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Group 28: Week 1

From the Head of the Clunes Program

Group 28 have made a fantastic start to their term at Clunes. They are so full of enthusiasm and all the staff have remarked on how polite they are!! As with previous groups the first week has been an "infofest" with lots of sessions about how things work in Clunes. Topics ranged from Food Hygiene, Bike Education, Fire Safety, Cluneteering ( discovering Clunes) through to their first involvement in our Community Service program. Saturday and Sunday saw all the students (except those back in Melbourne for athletics and water polo) climbing Mount Beckworth for a fantastic view of the countryside, and  walking out to the  Clunes cemetery to gain a sense of the history of the area since gold was discovered in 1851. Week 2 will see the start of the courses and decision making time for their Clunes projects.

Robert Grant

Clunes Museum

On Thursday, we visited the Clunes public Museum with our group mentor. My group had the delightful Louise G. Clunes Museum is run by two charming ladies, Pat and Kathy, who have an extraordinary knowledge of the history of the township of Clunes. In groups we had to fill out a quiz relating to various artefacts and information scattered, sporadically throughout the museum. The museum has one of two cannons given to all councils in Victoria by the Victorian Navy when it was amalgamated with the Australian Army. Cannons from the navy were given to every council in Victoria. The other cannon was given to the Clunes Football Club, who, when drunken, blew it apart with two kilograms of gunpowder.

Jackson S.

NON-EXISTENT SUNRISE

Our first morning in Clunes was a very cold one indeed, being around 4 degrees. Robbie G took us on a walk at 6:45 to see the sunrise. We walked to the Clunes Showgrounds, and although the sun had already risen an hour or two ago, we stayed there for about half an hour, listening to the surrounding sounds of the area, admiring the countryside and thinking about our goals for the term. It was a nice way to begin our Clunes experience together as a group.

Madeleine C.

YE FASTE YACHT RACE

After a morning of Clunateering on Tuesday, we were given masking tape, streamers and old boxes to construct our yachts, which we were to race later that day. Most houses were successful in their construction, but a few had trouble keeping their boat from falling to pieces before the race even began. We raced in two heats, with the boats that we still intact moved into the next race. In the end it was fabulous house 3 whose boat stayed in tact and won the race. All in all it was great fun for everyone, and another good way to come together as a group.

Madeleine C.

Birthdays @ Clunes

In the first 5 days at Clunes we had 6 birthdays. Madi from House 9, Phoebe from House 4, Hugo from House 5, Glen from House 8, Sammy from House 9 (that’s me!) and Alastair from House 2, all celebrated the advent of our births, respectively. My house in particular is suffering from cake overdose as we won 6 packet cake mixes in Clunateering and also had 3 birthday cakes, as Madi received two and from family and admirers. Being sung happy birthday at 7:30 in the morning by 87 tired 15 year olds was a new experience, probably one that will stay with us for a long time (although maybe not for it’s tonal magnificence). It was difficult being away from our families on such a special day, but it was made easier by the bonds we all share with our new housemates. Now that most of the birthdays are over I’m sure all Wesley @ Clunes residents will miss the aural delights the rousing renditions of Happy Birthday provided.

Samantha B.

Strike

The wesley@clunes strike system is used every time someone is late, rude, staying up to late, leaving the lights on to late, talking back, or swearing, one would received a strike. When one collects five strikes for the week on a Sunday instead of sleeping in late one would have the honour and privilege to do Village Pay Back. Village Pay Back includes helping around the garden with Barry the grounds keeper; one would not have a very pleasant time. Each week the slate in wiped clear and starts again. If any one student where to receive 15 strikes over the full 8 weeks ones parents/legal guardian would be contacted by phone to discuses more consequences and the possibility for temporary or permanent remove from Clunes. If one were to get 10 strikes in a week one would receive a double Village Pay Back which would last all day and one would miss out on movie night. So to whom it may concern be warned of the penalties of the ‘The Strike System.’

Aaron S.

Clunateering Dances

As part of the Clunateering program each house was to choreograph a short dance routine to perform in front of the rest of Group 28. This was to take place in the Jubilee Hall on Tuesday evening. The girls from House 12, dressed all in green, took out the dance prize over some very stiff competition. The boys from House 5 were getting Dirrrrty with Tom and Hugo out front dressed as Christina Aguilera. The guys from House 10 were loosening up their buttons. Unfortunately they were wearing T-shirts under their shirts, which I’m sure all the ladies were disappointed by. House 8 was bringing “Sexy Back” with their subdued but highly effective chair dance. Jackson from house 2 was shaking his thing to Barbie Girl with the rest of his house dressed in pink. After much deliberation, my house finally decided upon Crazy in Love for our song, strutted our stuff and did the Beyonce (see Crazy In Love video clip for more details). The support everyone was showing for the performers was deafening at times, but greatly appreciated by those up on stage. All in all, it was a great way to begin our 8 weeks at Clunes and begin collaborating with our house members.
Samantha B.