Damascus College Ballarat | High School
Damascus College Ballarat
Phone: +61 3 5337 2222
Reviews
to load big map
25.01.2022 A remarkable story from Ainaro.
24.01.2022 Team DMac with Aze and the marvelous Marvi!
22.01.2022 Damascus Families at the Ballarat Station on the 4:05 Shuttle. Bon Voyage
20.01.2022 Hi Gang, Brief delay in Brisbane. Will leave at 8.52 instead of 8.25 at this stage. Keep an eye on your flight tracker for exact details.
19.01.2022 Just in case team 2019 are interested, Marvi is singing live in Dare just now.Just in case team 2019 are interested, Marvi is singing live in Dare just now.
17.01.2022 Good morning parents and concerned individuals, it is with great pride we wish to inform you that your children are alive and well due to the dutiful protection carried out by our heroes; Thomas the Tremendous and Pat the Mediocre. They have allowed us to continue our support towards the Timorese people by vigilantly fighting off hordes of rabies infested feral canines using their new found martial arts skills learnt on the Main Street of Ainaro. On the way back from an arduo...us trek up Mt Sorro, the boys fought off truck loads of militia personnel to allow for what was left of the group to return to the resistance stronghold. When Mt Ramelau erupted, causing fires to break out across numerous villages, our saviours couldn’t bear to sit by and watch helplessly, so they took it upon themselves to run up the mountain in only socks, across burning lava and coals, to use their bare hands to extinguish the fire gracefully. 'It is with great gratitude, we bestow upon you this incredible honour. We cannot thank you enough fellas. The statue being erected at the foot of Mt Ramalau in honour of your heroism and bravery, is not nearly sufficient of the credit you truly deserve.' Sincerely, All of Timor xx Attached are some images of our victorious guardians and heroes.
16.01.2022 A couple of days ago we got to meet Marvi, tomorrow (tonight really!) I'm going to BLOC's Beauty and the Beast. Here is Marvi doing Beauty and the Beast! Best of both worlds! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxKcT8QiPcA
15.01.2022 For our last full day in Ainaro, we started it as usual,with our morning English lessons and had our traditional whole school photo with Santa Maria. We then returned home, to have a short break, before going to visit Doko Mali, which we had been told was a short 15 minute walk, with a slight incline, that was travelled by Grammar yearly, and was a first by the Damascus crew. But boy were we wrong. The climb was up the side of a almost 90 degree cliff, felt like an eternity, ...and had never actually been attempted by our fellow Ballarat school. It was all worth it though, as waiting for us was a magnificent waterfall and a lovely pre-cooked lunch, mind you we had to get our feet a little soaked in the process, some more than others (Hazel, Jayde, Simon and Pat). The walk back was just as challenging as the way there. Heading back to the Villa, we were escorted by our possy of Timorese teenaged motorcyclists, sporting their home flag, school uniform and daring motorbike stunts, and how could we forget the priest in his 4WD and our dump truck full of other students. Following this adventure we were greeted with 2 dinners and a gorgeous ceremonial party to bid us farewell from Ainaro. There was lots of tears and dancing shared by all, especially when we were gifted with beautiful tice, embroidered with our names. We then had to leave the party promptly due to strict orders, as we had an early start for our last moments in Ainaro the next day. Thanks for reading another daily(ish) post. Hugs and kisses, Hazel and Megan xoxo See more
15.01.2022 Whoops! Here is the rest of our photos from yesterday!
09.01.2022 Hope you can come!
08.01.2022 Good afternoon gorgeous individuals. This is being documented from the accomodation in Dili while Tom the tremendous is picking his own lock after ever so stupidly locking himself out of his room. Yesterday was the group’s last day in Ainaro and it was so distressing leaving the beautiful people that we risked our very lives for on Mt Ramelau... Oh well. At least the statue is looking mint as. After leaving their new friends, Pat, Tom and co. were faced with a death defyi...ng journey back to Dili where they faced more hordes of canines and deadly slopes. Pat and Tom were able to defend the group once again by heroically looking in adoration at the puppy, so it left, resulting in safety for all. We were rewarded in Dili by a sunset movie on the beach which was pretty special... It would’ve been really cool to watch it but the legends were too busy fending off salt water crocs and savage pigs with only coconuts and ginger beer bottles. *Flash-forward to right now* Tom has just settled in my bloody room with a mattress twice the size of mine, taking up all my floor space and I’ve had to move my cupboard AND desk (which has now completely blocked off my deluxe en-suite) to accomodate his stupidity. Since all his shoes are in his room, his only option now are a pair of Carmelite nun thongs which were graciously left for the next visitor in the girls room (photo attached). Who’s mediocre now Tom? See more
05.01.2022 Just a heads up that the students are not all dodgy photographers! They are doing their best to show what they're up to by taking photos on my phone of the photos in their phone. Ah the great Apple / Samsung divide! Oh, except the odd one that was taken on my phone, like when I was sunning myself by the pool at the resort. Anyhow, they promise to show the originals when they get home. Simon.
04.01.2022 Yesterday was a rollercoaster of emotions, filled with blood,sweat and tears. After a morning of successful teaching, we made our way to the massacre site of Jakarta II. Seeing the school boys who accompanied us showing their respect to the victims and their families triggered some heartfelt emotions throughout the whole group. To cheer us up, later that evening we played a game of soccer against the local Timorese boys. Team Malai (us aussies) having 11 team members whilst t...he boys beginning with barely 7. We only lost 3-1! Go us! We were invited to the girls boarding house where we privelleged to experience 4 original Timorese dances and greeted with fantastic pizza (which Grace lost her mind over) and amazing runny lemon meringue (we hope?? but it was delicious anyway) made by the nuns. Overall a pretty moody and memorable day for all involved. Lots of love from Hannah and Grace in Timor
04.01.2022 Not sure if my pulsa (credit) will hold out but pretty sure we didn't nominate anyeone to post something here tonight so I thought I'd sneak in a quick one in case. We went shopping at the Tais Market and ran into a former DMAC student Sancho da Costa who recognized us and came to say hi. Off to mass at Ai Mutin Church after finding there was no mid-morning one at the Cathedral. Then on to visit a sick but improving Father Jhonny at the Dejukdil Youth Ministry. This was foll...owed by lunch on the beach and a tour of Santa Cruze Cemetery which focused on the grave of Sebastian Gomez, a youth leader in Timor during the Indonesian invasion. From there we bought a few things at the supermarket, visited the Gembel arts collective and then climbed the 578 steps Christo Rei where we had many conversations and interviews and danced a tebe dai with our Guide Aze. In the evening we went to our regular final meal destination, the Castaway. We were treated to western food, lovely company and great music from a band formed at Gembel. We were delighted that they invited friends up to sing, one of whom is now super famous in TL after winning The Voice Portugal last year. Her stage name is Marvi, we recommend you look her up... Now we are largely packed and ready for a long day of travelling tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you all soon. See more
03.01.2022 Beautiful Doko Mali
01.01.2022 It's been a massive day up here. We've just arrived back from a little party which was our fourth activity of the day and knowing we have another party (a bigger one at that) tomorrow night, our journalists have decided to rest up. Never fear though, you're bound to be on the receiving end of a more detailed update during the day, tomorrow. Mehi diak (good dreams) everyone!
