From the Red Centre to Fairholme

For Year 7 Boarder, Arabella Muenster, life at Fairholme College looks a little different to home in the middle of Australia.

Located an hour’s drive north of Alice Springs is Yambah Station, home to the Muenster Family and almost 5,000 head of Shorthorn cattle.

Covering 2,310 square kilometres of vast open plains right in the centre of Australia, the property is one of the southernmost homesteads in the Northern Territory.

A three-hour flight plus 2.5 hours of driving is quite the trip to school, but for Arabella its now the new norm as a Boarding student. 

Having previously completed her schooling via Distance Education, Arabella was eager to follow in her older brother’s footsteps and head off to boarding school.

‘I was a little nervous but more excited to come to Fairholme.’

‘I was lucky that I already knew a few girls, some that I had met at orientation before starting.’

Arabella says learning by Distance Education was very quiet compared to now sharing a holme with more than 220 girls.

Although she enjoys life on the land with her family, Arabella is loving the enormous variety of opportunities that Fairholme offers and the chance to make new friends.

‘I do miss my family but so far I’ve been lucky not to be too homesick.’

‘It’s much easier being close to school and I like having my friends nearby.’

‘I’ve joined the Fairholme Equestrian team. It’s really fun and I always look forward to spending time with my horse.’

Just like so many of our Boarding girls, Arabella says that having her horse in Toowoomba helps her feel like she’s got a little piece of home with her.

While we’re sure Arabella is looking forward to being reunited with her family on the holidays, for now she’s making the most of her new life in tartan.