Luke O’Connor, Murray House Captain

With the beginning of a new year, comes a new Senior School Swimming Carnival contributing to the 2020 Bishops Shield. For new parents, and those unfamiliar with the event, the Bishops Shield is a year-long competition made up of sporting events (swimming carnival and athletics carnival) combined with other activities run by the Student Leadership Team throughout the year. Each House (Murray, Heavey, Hutchinson, Goold, Reville, Crane) earns points, and these are collected through participation and performance by each and every boy, and these points are added up throughout the year. The House with the most points claims the Bishops Shield.

Kicking off the Bishops Shield for 2020 was the Senior School Swimming Carnival on Friday, 14 February. The entirety of Year 7 to Year 12 hopped on buses to Warringah Aquatic Centre to kick off an amazing day of House pride and inclusivity. Year 12’s dressed up in morph suits, a hippo, and as a Catholic bishop, just to name a few crazy get-ups. Enthusiastic House Formation Leaders and other patriotic teachers and students led their Houses in cheers and chants, motivating their men in the pool. All the boys got together and cheered on an all International student race, demonstrating a strong community vibe unique to St Augustine’s College. After a close battle between Murray, Hutchinson and Goold, my House, the Mighty Murray Men led by Ms Begg took the win for the day. Mr O’Brien went crazy in celebration of the success of Murray, leading the entire senior school in a powerful Viking chant as I collected the winning shield and held it up to the House, sending the Murray Men in a frenzy of cheers. The day was finished with a students vs. teachers race with the House Captains against Mr Simmons, Mr Cooper, Mr Paton, and Mr Kellaway.

As always, the Senior School Swimming Carnival is an amazing demonstration of boys getting into House spirit and school pride. Every boy gets involved in and out of the pool, and it is always without fail a highlight of the year. I would like to thank all the boys for getting amongst it, and all the teachers and staff for helping out with the day. It wouldn’t happen without all the work behind the scenes, and the efforts of House Formation Leaders ensuring each boy has the best day possible.

Congratulations Mighty Murray Men, we fought strong. Goodluck to the other Houses for the rest of the year, there’s a long way to go!

Thanks,
Luke O’Connor, Murray House Captain