Full Transcript for Will Mercer - Assistant Director of Boarding - Prince Alfred College, Adelaide

00:06:26.560 But we are pushing up limit to the power. 00:06:48.560 --> 00:07:00.800 And then I will lay out how they still get at the top of the old building. 00:07:26.959 --> 00:07:31.839 So it's one of the oldest schools in South Australia. 00:07:40.399 --> 00:08:00.319 Um the original building, so fun enough to the original school building, which had a number of extensions. 00:08:00.560 --> 00:08:00.720 Yes. 00:08:00.959 --> 00:08:04.800 And where we're standing is the original quite a lot. 00:08:09.839 --> 00:08:10.160 Right. 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:15.439 Oh, what an oil looked mine oval. 00:08:27.600 --> 00:08:31.360 Hey, thank you so much, Will, for your walk around. 00:08:31.439 --> 00:08:39.120 Now I guess I want to know your journey from a school through to working and boarding. 00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:40.320 How did that start? 00:08:40.559 --> 00:08:52.320 Um so I went to church here in Brisbane and I was a day boy for a number of years and then uh started playing sport quite a high level in year 10. 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:55.919 Uh, so made the decision to move into boarding. 00:08:56.000 --> 00:09:08.799 So I grew up in the western suburbs of Brizzy, but boarded in the eastern suburbs, um, which got me a bit closer to training for my my sport at the Queensland Academy of Sport, um, and loved my time in boarding. 00:09:08.879 --> 00:09:16.720 So I spent two years, year 10 and 11, um, until I had a driver's licence in uh in boarding, and it was brilliant. 00:09:16.799 --> 00:09:24.320 Like the I was in Goodwin House at the time, um, Wayne Gore, who's still at the college at the school, was the head of house. 00:09:24.639 --> 00:09:31.039 Um, and at the time Tim Browning was the director of boarding, um, who's in South Australia with us here as well. 00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:54.000 So uh then went off after school, had a career in indoor and beach volleyball, um, so travelled overseas extensively, um, played on the World Tour for beach volleyball, uh, played in Europe for indoor volleyball right at the end of my career, um, had a mislaid adventure into the Defence Force and spent some time at the Royal Military College in Canberra. 00:09:54.399 --> 00:10:05.840 Uh, and then by 2016 was back in Brisbane, um, had done a number of different degrees at university, didn't really know where I was going to land. 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:15.200 Um, by then I was I was with my now wife Megan, who's a PE teacher, um, and I'd had to make a decision about what I wanted to do. 00:10:15.279 --> 00:10:20.240 So I spent a day uh observing classes at her school, uh, which was St. 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:24.480 John's Anglican College in Forest Lake in Brisbane. 00:10:24.720 --> 00:10:31.919 I spent one day there observing English and history classes and knew immediately that teaching was something I wanted to do. 00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:39.759 So I was the last graduating cohort of the Diploma of Education in Queensland. 00:10:40.080 --> 00:10:51.360 Um so I

finished my dip ed mid-year 2017 and was lucky enough to pick up a job at the Gap State High School that mid-year that year. 00:10:51.440 --> 00:11:00.320 Um I remember vividly the July school holidays, maybe 48 hours from the start of term, and my teacher registration still hadn't come through. 00:11:00.720 --> 00:11:02.000 Stressing had come on. 00:11:02.159 --> 00:11:06.000 And it was quite literally the Friday before term started again. 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:14.720 A phone call from the Queensland College of Teachers saying we've rushed through your registration, here's your number, you won't you won't get the email until next week. 00:11:14.799 --> 00:11:18.960 Um, so I was able to start teaching at the Gap State High straight away. 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:26.799 Spent six months at the Gap and then was offered a role uh at Churchy as an English teacher. 00:11:26.960 --> 00:11:33.840 Um, Megan and I were actually on our honeymoon when Andrew Wheaton called uh to offer me the job at Churchy. 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:36.159 Um and I took it up, of course. 00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:38.720 I couldn't couldn't resist going back to my old school. 00:11:38.799 --> 00:11:50.639 I spent one year as a boarding uh academic tutor and a and a full-line English teacher, and then after one year I stepped into the role of assistant housemaster in Goodwin. 00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:53.440 Um I was back in my old house. 00:11:53.600 --> 00:11:55.919 The only thing that changed was air conditioning. 00:11:56.240 --> 00:12:01.120 Uh outside of that, the furniture was the same, rooms were the same, everything was the same. 00:12:01.600 --> 00:12:07.200 Um, and yeah, that's and then that's how I and how long were you in Churchy before you came across the park? 00:12:07.440 --> 00:12:08.799 Uh four years at Churchy. 00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:19.600 Um so lived through the start of COVID, um, a full retrofit renovation of Goodwin House, um, which was a saga in itself. 00:12:19.679 --> 00:12:25.360 So we lived lived in a half-renovated boarding house for eight months, um, as they did a wing at a time. 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:28.080 So we had some interesting, interesting experiences. 00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:43.600 We had a number of weeks there with no alarms, so we had overnight security uh for the boarders, um the usual delays on construction that meant we had sort of 50% of the the total number of bathrooms um through that period of time. 00:12:43.840 --> 00:12:50.960 Uh, and then towards the end of 2021, um we'd had two kids in boarding by that point. 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:54.799 Um, so our our daughter and our son were both born into the boarding house. 00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:55.360 Yes. 00:12:55.600 --> 00:13:08.639 Um, and when I hit the four-year mark, it was it was time to spread my wings a little bit, and I would have loved to have stayed at Churchy for you know for the rest of my career, but um it was time to do something a bit different. 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:22.320 So my wife shortlisted the cities and I I started applying to boarding jobs in those cities, so um missed out at Toowoomba, missed out in Geelong, and then landed this job in Adelaide. 00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:27.440 So started 2022, um, came down here to be deputy director. 00:13:27.759 --> 00:13:31.120 It's uh it's an amazing facility which opened in 2019. 00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:32.320 2019, yeah. 00:13:32.720 --> 00:13:43.600 Um so how have you found working in a newer facility compared to obviously Goodwin, which you rent you knew before renovation, then renovation, you walked into a relatively new facility. 00:13:43.679 --> 00:13:44.399 How have you found it? 00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:48.559 Yeah, I think the coming down here was really exciting. 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:52.480 I'd I'd lived in Adelaide for five years when I was playing beach volleyball. 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:52.799 Okay. 00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:57.120 Um so the Australian Institute of Sport was is based here for Beach. 00:13:57.200 --> 00:14:00.159 Um so I had a cohort of friends here who still live here. 00:14:00.559 --> 00:14:03.600 Um so it made the move to Adelaide a little bit easier. 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:04.159 Yeah. 00:14:04.320 --> 00:14:12.080 Um the only thing that was intimidating about this job when I took it was the scope of this building. 00:14:12.320 --> 00:14:19.039 Like it's it's not like any other boarding house um that I've ever toured or or worked in. 00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:24.799 Um it's five floors, yeah, 150 beds under one roof, 13 wings. 00:14:25.200 --> 00:14:28.240 Um, the boys share a bathroom between two. 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:31.200 Yeah, uh, they have an awful lot of privacy. 00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:36.320 Um the it's easy for boys to sort of hide away in their rooms. 00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:36.720 Yeah. 00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:46.879 Um, and as a result, we have a staffing model that that ensures that there's essentially a staff member on every floor during the busy points of the evenings in particular. 00:14:47.039 --> 00:14:47.360 Yeah. 00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:53.360 Um I didn't have experience in in boarding of this scope. 00:14:53.679 --> 00:14:58.000 Um and the the year I arrived we had 156 boarders. 00:14:58.399 --> 00:14:58.960 Full house. 00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:00.720 So we had a more than full house. 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:04.480 We had the the we have an another 10-bed villa across the road. 00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:04.879 Okay. 00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:06.879 That is year 11s and 12s only. 00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:07.360 Yes. 00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:12.639 Um, and as soon as we roll over 150, we open up that space over the road. 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:16.879 So this year we're down, so we're just everyone's under the one the one space. 00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:18.559 Which is a lot easier for supervision. 00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:20.240 Uh far easier for supervision. 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:20.799 Yeah. 00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:27.759 So

