26 August 2025

Principal’s Report

Welcome to our mid-term newsletter. We have certainly been blessed of late with beautiful weather. The clear crisp days have certainly made getting out of bed easy, even if sometimes work is not the preferred activity for the day. Let’s hope these conditions last a little longer.

Book Week

Last week we participated in Book Week activities. The highlight was on Tuesday when we had a “Dress as Your Favourite Book Character” day. It was lovely to see so many students (and staff) make the effort to participate in the day. While the day was a bit of fun, the aim is to raise the awareness of reading and the benefits that reading has for everyone. It is without doubt that increasing reading skills of students will see better academic outcomes in all subjects that are studied. As a parent, one of the fundamental skills that you can encourage in your children is a love of reading. Please continue to encourage reading with your children as we will continue to promote reading in all our subjects.

Docudrama

Every two years we facilitate the running of a simulated car crash for our Year 11 and 12 students to view. The purpose of the event is to have students see, hear and smell the reality of a fatal motor vehicle accident. For the majority, this is an experience which they have never had, and it is hoped they will never experience in real life in the future. Staging the event is a significant logistical challenge, with all emergency services taking part. Once the simulated crash has been cleared by emergency services, students return to school for a debrief. Here we are joined by other agencies and support personnel who can give detailed accounts of the life changing consequences for those who were involved in the accident. It is a very moving and powerful experience for students, and one which has a big influence over the way in which they approach road safety. Our sincere thanks to the emergency services personnel who volunteered their time to organise and participate in the mock up car crash. We would also like to sincerely thank all the agencies and private businesses who gave of their time and resources to make this possible.

Illness

Lately there have been several strains of influenza as well as COVID which have been particularly bad this year. Please ensure you are taking care of yourselves and your families. If they are showing any signs of illness, please keep your children home if they are sick. Reducing the spread of viruses through limiting contact and observing safe hygiene protocols is very important. If you are visiting a doctor with your child, please ask for a medical certificate to explain the absences as this then does not detract from the student attendance percentage.

Wishing you a healthy remainder of Term 3.

Regards
Paul Stehbens

Coming Events

Docudrama

On the 4th of August, the Year 11 and 12 students watched the biennial Docudrama to witness firsthand the consequences of driving irresponsibly. Students were given a quick brief on what to expect from the morning before leaving school and asked to stay silent for the duration of the experience.

From there, it was a silent bus trip where the only words spoken were by the teachers reading an emotional poem “Please God, I’m only 17”. On arrival at the crash site three students from the Year 12 Drama in Practice class took on the roles of the driver, passenger and deceased by acting out the car accident as if it had just occurred.

All our local emergency services arrived to attend the scene, including undertakers. As a result, students were able to experience the devastation of the accident and see how their decisions affect others in our community.

Once back at school, Ms Christensen led a debrief where the students were able to reflect and ask questions of emergency personnel, the undertakers and lawyers to learn the implications of an accident like the one they witnessed.

A big thank you goes out to Mikayla Paton, Karri Sullivan, Darren Lawrence and Sally Christensen for all their behind-the-scenes organisation to make the event happen. Also, it would not be a success if not for our local police, ambulance, firefighters and undertakers attending the scene and making it as realistic as possible. A last special thank you goes to Honey’s Towing for providing the vehicle and making sure the scene and car were safe and clean for the actors.

It was a successful and invaluable learning experience for all students involved.

Indyanna Prisk - Teacher

Japanese Exchange Student Visit

Our school hosted 10 students and one staff member from Japan for the first three weeks of August. These visitors are from a language learning club called ‘Hippo Family Club’. Hippo Family Club members have been visiting Kepnock State High School for several years, but it is the first time members have also visited Gin Gin State High School.

Our Japanese visitors stayed with local host families and enjoyed Australian country-town life. Japanese students enjoyed a range of activities with their host families including feeding farm animals, playing both sports and card games, exploring local tourist attractions and spotting Australian wildlife.

While at school, the Japanese students enjoyed helping in Japanese lessons and attending classes with their Australian buddies. They also enjoyed Aussie cooking lessons with Mrs Acworth (Thank you, Mrs Acworth!). Some subjects that we take for granted at Gin Gin State High School were new experiences for our visitors. In Japan, there is no subject relating to agricultural studies and cooking lessons are a special treat.

The Japanese staff member, Shiho, taught many cultural activities to the Year 7-8 Japanese classes. Our students experienced Japanese cooking, calligraphy, origami and also learnt about the Tanabata Festival. Our students also had the opportunity to use their language skills for a real purpose – everyone gave a brief introduction in Japanese to our visitors.

