Carine Senior High School

SARDINE and the Closet Farnham Fan

by Francoise Sandow and Lauren McMahon

An interview with Michael Jardine-Hargrave and Brooke Farris

WE MEET THE SURFERS
Michael Jardine-Hargrave (alias Sardine, Sards, Mich) and Brooke Farris (alias Fazz, Chook) stroll casually into the interview room. They are (of course) our Head Boy and Girl.

After a few technical hiccups all is well and Michael and Brooke (renowned for their surfing achievements around Australia) tell us a bit about themselves and their lives.

EARLY SURFING YEARS
Neither started surfing seriously at a particularly young age. In fact they only became seriously involved in the sport in late primary early secondary school. Mick gives us the facts.

`I got my first surfboard when I was eight. I didn't get into it then for whatever reason. I got another board when I was about ten or eleven and I haven't looked back since.' Brooke had a different childhood story. `Well, I started surfing in primary school through the surf club and started to take it seriously and surf all the time in year 9 because I went in the Carine High School competition.'

Brooke and Michael enjoy surfing for various reasons. They both love to surf with family and friends, and the sight of the occasional dolphin is always a highlight. They also admit that winning state surfing titles and being chosen for the Australian team has also been a real thrill.

However, it hasn't been all smooth surfing for these champs. Both have suffered many superficial injuries and the occasional `near drowning, but it is Mick who has had the most serious drawback.

LlTTLE FISH, BIG OCEAN
Michael and Brooke entered Carine High four years ago, as eager and enthusiastic as all year 8's are.
Before the big day they admit to working out the fastest bike route, where to meet their friends and what to do on arrival. However, when they finally got there, they felt intimidated by the sheer size of the school and its huge number of students.

When Mick brought his lunch for the first time he wasn't sure what to do with the plate his food was put on. Brooke told us that he actually tried to take the plate. Their feeling on today's year 8's is that `They seem to be so small'. Brooke and Michael can't believe that they were also that small once.

I'VE GOT THE POWER
Being Head boy and Girl has its advantages and disadvantages. `I like having the power to get things done,' laughs Mick. `If you want something done people are willing to listen.'

Brooke agrees. `I enjoy it all. The respect you get from the teachers and the committees you're on to have a say.

Disadvantages?
Tedious jobs, losing lunchtimes and being late to classes are part and parcel of being head of the school. Many things are done by these two behind the scenes like organising social events, filling the Coke machine and taking the stereo of the Common Room diving each day.

However, they feel the advantages far outweigh the advantages.

TAKE OUR ADVICE
Concerning school Brooke and Michael had `easy going' advice.
`Don't stress!' Brooke laughs. `Just take it and do the best that you can because that's all you can do.'
`Act positively, relax and have also had a great just take things as they come,' is Mick's laid back advice. Words of wisdom for future Head Boys and Girls?

`Just enjoy yourself! Speak up because everyone will listen to you. Don't be too awed by your new role because obviously you've done the work to get there and earned the respect from the teachers.'

WE HAD A BALLI
When asked if they enjoyed the 1997 Ball both replied with a definite `YES'. They found the Ball really lived up to their expectations and fondly remembered all of the fun they had organising and actually being there. `Everything went just as planned. We had to do all the decorations and we were really pleased with them, and the music and the band we chose.'

They both seemed particularly pleased with the number of students who went and that everyone danced during the night.

`Hardly any of the food was touched because everyone was dancing!', Mick says. He traditionally wore a tuxedo (though he points out `no bow-tie') and Brooke wore a blue dress which was coincidentally made by a previous Head Girl of the school.

However, not all went as planned. Michael described the After Ball party as `a shocker'. Brooke agreed that there weren't enough of her friends and familiar faces there, and everyone seemed like a stranger. Brooke recommended organising that your friends from the Ball were all there and then you could all chat about the night. This was the only hitch however, and overall they had a `joy' time.

THE DRUG SCENE
Both Brooke and Michael feel very strongly about the drug scene of the 90's. `It's just not worth it and if you look at the consequences and the risks you're taking every time you do drugs, it's just not worth it. There are plenty of other ways to have fun.' Without mentioning names they tell us they've seen how drugs can affect people and change their personalities as they become dependent on a substance. They've seen enough to make them keep away.

HYPOTHETICALLY SPEAKING
What would they do if they could change the world? Michael (Earth's Environmental Enemy) wishes for the destruction of Rottnest because it stops all the waves coming in'. Kindly, he decided to leave a couple of reefs for the dolphins, but in the name of surfing - the rest has to go. Brooke, however, has a more friendly view of life and wishes for world peace.

Both have a lust for travel and if they had a million dollars would do just that. Mick would buy a house at each of the world's prime surfing spots. Brooke also mentions giving some of her million to charities and paying off her mum's mortgage.

Our next question resulted in some interesting answers. Neither could think of anybody in particular they would like to meet but after a while Michael came up with `world leaders'. `Someone influential... like a Hitler or a Stalin, just to figure out what drove them to do the things they did.' Brooke agrees, but has her own thoughts on the subject. `Someone famous... inspirational.' We were thinking perhaps, John Farnham?

Our impression of these two? We feel they will succeed at anything they choose. They have the positive attitude and motivation to do whatever they want.

Brooke and Michael - we all wish you all the best for the future.