with that uh model, uh what obviously you you gotta supervise it differently. 00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:30.240 What is what has been the main challenge? 00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:33.679 When I so when I arrived, there were a couple of things. 00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:39.919 The the academic portfolio for boarding was was given to me on top of deputy director. 00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:52.879 So my day-to-day role is um running the operational side of boarding, so rostering, staffing, um, and then the homework process in the evening, so prep process, academic support, that sort of thing. 00:15:52.960 --> 00:16:07.039 So my two goals were to one, just look at the staffing model and make sure the coverage is appropriate across the different spaces, um, and what we were doing to support the younger boarders. 00:16:07.440 --> 00:16:14.320 Um nature of South Australia is year ten is our biggest single intake year into the boarding house. 00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:20.480 So we have very small numbers of boys in seven to nine, and they are essentially integrated into the rest of the building. 00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:39.600 So having come from the east coast uh and the year seven centre model that a lot of schools have gone gone with, um, finding some ways to have those younger boys not be completely integrated with the with the older lads, um, just because we've got 12-year-olds and 18-year-olds living living in the same space. 00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:54.720 So um so finding some house parent staffing hours to support those guys, particularly late in the evenings, um, was a change to the roster, um, and then a sweeping change to what academic support looked like. 00:16:54.879 --> 00:17:01.759 Um so when I arrived, Borders I only did between an hour and 90 minutes of homework four nights a week. 00:17:01.919 --> 00:17:07.039 Um, and the the dinner process and homework process just lacked a bit of structure and rigour to it. 00:17:07.119 --> 00:17:12.400 So we spent one year just carrying on through COVID because it was a very disrupted year anyway. 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:20.000 Um the end of 2022 trialled a completely different homework process, um, and that's what we've continued with today. 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:22.160 So uh and how does that work? 00:17:22.400 --> 00:17:23.279 How does that look with it? 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:32.799 So we we used to have split homework sessions, so boys could elect to do homework in the library immediately after school uh or during prep session after dinner. 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:38.319 Um that was a 90-minute, straight 90-minute session after a 5.30 pm dinner. 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:45.039 Um there were difficulties in tracking who hadn't hadn't completed homework in the afternoons. 00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:56.720 We had to have boarding staff over in the library in the day school in the afternoon when there are day students there, so there's in terms of um who's responsible for which group of students became complicated. 00:17:56.960 --> 00:18:03.279 Um and it was usually the same boys ducking and weaving homework sessions across the board. 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:05.519 So the there were a couple of goals. 00:18:05.680 --> 00:18:15.920 One was to to bring a bit more rigour and formality to what prep looks like, uh, and to increase the total hours of prep time to two hours per night, Monday to Thursday. 00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:26.319 Um it was very obvious that the um the academic profile of the boys here are not one that would be able to do a two-hour homework session in that one tilt. 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:28.640 Um, so we just changed the routine. 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:32.160 So the boys now do an hour of homework 5:30 to 6.30. 00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:38.079 We then have a break 6.30 to 7 for dinner, and then the second hour 7 to 8. 00:18:38.319 --> 00:18:54.319 Um, in terms of the model, what lots of schools do, so year seven to 10 over in the library, um, supervised by a mix of boarding staff and day school teachers, um, year 11 and 12 here in the boarding house, um, and we have a similar academic support here. 00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:59.680 Um, once we'd done that for a year, we brought A-team tuition in. 00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:01.039 Ah, fantastic. 00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:09.440 So we have uh we started off with three tutors four nights a week, yeah, which is quite rigorous, um, working exclusively with year ten. 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:10.240 Okay. 00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:21.440 Um that's the year level that you felt the need of the a few a few challenges with our enrolment model, because we we essentially double from year seven to ten. 00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:26.000 So we start with five year sevens, ten year eights, twenty-year nines, forty year tens. 00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:26.640 Yeah. 00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:36.559 Um if we offer intensive academic support any earlier than year ten, we're gonna miss 50% of the boys who graduate in year 12. 00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:39.440 So we had no choice but to but to do it at year ten level. 00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:46.880 Um, and because of that, we went away from the sort of large study room with tutors circulating. 00:19:47.119 --> 00:19:52.880 Yeah, and they they work in small groups, so they're in groups of five to seven, depending on academic ability. 00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:57.920 Yeah um at the moment the uh the process is three nights per fortnight. 00:19:58.160 --> 00:20:08.480 So every year ten student will complete three nights across a rolling fortnightly roster in a group of five to seven with an A-Team tutor in the boarding house study rooms. 00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:08.960 Okay. 00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:16.799 Um and it's anecdotally in the first year, the boys are really happy, and the parents were very happy with the extra support offered. 00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:17.039 Yeah. 00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:28.480 Umce we had cohorts then moving through A-Team in year 10 into year 11 and 12, they were asking for access to

A-Team in Year 11 and 12, which we have done. 00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:38.640 So we've modified our academic support offering to Year 12 students in particular to give them targeted access to their A-Team tutors in the lead-in to examinations. 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:48.079 Has that gone away from that model of um three in over three days, or have you bought additional ones in to do one-on-ones? 00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:49.920 I know A-Team does that one-on-one. 00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:57.359 So we we offer A-Team as one-on-one tutoring to boys who are seeking a one-on-one shooter, um, but it's a relationship between A-Team and the family. 00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:57.839 Yes, yes. 00:20:58.240 --> 00:21:04.640 Um we when we offer A-Team to year 12, um, we just remove the year tens from that week, basically. 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:05.680 So year 10s. 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:10.799 Um we use it as an opportunity to transition year tens into studying in their rooms. 00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:11.279 Yes. 00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:21.839 Um, because the some of the feedback we got a few a few years ago was some boys finish year ten with highly supervised homework, and then they start year 11 and suddenly they're on their own. 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:27.839 Um so transitioning them through that process so they develop good study habits when they're in their own space. 00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:33.920 Um, the other thing we still do is bring day school teachers to run in to run master classes. 