During the final week, Japanese visitors enjoyed an excursion to the Bengtson family’s sugarcane farm and the Morton family’s farm, and Boolboonda Tunnel. Highlights included tasting sugarcane and watching a sugarcane harvester; cuddling many adorable animals including Ash the horse, 10 playful puppies and two baby goats; and spotting the tiny bats as we walked through Boolboonda Tunnel. Thank you to Darren Lawrence for coming up with the excursion idea and driving the bus and both the Bengtson and Morton families for showing us around your farms.

Thank you to everyone who helped to make our Japanese visitors feel welcome. I especially want to thank our amazing host families who welcomed our visitors into their homes and treated them like family. I am sure both our Japanese visitors and Gin Gin State High School families will leave this experience with many happy memories.

If you are interested in hosting a Japanese student next year, please get in contact with Sarah Dinham (skdin0@eq.edu.au). We are expecting 10-15 students next year.

Sarah Dinham - Teacher

Clontarf Beach State High School Visit

On 12th August we had Clontarf Beach State High School visit. 48 of their best athletes came to compete in a variety of sports against our Year 12 students and learned a little bit of what schooling is like in our region. Our students competed in touch football, basketball, ultimate frisbee and volleyball and were lucky enough to come away with a few wins. All students demonstrated fair play and sportsmanship throughout the tournaments and represented our Gin Gin State High School community with pride.

The students and teachers of Clontarf Beach State High School were very impressed with our Agriculture program, in particular our use of the iFarm technology. They also loved seeing the cattle with many students saying it was the closest they had ever been to a cow.

A special thank you goes to John-Paul Galea, Nicole Lange and Darren Lawrence who helped teach Clontarf students about our programs and pass on some bush skills.

Caitlin Taylor - Teacher

Relay for Life

For the past few years now, the Year 12 cohort has come together to participate in the annual Relay for Life challenge, to raise funds for cancer research. This year was no different. It was great to see the cohort come together to support this cause in an event that was coordinated by the students’ own initiative. We congratulate all who were a part of this event and celebrate all members of the Relay for Life team for making a big difference in many people’s lives.

There are many moments that create the Relay experience. Specific details vary by event, but the key moments that all events share are as follows: Relay starts with a Survivors Lap – an inspirational time when survivors and carers are invited to circle the track together and help everyone celebrate the victories we have achieved over cancer. We also recognize and celebrate caregivers at Relay for Life. These individuals give their time, love, and support to friends, family, neighbours, and co-workers who face cancer.

After dark, we honour people who have been touched by cancer and remember loved ones lost to the disease during the Luminaria or Candlelight Ceremony. Candles are lit inside bags filled with sand, each one bearing the name or names of a person touched by cancer, and participants often walk a lap in silence to reflect on theirs and others pain and suffering. During this part of the night, we sit and listen to cancer patients and survivors tell their scary heartfelt stories of how they were diagnosed, how they fought and the ups and downs along the way. This year we had the privilege of hearing from a gentleman who has been fighting for over 25 years with different variations of cancer. His story was extremely sad and scary, but it also had an amazing message of resilience and body awareness. Additionally, we heard from an amazing lady who had only recently won a battle with cancer. However, she relapsed very quickly and now has been diagnosed with brain cancer. Their message was clear, ‘Early detection saves lives.’

Lastly, there is a Fight Back Ceremony, where we make a personal commitment to save lives by taking up the fight against cancer. That personal commitment may be to do something as simple as getting a screening test, quitting smoking, or talking to elected officials about cancer. By acting, people are personally taking steps to save lives and fight back against a disease that takes too much.

During the relay we were involved in several activities and competitions. Unfortunately, we were not the fastest or best dressed team around. But I believe the spirit and collaboration we showed with everyone at the event was outstanding.

On top of the amazing event, this year’s Relay for Life team also raised a quite large sum of money. We reached and exceeded our goal ending up with approximately $4428. This placed us as the third highest fundraising team in our community. This was done through activities the Year 12 cohort organised. These included: free dress day, the teacher dunk and private fundraising undertaken by the students in our community. A superb effort, for a great cause. I would also like to congratulate the following students on meeting their goal of raising over $100 individually; Lawson ($586), Ella ($509), Jayda ($363), Nick ($250) Jillian ($229) and Holly ($191). We look forward to seeing future year levels continuing the tradition in their own ways.

Relay for Life is our opportunity to come together to make a difference in our community. Each year thousands of Australians participate in Relays across Australia and our team is proud to be part of that. By joining or donating to our team, you will be helping Cancer Council save even more lives.

