Rachida Wahid, Jan Trezise, Scott McGuiness, Tyler Fishlock, Natalie Horua, Lauren McDonald, Georgette Fishlock, front, Alana Sibbison, Alisa Derbyshire and Joanne Douglas gather at the VCAL event.
By Callan Date
YOU know it is a special moment when a strong and burly teacher sheds a tear in front of more than 100 of his students.
But that was how proud Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) coordinator Rob Duncan was of the VCAL enrolment at Narre Warren South P-12 College during a presentation at the school last week.
Seven months of charitable work had been realised by the year 11 and 12 students as they presented money they had raised for three groups of people facing hardship in their lives.
Students had raised more than $6000 through several different fundraisers over the year including The Brodie-Lee Douglas Memorial Catwalk and the Tyler Fishlock Basketball Tournament, which has now become an annual event.
A Trivia Extravaganza was also conducted to help raise money to assist The Friends of Ermera in its attempts to help with the rebuilding of an East Timor village.
Brodie-Lee’s mother, Alisa Derbyshire, was at the event to thank the students and hand over the money intended for her daughter to a Narre Warren family.
Brodie-Lee, 3, died in May after a long battle with illness.
Peyos Eisho was the grateful recipient of the $2000 cheque – money that will go towards caring for his sick seven-year-old son, Daniel.
Georgette Fishlock also attended the event with son Tyler who is fighting a well-publicised battle with cancer.
Ms Fishlock was grateful for the VCAL students’ efforts in raising money that will help Tyler with his schooling.
Mr Duncan said he was full of praise for the whole VCAL enrolment.
He said the high quality VCAL program, which offers youngsters a different option from the traditional academic-based VCE study, was a major asset of Narre Warren South P-12 College.
“We are very proud of the VCAL Program and the students who give so much time and effort to make it successful,” he said. “The students have developed an array of skills which will assist them to find employment but also make them better members of their communities into the future.
“They have developed an awareness of their own capacities to make a real difference and these lessons will be life-long.”
A proud Mr Duncan said there were many teachers who had contributed to the success.
“The VCAL staff, in particular Kelly Lackmann, who has played a major role once again in working with the students to see these projects through to a successful conclusion, are also to be congratulated for their wonderful efforts,” he said.