00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:34.240 Okay. 00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:48.559 Um, we went away from day school teachers supervising to more targeted master classes so that that that teacher from that faculty comes ready to deliver content rather than just a drop in focus, if that makes sense. 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:55.440 So um this year's year twelve cohort are the first year twelve group to have gone through A Team in Year Ten. 00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:56.480 Ah, fantastic. 00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:59.359 Uh how the results will be the results are strong. 00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:06.559 Um Um last year was our strongest boarding ATAR for some time, median ATAR for some time. 00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:10.000 But yeah, the proof will be in the data at the end of this year. 00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:13.519 But it takes time to change culture and change the way you can. 00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:13.920 Correct. 00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:14.400 Yeah. 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:21.839 I think there's there's been noticeable change, not just in academic culture, but across the board since I arrived, for sure. 00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:26.720 Having that focus, knowing that the period, this is where I've got to focus in my studies. 00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:26.960 Yeah. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:29.680 It's uh bit of the challenge. 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:30.319 Yeah. 00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:36.400 So what are what are the things that uh coming to Adelaide that you've really enjoyed? 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:36.880 Yeah. 00:22:37.200

--> 00:22:44.400 The change from uh Brisbane to Adelaide, wine, the food that I enjoy, but what have you as a family experience? 00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:45.359 It's been fun. 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:49.279 I think we like I was I was very familiar with Adelaide moving here. 00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:58.400 Um but when I first lived here I lived in the western suburbs, sort of the beachside western suburbs, and there's a real split between east and west in Adelaide. 00:22:58.720 --> 00:23:04.480 Yeah, you're either a west coaster or you're you're a leafy eastern suburb, and the two don't mix. 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:12.240 So I I I used to work just around the corner in a function centre, and that was as far east as I ever came. 00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:20.880 Um so I never despite living in in Adelaide for five years, I had no knowledge of of PAC when I PAC's existence when I moved here. 00:23:21.119 --> 00:23:23.759 Um it was a change. 00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:27.119 Obviously, COVID, we were right in the heart of COVID when we moved here. 00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:27.599 Yes. 00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:37.279 Um we started my first term here as deputy director with year seven and twelve being the only year levels completing on-site school. 00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:37.680 Right. 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:41.599 Um, all other year levels were completing school at home through Zoom. 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:42.000 Wow. 00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:44.559 Um, but we opened the boarding house. 00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:52.400 So we had a full boarding house with the majority of boarders completing school over Zoom from their bedrooms. 00:23:52.640 --> 00:23:55.200 Um which was a really odd experience. 00:23:55.599 --> 00:24:02.079 Um we we didn't close or send international students home through COVID. 00:24:02.319 --> 00:24:13.839 Um so we had a number of international students who finished a few years ago who between term one year eight and term one, uh term four year ten didn't go home. 00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:14.640 That's right. 00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:18.559 Um so sort of two and a half, three years without going home. 00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:22.240 Um personally had Christmases with borders. 00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:22.720 Yeah. 00:24:23.119 --> 00:24:25.680 And that was uh our experience is very, very similar. 00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:27.440 Internationals didn't go home. 00:24:27.599 --> 00:24:35.519 No, so we yeah, it was it was a big celebration the first holidays when we sent sent a couple of internationals home who hadn't seen their parents for two years. 00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:37.279 Exactly right other than online. 00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:40.079 So um outside of that, I think around that. 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:44.400 With those boys? 00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:51.279 Yeah, so they they use at the time Zoom was the premier um online conferencing. 00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:56.160 They uh had some significant periods of time to Zoom home. 00:24:56.640 --> 00:25:03.279 We had a concerted effort to share images and videos of what what boarders were doing during the holidays. 00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:09.359 Um primarily that was through Facebook, but that's not accessible to um families in mainland China. 00:25:09.839 --> 00:25:16.640 Um so we essentially bolstered a newsletter offering um to give them more access to what's going on. 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:18.480 And how did you support their well-being? 00:25:18.559 --> 00:25:20.160 Because that was that was a start. 00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:23.039 Lots of challenges, lots of challenges. 00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:31.039 Um we're we're lucky that we have a large international cohort here, so we're just under 20% international students in the boarding house. 00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:31.839 Fantastic. 00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:35.039 Um, which means there's a community there. 00:25:35.119 --> 00:25:35.440 Yeah. 00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:47.440 Um the we have an international student coordinator over at school who's a Mandarin speaking staff member, okay, who does a lot of work with the the Chinese and Hokanese international boys. 00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:48.000 Yes. 00:25:48.160 --> 00:25:54.319 Um we have a school counsellor who comes into boarding every Monday night now. 00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:54.799 Yes. 00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:58.799 Um has a service dog, Bungie, who's very, very popular. 00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:02.400 Um and so Peter Gifford is our is our counsellor. 00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:09.759 He works pretty much not exclusively with boarders, but boarders seeking uh pastoral support and well-being support will see Pete. 00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:10.319 Oh, okay. 00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:14.559 Um and he knows the boarding program really well now. 00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:18.720 Um we also have a Mandarin speaking residential staff member. 00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:19.599 Oh, that's good. 00:26:19.839 --> 00:26:24.559 Um, who lives in this building, which is very, very, very useful for us. 00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:30.000 So your international students are they're primarily from China or Southeast Asia or what whereabouts are? 00:26:30.160 --> 00:26:32.880 Yeah, primarily so primarily mainland China and Hong Kong. 00:26:32.960 --> 00:26:33.119 Yes. 00:26:33.279 --> 00:26:35.440 Um at the moment we've got one student from Thailand. 00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:35.759 Okay. 00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:42.000 Um now and then we'll have a student from Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, um, those areas. 00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:47.359 So it really is a growth area through that Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia area. 00:26:47.680 --> 00:26:48.160 Correct. 00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:53.279 Um yeah, so moving to Adelaide, I think is I I'm a cyclist. 00:26:53.359 --> 00:26:53.519 Yeah. 00:26:53.680 --> 00:26:55.839 Adelaide is very cycle-friendly. 00:26:55.920 --> 00:26:56.240 Yeah. 00:26:56.400 --> 00:27:00.799 Um, I've not been out on the real road as much as I would like. 00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:02.960 Um, boarding being boarding.

