From Vivid lights to life lessons: WWHS students soak up Sydney experience

SYDNEY’s Vivid light festival, a spectacular Harbour Bridge climb and an inspiring conference were just some of the hincredibleighlights experienced by Wee Waa High School captains and senior student representative council members during a recent excursion to the big smoke.

As well as soaking up Sydney’s amazing tourism activities, the student leaders attended the Stand Tall Leadership Conference at Darling Harbour.

Stand Tall Australia aims to share a message of hope with young Australians through promoting positive role models and sparking important conversations about mental health.

It was formed in 2012 by three mothers – Angela Farr-Jones, Jeanine Treharne and Ros Hills – who were concerned about mental ill-health statistics among young people.

Harriett Smallwood, Brandon Mzila Mpofu, Mason Humphries, Nathan Bolton, front, Ayisha Titimira, Sarita Mallinson, Mia Kiem, Ruby Graham and Jett Palmer. Photo: Wee Waa High School/supplied.

The chair of Stand Tall’s board is former Wallabies captain Nick Farr-Jones. The father of four has also worked as a legal practitioner and finance director, and has held other leadership and board roles.

The not-for-profit organisation said it is committed to positively impacting the youth of Australia and helping them find ways to tackle challenges associated with social media, bullying, peer pressure, drinking, drugs, partying and self-harm.

Stand Tall wants to address these topics and issues to ensure young people have self-belief, a sense of purpose and, importantly, take care of themselves as well as others.

Mason Humphries, Brandon Mzila Mpofu, Jett Palmer, Nathan Bolton, Sarita Mallinson, front, Ruby Graham, Ayisha Titimira and Mia Kiem. Photo: Harriett Smallwood/WWHS.

The conference featured engaging performances and presentations from international speaker and former refugee Duku Forè, record-breaking young solo sailor and author Jessica Watson, cancer survivor and motivational speaker Michael Crossland, writer and inspiring skydiving accident survivor Emma Carey as well as youth leader and social media personality James ‘Chappo’ Chapman, who represented Australia at the World Dwarf Games and is known for his motto ‘difference is dope’.

Together, they shared moving personal stories, relatable experiences and valuable life lessons, with key messages such as ‘you’re not alone’ and ‘asking for help does not make you weak’.

“WWHS students had the opportunity to hear from an incredible lineup of guest speakers, each sharing powerful stories of resilience, perseverance and inspiration in the face of adversity,” said WWHS community liaison officer Harriett Smallwood.

Sunflowers and Swirls experience at The Grounds of Alexandria, Brandon Mzila Mpofu, Mia Kiem, Ruby Graham, Ayisha Titimira, Jett Palmer, Nathan Bolton and Mason Humphries. Photo: Harriett Smallwood/WWHS.

Before hitting the road back to the Cotton Capital, the school group managed to fit in a few more Sydney sites, including breakfast at The Grounds of Alexandria, where they explored the vibrant Sunflowers and Swirls display inspired by Vincent van Gogh.

A memorable visit to the Museum of Illusions, some retail therapy on Pitt Street, and the excitement of an NRL match where the Manly Sea Eagles lifted to beat the South Sydney Rabbitohs 28-14, were also on the agenda.

WWHS expressed their gratitude to the school’s kind P and C, who generously donated $100 spending money to each student, continuing their annual tradition of supporting student leaders and helping make experiences like this possible.