While change impacts every era, it is the speed of the change, the multitude of the trends and the global nature of them that are so transformative today. To this extent, it is not so much that we are tracking towards the future, but rather, the future is coming at us, and not only at an increased velocity, but often from an unknown direction.

Some may consider this daunting, yet change provides opportunity and something that the girls need to understand is a given as they move through their schooling and into their professional lives. What we do know is that there is a range of capabilities and skills that will set girls up to cope with the evolving nature of the workplace and to be able to make a difference. One of the key skills that all futurists agree on is ‘creativity’.

The late Sir Ken Robinson defined creativity as "the process of having original ideas that have value". Robinson highlighted that creativity can be taught—not through direct instruction, but by giving students opportunities, inspiration, encouragement and mentoring. Creativity is different from imagination, which is the ability to bring to mind things that aren't present to your senses.

With this in mind, over the past two weeks, we have seen creativity in action with our annual Artist and Musician in Residence programs.

Last week, we welcomed Adelaide-based painter, Hamish Fleming. Hamish works in the genre of expressive realism, combining more contemporary aspects with the traditional painting forms of still life, landscape and portraiture.

On Monday, we welcomed Adam Page to work alongside and inspire our musicians. Adam is best known for his multi-instrumental looping show that he has presented around the world since 2006. At Assembly, Adam played with Big Band 1 and then demonstrated his exceptional looping skills which had the girls in awe of his creative skills. The annual Jazz at The Gov concert was again a highlight of the music calendar which was enjoyed by all in attendance.

It is opportunities like these that reinforce the importance of developing capabilities and skills that the girls will require for the future. Girls must be able to think creatively, think like an innovator and think like an entrepreneur if they are going to secure employment and tackle the complex problems facing the world.

Geographers Return to the Outdoors

Friday 27 May saw the Stage 1 geographers brave the 14^°C maximum to undertake their first fieldwork in two years. COVID-19 restrictions have been particularly challenging for our geographers at Wilderness, with fieldwork skill development and application occurring solely in their immediate local environments; on campus, around homes and at the Parklands. This trip, investigating the preparedness of the Adelaide Hills for fire season and the effectiveness of prescribed burns in the Mt Lofty Region, thankfully went ahead.

“The field trip provided us with insight into the preparedness and prevention strategies of bushfires in the Adelaide Hills. Due to COVID-19, we haven't been able to venture outside of School grounds, so being able to go out and about, undertaking hands-on fieldwork was a very valuable experience for us.”

​ Alice Crompton, Maddison Equid and Felicity McClurg (Year 11)

Students first travelled to Mt Lofty Summit to successfully observe and hypothesise the impact of north facing slopes and steep aspect, followed by the application of various fieldwork skills including the construction of cross sections, quadrat analysis and fuel assessment ratings to four sites within the Cleland Conservation Park. The data collected will inform the students’ fieldwork requirement for Stage 1 Geography related to local contemporary issues.

April Bickley
Head of Interdisciplinary Studies