As published in THE LAND on Thursday 18 January 2024.
HAILING from Swan Hill in north-west Victoria, Georgie Cameron began her boarding journey at Melbourne Girls Grammar in Year 10, when her sister was in Year 12 and the Boarding House Co-Captain. Now, it’s Georgie’s turn and she’s thrilled to be commencing her final year of schooling, following in her sister’s footsteps as one of MGGS’s Boarding House Captains.
“Being named as one of the 2024 Boarding House Co-Captains is such an honour and I could not be more grateful to be a part of leadership in the House! I get along really well with the Head of Boarding, Amanda Haggie and Assistant Director of Boarding, Kerry Bacon which makes the role much easier as they both foster such a positive and supportive environment.”
This leadership position feels like a privilege for Georgie and she’s looking forward to working with other student leaders as a member of the MGGS Student Executive Council (SEC). “Being a part of the SEC is more than just a shiny badge and golden embroidery. It allows us to provide a voice for our peers and lead our school as we try our best to provide a positive and inspiring culture.”
The MGGS student grew up playing netball and basketball, and represents the School in both. She trains multiple times a week on top of gym sessions in the Artemis Fitness Hub. This is in addition to her study, which she admits has improved immensely since beginning boarding at MGGS.
“Up to Year 10 in the Boarding House you do ‘prep’, which is two hours of compulsory study after school. In Years 11 and 12, we don’t have to do prep, but we all work in our rooms anyway from 6.30pm to 8pm.
“As boarders, we’re strongly encouraged to be studying after school, especially around exam time, and the staff are really helpful when it comes to preparation.”
Georgie says homesickness hasn’t been an issue for her and she’s very content with her boarding family. “I feed off other people’s energy, and I love company,” she says, adding that her parents “are just a phone call away”. Georgie really enjoys meeting new boarders and helping them transition into the Boarding House. She says, “we all come from somewhere different, but we have so much in common which makes having conversations with people you have never met before really easy.” At the start of each year, boarders are assigned a new student and become their buddy, helping them transition smoothly into the house.
There are many activities Georgie enjoys in her downtime, including walking around the Botanical Gardens, catching an AFL game at the MCG or shopping with her friends on Chapel Street. She knows that Year 12 will bring more work and study but she’s feeling confident about that challenge, adding “I find that when I apply myself, and with the support of teachers, residential staff, academic coaches, classmates and friends, I know I am able to achieve amazing results!”
The Melbourne Girls Grammar Boarding House is an environment where boarders feel comfortable trying new things and challenging themselves in a supportive community. They are bold, dynamic and ready to take on anything.
Boarding scholarships and bursaries are available for entry in 2025. Applications close Friday 9 February 2024.