25 September 2020
It was wonderful to be able to fit the 2020 House Athletics Carnival in between the breaks in the clouds this week. Thanks to a great team effort involving grounds, maintenance, administrative, teaching and sports staff, and our parent helpers – what a day it turned out to be! In terms of talent, from track to field, impressive; in terms of grit and determination as boys hit a head-on westerly down the home straight, superb; but it was House and community spirit that was the clear and visible winner on Tuesday. Indeed, this has been my experience of Athletics in Adelaide in general. Despite the obvious competitive elements of the sport, in Adelaide, there is a gentler, more inclusive approach to how it is managed than I have seen in other parts of the world. Elsewhere, “unless you are a freak athlete, there is no point” would be a fairly typical adolescent view. In Adelaide, it really doesn’t matter how fast you can run, how high you can jump or how far you can throw, or even how old you are, there is a place and a ‘heat’ for you. I love this. I have even considered dusting off my old running spikes!
The 2020 Athletics Carnival showed the value of a pastoral system built on a solid, well-led House structure. Boys were behind each other with every leap and at every turn. Every boy was involved, earning points for their House; every boy belonged. This seems to be a common theme at St Peter’s College at the moment – camaraderie and unity – at Intercol, in the recent musical performances in Memorial Hall, in our Year 11 Drama production of Lord of the Flies, and in the slightly less rehearsed but equally heart-warming House team cheering on Tuesday.
A special mention to the team from Senior School Friends of Saints who provided much needed sustenance in the form of the Aussie classic – sausages-in-bread – with the BBQ firing all day! And great to see parents on campus in support of their sons and the School. Thank you, too, to Mr Laurie Humphries who has led the athletics trials each lunchtime and after school for the past three weeks, with huge support from all teaching staff, and then pulled off a fantastic event. Well done to Da Costa House for their victory as overall champions on the day, but I am confident that every boy from every house went home feeling a little richer and a little taller by the end of the day.
Have a great break and we look forward to welcoming students back to school on Tuesday 13 October.
Please continue to keep me updated with feedback about your son’s experiences.
Best regards,
Marcus Blackburn
Deputy Headmaster/Head of Senior School