Jason Cappello – Teacher

NAIDOC Week

During Week 2 of Term 3, our school came together to celebrate NAIDOC Week with a range of exciting activities that honoured and showcased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. Students and staff enjoyed hands-on experiences that brought learning to life and strengthened our understanding of the world’s oldest continuing cultures.

Highlights of the week included sand art, traditional fire-starting demonstrations, and the chance to try boomerang and spear throwing. These activities gave everyone an opportunity to connect with culture in an interactive and meaningful way.

A special highlight was the bush tucker tasting, prepared by our talented Year 12 Hospitality students. The menu featured emu, kangaroo stir fry, lemon myrtle cake, honeycomb and macadamia ice cream to name a few. The flavours gave us all a taste of native Australian ingredients and culinary traditions.

NAIDOC Week was a wonderful celebration of culture, community, and respect. We thank all the staff, students, and community members who helped make the week such a success.

Nicole Lange – Community Education Counsellor/Engagement Officer

Book Week

Book Week was a great success on Tuesday 19 August, with a Free Dress Day dressed in book related costumes. Students and staff both embraced the theme by showcasing a wide variety of creative outfits, bringing colour and excitement to the day.

Indyanna Prisk  – Teacher

Link and Launch

On 18 August, Year 12 students participated in a Link and Launch Resume workshop with Bundaberg Regional Council and industry members.

Presenters were:
Sophia from Bundaberg Regional Council
Chenee from Blue Dog Training
David from Steps Group
Xecila from CLS
Jason from Boom Coaching

It was such a great presentation and well organised with council handing out USBs with resume templates and sample letters on it for the students to keep and use.  The students were well engaged and should be commended for their behaviour during this session.

Kylie Sauer – Link and Launch Officer

National Science Week – Celebrating All Things Science!

With the support of our University of Queensland Science Ambassadors, our dedicated science teachers hosted a range of exciting lunchtime activities to spark student curiosity and celebrate the wonders of science.

Throughout the week, Care Groups took part in the annual Education Perfect Care Group Challenge. Students worked collaboratively to answer as many science questions as possible, with the top-achieving groups winning magazine subscriptions for their Care Group time. Congratulations to B02 (Mrs Acworth), who placed first, and B03 (Mr Napier), who came second!

A special mention goes to the outstanding individual achievers who earned Education Perfect Awards:

• Gold Awards: Molly, Josh and Sreypich
• Bronze Awards: Jenna, Hayley, Chelsea, Grace, Bobbi, Ziggy, Zeeva, Tane and Charlize

Well done to all students who participated with such enthusiasm and thank you for making National Science Week a success!

Karyn Goodman – Teacher

Science week – Quiz

Did you know that a nephrologist treats kidney issues? 

The budding young scientists at Gin Gin State High School had to know this as they competed to win the title of ‘smarter than a science teacher’. Miss Kitt and the UQ science ambassadors Lawson, Jade and Maddison put together an intriguing, entertaining and high stakes quiz, aiming to inspire curiosity and encourage learning across the many STEM fields. The quiz explored areas such as biological growth, prehistoric species, space travel, modern medicine and our vast universe. The outcome of the quiz solidified the fact that science is an integral area of learning at Gin Gin State High School as some students had all their neurons firing in coordination and successfully outsmarted the science teachers, while other students had a few misfires. 

Thank you to everyone involved in the celebration of science week and to those who came to participate in the events.

Maddison Wesche, Jade Kitt and Lawson Cook – Students

Science Week Spotlight: Strawberry DNA Extraction

As part of a Science Week celebration, students had the opportunity to get hands-on with genetics by extracting DNA from strawberries. This was a fun, engaging and fascinating experiment that brought molecular biology to life!

Using everyday household ingredients, students broke down strawberry cells to release their DNA, which was then made visible as a cloudy, stringy substance. This visible substance was accumulated DNA. If analysed under a microscope, you would be able to see the iconic double-helix structure of DNA. This simple yet powerful technique demonstrated how DNA (the blueprint of life) can be isolated and studied, even outside of a high-tech lab.

The activity sparked curiosity and conversation around genetics, biotechnology, and how DNA extraction is used in fields like agriculture. It was a brilliant reminder that science doesn’t just live in textbooks, it’s something we can see, touch, and explore.

Who knew strawberries could be so genetically revealing?

Jillian Newton, Luke Mennis and Tallis Shield – Students

What do Elephants use to brush their teeth?

Well, Elephant toothpaste of course!