00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:08.400 Um but we enjoy the beaches, like playing beach volleyball, we get down to Glenelg. 00:27:08.640 --> 00:27:15.599 Um, we have a property in the southern beaches, um, which are beautiful area, halfway down to the Florida Peninsula. 00:27:15.839 --> 00:27:16.000 Nice. 00:27:16.319 --> 00:27:21.440 Um so and then the the Adelaide Hills are always a nice place to take take children. 00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:21.680 Yeah. 00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:30.640 Um if you're raising young kids, Adelaide is a fantastic town because there's lots going on, and we're right in the heart of the city here. 00:27:30.720 --> 00:27:32.240 We can we can walk into town. 00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:34.240 And it's just so green. 00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:35.440 It's amazing. 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:38.240 Not in summer, it's very brown in summer. 00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:41.839 Well, you won't have the uh humidity that you do in Queensley. 00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:42.480 No, that's right. 00:27:42.880 --> 00:27:44.079 That'd be a great change. 00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:44.799 Yeah. 00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:51.200 Uh so what are what are you uh looking forward to the next 12 months here? 00:27:51.920 --> 00:27:54.079 Well, we've got another child coming. 00:27:55.680 --> 00:28:00.720 So Mercer Baby number three is due imminently in the next few weeks. 00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:06.799 Um I'm gonna enjoy a couple of weeks away from work um with a new baby. 00:28:07.039 --> 00:28:16.720 Um look, I think we there's been a l a huge amount of cultural change in boarding and at the college over the last four years. 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:18.799 Um, all for the better. 00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:20.720 Um we toured earlier today. 00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:24.079 The facilities that the college offers are uh are second to none. 00:28:24.400 --> 00:28:25.039 Unbelievable. 00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:31.039 Um this boarding house is it's it's a hostel, it's it's not a boarding house. 00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:39.039 Um I guess for me the I'm really looking forward to seeing the academic outcomes for this year's year 12 cohort. 00:28:39.119 --> 00:28:39.359 Yeah. 00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:44.640 Um the college has put in a lot of work to support academic pathways for boarders. 00:28:44.960 --> 00:29:02.000 Um so last year was the the first year of a pathway to trade program for year 10 students who've now moved into year 11 and um can pursue a vet focused um pathway through school, which for some of our rural boys is exactly what they need. 00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:09.519 Um you know as well as I do, there's there's plenty of boarders who are in a conventional school who just aren't built for conventional schooling. 00:29:09.839 --> 00:29:21.119 Um so it gives those boys a sense of belonging and a break from the day-to-day school environment one or two days a week to head out and do some of the things that they really love. 00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:23.200 Um whether it's digital fitting or whatever. 00:29:23.599 --> 00:29:38.799 Now these days is opening up to different options in your vet pathway now, especially for your real remote kids, because that's what they want, and you having that facility there to be able to give the students and their families what they want from an education perspective. 00:29:38.880 --> 00:29:45.759 It's instead of putting a round peg into a square hole, you're actually adjusting that peg for them. 00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:46.319 It's good. 00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:50.319 Um the college this year started a pilot programme for ag science. 00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:52.160 Oh wow, that's fantastic. 00:29:52.400 --> 00:30:02.160 And next year we'll offer um full curriculum agricultural science starting at year 11, um, which is very popular with the the boarders. 00:30:02.319 --> 00:30:22.400 The the um science staff member who's been tasked with piloting that is going through the process of focus groups with boarding families and including boarding families who work in the industry in helping to write the curriculum for the Ag Science Program, um, organizing site visits to properties of boarding families and that sort of thing. 00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:23.680 That's brilliant. 00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:32.319 Um we we offer a tour of Marcus Alden and Longeron agricultural colleges um each year for your 11 and 12 boys. 00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:33.920 Um shows their pathway. 00:30:34.319 --> 00:30:41.920 Which shows them their pathway, and we've got lot lots of old scholars and current parents um who went through those two institutions. 00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:44.400 Um so it's a real focus for us. 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:52.160 The um the SACE allows boys early access to university subjects, um, and then we're in IB school as well. 00:30:52.319 --> 00:30:59.599 So in terms of the pathways that the boarders can choose, there's there's endless options, um which is good. 00:31:00.400 --> 00:31:13.119 And so um I g I guess uh looking at uh where you are now and and and you're in looking towards the future with your goals academically, etcetera, what are what's the big challenges that you see? 00:31:13.920 --> 00:31:14.960 Um enrolments. 00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:16.160 Reporting enrollments. 00:31:16.319 --> 00:31:16.480 Yeah. 00:31:16.640 --> 00:31:16.960 Yeah. 00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:21.279 We through COVID there was a lot of work done to hold on to in enrolments. 00:31:21.359 --> 00:31:21.519 Yes. 00:31:21.759 --> 00:31:30.400 And we enjoyed through um 2022 up until last year, an above full student number. 00:31:30.559 --> 00:31:34.319 So over 150 for us is is uh considered above full. 00:31:34.640 --> 00:31:46.240 I think with tough times on the land in South Australia, um increasing increasing cost of living, particularly fuel costs for for boarding families. 00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:51.119 Um we've seen an uptick in in scholarship applications for boarding. 00:31:51.200 --> 00:31:51.359 Yes. 00:31:51.519 --> 00:31:58.559 Um and the

