From the Head
Three achievements for the ages Excellence with humility As the many generations of our School know full well, the Barker College motto is Honor Non Honores. Honores
Of all the schools in which I have had the honour to serve, the Barker motto is truly lived and truly loved by each generation of our community. Our motto is not something so abstract or so quaint as to be meaningless to the contemporary generation of students. Our students now talk about it. They understand what it means and they truly expect honor non honores of themselves and of each other. This tradition was established decades ago in the 19th century origins of Barker and it still binds us today. We seek to do something good and beautiful in the world. We do not seek the reward of honours and renown but the intrinsic affirmation of excellence. Excellence finds its own reward in the quiet assurance that we have done our best to reach our potential. If honours come, they are an unlooked for blessing to everyone involved. This includes all of our community, students, staff and parents from the past, present and future, whose combined energies make it good to be here. During this eventful year, three honours have been bestowed on Barker, its staff and its students. Let us celebrate the excellence with humility.
The 2021 Prime Minister’s Award for Science Education to our Head of Agriculture, Mr Scott Graham This Award requires the nominee to complete a rigorous application process, assemble referees (who must provide detailed and specific evidence of quality, of which I am all too aware), and be considered by a demanding panel of reviewers who ensure that the Award is issued to a candidate worthy of such an honour. The Award is part of the “Inspiring AustraliaScience Engagement Programme”. What is remarkable about this achievement is that the Award was issued to a teacher who specialises in Agriculture. Over the last decade, despite our urban location Barker has developed an astonishing work in Agricultural Science. The Award recognises Scott Graham’s leadership in this space, his innovative approach to the study of Agriculture and the opportunities for Australia that issue from enabling an educated and imaginative cohort of graduates in this field of study. Supported by a marvellously dedicated team, Barker Agriculture has achieved something very important for our students and for our nation.
Summer 2021 • Issue 133 • The Barker • 1
