Sport

Hockey Victoria Visit

Last week, students in Years 2– 4 were treated to an exciting incursion thanks to the Hockey Victoria Roadshow. Led by the energetic and engaging Coach Louis, the sessions introduced students to the fundamentals of hockey in a fun, hands-on way.

From learning how to hold a stick correctly to practicing basic dribbling and passing skills, the students had a fantastic time getting active and trying something new. Louis did a wonderful job connecting with the children and making the sessions both educational and enjoyable. 

A huge thank you to Hockey Victoria for bringing the game to Newhaven College, and to mum Jen Fallu who helped out with the Year 3 session.

Jaclyn Clarke

Junior School PE and Sports Teacher

WBSLSC – Newhaven College Bronze Medallion

This elective has run for two years now, beginning in 2024.

HPE Teacher and Head of Surfing, Ben Clark has had a decade-long involvement in Woolamai Beach Surf Life Saving Club (WBSLSC) and Surf Lifesaving, and is a Patrol Captain for the Watermen volunteer Surf Rescue Patrol Team and works as a paid Lifeguard for the Bass Coast Lifeguard team during the summer.

In light of this, Ben saw an opportunity to utilise these skills and experience and combine this with his passion for the ocean in a new elective in 2024. “Surf Safety and Recreation”, striking up a partnership with the WBSLSC.

Through weekly practical sessions covering water rescues, swimming skills and ocean diagnostics, students build their awareness, hazard assessment and risk mitigation as well as hone their physical capacity in the water. In class, they cover all of the theoretical content, including first aid and patrol operations. This is a hands on elective that allows students to learn by doing and feeling.

What is great about having this elective over a full semester rather than the traditional one week Bronze Camp is they have the time and the ability to roam outside the scope of the traditional Bronze Medallion Handbook.

This year, an Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) experience was introduced, where students spend a day in a boat with a qualified instructor who takes them through the ins and outs of performing rescues in an IRB and finish the day with an experience in the surf at Woolamai Beach. They also touch on some of the basic search and rescue skills that students might see if they take on additional LSV awards.

Alongside their Bronze Medallion Award, this elective sees students complete a Surfing Australia Level 2 Surf Judging accreditation. The theoretical component of this is completed in class and for those students interested then go on to complete 20 hours of supervised surf judging with the Phillip Island Boardriders Club to earn their full certification. These students then act as judges at our school House Surfing competition and the SEISA (Inter-school) Surfing Competition, hosted by Newhaven College.

Congratulations to our 2025 Bronze Medallion graduates, who earned their qualifications in partnership with WBSLSC. We’re proud of your commitment and can’t wait to see you patrolling our local beaches this summer!