Last term, Year 10 Mathematics Advanced students were given the challenge of creating a picture in the graphing program Desmos, using lines and curves as part of their Mathematics assessment task. Each line or curve required its own equation and had to join perfectly to the next. To achieve this, students learned how to restrict the domain so that each function started and ended at the correct point. They also learned how to perform transformations to position each curve accurately. Inequalities were used to shade sections of their pictures.

Most students used at least six different functions, with some even researching how to draw ellipses and teardrops. Others experimented with sliders to make elements like water (represented by sine curves) appear to move. In total, students used between 25 and 153 equations to create their designs.

Each student produced a unique and creative picture — examples included the house from the movie Up , a cow, a bee, landscapes, pigs, mountain bike brand logos, and even the Eiffel Tower. Please see below for examples of their impressive work.

Report by Mrs Pottie

Brass players of all ages were treated to a 90 minute workshop with two of Australia's leading brass educators last Friday. As well as being outstanding professional performers, Brad Lucas (Euphonium) & Scott Kinmont (Trombone) are teachers at the Sydney Conservatorium, Sydney University. It was a great privilege for our students to receive expert guidance as they played in a combined group. Three of our Year 9 & 10 students (Joel, Bea & Hamish) were treated to a short masterclass as part of the workshop and members of our Beginner Band program had a chance to join in as well.

Thank you to one of our brass tutors from Orange Con, Victoria Chatterley, for organising Brad & Scott's visit to Orange and to OAGS.

A warm windy Wednesday added to the challenges this team faced against MAGS in the 1st Round of the Douglas Shield. OAGS won the toss and sent MAGS in to bat. A couple of early wickets had the home team on the front foot however an unbeaten 130 from one of the openers saw MAGS all out in the 39th Over for 281, a figure that would prove too hard to achieve. A gutsy effort with the bat from everyone was impressive considering the ball was flying off a wet pitch from rain during lunch.

Congratulations to all 12 of our cricketers who distinguished themselves against some talented players from Dubbo.

Year 7 Technology Mandatory students have had an exciting Term 4 so far, exploring life on the OAGS farm. They were introduced to our friendly school chickens — the Hamburgs, Easter Eggers, and Isa Browns — and have enjoyed spending time caring for them. Students have also rolled up their sleeves in the garden, chipping burrs and tending to plants, while learning about the many agricultural industries and enterprises that help feed and sustain our communities. It’s been a wonderful few weeks of hands-on learning and plenty of smiles!

A combined team of 17 OAGS/252 ACU students and adults walked the Kokoda Trail from 22th September to 02 October, completing this successfully. The team included,

The Back Story:

The World War II Kokoda campaign back story is one of courage, tenacity, mateship, and sacrifice and the overcoming of horrendous odds by our diggers and Papuan allies. The Japanese Imperial Army attempted to take Port Moresby by an overland route over the Owen Stanley Range via the Kokoda Track. This was after the Japanese Imperial Navy’s defeat in the Battle of the Coral Sea. Landing at Buna and Gona on the Papuan North Coast, the Japanese quickly marched inland. Opposing them at the time was one company of the Australian 39th Battalion, which engaged them at Oivi and then fell back due to overwhelming numbers to defend the Kokoda Plateau and airfield. The fighting withdrawal by Maroubra Force contributed to the depletion of the Japanese Army and their subsequent ‘Advance to the Rear’ order given at Iorabiawa and with the victory at Milne Bay, Australian and Papuan forces destroyed the invincibility of the Japanese, which until that time defeated everyone they faced. I thoroughly recommend you read a number of books on the topic, such as Those Ragged Bloody Heroes, A Bastard of a Place, Green Armour to name a few and watch historical news reels such as Kokoda Frontline filmed and produced by Damien Parer (who won an Academy Award for this production).

George Leonard and Harold West:

We were honoured to have in our team Ronald Leonard who is the Great Nephew of George Leonard (Ronald’s fathers brother). George and Harold were Aboriginal soldiers from Goodooga (near Brewarrina) NSW who enlisted together early in WWII. George and Harold were inseparable and served in the North African, Greece and Cretan theatres of the war, before being returned to Australia in 1942 and sent to Papua New Guinea. With the Japanese withdrawal from Iorabaiwa Ridge and the subsequent Australian advance, George and Harold as members of the 2/1st AIF Battalion took part in the engagement on Eora Creek. Sadly, George was killed in that engagement and listed as missing (to this day), as his body was never recovered. Harold, distraught, went on a mission to find his friend and seek retribution for him, only to contact Scrub Typhus and die some weeks later. He is buried in Bormana Cemetery.

A very emotional ceremony was held at Eora Creek where soil from Goodooga was spread to the four points of the compass by Ronald. For an Aboriginal to die out of country is distressing as their spirit wanders forever, seeking a way home. We could not bring George and Harold home, but by bringing the solid from Goodooga, Ronald brought Country to Papua. This was also spread at the grave of Harold. Furthermore, numerous stones were taken from Eora Creek and placed at Harold’s grave and Ronald brought one home to place at Goodooga.

