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STUDENT RELATIONSHIPS & COMMUNITY

STRATEGIC PLANS - STUDENT RELATIONSHIPS & COMMUNITY

SPOTLIGHT ON A SCHOLAR –
RURAL AND BOARDING
SCHOLARSHIPS
FROM BOLGART TO BOARDING

AND BEYOND

Wembley Downs is a long way from Bolgart. Outgoing when coming back to school from holidays or weekends.
Faulkner House Prefect, Rowan Edmonds moved from However, over the year, it became easier and easier to
the family farm in Bolgart to Brine House as a Year 7 return to school until it wasn’t so much a problem at all.”
boarder in 2017. The eldest of six siblings, Rowan was
the first in his family to leave the small town in the Rowan has some sage advice for those parents and
State’s mid-west and head to boarding school. With a families considering sending their sons to board at Hale.
local primary school averaging 35 students, the move to “There is obviously a cost to boarding at Hale for parents,
Hale School was a big one. Since then, three of Rowan’s and that cost is not merely a financial one. Sending your
sisters have joined the boarding program at St Mary’s son away for weeks on end is likely a daunting prospect for
Anglican Girls’ School.
many. However, they will not be alone. The support that I
Ahead of Rowan’s return to Hale for the commencement have received throughout my time here has been amazing
of Year 9, he was awarded a Hale School Foundation and I have made lifelong friends. While it was difficult to be
Boarding Scholarship, which assisted with the payment of away from my family to begin with, now at the end of my
tuition fees for the remainder of his time at Hale. boarding journey here at Hale, it feels even more difficult

Having recently completed Year 12, Rowan has been able to say goodbye to those who have become another family
to reflect on his time in boarding and what the boarding to me.”
scholarship meant to him and his family. In a recent letter Rowan plans to attend university in 2023, studying a
of gratitude to the Headmaster, Rowan cited the fickle Bachelor of Science. Beyond that he is excited for what
nature of farming and the overarching cost of boarding awaits in the next chapter of his life.
as being prohibitive to other farming families considering
sending their children to boarding school. “I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know that Hale
School will forever be a part of who I am. I am always in
In his letter, Rowan also reflected on the struggles of being
new to the boarding program, being away from his family awe at the rich history and long existence of Hale School.
for extended periods, and how the challenges of being a It’s crazy to think I am one of thousands of boys, each with
boarding student shaped who he has become. their own stories, who share this incredible experience. I
have no doubt thousands more will.”
“The hardest thing for me and for many others about
boarding to begin with, was being away from home and “I am so grateful to my parents for sending me to Hale and
our families. Homesickness is something most will face appreciate the financial relief that the scholarship provided
coming into boarding and in Year 7 I really struggled them – I hope this support can be offered to more country
being away from the farm and my family, especially families.”

The Hale School Foundation funds the Scholarship Program at Hale School. If you are
interested in supporting Rural Scholarships at Hale School through a tax-deductible donation,
please get in touch at foundation@hale.wa.edu.au.

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