Mount Gambier students contest annual Berri Exchange

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Mount Gambier students contest annual Berri Exchange

Mount Gambier High School students have recently returned from the annual Berri Exchange (previously known as Glossop).


The exchange started in 1947 and is the longest running public schools exchange in Australia, with 2024 being the 79th year the schools have gathered to compete for the honours of the Symonds Debating Shield and Carthew Sporting Cup.


The exchange began with the much anticipated virtual debate, with this year’s topic being “The influence of technology on human relationships is detrimental”.


Mount Gambier High School argued as the negative team.


The debate provoked a lot of interesting arguments and rebuttals with the Mount Gambier trio comprising of Callum McIntyre-Gregory, Caitlin Hitchon and Annapurna Anbu.


The local team unfortunately finished a close second to the Berri Regional Secondary College team at the final bell.


VIRTUAL DEBATE: Caitlin Hitchon, Annapurna Anbu and Callum McIntyre-Gregory argue the negative in the virtual debate.

The following day, both schools’ sporting teams met on mutual grounds in Bordertown to compete for the coveted Carthew Sporting Cup.


The schools played off in a variety of sports over seven matches including boys and girls soccer, boys and girls Basketball, Division A and B netball, and boys football.


After an early start the weather turned in favour for the sporting competition of the exchange.


All matches were played in great spirit, and there were a lot of tight contests despite the score line reflecting different, including the boys soccer match that went to a penalty shoot-out.


The Division A netball was a tight tussle right to the end, with the Berri girls taking the win in the final seconds, 26 to 25.


At the end of the day Berri Regional Secondary College was too strong this year, presented with the Carthew Sporting Cup.


PENALTY SHOOTOUT: Eh Hsa Poe lines up for a shot at goal in the boys soccer penalty shoot-out.

Many of the younger students will learn from this experience, still having plenty of years ahead to compete again and return the Carthew Sporting Cup back to Mount Gambier High School.


Mount Gambier High School Special Sports Coordinator Abbey Duncan was pleased with the exchange.


“The staff and students involved all have a common purpose, to play in their respective sports in the hopes of being successful and ultimately to come home with the cup, however we hold high value in the opportunity this exchange gives for both school communities to also continue developing strong social connections,” she said.


“We are extremely grateful for the Bordertown community, in particular the basketball and hockey associations, and the football and netball clubs for allowing us to use their facilities, as well as contribute towards the organisation of the day.


“This event would not be able to take place if we did not have their help and support.


“We had students who helped officiate, umpire and even stepped up to play a sport they had never played before. Our student’s ability to help out when needed and their willingness to push themselves out of their comfort zone demonstrated great character and the values we want students at Mount Gambier High School to display.


“Despite some games not going the way of Mount Gambier High School it was fantastic to see the student’s camaraderie and sportsmanship, particularly when there would have been many moments where they would have felt things were not going their way, but to their credit everyone persevered and gave their absolute best.”

DOWN TO THE WIRE: The Division A netball game came down to the wire with Berri taking the win by one goal in the dying seconds.
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