National Medal Presentation at Fulham Correctional Centre
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special ceremony was held at Fulham Correctional Centre (FCC) to recognise that 36 custodial staff had been awarded the National Medal by the Governor General of Australia. Eligibility for the National Medal has progressively changed since it was established in 1975. In addition to 15 years diligent service by members of the Defence Forces, Australian Police Forces and fire and ambulance services, eligibility has been extended to government organisations such as correctional services and voluntary organisations such as lifesaving or search and rescue groups. The National Medal recognises those who put themselves at risk in the service of the community or in the course of enforcing the law to protect persons or property. On Wednesday 22 May, 30 custodial staff were presented with their medals by GEO Executive General Manager Operations, Dom Karauria: Jim Bannister, Kathy Barbour, Greg Battley, Robby Breddels, Col Caskie, Jamie Clohesy, Barry Cross, Esther Dekkers, Brooke Delaney, Ron Henness, Len Hughes, Toni Hulland, Michael Hyland, Frank Lancaster, Trish Lancaster, Brian
D
uring April 2013, a group of second year architecture students from the University of Nottingham travelled to South Africa to build a nursery school. ‘Aga Sikolo’ (meaning to build a school) is the name of the project where the students designed and went on to build the school, in the small rural village of Calais, in the province of Limpopo. The school will help transform the education and care of 80 new born to six year old children living in Calais – an area of high unemployment 450 km north of Johannesburg. Working with Education Africa, a charity improving access to education in South Africa, a group of 36 Nottingham students are the third team to undertake
Written By Regina Regulska, Fulham Correctional Centre
Lane, Allan Marshall, Wayne McLachlan, Phil Munnings, Michelle Murray, Rory Neal, Kerr Newsome, Irene Perkins, Jim Sanders, Colin Taylor, Terry Thornton, Peter Wilksch and Leon Woods. The six
medal recipients who were unable to be present at the ceremony were Sue Bailey, Garry Beecroft, Peter Goodwin, Debra Laurie, Rob Laurie, Ted Webber and Derek Witte. Mr. Dom Karauria congratulated each recipient and expressed his appreciation of their continued service and contribution to serve and protect the community. volunteer work in this country over the past six years. Each student had to raise money in order to supply all of the materials for the project. It was the support and donation made by GEO, as well as other organisations, that helped make the project possible. The centres are designed and constructed by the students using simple inexpensive local building materials, while applying innovative solutions to architectural problems.
GEO recognises the importance that FCC places on contributing to ensuring Safer Communities and the contribution these 30 staff members have made over the last 16 years is not only appreciated by their families, but the Gippsland Community as a collective. More than 100 family members, invited guests and staff attended the ceremony and enjoyed the afternoon at the conclusion of the ceremony. Picture: National Medal recipients with GEO Executive General Manager, Dom Karauria. Photo Credit to Davyd Reid from Gippsland Times
Project Aga Sikolo Written By Tina Gambling, Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre
More information on the project can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=FbYyGBJM6qY More information on the charity, Education Africa can be found at:http:// www.educationafrica.com/ 29
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