Just like that Harry – our favourite middle child – has finished primary school. How on earth can that be? The years are just going by so quickly. It really is true what they say about time passing in the blink of an eye. 2 boys done with Mount Isa School of the Air and one to go. It truly only seems like yesterday that Tom was starting Prep, but that was 2010.
We spent last week in town for the annual Sports for Bush Kids. This is a full on week of sports for the kids. They spend 4 days doing sports and one day – Wednesday – at school for an Activity Day. It is a busy week, ferrying kids around town to various sports – everything really: cricket, gymnastics, dance, basketball, netball, volleyball, tennis, swimming, rugby league, rugby union, touch football and soccer. They choose the sports they want to do and off we go. I did 242km driving around town last week. You can read about 2014 SFBK here and the year Tom graduated SOTA – and that sports week – here.
Oh and this time of the year in Mt Isa isn’t all that pleasant, it was boiling when we arrived in there on Sunday. On Monday when I got in my car after swimming it said 48 degrees. But the kids soldiered on, footy in the afternoon heat – no worries. Ok, look that isn’t true, they were pretty hot but they survived it. Turns out Clancy quite likes footy, he had a ball.
We all love the week because it means we get to catch up with friends. A bunch of us all stay at a caravan park together. This may involve a few cheeky drinks … I have fallen hard for this little mix – pink gin, soda, lime, cucumber and mint. So refreshing.
It is such a fun week and the kids have a ball. Some of the older kids were home from boarding school and got to catch up, just like old times. It is so great to see them all back together. I hope they are still great friends in years to come, these are kids that all started prep on School of the Air together.
We had Harry’s Graduation on the Tuesday night. He did the valedictory speech alongside his schoolmate – Emily – who started Prep with him back in 2012. They did such a wonderful job. There were so many of them who started Prep together and it was lovely to see them standing there all these years later. These are kids who have grown up doing their primary schooling together, are such great friends but live so far apart, some of them live 500, 600, 700km apart. Actually some of them live a 3 day drive away in WA!
That’s the special thing about School of the Air, distance means nothing. They are so lucky to be able to live such a unique life and grow up this way.
It sure is going to be a shock to Harry’s system next year when he heads to boarding school and has to wear shoes and socks to school every day.
2018 has been such a wonderful year in our School Room. The boys have been so lucky to have Miss Ruby as their Governess.
Harry is going to boarding school
Rubes has done such a wonderful job teaching them and their school reports reflect this. She is off to Uni next year to study Vet Science and we sure will miss her – good luck Rubes, big things are going to happen for you because you are just such a good person and deserve all the great things that are going to come your way. Remember – just say yes to all opportunities and figure it out later! Step outside your comfort zone and have a great time at Uni.
Look, here is Ruby with the legendary Mrs Mills. Ruby also completed her primary schooling through Mt Isa School of the Air and this wonderful lady taught Ruby. Mrs Mills also taught Clancy Prep and was the other Prep teacher when Harry & Tom were in Prep. In this picture she is wearing a necklace that Ruby made for her when Rubes was younger, she has worn it every Christmas Activity Day since. What a special photo…
While in town I managed to get all of my Christmas shopping done and presents posted – that in itself was a full time job during the week. I needed to think ahead because once I got home that is it until we head off for holidays and boarding school drop off in January.
So there you have it. Another school year done. Time stops for no one. Tom will be 14 on Sunday – FOURTEEN for crying out loud! Just like that my boys have grown up and I will soon have a 14 year old, a 12 year old and a 7 year old. So don’t worry I still have a good 5 years of School of the Air left.
Is the school year over for you too? Kids moving to high school? Perhaps boarding school. I want to hear everything. How are you coping with this? I am only just realising how fast they grow up. It is so scary.
Have you finished your Christmas shopping or maybe you haven’t even started yet, good luck.
Awwwwww poor Clancy …..he looks so sad!! I know how he feels…I remember way back when & my 2 big sisters went to town for High School….I was devo (but I still had a little brother at home) I consider myself so lucky to have been bought up in the bush doing all my primary schooling through Blackfriars Correspondence School (as Distance Ed was called back in the 1960’s). Best life, best education….not just in academic terms but we also learnt the most amazing life skills from my parents, grandparents and all the other wonderful adults in our lives.
Good luck next year Harry and I hope you all have an amazingly wonderful Christmas xxxx
Yes, you are right Rob, they are so lucky to be growing up in the bush, such a fantastic way of life for a kid and definitely great life skills. Thanks for your lovely message.
We have just finished our first year of Katherine School of the Air and my girls have thrived and best of all we survived! My eldest is off to boarding school which she will absolutely love! I mean she’s going sailing the Whitsundays for 4 days in term 1- can I go back! Lol she also won academic excellence awards from school and NT gov and won the Val Utley Memorial which gives Her a cash award towards her studies. My middle daughter received vice-school captain for 2019. Feeling mega proud of my girls but sad seeing only 2 desks instead of 3 in our classroom! 😭 Well done to your boys x
Hi Renee, wow – well done to your girls, that is fantastic. I think I might pack myself off to school with your daughter too, sounds amazing. Merry Christmas.
Love your Blog. Heart still bleeds when fist one went to boarding school. But all home for Christmas now and looking forward to a great time with brothers, sisters and the lot coming!! I have been promised lots of bubbles.
Hi Sally Anne, your Christmas sounds like it is going to be wonderful. Enjoy and cheers to lots of bubbles.
Time certainly flies … heck I am only a few months off having a 2yr old, how did that happen? It sounds like you had a super busy but socially satisfying time in town. I guess as the time for boarding school drop off gets close it will really hit home. Whatever will Clancy do with just himself at home? No wonder he was feeling sad. Luckily he has the whole school holidays of brothers annoying him to get him ready for it.
Hi Anne, wow nearly a 2 year old… all the power to you girl!!! Time really does fly doesn’t it. Merry Christmas xx
I also feel sorry for Clancy – he will miss his brothers for sure. We moved from Russia to America where our eldest graduated High School in June and now he off to Australia for University – life is just not the same with one of us missing. He is currently with us for Chrissy but will head back to Oz in Jan. I think it’s will be just as time consuming for me to pop over to Melbourne to see him as it is for you to pop over to Brissy to see yours, although I don’t have to open any gates, just wait at one or two for my flights. I always feel our expat life has similarities to your outback – same same but different.
HI Sarah, oh wow, you have left Russia!!! Oh Sarah your life fascinates me and I agree, I feel that I am an outback Expat. Where are you living in the US? Hey another similarity – your flights are probably similar in cost to our regional airfares, ha ha ha – not even kidding. Have a great Christmas xxx