college offers an extensive range of of boarding scholarships, um, particularly for isolated and remote students. 00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:10.160 Um but the the cost of sending a student to boarding is growing and it's putting pressure on families, and we're seeing that in in enrollment numbers. 00:32:10.559 --> 00:32:22.079 Um I think for for us it's continuing to offer what we offer, but keeping in mind the the pressure that is on families, um, which is often an easy forget. 00:32:22.160 --> 00:32:38.240 I use the example with day school staff who haven't necessarily worked in boarding, and I kind of say, well, for your average family living in the city, an unforeseen expense this week might be a hospitalization and it might cost you a grand. 00:32:39.119 --> 00:32:40.799 You know, for a boarding family. 00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:42.880 The header's just blown up. 00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:46.960 Yeah, the header needs new new tyres, there's a quarter of a million dollars. 00:32:47.920 --> 00:32:51.519 So we or you know, the the price of grain has changed by two cents. 00:32:51.680 --> 00:32:52.000 Yeah. 00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:53.200 There's half a mil. 00:32:53.440 --> 00:32:54.400 Yeah, that's exactly right. 00:32:54.640 --> 00:32:58.960 So it's it's it's a totally different world of financial family management. 00:32:59.200 --> 00:33:01.519 Um so that's I think that's a big challenge. 00:33:01.599 --> 00:33:02.960 And then the second one is well-being. 00:33:03.200 --> 00:33:03.519 Yeah. 00:33:03.680 --> 00:33:10.160 Um I think we we can never offer enough well-being support for boys. 00:33:10.640 --> 00:33:17.599 Um we've now got cohorts of boys who completed their middle schooling almost entirely online, yes. 00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:26.000 Um, who are not struggling, but there are some nuanced aspects to their social integration and and how they get to know other people. 00:33:26.400 --> 00:33:27.440 Levels of resilience. 00:33:27.680 --> 00:33:30.960 Level of resilience, how they're interacting with technology, yeah. 00:33:31.119 --> 00:33:33.440 Um lots of work to be done. 00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:42.880 And that technology point, where where do you guys sit with the with with your taking in devices, um, limiting limitations around use of devices? 00:33:43.200 --> 00:33:50.319 Yeah, so we we're lucky enough to have a PC LOX box for every student, charging box with an individual access code. 00:33:50.799 --> 00:34:03.759 Um year twelves have unfettered access to their devices unless they identify themselves as needing a bit more support around sleep, academic achievement, um or or managing their time. 00:34:04.079 --> 00:34:10.159 Um year seven to ten hand in all devices every night of the week. 00:34:10.320 --> 00:34:10.719 Yes. 00:34:10.960 --> 00:34:20.079 Um there's some scope for year tens to hold onto laptops if they need to genuinely need to do work, but they need to have shown that they're working on whatever that thing is through the night.

00:34:20.239 --> 00:34:21.599 Um so that's everything. 00:34:21.679 --> 00:34:28.320 That's smartwatches, iPads, laptops, phones, anything anything that connects the internet goes into the box. 00:34:28.719 --> 00:34:30.880 Um and they open up quite early. 00:34:31.039 --> 00:34:37.039 So if a boy's got rowing training at 5 a.m., they can access their device before they head off to training in the morning. 00:34:37.199 --> 00:34:41.599 If a boy wants to get up early and do some study, they can still access that device. 00:34:41.760 --> 00:34:51.840 So um at the year 11 level, we have a technology contract that allows year 11s access to their phones on a Friday and Saturday overnight. 00:34:53.039 --> 00:34:57.840 And that contract basically just outlines our expectations of a year 11. 00:34:57.920 --> 00:35:09.840 Um, and again, similar to sort of year 10's transitioning to study in their own rooms, is a transition for year 11 students so that they don't hit year 12 and suddenly have access to all this distraction. 00:35:09.920 --> 00:35:13.360 They've developed some good habits through through year 11. 00:35:13.519 --> 00:35:19.760 Um exit weekends, we relax our tech restrictions a little bit. 00:35:20.079 --> 00:35:22.239 Do you do most kids leave during the exit weekends? 00:35:22.320 --> 00:35:24.960 Or do you still have a handful of internationals? 00:35:25.280 --> 00:35:26.960 International students usually all stay. 00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:34.159 Um international students who've developed relationships with day boys will often go and stay um stay off-site with day students. 00:35:34.719 --> 00:35:39.760 Um at the moment we've got 130 or just under 140 boarders. 00:35:39.920 --> 00:35:40.239 Yeah. 00:35:40.400 --> 00:35:44.239 Um the long weekend exit last term, we had 40 in. 00:35:44.559 --> 00:35:44.719 Okay. 00:35:45.119 --> 00:35:49.280 Um so we don't close entirely, but numbers do drop significantly. 00:35:50.639 --> 00:35:54.719 So do you do offer weekly boarding or is it just full-time Mondays? 00:35:55.199 --> 00:35:55.280 Yeah. 00:35:56.800 --> 00:35:57.760 Full-time only. 00:35:58.000 --> 00:36:06.480 Um we do have some boarders who live sort of in the surrounding areas of Adelaide, so McLarenvale, Barossa, the Clare Valley. 00:36:06.639 --> 00:36:09.119 Um, they often will go home on weekends. 