Mrs Ridge and I conducted a thrilling experiment. Many students surrounded the stage, waiting to view the ruptures of foam spewing out of their flasks. There were three trials. The first trial contained O% hydrogen peroxide, just pure boring water with no reaction. Secondly, another flask included only 10% reactant, the trial foamed ever so slowly and spilled over the top of its container. The green foam spilled over with a slow beginning and continued its flow even during the last experiment. Lastly, trial three blew the audience away. The reactant was increased to 35% hydrogen peroxide, leaving the audience breathless with amazement. A count down, spiked the suspense. 5!     4!     3!     2!     1!

Red foam gushed out of the flask, rapidly spreading across the top of the trolley.

The experiment was exciting and energising!

I wish to give thanks to the students who gathered around for the Elephant Toothpaste Experiment. But the biggest thanks will go to the teachers who made this thrilling experience come to life. Many thanks to Ms Goodman, Ms Ridge and Ms Bates! Thank you once more, and please listen out for more thrilling science adventures.

Matilda Knickel – Student

Senior Schools Volleyball Cup

On 7 August, 14 senior boys and girls travelled to the Gold Coast to compete in the annual Queensland Senior Schools Volleyball Cup. Friday started off rocky for the senior boys after unfortunately matching up with the future gold medallists. Saturday on the other hand, was quite the opposite. They were undefeated all day with some very close wins. Overall, the boys won three games and finished 6th in their pool. The girls played well too, winning two games and also finishing 6th.

Of course, as tradition, the fun did not stop when we left the court. We stayed at the Gold Coast Performance centre which is fitted with countless gyms and sporting facilities.

On behalf of all volleyball players, I would like to thank Mr Cappello and Mr Webster for their yearlong dedication to training and organising that resulted in a successful year for Gin Gin volleyball. Thank you very much.

Joseph Hill - Student

School Farm Update – Growing Strong Before Spring!

You would not believe it, but while winter is still hanging around, our farm is already bursting with life! Despite the chilly mornings, we have got an incredible variety of fruits and vegetables thriving in the ground, in beds, and on vines.

Not only that—our compost system is hard at work, recycling garden and food scraps into rich, healthy soil that feeds all this amazing growth. It is proof that nothing goes to waste on our farm, and sustainability is at the heart of everything we do.

Here’s what’s currently growing:

Leafy Greens

• Cos Lettuce
• Iceberg Lettuce
• Oakleaf Lettuce
• Butterhead Lettuce
• Spinach
• Silver beet
• Kale
• Cabbage

Brassicas & Greens

• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Bok Choy (yes, we’ve got it growing in multiple spots!)

Fruiting Vegetables

• Tomatoes
• Capsicum
• Eggplant
• Zucchini
• Cucumber
• Spaghetti Squash
• Regular Squash

Garden Staples

• Carrots
• Celery
• English Potatoes
• Corn
• Beans
• Broad Beans

Peas and Legumes

• Sugar Snap Peas
• Snow Peas

Fruit Patch

• Strawberries
• Pineapples
• Grapes
• Passionfruit
• Bananas

While not everything is fruiting just yet, we are still harvesting a variety of vegetables every week, thanks to the students’ hard work and our compost giving back to the soil.

And it is not just plants keeping us busy—this term we also have some loaner heifers on the farm! Our senior students are getting the opportunity to learn hands-on about animal care, nutrition, and preparation for market. Agribusiness is all about raising healthy animals, understanding the market, and promoting your product, so this is a golden chance for students to put their learning into practice.

A huge thank you to everyone involved in organising these beautiful beasts for our school—what an incredible opportunity for our future farmers!

Stuart Napier - Teacher

Gin Gin State High School Composting Recipe – “Layered Bay Compost”

Makes: One active compost pile (approx. 1–1.2 m³)

Time: As little as 2–3 weeks with regular turning

Serves: The whole school garden!

Ingredients:

• Brown materials (carbon-rich):
• Paper towel
• Cardboard (including lunch trays)
• Dead leaves
• Chunky, unfinished compost
• Green materials (nitrogen-rich):
• Fruit and veggie scraps
• Sandwiches, bakery items (e.g. pies, sausage rolls)
• Muesli bars, chips, tuckshop leftovers
• Weeds and garden cuttings
• Horse poo & straw mix
• Coffee grounds or chopped comfrey (compost accelerators)
• Water – to keep the compost moist
• Compost thermometer
• Optional cover: Hessian sack or shade cloth

Method:

1. Start with Brown
   Line the base of your compost bay with a layer of paper towel and cardboard. This helps soak up moisture and adds important carbon.
2. Add Green Layer
   Pile on school food waste—fruit peels, leftovers, sandwiches, bakery goods, chips, etc.
3. Add More Brown
   Sprinkle in some dry leaves to balance the moisture and keep the smell down.
4. Add Nitrogen + Carbon Boost
   Layer in straw mixed with horse poo—full of nutrients and helps heat things up.
5. Throw in Chunky Compost
   Add unfinished compost from a previous batch to kickstart microbial activity.
6. Sprinkle Accelerator
   Coffee grounds or chopped comfrey help speed things up naturally.
7. Repeat Paper/Cardboard Layer
   Use shredded cardboard, used paper towel, or lunch trays again.
8. Another Green Layer
   This time use weeds or green cuttings from the garden.
9. Top it with Woodchips
   A light sprinkle of woodchips helps with airflow and structure.
   
