provided by Cobram Community House.

John Farnham movie popular

Cobram Hospital Auxiliary hosted a screening of Finding the Voice, showcasing one of Australia’s most loved pop singers, John Farnham.

From Farnham’s first big hit, Sadie the Cleaning Lady in the late 1960s and early 1970s to more current hits such as the You’re the Voice, movie-goers were treated to the highs and lows of his career in this amazing biopic, a documentary on the career and life of this hugely popular singer.

More than 90 people attended the afternoon, which raised $1300 which will go towards the purchase of necessary items which the hospital does not receive additional funding for.

Recently the hard-working auxiliary presented $5000 for the purchase of much-needed furniture and items for the hospital.

Members of the Cobram Hospital Auxiliary would love to see younger people become involved. Being on the auxiliary is not a big job but hugely rewarding to see that through your effort, it assists the town to maintain its valuable hospital and health facilities.