Forget Glee and the Dead Poets Society, Northcote College has its very own geek-cool crew - The Rugby Club. Sean Gillespie looks beyond the scrum to discover it's got zilch to do with pigskin.
When a group of Northcote College students were asked about mysterious notes they periodically received in class, they told the other kids they were about rugby practice. But, really, it was for their creative writing group meetings.
Ever since that white lie five years ago the increasingly popular group has informally called itself The Rugby Club. Like the club on TV hit comedy Glee, it attracts a wide range of members including musos, sporty types and art students.
Tessa Forde, a Year 13 student halfway through writing two novels, has been with the extra-curricular guild since the start. She says the club helps her develop her writing abilities. "There's not that much opportunity for creative writing in the school year. This encourages us to write more."
Amy Eriksen, another long-time club member, explains how the club meets and peer reviews each other's writing. She does point out, however, that the feedback tends to be "way too positive".
The group also has a website on which pupils post their work for comment. Tessa says the responses on the website tend to be more specific and constructive - especially in the area of grammar. Several club members have had success, being published in journals and at competitions including the National Poetry Writing competition.
Ruby Porter, a club member for five years, has been shortlisted three times for a national short story competition.
In theme with its informal name, the group last year published Lineout, a book featuring the writings of each member.
Leader of the pack
The club was the brainchild of teacher David Taylor, who came to the school six years ago. Since then it's grown in popularity and Mr Taylor has had to split it into senior and junior groups and limit the numbers. "It's not for assessment," he says, "it's about the writing itself. It's about that process, it's about that response from other people. It's quite authentic when you're reading it and sharing it with other people, rather than just doing it because the teacher's going to mark it."
Last year, he presented the club's concept at an English teachers' conference. He's since had feedback saying other schools have set up similar clubs.
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