10. Water Between Layers
    Add water every couple of layers—especially after brown layers. Compost should feel like a damp sponge.
11. Build to Size
    Keep layering until the pile is about 1–1.2 m³.
12. Cover It Up
    Finish by covering the pile with hessian or shade cloth to retain moisture and heat.

Maintenance & Aftercare:

• Turn it 2–3 times a week – this adds oxygen and speeds up decomposition.
• Monitor the heat using a compost thermometer.
  → Temperatures of 50–60°C show active microbial breakdown.
• Sieve the compost using a tumbling compost sieve:
• Fine, broken-down compost goes to garden beds.
• Larger bits go back into a fresh pile to continue breaking down.
• Add water if needed – the pile should stay moist but not soggy.

Ready When...

• The compost smells earthy (not rotten)
• It looks like dark, crumbly soil
• Temps drop back down and it’s no longer heating up

Stuart Napier - Teacher

Fire Mitigation Burn

Our school grounds staff have been wanting to clean up the section of bush on the hill behind the school, to help with fire mitigation and to make the area manageable to be able to be slashed with a tractor and keep clean and tidy into the future.  We contacted our local PCYC Emergency Services Cadets, and they were more than keen to assist with the help of local Tirroan Rural Fire service crews. 

They all attended on Monday afternoon and conducted the control burn.  This was a great live fire training experience for the cadets and a big help to us as a school.  We would like to thank Charlie Garwood and the cadets and Les Gane and the crews from Tirroan for the great service to our school in conducting the safe controlled burn.

Darren Lawrence – Chaplain

Tender

Kickstart Your Accounting Career with Ulton

Ulton’s Vacation Program - Applications for September now open.

Are you a Year 11 or 12 student considering a career in accounting and business?

Want to see what a career in accounting is really like? Ulton’s Paid Vacation Program gives you real-world experience while still in school. It’s a chance to explore your future, gain confidence, and get a head start in the world of business!

Our paid Vacation Program often leads to exciting Trainee Accountant positions for graduating Year 12 students. Imagine starting your career while studying at university—Ulton can make it happen.

For more information see flyer.

Amber Mizzi - People and Culture Administrator, Ulton

Regather Bundaberg

Regather is excited to announce we now have more capacity and are accepting new Referrals.

Our team is growing, which means more opportunities for us to provide Social Work Support to our wonderful community.

We're excited to share – we've got a few rare spots that have opened for our popular Play and Art Therapy sessions with our wonderful social worker, Kate.

If you've been considering creative therapy for your child, now's the perfect time to jump in!  We only have a handful of vacancies available.

Play and Art Therapy is a fantastic way for Children and Teens to express themselves and work through big feelings when words are hard to find.  Play is their language, and in our safe and supportive space, they can explore their world and build resilience.

These spots tend to fill up fast, so if you're keen to learn more or secure a place for your child, get in touch with us!

We welcome our newest Social Worker, the brilliant Lisa.  Lisa’s arrival means we can help more people, and her skills in Aged Care and Mindfulness-based therapies are a fantastic addition to our team.  Lisa is particularly passionate about supporting people through life’s tougher moments using a calm, compassionate and solution-focused approach.

At Regather, we offer responsive strategies for life’s complexities.  We can help if you or someone you care for needs support with:

• My Aged Care Provider
• NDIS Plans (Self and Plan-Managed)
• Support for young people and adults
• Managing Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Mindfulness and Meditation techniques
• Working with the complexities in life

Our approach is always client-led, holistic, and trauma-informed.  We focus on what’s happened to you, not what’s wrong with you, to help you build on your strengths.

If you’ve been considering reaching out for support, now is the ideal time.  Spots will fill up quickly, so please get in touch with our friendly team to discuss how we can help.

You can send us a message, give us a buzz, or flick us an email. We're here to answer any questions you might have.

Ph:  07 4191 5940
Bingera Court
Shop 4, 245 Bourbong Street
Bundaberg West Qld 4670
admin@regather.com.au
www.regather.com.au
Melody Scott - Administrative Assistant, Regather