00:36:09.199 --> 00:36:09.360 Yeah. 00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:12.800 Um, we don't restrict weekend leave, yes, as it is. 00:36:12.960 --> 00:36:17.760 I could kind of think about the days when I was a boarder where you know I was boarding in East Brisbane. 00:36:17.920 --> 00:36:19.519 My parents lived in Indrapilly. 00:36:19.920 --> 00:36:22.079 Two weekend leaves per term, sir. 00:36:22.320 --> 00:36:25.679 Um so it was those those days are behind us. 00:36:25.920 --> 00:36:32.400 Um but we encourage those boys as much as possible to particularly the first weekend of each term, to stay in. 00:36:32.719 --> 00:36:33.039 Stay in. 00:36:33.440 --> 00:36:39.599 Um and a lot of them will stay for school sport, um, stay Friday night, play sport Saturday, head home Saturday afternoon. 00:36:39.840 --> 00:36:42.800 Families can come watch them then before the dress sports. 00:36:43.119 --> 00:36:45.199 Yeah, fantastic. 00:36:45.519 --> 00:36:49.360 So uh I'm looking forward to having a bit of a look around, as I mentioned before. 00:36:49.519 --> 00:36:57.760 I had uh seen the facility when it just opened in 2019, so it'd be great to see how it's being utilized now and and just to hear about different things. 00:36:57.840 --> 00:37:04.239 Like we all know when we build something that there's looks good on paper, but reality when it's been used, things change. 00:37:04.400 --> 00:37:07.519 So it'd be great to see how uh the facility is looking now. 00:37:07.679 --> 00:37:08.079 Brilliant. 00:37:08.239 --> 00:37:08.719 Thank you, sir. 00:37:09.119 --> 00:37:09.280 Thank you. 00:37:09.679 --> 00:37:11.039 Daniel, yeah, cool. 00:37:11.119 --> 00:37:12.480 So this is main reception. 00:37:12.639 --> 00:37:17.920 Um boys can only come and go through this door and and sign in. 00:37:18.159 --> 00:37:24.800 Um, like most or like every boarding house I've been to, the signing in and out to school is mildly and consistent. 00:37:24.960 --> 00:37:25.199 Yes. 00:37:25.519 --> 00:37:27.679 Um so we do our do our best to keep track of them. 00:37:27.760 --> 00:37:31.519 We had a fire alarm at 8 15am last week. 00:37:31.920 --> 00:37:32.800 That big timing. 00:37:33.119 --> 00:37:36.239 That really highlighted to us who had and hadn't signed out to school. 00:37:36.320 --> 00:37:36.480 Yeah. 00:37:36.639 --> 00:37:39.119 Um, it was a chance for us to give that feedback to the boys. 00:37:39.199 --> 00:37:51.519 So um boys come through here, we've got main reception, um, so Sam Bromley, our we do use Aura as well, but just the well-being aspects. 00:37:51.760 --> 00:37:51.920 Okay. 00:37:52.239 --> 00:38:01.360 Um, and mostly just for our new boys for their first uh semester with us, um, and for boys who are well-being at risk next time. 00:38:01.679 --> 00:38:04.480 So they can do the well-being check-ins through nurture in Aura. 00:38:04.880 --> 00:38:08.559 Um, and we as boarding staff get those notifications as we go. 00:38:08.719 --> 00:38:08.960 Yeah. 00:38:09.119 --> 00:38:23.519 Um, the main common space is through here, so we have three wings, the building's shaped like an arrowhead, um, three wings on each floor, 13 wings total throughout the whole building, um, and 150 beds under one roof. 00:38:23.599 --> 00:38:25.679 So, this is the Max Wellington room. 00:38:26.159 --> 00:38:30.960 We use this for supper in the evenings, um, each evening at eight o'clock. 00:38:31.199 --> 00:38:35.360 Our house parents run cooking classes to baking classes in the works. 00:38:35.599 --> 00:38:37.840 Boys come down and can use the treatments and things. 00:38:38.079 --> 00:38:51.679 Uh, and then Saturday and

Sunday breakfast is self-served down here so boys can eat at their time appropriate to get off the sport, and often boys are sleeping in on a Sunday morning. 00:38:52.320 --> 00:38:55.119 There's a coffee machine which is very heavily used. 00:38:55.360 --> 00:38:57.199 Courtesy the boarders' parents. 00:38:57.440 --> 00:38:57.679 Nice. 00:39:00.320 --> 00:39:00.880 Yeah, yeah. 00:39:02.159 --> 00:39:05.440 Coffee caffeines doesn't mix and then main court. 00:39:05.599 --> 00:39:08.239 Yeah, so again, our boarders' parents committee are very supportive. 00:39:08.639 --> 00:39:14.239 Ice ballots are courtesy of the old old scholars footy club and we have six residents. 00:39:18.639 --> 00:39:20.000 It's a great space. 00:39:44.639 --> 00:39:46.639 So in the building is what do we got? 00:39:47.360 --> 00:39:50.719 One, two, three, four, seven residential units. 00:39:51.199 --> 00:39:51.440 Okay. 00:39:52.719 --> 00:39:58.480 So myself and Phil Mobile direct reporting in the ground on level one at the end of two of the wings. 00:39:58.559 --> 00:39:58.880 Yes. 00:39:59.039 --> 00:40:17.679 Uh and then above us is a series of three bedroom and single bedroom units that are occupied by a mix of uh senior boarding staff who are also teachers, uh, as well as our full-time boarding to one more residence on the other side of the road in the school. 00:40:18.159 --> 00:40:27.280 Uh it's occupied by Debbie King, who's an English teacher as well, she takes care of the villa, which is our accommodation on the other side of the road. 00:40:30.000 --> 00:40:30.800 Laundry Lockers. 00:40:31.360 --> 00:40:40.320 Laundry Lockers um this was redeveloped two years ago to expand our number of lockers because we were up over 150. 00:40:40.400 --> 00:40:46.000 We had originally only built 150 lockers and we've got lots of lockers. 00:40:46.159 --> 00:40:51.280 So we've had a few instances of parking with their last bit. 00:40:52.320 --> 00:40:59.119 Um locker, uh and all the laundry is done as well. 00:40:59.360 --> 00:41:03.440 So lovely laundry lady here at 5.30 each morning. 00:41:03.920 --> 00:41:06.639 Boys are responsible for sorting their own laundry. 00:41:07.440 --> 00:41:08.079 A cam watch. 00:41:08.480 --> 00:41:13.199 A small laundry for their own watch, so 40 GMZ is being used twice in a weekend. 00:41:13.360 --> 00:41:13.519 Yep. 00:41:13.920 --> 00:41:19.199 They can kind of do their own motorwatching or very expensive design feature. 00:41:32.559 --> 00:41:35.760 It's a great open space to start with the reception. 