Watching our Year 6s on camp this week, I was reminded again that courage and mateship don’t appear out of nowhere; they are patiently grown in community. The Anzac stories we shared at Mapleton QCCC highlighted big, historic moments of sacrifice and loyalty, and were backed by adventures that allowed us to practise what we'd learned.
What struck me this year was the parallel between our students’ growth and our staff's dedication. Their teachers, Mrs Morgan and Mr Lillihagen, and the rest of us who accompanied them weren’t just supervising activities; we were helping students bridge the gap between fear and possibility and discover they could do more than they first believed.
I was part of that, assisting with mounts and dismounts so kids could do more of everything and move through the process faster. Harness on, harness off, helmet on, helmet off – it was a frenetic pace, but all about teaching them that they can keep going. That sick feeling in your stomach? There's a difference between nerves and being unwell. It’s okay to feel nervous. The goal is to recognise it, lean into it, and keep going: "We’re together. We look after each other.”
That line could almost be a summary of both the Anzac legacy and the Christian community. On the high ropes, in problem-solving challenges, and even in the scramble to get to dinner and games night on time, teachers coached students to be independent and brave, while also paying attention to the child next to them who might be nervous, tired, or homesick.
These are the habits of heart we want to cultivate at BAC: not a love of conflict or competition, but a steady commitment to stand alongside one another with kindness, loyalty, and courage. In a world that often rewards individual achievement, I am deeply grateful for spaces like camp where adults and children together can practise a different story: “We’re together. We look after each other.”
With every blessing,
Peter Charleson
Principal
