From the College
Co-Captains By Lilli Balaam, College Co-Captain Having thoroughly enjoyed every moment and experience at The Geelong College since commencing in Year 7, the first two terms of 2016 have been especially enjoyable. I have embraced the role of Co-Captain alongside Alex West, and it’s a position that I feel very fortunate and honoured to hold. I thank Tansy Pereira, last year’s Co-Captain, for the advice to really work hard and enjoy the moment, which I feel I am doing and there have been many highlights already. The enthusiasm and dedication of our Prefects, who have responsibilities across many portfolios, has allowed everyone to feel involved and contribute in areas that interest them and I congratulate and thank them for their efforts. Dr Miller’s warm and engaging personality, and encouragement for us all to have confidence in ourselves, has created a positive atmosphere across the school. With many summer sports having training camps through January, Term 1 certainly felt longer than eight weeks and much was achieved. Rev Tim Costello from World Vision Australia addressed the Leadership Group at a chapel service before the term and his simple message of not getting overwhelmed was great advice. Take small steps, look at things day by day, rather than the enormity of the whole term or year; work to others’ strengths and let them shine where possible.
The TripleR program always provides an opportunity for us to develop skills and strategies to deal with issues particular to our Year 12 cohort, including managing time, performance and even relationship pressures between peers, and our decision-making. Guest speakers who have faced enormous personal challenges, yet display not only resilience but often incredible achievements, are important features of TripleR. They remind us of how fortunate we are, and also inspire determination and commitment to what can be achieved with hard work. Two standout speakers were Mike Rolls, who survived the deadly Meningococcal disease and went on to represent Australia in golf despite losing his right leg and half of his left foot, and Chantelle Baxter, a 23-year-old Melbourne woman from a financially privileged but abusive household, who travelled to Sierra Leone and was moved by the determination of a 10-year-old girl begging for $40 for her school fees. Chantelle now runs One Girl, which aims to educate one million girls across Africa. Pleasingly our school is fundraising for this cause. We have a lot to look forward to in Semester 2, including our School Production, Foundation Concert, transitioning from winter sport to athletics and summer sports, as well as the VCE and year-level exams. So I wish you all an enjoyable and relaxing term break and let us all return reinvigorated, ready to embrace the many challenges and opportunities ahead.
College Co-Captains Lilli Balaam and Alex West with Principal Dr Peter Miller at the start of the school year. 8 Ad Astra Issue No 130