| Hello, I’m Ethan Tomlinson, Head Border for 2025.
I grew up on the vibrant, tourist-favourite island of Bali, where I’ve spent most of my life. Commuting from Bali is no small feat, it means waking up early to catch a flight, sitting on a plane for three and a half hours, then driving down to Bunbury – a journey that takes anywhere from an hour and a half to two hours on a good day. By the time I finally arrive, the whole day has been spent traveling. And at the end of every term, I do it all again in reverse, with help from my amazing aunt. |
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Moving into Boarding felt nerve wracking at first. Before that, I had lived in Zambia for less than a year and didn’t have many close friends. But the opportunity to meet new people and build connections kept me going. I arrived four weeks late due to quarantine and was lucky enough to be placed across from David Nelson-Palmer, someone I had no idea would become such an important part of my boarding experience. We spent years making memories together until he graduated last year. That’s a beautiful part about boarding – you can meet your best friend, even if they’re in another year. Boarding really brings people together.
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| Adjusting to the boarding routine wasn’t too difficult. I appreciated the structure and clear expectations, which made settling in easier. The hardest part was leaving behind my mom’s incredible Indonesian cooking for ten weeks at a time. At first, that seemed like the end of the world, but the kindness of the Boarding community, especially the older students and staff, helped me find my way. | |
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One of the best things about Boarding is how social it is with plenty of fun activities to look forward to on weekends. Some of my favourite moments have been the simplest ones, lounging on the couch watching a movie, roasting marshmallows around the campfire, and enjoying special events like our formal dinner, quiz night, egg hunts, theme nights, and trips to Adventure World. |
| Boarding taught me how to leave happy memories with the people around me, and gave me an opportunity to meet so many people from so many different walks of life. Looking back, I have well and truly enjoyed my years at Boarding. Granted, when I joined in Year 9, Year 12 seemed like such a distance away, and now, my journey is nearing the end. I hope I’ve left a positive mark on boarding, and I hope the good parts of my Legacy are buried deep in the roots of Boarding’s heart. Boarding for me isn’t just a place to sleep. Boarding for me is home.
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Ethan Tomlinson :: Head Boarder 2025