00:41:36.960 --> 00:41:39.440 There's not many boarding houses that have two elevators. 00:41:42.559 --> 00:41:46.480 Um we'll head up to level four. 00:41:46.639 --> 00:41:48.239 There's a great deal, it's the college. 00:41:49.119 --> 00:41:50.000 Fantastic. 00:41:52.239 --> 00:41:54.639 So the boys can use the lifts at any time? 00:41:54.880 --> 00:41:55.039 Yeah. 00:41:55.199 --> 00:41:55.360 Yeah. 00:42:00.480 --> 00:42:00.639 Okay. 00:42:01.599 --> 00:42:04.079 Unless you're you're broken. 00:42:04.800 --> 00:42:07.840 Um level four, so three wings. 00:42:08.159 --> 00:42:11.599 Um wings are named after donors to the boarding house build. 00:42:11.679 --> 00:42:16.800 So Lord Wing, named for Ken Lord. 00:42:17.039 --> 00:42:17.199 Yep. 00:42:17.360 --> 00:42:25.599 Chapman Wing, um Tory Chapman, and McBride Wing, so the McBride family are a prominent um pastoral family in South Australia. 00:42:26.000 --> 00:42:28.960 What are the uh the breakout are the breakout study areas? 00:42:29.199 --> 00:42:35.199 Yeah, so each we have this sort of this is called the tower, so central place for recreation on each floor. 00:42:35.440 --> 00:42:41.920 So there's a pool table and table tennis table on every level, um, as well as the PC locks towers. 00:42:42.000 --> 00:42:45.199 So it's mostly year twelves on this floor, so we've only got one tower here. 00:42:45.440 --> 00:42:45.599 Okay. 00:42:45.920 --> 00:42:47.360 Every other floor has two. 00:42:48.000 --> 00:42:50.159 Um, these are the study rooms we use for 18. 00:42:50.639 --> 00:42:51.119 Oh, yes. 00:42:51.440 --> 00:42:55.360 So these are the group boys for their 18 nights. 00:42:55.840 --> 00:43:01.920 Um, and then the rooms are set up so that tutors can sort of monitor what boys are doing on their laptops. 00:43:02.079 --> 00:43:02.239 Yeah. 00:43:02.480 --> 00:43:07.840 And then some of the curriculum posters and the A-Team student agreement wall. 00:43:08.320 --> 00:43:11.280 And then each wing has a study room as well. 00:43:11.519 --> 00:43:11.840 Oh, okay. 00:43:12.400 --> 00:43:15.360 We overflow it with study spaces. 00:43:21.679 --> 00:43:22.800 Uh, the smellable boys. 00:43:24.719 --> 00:43:25.119 Yep. 00:43:26.159 --> 00:43:28.960 Um, a lot of these boys have come back from out the red lately. 00:43:29.280 --> 00:43:29.840 Oh, okay. 00:43:30.239 --> 00:43:34.320 Um and then it's the other inside kitchenette in every wing. 00:43:34.639 --> 00:43:35.599 That's a good art spice. 00:43:39.119 --> 00:43:39.280 Yes. 00:43:39.840 --> 00:43:42.239 Umarty V in every wing. 00:43:44.159 --> 00:43:45.599 Great view back to the college. 00:43:53.280 --> 00:43:55.199 So how the the spices are well used? 00:43:55.679 --> 00:43:56.400 Yeah, very well. 00:43:56.559 --> 00:43:58.159 So in winter in particular. 00:43:58.800 --> 00:44:03.679 Um Thursday night footy gaps on the telly. 00:44:03.920 --> 00:44:15.679 So we have a agreement that if homework's conducted well on a Thursday night, we can knock a little bit early so boys can get stuck into watching the footy game. 00:44:16.480 --> 00:44:18.000 We probably just nip into this room. 00:44:18.239 --> 00:44:18.480 Yeah. 00:44:22.719 --> 00:44:25.679 Great space for an in- Oh, so you shared bathroom between two. 00:44:28.000 --> 00:44:31.760 And then we have a bit of a legacy arrangement when boys graduate. 00:44:32.559 --> 00:44:35.039 They get to stick their name and graduation

year. 00:44:35.440 --> 00:44:36.239 Ah, fantastic. 00:44:38.320 --> 00:44:39.519 That's a great idea. 00:44:39.920 --> 00:44:44.719 And then each boy keeps their keeps their slide up. 00:44:46.400 --> 00:44:47.039 Nice. 00:44:54.079 --> 00:45:02.159 So you having such a room and kids studying, so how do you supervise this for the study of a night time with all the kids in their individual rooms? 00:45:02.320 --> 00:45:08.880 Yeah, so you the reason we have the A-team rooms on level three and four, because it's majority year 11 and 12 rooms. 00:45:09.039 --> 00:45:09.280 Yep. 00:45:09.760 --> 00:45:12.719 So we just have a staff member on each floor during prep. 00:45:12.960 --> 00:45:13.199 Yes. 00:45:13.840 --> 00:45:15.760 Who are responsible for the wings. 00:45:15.840 --> 00:45:16.079 Yep. 00:45:16.239 --> 00:45:16.960 And the A-teams. 00:45:17.119 --> 00:45:20.079 So Year 11 doors open during study. 00:45:20.800 --> 00:45:23.199 Year 12s can have their doors closed. 00:45:23.920 --> 00:45:30.880 And we're pretty pretty strong on absolute silence in the space. 00:45:31.519 --> 00:45:36.559 Does get challenging with boys sort of coming back late from sports training and that sort of thing. 00:45:37.280 --> 00:45:42.719 But the nature of the individual rooms makes it easier to keep it relatively quiet. 00:45:43.039 --> 00:45:44.719 This is a great space in here too. 00:45:44.960 --> 00:45:46.159 Golf clubs? 00:45:47.360 --> 00:45:49.519 Golf clubs, footy bags. 00:45:49.760 --> 00:45:52.639 If it was summer, we'd just room it before the cookie bags. 00:46:01.039 --> 00:46:03.360 So this is year 12 primarily. 00:46:03.440 --> 00:46:06.800 So they what individual rooms plus shared bathroom. 00:46:08.239 --> 00:46:13.360 If I remember rightly, the younger grades have two per room, so there is no divider. 00:46:13.599 --> 00:46:14.159 Correct, yeah. 00:46:14.239 --> 00:46:16.960 So level three and four, which is majority year 11 and 12. 00:46:17.039 --> 00:46:17.360 Yep. 00:46:18.400 --> 00:46:19.599 There's a dividing wall. 00:46:19.679 --> 00:46:22.480 So they still still have the walkthrough bathroom. 00:46:22.639 --> 00:46:22.800 Yes. 00:46:24.880 --> 00:46:28.800 But they have the dividing wall at the back, so it's a little bit more privacy than their roommate. 00:46:29.199 --> 00:46:29.840 Yeah. 00:46:30.639 --> 00:46:36.000 Younger boys in particular, it's important that they interact with their roommate. 00:46:36.320 --> 00:46:36.639 Yeah. 00:46:37.280 --> 00:46:41.599 It's very easy to hide away in individual rooms. 00:46:41.920 --> 00:46:46.000 The social and emotional thing with friends and having this and talk to them. 00:46:46.320 --> 00:46:51.679 So particularly those first few weeks of term one and transition weekend in November. 