Illalong Newsletter - 5 March 2025 | A.B. Paterson College

Secondary School Season One Sport - Open A Teams

Congratulations to our Open A Teams!

The Secondary School Season One Sport Open A Teams for 2025 are listed HERE.

Year 4 Excursion to Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre

On Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26 February, our Year 4 classes had an incredible experience at the Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre, learning about the rich history and traditions of the Yugambeh people. From the sounds of the didgeridoo to traditional dances, we were immersed in culture from the moment we arrived.

Students explored the beautiful Burleigh Headland, joined in cultural dances, and got hands-on with ochre-making. Our guide shared fascinating stories about the land, including the history behind the midden heap, and explained how plants like the pandanus tree have been used for shelter, medicine, and hunting. It was a day full of learning, connection, and appreciation for Aboriginal culture. A huge thank you to everyone at the Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre for an unforgettable experience! Student reflections from the excursion are below:

Jellurgal was really fun. I enjoyed it and I liked hiking around the base of the hill. Arta Khanizadeh

I liked all the stories, especially the one about Javreen (Jabreen) the Giant. I liked the singing and the dancing. I also liked the hike and seeing Jabreen's fingers in the rock. Harriet Sim Bikundo

Jellurgal was amazing and I loved all the stories about the past that they have shared with us. The cliffs and the views were incredible. Ava Utting

It was an amazing experience. I really enjoyed it and liked how we learned a dance and got our face painted with ochre. Mila Arenson

My favourite thing at Jellurgal was when we learned how to do Aboriginal cultural dance. It was fun and unique. Amelia Weston

I learnt that the Kombumerri people are a special part of Australia and that all the stories are special and that we need to appreciate that. I learnt that Gowanda is special because he taught the Kombumerri people to not be afraid to get food where there are dangerous animals. And finally, I learnt that Jabreen should not take more then he needs. He taught me to take what I need and not to be greedy. Sadie Dreise

Going to Jellurgal was a wonderful time. It really showed you what Aboriginal life used to be like and all the stories and dances that are still done today. I really enjoyed watching the traditional dances that they did and learning all their stories that have been passed down from generation to generation. James Mercer

Jellurgal was so cool. My highlight of the excursion was seeing the boulders that make Jabreen's fingers and seeing nine lizards! My other favourite part was hiking. I loved just being able to be in nature with my friends. I loved all the history about what they did in the past. Dancing was my least favourite part, but I still managed to take part in it. Benji Nguyen

Going to Jellurgal was fascinating. I liked the dreamtime stories, and the best one was the one about the human who turned into a dolphin as a reward. I also enjoyed hiking and watching the dancers play the didgeridoo. Jayden Yuan

We went to Jellurgal on Tuesday. It was a 30-minute bus ride, and it was amazing and fun. We got to paint our bodies in ochre. William Wang I personally enjoyed how we got a hiking experience, and we listened to stories and saw an Aboriginal dance. I loved seeing water-dragons and we were even lucky enough to get ochre painted on our face and arms. Suri Long

The Jellurgal excursion was a lot of fun because the hiking there is great. You get to see Jabreen’s Fingers and get ochre on your arms or faces. You can also watch the dances after being good! I would love to go back there one day with my friends for a fun hiking adventure. Jaspar Bolger

Jellurgal was a really fun and exciting trip. I loved that we had face paint and we all so got to see lizards in the bush. We also got to see the hands of Jabreen from the Dreaming story. Heideka Chandra

I really liked the Jellurgal excursion, and I was amazed when I saw Jabreen’s fingers. It was so cool when we got ochre on our face legs or arms. Carter Stevens

I loved when we made ochre. I was a warrior. I loved the dances as they were very unique. Connor Hall

Tim Collins, Kate Lewis, Kelly Harker & Zoe Truss-Michaelis | Year 4 teachers

APS Swimming Championships

Last fortnight, our A.B. Brumbies showcased their talents at the annual APS Swimming Championships held at Somerset College. It was truly inspiring to witness so many of our swimmers seizing the opportunity to represent the college and compete for a spot in the upcoming regional trials.

Our Junior Brumbies shone brightly, securing an impressive 3rd place overall and 6th place in the percentage trophy. Despite facing tough competition, our Senior Brumbies put up a valiant effort, finishing seventh overall and 5th in the percentage trophy.

In addition to these achievements, our swimmers earned 3 Age Champion Medals and secured five top three finishes across various age divisions. Their dedication and hard work were evident in every race, making us all proud.

GO BRUMBIES!

APS Swimming Age Champions

Place	Student Name	Event
1st	Ivy Sun	12 Year Girls
2nd	Scarlett Zhong	10 Year Girls
3rd	Max Anderson	16 Year Boys

Age Division Results

Place	Events
1st	10 Year Girls, 11 Year Boys
2nd	12 Year Girls, 15 Year Boys
3rd	16 Year Boys

Overall Boy/Girl Placings


Junior School	Girls – 1st Place, Boys – 8th Place
Secondary School	Boys – 6th Place, Girls – 7th Place

Aggregate Placings (Junior)

Place	School	Points
1st	All Saints Anglican School	1434
2nd	Trinity Lutheran College	1388
3rd	A.B. Paterson College	1332
4th	Coomera Anglican College	1264
5th	Somerset College	1247
6th	Emmanul College	1226
7th	King’s Christian College	1191
8th	Saint Stephen’s College	1069

Aggregate Placings (Secondary)

Place	School	Points
1st	Emmanuel College	2667
2nd	Somerset College	2527
3rd	All Saints Anglican School	2445
4th	King’s Christian College	2377
5th	Trinity Lutheran College	2283
6th	Saint Stephen’s College	2076
7th	A.B. Paterson College	2050
8th	Coomera Anglican College	1843

A special mention goes to our dedicated coaches, Liam du Feu, Summer Xu, and Peter Gee, for their exceptional efforts in preparing our swimmers. Their commitment and expertise have been instrumental in our team's success.

We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to our team managers, Christie Sofatzis, Ric Cashman, and Will von Stigelitz, for their relentless efforts in keeping our swimmers motivated and ready for their races over the two days. Their support and organisation were crucial in ensuring everything ran smoothly.

Lastly, we want to thank all the parents who came out to cheer on our Brumbies. Your enthusiasm and encouragement made a significant difference and helped create a fantastic atmosphere for our swimmers. Thank you for your unwavering support!

Sara Eade | Head of Co-Curricular Sport