Mr Finley { 2025 }

This is the year Finley has been waiting for. 2025 meant the start of High School at Hunter Valley Grammar School with all of the possibilities and wonder of the future that comes with new beginnings. It's also been a big year with with soccer, drama, Air League, his first concert, an epic 13th birthday party, a motorbike camp in QLD and lots of camping and fun on the farm with friends. 

We couldn't have been more ready for day 1 of Year 7. Shoes, bags, uniforms, books, lunchboxes, bus timetables, stationary, haircut, excitement and enthusiasm- he walked in to year 7 as prepared as he could be. It's been a great year all round. Finley's has made some really great friends in Xander and Flynn. He participated in the Kids Lit Quiz competition early on in the year, swam in every race at the swimming carnival, participated in athletics and cross country. He went on his first school camp and loved it. The big new of the year was that Finley was successful in winning the part of first Bill and then Sky in the schools musical Mamma Mia - coming in June next year. He ended the year with a silver academic award and lots of fond memories of the year. 

It's been a full year with extra curriculars. Finley won the Championship ribbon in the Maitland show for his horticulture entries - much to his surprise! The soccer season was a tough one but Finley tried hard, with lots of extra training and practices and bonded well with his team mates. He joined the Maitland Repertory Theatre and performed really well at their end of year showcase. He was straight into Mamma Mia practises two afternoons a week and is working hard to be ready for the show. I took him and Primrose to see an performance of the show in Newcastle for inspiration which we all loved. Finley attended his first Air League camp in Sydney, as well as marching in the ANZAC parade. He also did some excellent running in Park Run and has been steadily improving his time.

The school terms have been big and full but there's been plenty of adventuring to be had in the holidays. Finley flew with Primrose to QLD in the July school holidays and went on a three day dirt biking camp with Tate, Tristan and Hendrix. He has written his own post on that experience here. Every holidays he also had friends come and camp out at our place and find lots of fun about the place, kayaking and having their own little fires. We had the Ryan cousins here in September which is always the best time, we have held the bonfire while they are here the last two years which is a great night. 

We held his 13th Birthday party here at Avonlea with a Squid Games theme. It was a great way to get to know all these new kids at school with 26 of them coming along. The kids played lots of fun games like tug of war, tips, red light/green light, capture the flag and kayaking in the dam. It was an epic day. His birthday present was tickets to see The Wombats in Sydney which I took him to in October. We stayed with Tim and Allison and had a great time dancing the night away.

It's a pretty special time in life entering the teenage years and we've seen lots of grown and maturity displayed by him throughout this year. He shows excellent work ethic and commitment to the things he puts his mind too and has been able to work hard to improve outcomes in area's he's found difficult. We are so happy he is finding his passions, making good friends and getting involved. We appreciate all that he does in keeping things on track around the house and property.. He is 'chicken management' making sure that the flock is doing well and he loves our beautiful bunnies and gives them lots of attention. He is a hard worker and we are proud of all he does and who he is becoming. We love you Finley and can't wait to see what 2026 brings - especially seeing you centre stage!