00:46:52.719 --> 00:46:55.920 New boys were pretty selective with who they have as a roommate. 00:46:56.079 --> 00:46:56.320 Okay. 00:46:56.960 --> 00:46:59.920 We try to pick boys with common interests. 00:47:01.760 --> 00:47:07.440 And we try as much as possible to keep them engaged and active in that period of time so they don't buy the way. 00:47:07.679 --> 00:47:08.320 Yeah. 00:47:08.719 --> 00:47:10.960 So it's in now level two. 00:47:12.559 --> 00:47:16.239 And then we're going down the last last wing we haven't seen yet. 00:47:23.760 --> 00:47:26.000 Don't see any cult supporters in humanity. 00:47:32.559 --> 00:47:33.199 Richmond here. 00:47:34.000 --> 00:47:37.519 So how is the competitiveness between the boys when the crows play port? 00:47:38.079 --> 00:47:38.719 It's pretty short. 00:47:39.119 --> 00:47:43.920 You'd be surprised how many boarders from South Australia don't support crows and ports. 00:47:44.079 --> 00:47:44.559 Oh wow. 00:47:44.960 --> 00:47:49.840 We do have a large number of borders from Victoria, so Mildura in particular. 00:47:50.079 --> 00:47:50.400 Yes. 00:47:51.360 --> 00:47:52.800 And and surrounds. 00:47:53.360 --> 00:47:55.679 Who support Victoria and 45. 00:47:55.920 --> 00:47:56.400 Yeah, yeah. 00:47:57.199 --> 00:48:01.280 But for coins I know I'm out of my own here. 00:48:03.199 --> 00:48:04.559 So you're not a line supporter? 00:48:10.960 --> 00:48:14.320 No, there's as and funnily enough, there's a few boarders who support the lines. 00:48:16.719 --> 00:48:18.880 Is that jumping on the premises bandwagon? 00:48:19.119 --> 00:48:20.880 So we have a square wall. 00:48:21.360 --> 00:48:22.000 Yeah, definitely. 00:48:25.360 --> 00:48:27.920 So it literally is just the wall between the two spaces. 00:48:30.000 --> 00:48:35.599 It's a great size for young boys, you don't want it too big because they'll just club it with mess. 00:48:44.000 --> 00:48:44.559 Sons? 00:48:44.800 --> 00:48:45.440 Yeah. 00:48:48.400 --> 00:48:54.960 One of that lads from um P Okay. 00:49:00.079 --> 00:49:00.719 Wow. 00:49:01.360 --> 00:49:02.800 This is fantastic. 00:49:03.119 --> 00:49:04.559 It's easy to get lost. 00:49:04.800 --> 00:49:06.480 I'll forget what level you're on. 00:49:07.119 --> 00:49:08.079 Oh, okay, yeah. 00:49:08.400 --> 00:49:10.079 Because they're all identical. 00:49:10.320 --> 00:49:19.280 Um so you have to uh now and then on on shift in the evening, if it's been a busy night, you have to walk to the centre to find out what floor level. 00:49:26.320 --> 00:49:30.320 And then we put up, we try to advertise as much as possible of our activities. 00:49:31.360 --> 00:49:34.000 Um that's a great activities chart. 00:49:34.320 --> 00:49:36.880 So we generally run about we run six per weekend. 00:49:37.039 --> 00:49:39.840 Uh two on each day, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. 00:49:40.000 --> 00:49:40.639 Yep. 00:49:40.960 --> 00:49:43.280 Uh except for the two exits. 00:49:43.840 --> 00:49:44.400 Yeah. 00:49:44.880 --> 00:49:47.920 It'd be just played by you, you're not sure which the kids are around. 00:49:48.159 --> 00:49:48.880 Correct. 00:49:49.440 --> 00:49:49.920 Alright. 00:49:57.920 --> 00:49:59.679 Do the boys

use the stairs much? 00:50:00.320 --> 00:50:03.440 They do actually, yeah, because because we've got, you know, it's 150. 00:50:04.719 --> 00:50:05.440 You've got to wait for the line. 00:50:07.760 --> 00:50:08.079 Yeah. 00:50:08.239 --> 00:50:14.559 Um the the boys like to see how many you can get in an elevator. 00:50:14.960 --> 00:50:17.519 Um get to that max. 00:50:17.840 --> 00:50:21.920 And they they find out the limit pretty quickly now and then. 00:50:22.880 --> 00:50:27.920 Um but it's there's just no way, like five five-story boarding house. 00:50:28.000 --> 00:50:28.400 Yeah. 00:50:28.559 --> 00:50:31.840 Um, there's no way to not have two elevators. 00:50:32.559 --> 00:50:33.760 Yeah, exactly right. 00:50:35.440 --> 00:50:37.039 Thank you so much for your tour. 00:50:37.280 --> 00:50:39.360 It's uh been a pleasure, yeah. 00:50:39.599 --> 00:50:45.280 And um, yeah, so I look forward to uh seeing more of Pat in the future. 00:50:45.519 --> 00:50:47.679 Okay, thanks, mate. 00:50:48.159 --> 00:50:53.280 Thank you so much, Will, for your tour of your boarding house as well as the college grounds. 00:50:53.519 --> 00:51:06.880 Prince Alfred's College is a beautiful college, um, and I recommend that anyone who is in Adelaide go speak with Will, speak with Phil and get a chance to go see a wonderful facility. 00:51:07.199 --> 00:51:12.320 Talk to them about how they do their boarding houses, how they run their sessions, their tutoring sessions. 00:51:13.119 --> 00:51:17.280 They use amazing partners of ours, AT tuition. 00:51:17.760 --> 00:51:25.440 Um and the what they've set up for the tutoring and the support academically for their students is wonderful to see. 00:51:26.079 --> 00:51:32.000 It is a great facility, and it's certainly changed over seven years since I first saw it. 00:51:32.400 --> 00:51:42.880 It is a facility that looks and feels like it's got a life, it feels like the borders are living the best life in within those facilities. 00:51:43.199 --> 00:51:49.920 The drawing room is out at the back now, where that was just the park and the little area to see previously. 00:51:50.639 --> 00:52:02.320 The the kitchen area down the bottom floor is where the kids can grab and gather and spend time together, breakfast is on the weekends is a great place and a great communal feel to it. 00:52:02.559 --> 00:52:05.840 Thank you so much for showing me around and getting to know you better. 00:52:06.159 --> 00:52:08.960 Please keep looking at our socials. 00:52:09.280 --> 00:52:16.239 I have another webinar podcast organized, and so we'll be doing these quite regularly now. 00:52:16.559 --> 00:52:25.440 And as we're as we have to move around Australia, I would love to come and see your boarding houses, get to know you better, and and do a podcast. 00:52:25.760 --> 00:52:35.039 It's just an easy way uh to get to know each other and and as well as other people throughout Australia get to know you and your facility. 00:52:35.360 --> 00:52:38.320 Thank you so much, and I look forward to speaking to you again.