In Orange, NSW, Kinross Wolaroi prioritises resources for its large boarding community.
Story Ken Eastwood Photo Kinross Wolaroi
Among the 320 students boarding at Kinross Wolaroi in Orange, NSW, the two from the most remote station are Abby, Jessica and Digby Ker, from White Cliffs, NSW. Their grazing family has cattle and sheep and “too many goats wandering around” over 100,000ha on Tarella and The Avenue, says Digby, who is in year 8 and has been boarding at the school since last year.
Abby is finishing off year 12 this year, having started boarding at Kinross Wolaroi in year 7. “I just love the community,” she says. “Basically you just get to live with 40 sisters. And I didn’t really get that growing up. I only had one other kid in my year and it was a boy, so I really just wanted some girlfriends to hang out with.”
In fact, at the tiny White Cliffs Public School, where the three went before coming to Orange, their mum was a teacher and their grandma was the principal. The school had a maximum of about 20 students. Now among the 166 female boarders, Abby has plenty of friends, although in terms of homes, the closest friend is from Nyngan, five hours’ drive away.
“We get girls from all over – girls from Sydney, girls from all sorts of country towns and we all mix in together and I think we all just learn to have fun.”
This story excerpt is from issue #167
Outback Magazine: June/July 2026
