Honours split at 2023 Berri Exchange

The honours have been split between Mount Gambier High School and Berri Regional Secondary College in the 78th edition of their annual exchange.

Previously known as the Glossop Exchange, the Berri Exchange was held earlier this month with Mount High securing the Symonds Debating Shield and Berri narrowly winning the Carthew Sporting Cup.

The Berri Exchange is the longest running public schools exchange in Australia and 69 Mount Gambier High students were part of the 2023 exchange.

The event kicked off with the virtual debate that tackled the topic ‘We should invest more money into space exploration’ with Mount Gambier High School arguing as the negative team.

The debate provoked a lot of interesting arguments and rebuttals with the Mount High trio of Callum McIntyre-Gregory, Caitlin Hitchon and Annapurna Anbu taking the honours by a tight, three point margin. Callum was awarded the medallion as Most Valuable Speaker.

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.

All matches were played in great spirit and the competition was extremely tight.

The Division A Netball and Girls Basketball competitions finished in nail-biters with the Mount Gambier High School girls coming from behind in both games during the last quarter to steal the wins but in the end, Berri took the cup with a 4-3 victory across the seven sporting contests.

Mount Gambier High School special sports coordinator Abbey Duncan said competitive sport offered students a range of skills and throughout the exchange, modified or not, students take great pride in being a representative for their school, and thriving in the competitive environment.

“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,” Miss Duncan Honours split at 2023 Berri Exchange Tight competition across all events in Australia’s longest running public school exchange 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 would love to be able to see this exchange return to the original four-day format, however, one main barrier for this is the low level of billeting numbers.

“It would be amazing for our school community to put their hands up and open their homes to our friends from the Riverland, and vice versa so that our students can experience more of the social and cultural connections that this valued exchange has been known for in the past.”

VICTORIOUS DEBATING TEAM: Annapurna Anbu, Caitlin Hitchon & Callum McIntyreGregory with the Symonds Debating Shield.

MOUNT HIGH NETBALLERS: The A & B Grade MGHS netball teams

TOP SKILLS: Gay Ni Hsar weaves his way around the Berri defender

TOUGH CONTEST: Boys Basketball action as part of the Berri Exchange

RESULTS

Div A Netball

MGHS 27 d BRSC 26 Best Players: Lara Munro, Stella Mobbs MVP: Abby Fenwick (BRSC)

Div B Netball

MGHS 20 lost to BRSC 25

Best Players:

Zarly Jones, Kate Winterfield MVP: Milly Allen (MGHS)

Boys Football

MGHS 5.0 (30) defeated by BRSC 8.6 (54)

Best Players: Brad Cowling, Aaron Dally, Angus Urquhart, Talon Johnson, Charlie Lockwood, Maurice Goldsmith Goal Scorers: Cooper Turner (2), Aaron Dally (2), Kade Allen (1) MVP: Ayden Hodgeson (BRSC)

Girls Basketball

MGHS 30 d BRSC 26

Best Players: Jenna Baron, Stella Mobbs MVP: Chelsea Wutke (BRSC)

Boys Soccer

MGHS 2 defeated BRSC 1

Best Players: Gay Ni, Paul Jaroenram, Moo Bwe Bwe

Goal Scorers: Gay Ni (2) MVP: Frankie Vallelonga (BRSC)

Boys Basketball

MGHS 28 lost to BRSC

Best Players:

Sam Baron, Emmerson Forbes MVP: Sam Baron (MGHS)

Girls Soccer