After the cancellation of last year’s event due to COVID, it was wonderful to see the Boarding Parent Sundowner resume its place in the calendar. This event was held outside the Churack Pavilion at the same time as the Brother Clery Cup cricket competition, with the Senior School matches played on Nunan Common and Middle School games on the new boarding basketball court. The boys looked great in their Clery Cup House Uniforms and ran the competition very well while staff mixed with boarding parents during a very enjoyable evening.

The highlight of the night was the unveiling of a 132-page photobook showcasing the homes and communities of our boarding families. This project was the result of many hours of work from our Boarding Parent Committee, particularly Trin Suckling (mother of Judd '22), Reeve (Year 10) and Tait (Year 7) and Kate Caughey (mother of Tom '29) and Digby (Year 12). The final product is simply beautiful and became available to purchase among the Aquinas College community on the final day of Term 1. You can scan the QR code to purchase a copy. Limited quantities are left.

Proceeds from the sale of the photobook will go towards funding some of the “creature comforts” for the boys within boarding, as will money that was raised from the Farmers’ Food Festival during the Athletics Carnival held at the end of Term 1. Donations from boarding families and local businesses were sold or auctioned by boarding parents. Some of our boarders also assisted D&T staff with the creation of chopping boards made from recycled wood that was removed from the boarding houses during the 2017/18 renovation. Sincere thanks from Aquinas Boarding goes to our parents for supporting these events.

By Ross Meadows
Head of Boarding