If you tuned into the AFL grand final, you would’ve seen the Oxley College Pipe Band perform alongside Robbie Williams.
Students Oscar Arnold, Katie Ayling, Alexandra Cavanagh, William Cavanough, Grace Pettaras, Cameron Wood and Pipe Master, Barry Gray performed the John Farnham classic ‘You’re the Voice’. The band drove down with their Pipe Master Barry Gray on Thursday for the experience of a lifetime and returned directly after their performance on Saturday.
Oxley’s head of community relations and enrolments Emma Calver said the students had a tremendous time and enjoyed playing to 100,000 people live and an estimated 35 million TV audience worldwide. “For all of the Oxley players this was their first major event and it does not get much bigger than the AFL Grand Final. The opportunity to perform at the AFL Grand Final was an experience of a lifetime. A huge thank you to their Pipe Master since 2020, Mr Barry Gray, for making this happen.
The Oxley Pipe Band started in 2015 and was the inspiration of Deputy Head of Oxley Junior School, Mr Peter Ayling. Peter felt it was fitting for a school in the Highlands to have a Pipe Band and under the stewardship of Pipe Master, Mr Rob Parker, the Pipe Band began and quickly expanded. The Oxley Pipe Band currently has 12 pipers, two bass drummers, two tenor drummers and four snare drummers. Emma said Oxley was very proud of its Pipe and Drum Band. “In 2022 they led the Bowral Anzac March and they add a huge sense of occasion to many Oxley events, she said. They are passionate, talented and professional and such a credit to the College.”
Barry Gray runs a business called Pipers of Distinction and he has worked in the music industry for over three decades having performed for 28 years with John Farnham as well as on nine occasions with Sir Paul McCartney and toured with Bryan Adams in his Bare Bones Tour
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Not all traditions have been hindered or stopped for the Year 12 graduating classes of 2020.
Students of Oxley College put on a colourful display to take part in the annual rainbow photo for the graduating class.
Community relations officer and registrar Emma Calver said the school was very conscious that “our senior students have had a particularly challenging time during Covid. We are determined to make the end of their schooling as special as possible,” she said.
“The traditional Year 12 Rainbow photo at our Senior School Athletics Carnival is one tradition we managed to repeat.”
The photo brings together the students from each house colour for a bright and lasting memory.
Ms Calver said the Year 12 students have their last day on September 24 and plans for celebrations were being made around the current Covid restrictions.
“I am sure it will be a wonderful celebration,” she said.
“They are in good spirits and are currently doing their trial examinations.”
Read Story Escape Issue 13 2020
Read full page: Southern Highlands students hone their skills to become future lawyers _ Southern Highland News _ Bowral, NSW
Oxley College was well represented on Friday night at the Annual Berrima District Sports Awards. The Junior Monthly Award winners Lachlan Mineeff, Joel Manton, Chilli Sparke, Anneliese Wansey, Rory Shedden and Senior Monthly Award winner Meaghan Stanton were all presented with their trophies.
The big news of the night was the announcement of Junior Sportsperson of the year, awarded to Chilli Sparke. Congratulations on this outstanding achievement.
Our Junior School students celebrated Book Week this year by dressing up as their favourite book chararcter.
A huge thank you to Jason Simpson who organised our Oxley students at short notice. And also to Mark Case and the group of Oxley students who gave up their time during the holidays to place flags at each of the 170 or so graves and memorial plaques of Australian service personnel.
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Some of the cast of Oxley’s production of the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
See full story: CAT Awards 2019
Oxley College has featured in the Sydney Morning Herald’s article on HSC results.
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Gorilla Girlz
Download story: CAT Award Nominations
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Read the story about Zac here.
Read the story about Tristan here.
View the full SHN feature page
Read the story: http://www.southernhighlandnews.com.au/story/2873272/oxley-college-answers-the-big-questions/?cs=262
Read the story: http://www.southernhighlandnews.com.au/story/2873154/varied-backgrounds-enhance-oxley/?cs=262
Read about Zoe’s HSC success: http://www.southernhighlandnews.com.au/story/2720412/zoe-zooms-to-the-top/?cs=4159
Listen to Michael Parker’s interview with James Valentine
Listen to Michael Parker being interviewed by Alan Jones on 2GB.
Alan Jones – Michael Parker Podcast Tuesday 19 August.
Recently Oxley College Headmaster, Mr Michael Parker, was interviewed on ABC National Life Matters. Please select the links below for this insightful interview.
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/lifematters/michael-parker/5623634
On Friday 13 June six Oxley Year 10 students performed their play The Doctor Shepherd Show at the State Finals of the short play competition Fast and Fresh at the Riverside Theatre, Parramatta. They were triumphant and won Best Production, the People’s Choice Award and Charlotte Thirlwall won Best Actress. For the past nine years, Oxley College has participated in Fast and Fresh and the results have been consistently strong. However this is the first time one play has received three awards. Congratulations to the following students and their teachers for this outstanding result: Cameron Connell, William Duncan, Patrick Newton, Frankie Quill, Harry Sutherland and Charlotte Thirlwall and teachers Chris Canute and Phil Cunich.
