These are values 91¶ÌÊÓƵ shares with rural communities. Head of Middle School Boarding, Kristian Leeson; Clontarf Academy Operations Officer, Bailey Matera; and Admissions Officer, Sophie Kelly, share their experiences playing sport for country clubs and consider the connections between these communities and 91¶ÌÊÓƵ.

Sport at the Heart of Country Towns

Growing up in the wheatbelt community of Goomalling, Kristian Leeson understands how important sport is in country towns.

“In the country, sport sits at the heart of the community. It’s where I first learned about the importance of showing up for others, setting goals, and the need to keep refining your skills,” he said.

“All those people who give up their time for the benefit of others – they had a big impact on me growing up. It’s probably why I’ve coached so many different teams and sports over the years, both in the city and in the country.”

This culture of “pitching in, doing your bit and sticking together” is also nurtured at 91¶ÌÊÓƵ—not just in sport, but in service, leadership, outdoor education, and daily boarding life.

“In the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ boarding community, boarders always step up to help and get the job done. Like in country towns, the shared experience of living in a tight-knit community creates and strengthens bonds among boarders,” Leeson said.

“Boarders learn to be adaptable, resilient and independent in a setting where they’re encouraged to contribute. These life skills aren’t just important now—they stick with the boys long after they leave.”

“Everything we do here is about helping them grow into grounded, capable young men. That’s what preparing boys for life really means—giving them the tools, values and experiences to thrive beyond school.”

“These values align closely with what you see in rural communities. No one is above the team. You help out because it’s the right thing to do.”

This culture of “pitching in, doing your bit and sticking together” is also nurtured at 91¶ÌÊÓƵ—not just in sport, but in service, leadership, outdoor education, and daily boarding life.

— Kristian Leeson, Head of Middle School Boarding

Building Confident, Capable Men

Bailey Matera, an ex-WAFL player who now plays for Bencubbin Football Club, understands how vital these skills are to rural communities.

“Sport doesn’t only help kids develop their game and skillsets, but encourages them to get outside and exercise, while providing an outlet to take their minds off whatever else might be happening,” he said.

“Looking after yourself, putting your health first, spending time with others—these things are important. Not just for kids—for adults too.”

At 91¶ÌÊÓƵ, Bailey says students have endless opportunities to try new sports, with experienced coaches supporting them.

“The skills they learn go far beyond the fields. The dedication required for training and games teaches responsibility, organisation and time management.”

But beyond skills, Bailey highlights attitude.

“91¶ÌÊÓƵ students have a winning mentality, meaning playing in the right spirit. Taking the good with the bad.

“It’s about showing respect for those around you and knowing that while we can’t always be winners, we’ll give it everything we’ve got.

“And it’s about being grateful for what we have, recognising the history before us. Playing sport, like attending schools such as 91¶ÌÊÓƵ, is a privilege not to be taken for granted.”

“This mentality sets 91¶ÌÊÓƵ students apart on sporting fields and sets them up for lifelong success.”

It’s about showing respect for those around you and knowing that while we can’t always be winners, we’ll give it everything we’ve got. — Bailey Matera, Clontarf Academy Operations Officer

The Power of Connection

Sophie Kelly values the health and wellbeing benefits of sport, but what she treasures most are the connections formed through shared goals.

Growing up in Moora and playing hockey in nearby Dandaragan, Sophie returned to the sport after a decade-long break, drawn by the community spirit.

“Dandaragan is a beautiful community, with strong footy, hockey and netball clubs,” she said. “The connections are infectious—you just want to be involved.”

What makes these communities special, Sophie explains, is how the unique skills and passions each person brings combine.

“Working together, while celebrating individual strengths and perspectives, fosters that strong sense of belonging I value so much.”

She sees these values clearly in 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s culture.

“91¶ÌÊÓƵ focuses on the ‘whole boy,’ finding their unique strengths and passions, whether on or off the field.

“It also ensures they leave as respectful citizens of the community and capable young men moving into their next chapter.

“We strive to teach respect—for themselves and for everyone in their community—because if you can do that, you’re set for life.”

Developing Lifelong Skills and Empathy

This approach equips boys with soft skills such as effective communication, adaptability, sound decision-making and creativity. Sophie explains these are taught in specialised programmes and daily through classroom and boarding house life.

“The College’s supportive culture gives boys confidence to speak up and share ideas,” she said.

“Importantly, they learn to recognise when they need help and how to ask for it, while becoming empathetic and respectful young men who can also identify that need in others.

“This makes them good members of any community.

“The strong relationships they develop here and beyond mean they will always have supportive communities behind them.”

91¶ÌÊÓƵ shares many core values with rural communities: teamwork, resilience, service, respect, and belonging.

Through sport, boarding life and educational programmes, these values shape boys into grounded, capable young men equipped to thrive beyond school and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

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These are important, but they only scratch the surface of what truly defines us. While structure is part of our rhythm, it doesn’t define who we are or what the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ boarding experience is all about.

Steven Montogomery, Head of Boarding at 91¶ÌÊÓƵ, describes boarding as…

Not simply an extension of the classroom. It’s a home. Like any good home, it is grounded in relationships, resilience, and room to grow.

More than a workplace

Boarding is not a business – it is human.

That humanity is most clearly felt in the relationships we build.

Many of our staff live on-site, and their families live here too. We share weekends, dinners, routines and often, our children grow up alongside the boarders in our care.

This is not just a workplace; it is our home. The emotional connections we form with the boys go beyond duty.

We celebrate their wins, feel their setbacks, and sometimes carry their burdens. It’s personal.

