Chairman, Council, Headmaster, members of staff, ladies, gentlemen and students. I have heard it said that being lucky is simply hard work meeting opportunity. At a school such as ours, if you supply the hard work the opportunities are all around you.

Blessed with those opportunities, 2008 has been memorable with students achieving in countless pursuits and endeavours.

In a world seemingly gripped by talk of recession, financial disaster and negativity, I have left Barker College with optimism and the positivity to grasp and make the most of the opportunities that come my way.

Thank you Barker College for providing me with all the avenues for achievement. Thank you for the opportunities.

In 2008 we have seen “oh so much” whether it was the leaving class, the school itself or the Barker community as a whole, what memorable things we have seen. Whether on the sporting field or areas of the school already mentioned by Brit, whether with the cadets out on the cold nights on Singleton Army Range or in the midst of the beautiful sounds of the Barker musicians, this year has simply had it all.
We’ve been high! We’ve been low. We’ve had the greatest of successes and there have been crushing disappointments.
Remarkable as these experiences have been, the true significance of the whole journey, lies in our ability to overcome these low points and celebrate the high points both as individuals and as a community reinforcing the values of integrity, honesty, mateship and courage resulting in us all continuing to strive to “better out best”.

I wish to emphasise that the success of an individual, team or community should not only be judged on the marks received on a piece of paper, not through the numbers of trophies in cabinets or the number of zeros contained in salaries but can and should be judged only upon the content of one’s character. The ability to deal with both success and loss with modesty and integrity is key, and most importantly – seeking honour above rewards - Honor non Honores is what has made 2008 a true success and has provided all of us with a true grounding for what lies ahead.

For the past three years I have been privileged to call myself a student of Barker College. Tonight as we celebrate the year gone by and the Leaving Class of 2008, I thought it appropriate to briefly share three things that I have learnt in the ranks of the Barker Army.

Firstly, Barker College is an institution of opportunity. Cam and Britt have both briefly outlined some of the many experiences available at the college. Tonight the musicians have demonstrated one aspect of the wealth of talent present at Barker and our thanks goes out to them. Whether academic or otherwise, Barker’s facilities and staff encourage, nurture and extend an individual’s potential.

Secondly, Barker is a privileged establishment with a strong generosity of spirit. This year, Barker embarked on a 3 year long project with World Vision to raise funds to build a school in Tra Xuan in Vietnam. The whole Barker community, led by the Student Representative Council and the Prefect body has participated to successfully reach the $50,000 target required for 2008. The year 12 leaving gift this year has continued this tradition of generosity. Over $4000 was raised and donated by the Class of 2008 to the St Edmonds School for children with special needs at Wahroonga.

Finally, using the words of a fellow classmate Nick Morgan, I have realized that the best is yet to come. After 13 years of schooling, the Class of 2008 has been released into the big wide world. Whether we realise it, or appreciate it, Barker College has played a significant role in shaping our views of the world. Our years at school will therefore influence all our decisions and actions in the future.

This year the class of 2008, as well as their leaving gift, will donate a leaving memento to the school. It was a 321 piece jigsaw puzzle with each student’s name on an individual piece with the Barker crest in the background. There are no edges to this puzzle, every piece can be joined on all sides, even the pieces on the outside, because in the middle are the words ‘class of 2008 – no boundaries’.

We were a class with no boundaries, we excelled in every aspect of school life. We wanted to hang something that reflected more appropriately the depth, talent and uniqueness of our year. We pushed the limits in sport, music, cadets, academia, in drama and debating. This memento now hangs proudly within the school.

However none of this would have been possible without the timeless and constant effort of our astonishing teachers. Thank you for the countless hours you have given to us and our studies, not only this year, but over our entire time at the school.

We must also thank our wonderful parents, for putting up with the arguments and the late nights. The love and care, and more importantly the opportunity given to us, to attend this wonderful college. Even if we don’t show it in our short one word sentences, we appreciate it more than you understand, thank you.

To the class of 2008, may you soar high on the winds of success, and no matter what happens always remember that you will have a year group that will support you and believe in you. I have one last quote “The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and of the inheritance of a great example.” Be proud of everything we have achieved, individually and collectively. Always seek the honour above the reward and go proudly, strongly, passionately and most importantly as yourselves into the future. If you do this, the world is at your fingertips.

I just want to thank you my fellow classmates, for the memories and the friendships. It could not have been better nor could we have asked for more. We will stand strong together forever. No boundaries.