Author Archives for Tim Hughes

Wins in eight of nine rugby games against Sydney Boys’ High delivered to The Armidale School the return of the Hannon and Harris Cup competition in five sports at TAS on 6-7 May. High won the tennis and basketball on Friday night, whilst on Saturday the shooting was a draw and a senior football match was won by TAS. The hosts also won the majority of rugby relays, where four runners from each age group ran the length of the school’s main rugby field and a football passed to the next runner. The two schools faced each other in nine rugby matches from 13s to Opens, with TAS only conceding one. After a two point loss to Kinross Walaroi School at... View Article

Be fit, be healthy, be happy – TAS Junior School students were given messages with humour and hope from more than 30 cyclists who called in during a pit stop on the Tour de Cure charity ride from Brisbane to Sydney on 1 May. The boys and girls learnt a bit more about this year’s 10th Tour de Cure, which has almost 200 riders pedalling 1520km over 10 days and so far raised more than $2.5million for cancer projects. The students were also engaged by the riders as they talked about how healthy lifestyles can help prevent cancer, and how we can help those who are suffering from it. The students volunteered what it was to be fit, healthy and... View Article

‘The French are coming’ may have been a cry from the British more than 200 years ago, but it has been a much friendlier ‘invasion’ at The Armidale School this year with two additional French educators from other side of the world sharing their passion and skills with students from pre-Kindergarten to Year 12. After having studied languages, and worked a tutoring association, Benjamin Menet, who comes from the small town of Bormes-les-Mimosas in the Provence-Alpes -Côte d’Azur region of southeastern France, wanted to have a first experience in the field of education, and to live in an English speaking country. “I help with correcting tasks, and having one-to-one speaking and listening sessions with the boys and girls in year... View Article

Some were old hands, others had never played the sport before – but more than 30 girls were united on at Armidale’s Lynches Road courts in Armidale Saturday as they became the first senior netballers to play for The Armidale School. Proudly wearing the new blue and white strip, the 32 girls from Years 6-12 were all keen to get the season underway. In the first game, TAS 1 played NEGS 3 with enthusiasm, fight and heart. NEGS were up two goals at the first quarter, prompting some switching of positions for the TAS players which paid dividends, bringing the score back to a draw at the end of a second quarter. The experienced NEGS outfit made the most of... View Article

While there are significant differences between the diggers of Gallipoli and the modern day soldier, both carried with them the quality of mateship that can triumph so much, Captain Dan Fussell told those gathered for the Anzac service at his alma mater, The Armidale School early on 28 April (held then due to Anzac Day itself falling in the school holidays). Captain Fussell, 2IC of the Army Adventurous Training Wing, said the ANZAC legend was possibly as strong as it was because the legacy of courage, initiative, teamwork and respect was borne out of what was really a great military failure. “Despite the failings, they thrived in the face of adversity – not a bad definition for courage. They were able... View Article

It may not have looked strong to its builders, but a bridge constructed from balsa wood, masking tape, tacks and a metal plate not only held more weight than its competitors, but helped carry Year 10 Science students from The Armidale School to overall victory in the annual Highlands Science and Engineering Challenge at the University of New England for the fourth consecutive year. “We remembered that triangles are the strongest shape – and learnt that looks can be deceiving in what a bridge can support,” said Dimity Tearle, a member of the bridge-building team in the multi-challenge event. Pitting their skills against other bright young people from the region, the 30 Year 10 TAS students came away with the highest... View Article

Five TAS riders took part in the final (sixth) round of the National Mountain Bike Series at Toowoomba’s Jubilee on 5-6 March, with some outstanding results. The riders, competing for the Armidale-based Two Wheel Academy, were contested by tough conditions, being very dry, dusty, with temperatures in the low thirties and high humidity. On Saturday they raced a Cross Country Olympic format (XCO) – an endurance long course event which is competed to Olympic Level. Competing in their first national level race in the U17 men’s division, Angus Apps came 11th, Duncan Chalmers was 13th, Tom Cannington 14th with Joe Sewell in next place. Michael Harris came second in the U19 men’s category, ultimately finishing third overall in the series... View Article

Seven players from The Armidale School’s top football side will now compete at the next representative level after the team were undefeated at the North Coast Independent Schools Sporting Association’s football championships hosted by TAS yesterday (9 March). The strong outfit did not concede one goal in their four games against school teams from across the North Coast region. Around 280 players from eight independent schools attended the championships, which TAS hosted for the fourth consecutive year. The winners of the junior boys division, Bishop Druitt College from Coffs Harbour, also never let one into the net and were undefeated in their four games. Bishop Druitt also won the senior girls division, whilst Emmanuel Anglican College of Ballina took out the... View Article

One of the most popular high school musicals will hit the stage of The Armidale School’s Hoskins Centre next week as Bye Bye Birdie is brought to life by students from TAS, New England Girls’ School and PLC Armidale. Inspired by the hype surrounding the conscription of entertainer singer Elvis Presley into the US Army in 1957, the musical is a satire on American life at the time, particularly its teenage obsession with celebrity and small-town gossip. Much-adored rock-and-roll singer Conrad Birdie has been drafted into the US Army. Concerned about the implications on their business, his songwriter and agent Albert Peterson and his faithful secretary and companion Rosie come up with a farewell performance on television during which he... View Article