The Trek:

The team was ably led again by Peter Morrison from the Adventure Kokoda team with Donald Watson and Bernie Rowell (Port Moresby) and Tracie Watson (General Manager), and we stayed at the Sanctuary Hotel in Port Moresby upon arrival on Monday afternoon after an early morning departure. We visited Yarowari High School on the way to Ower’s Corner and had a brief stop at McDonald’s Corner, which was the original start of the track, before the Ower’s Corner Road was cut.

For those who are familiar with the Kokoda Track, we journeyed in the following legs. These legs were not so much measured in kilometres walked but by hours. Arising at 0500 (mostly before that), we were walking by 0600 and in camp generally by mid to late afternoon that day and in daylight.

Our journey legs were,

1.Ower’s Corner to Camp 66.

2.Camp 66 to Imita Ridge and Iorabiawa to Ofi Creek camp.

3.Ofi Creek camp across the Maguli range (no water resupply for 5 -6 hours), then across the ‘Swamp’ and a major downpour at the Brown’s River, then to Agulogo Village camp.

4.Agulogo Village camp to the ‘Wall’, thence to Menari village and markets and the best tasting pineapple, bananas and other tropical fruits we have ever had), then a gruelling climb up Brigade Hill with slopes as steep as 70 degrees both up and down, then to Efogi Village camp.

5.Efogi Village camp to Launumu Village, then the Tovolo Gap, through Diggers camp then to Bombers camp (scene of a B-25 Bomber crash site and our first hearing of the 6 O’Clock Crickets, which are actually a Cicada).

6.Bombers camp to Myola (a beautiful treeless dried up lake bed used in the war as a drop zone), then via a hunting track to the Moss Forest and the high point of the trail on the slopes of Mt. Bellamy, through Eora Creek Crossing 1 then to Templeton’s Crossing camp.

7.Templeton’s Crossing camp to Eora Creek battle site (scene of Damien Parer’s iconic photographs), the ceremony for George Leonard, then a steep ascent to Alolo Village (lunch), then a downhill trek to the Isurava Guest House site, then to Isurava campsite.

8.Dawn service at Isurava (an emotive service), then to the village of Deniki (where we saw Kokoda in the distance and the beautiful Yodda valley), to Hoi Village camp, where we had a traditionally cooked meal by the Papuans.

9.An early rise at Hoi Village for the two hour walk into Kokoda and the finish. A review of the Kokoda plateau and the museum, a wonderful breakfast by one of the Kokoda Adventure cooks (Freddie who cooked for us on the first trek) sister Marcella and then to the Kokoda airfield for a Twin Otter flight back to Port Moresby.

10.A visit to Bomana Cemetery where each member was given the name of a fallen digger, which they had to research and present that night at dinner, which was completed by all with distinction and the emotional ceremony at Harold West’s grave.

One cannot describe the exhaustion that the journey presents, although we had excellent weather (it did not rain until day three at the Brown’s River and then night rain in some locations but particularly at Isurava and then at Hoi village. It was wetter on the Northern side of the ranges, than the Southern side) and at times hot. The human effort to traverse the trail is immense as is the sure footedness of our porter team who raced up and down the trail, some in bare feet carrying heavy loads.

These sons, grandsons and great grandsons of the original Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, demonstrated skill and care and we all appreciated their efforts. The story of these carriers during the war is commemorated in PNG by the Fuzzy Wuzzy Day and is a term given by the Australian soldiers, that the Papuans are proud of to this day.

A highlight of our stay at Agulogo Village was the presentation by Viv and Milly White of Jersey’s and soccer balls kindly donated by the Molong Soccer Club, particularly Ralph Chrystal who put this great gift together. The children came out after the rain had stopped and had a great time in their new Jersey’s and demonstrated their skills against some of the team, with the new kit.

The passing through the arches at Kokoda is an exhilarating feeling and there was joy and relief at this achievement. Upon our 30 minute (nine days trek) flight back to Port Moresby, a well deserved shower and change of clothes, an afternoon was spent at the Bormana Cemetery and the Papuan National Museum, where we saw traditional artifacts and the new Kokoda Track wing. Unfortunately, we were limited to time, which was disappointing as this is a day-long visit and recommended to anyone who travels to Port Moresby.

We were up early the next morning at 3.00am for the flight out to Brisbane and we met other groups at Jackson airport, who had also completed the trail walk. We landed in Brisbane and had changed over to domestic service for the flight to Sydney. At Brisbane we discovered that there had been high winds at Sydney causing chaos with flights and a cancellation of our Sydney connection. After much deliberation, we had an overnight stay at Brisbane courtesy of Virgin Airlines and another early morning flight at 0605 and 0635  to Sydney (our team was spread across two flights), where some of the team waited for the Rex Airlines flight to Orange and others had their own transport from Sydney to home.

Unless undertaken, one cannot understand the enormity of the Kokoda Track. The surreal nature of modern air travel takes us within one to two days across two different worlds. A hearty well done to the whole team, discuss with family and friends and encourage the next generation of trekkers to make the journey in 2027. To the team directly, understand the enormity of what your grandfathers and great grandfathers fought for and achieved. Never forget this and use their sacrifice to drive yourselves forward. You are now different people for this experience.