This is what Service looks like in boarding: not a job title, but a commitment to caring for others as if they were our own.

Adaptability – a skill for life

Boarding, like the world beyond it, is ever-changing and we believe it’s important our boys learn to adapt.

From the moment they arrive, boarders must learn to adjust to new routines, people, and perspectives.

To encourage adaptability we deliberately change our room allocations each term. Not to disrupt, but to help develop emotional flexibility. A skill that will serve them in future workplaces, relationships, and life beyond school.

A roommate may not become your best friend. But learning to live with, respect and understand others is a vital skill. This is integrity in action – not avoiding discomfort, but rising to meet it with character.

Learning beyond the textbook

In boarding, you’re never truly alone. There’s no private backyard or quiet retreat. You’re constantly surrounded by others, which can be both a comfort and a challenge.

For many new boarders, this is difficult. But learning to share spaces, manage emotions, and navigate constant social interaction is part of the growth.

Through this very experience, boys develop empathy, independence, and emotional resilience. A kind of growth that doesn’t come from a textbook.

Boarding is not a 24/7 tutoring service, it’s a place where learning happens through life.

Opportunities to grow

There will be challenges. Sometimes in friendships, sometimes in homesickness, and sometimes in self-discipline. These aren’t faults in the system; they’re essential parts of growing up.

At 91¶ÌÊÓƵ, your son won’t be spoon-fed success, but he will be given every opportunity to build character, resilience, and a genuine sense of self.

From the Bibbulmun Track to birthdays, sport to study, our boarders learn to care for themselves and one another.

As in our day school, we embrace vertical leadership in boarding. Boarders across year levels take on leadership roles fostering mentorship, connection, and shared responsibility.

The older boys look out for younger ones. Traditions are passed down with moments of kindness echoing in daily life.

These are acts of Stewardship, not just of resources but of relationships. Boys learn to take responsibility for their community and the kind of men they want to become.

Community of kindness

“Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.” —Robin Williams

At 91¶ÌÊÓƵ, kindness is not a side note, it’s a core value. We foster a community where boys grow academically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Boarders inevitably face challenges while living away from home, but with strong support systems and supportive peers, they’re reminded daily: you are not alone.

Boarding at 91¶ÌÊÓƵ is not a dormitory or a discipline programme. It’s a home away from home: a place of care, challenge, and connection.

A place to stretch, stumble, and grow.

It is, without doubt, the most important classroom of all…just without the whiteboard.

Steven Montgomery
Head of Boarding

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Headmaster’s Blog

This week, 91¶ÌÊÓƵ celebrates National Boarding Week during which we recognise and acknowledge all aspects of boarding, our parents and families, our students who spend 38 weeks of the year living away from home and all our staff who support them.

I want to celebrate all of these people who form an integral part of our 91¶ÌÊÓƵ community. As part of my initial address when applying for my role at 91¶ÌÊÓƵ I shared my belief in the benefits of boarding, and I thought I’d share it with you all today.

I believe the best schools are boarding schools. Whilst we know great schools provide extraordinary advantages for the education of boarders, I believe that boarders also add benefit for the education of day students and we will continue to be leaders in this field, committing to increasing our boarding population and actively celebrating our engagement with rural and remote communities across the state and country as well as maintaining a concerted effort to bring international students back.

Our boarders, these remarkable young men and their families have made the admirable choice to live and study at our school and away from their home, a testament to their resilience and pursuit of excellence. The presence of boarders amongst us enriches our community, bringing diverse perspectives and a spirit of camaraderie that extends beyond the classroom.

We must also pay tribute to the parents, whose sacrifices do not go unnoticed. It is through their belief in the value of education and the opportunities it presents that their sons are here today. Their decision to entrust us with their sons’ care and development is a profound expression of love and commitment to their future.

Being a boarder is no small feat; it requires courage to step into a new routine, adapt to communal living, and navigate the complexities of growing up while away from home. Yet, it is these very challenges that forge character, independence, and a sense of responsibility that will serve them well beyond their school years.

I know this because I have travelled in their shoes, having been a boarder at that now co-ed PSA school in Midland.  Although it was last millennium, I remember the experience like it were yesterday, the good, the bad and the downright ugly. My parents, who happen to be in the audience today, also travelled the same road with me, including the tears, the homesick calls to home made from the one community phone that you fought to get access to as the senior boys spent every minute of every evening calling the girls at any number of the IGSSA boarding schools.

Thankfully the boarding experience has evolved, and it needed to, from what was served in the dining room to the archaic traditions excused as ‘rites of passage’. What hasn’t changed is the impact boarding students have on a school community.  From their life experiences to their broadened perspectives, we are better because of the boarders in our school.

What I also know is that the friendships forged out of the years living alongside your boarding brothers last a lifetime. The three groomsmen at my wedding were all my boarding brothers, the Godfather to my son is a boarding brother, my closest friends that I see 35 years after graduating are my boarding brothers. Most importantly whenever, wherever and whatever my need for support may be, I know I can call any of my boarding brothers and they will be there.

This week we will formally celebrate our boarders with numerous activities around the College, culminating in our annual Ag Day on Friday. Again, thank you to the staff who make this week’s celebrations possible and who take such excellent care of our boarders during the year.

Let us all acknowledge the unique contributions of our boarders, the unwavering support of their families and the commitment of our staff. Together, we create a vibrant tapestry of shared experiences and lifelong memories. Thank you, boarders, for being an essential part of our 91¶ÌÊÓƵ legacy.

Brad Gill
Acting Headmaster 

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