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Effort rewarded: Alexander Dietzel and the awards he received for his efforts in raising autism awareness while at Dromana Secondary College. Picture: Yanni
Raising autism awareness earns award for student DROMANA Secondary College student Alex Dietzel has received a senior VCAL student achievement award for his personal development skills. He is the first student from the college to receive the award. His success came from his efforts in raising awareness and understanding of people on the autism spectrum. The judges said he showed “great independence and drive” in leading three other students, also passionate about the issue, to plan, organise and run a community awareness campaign on autism. Alex – who was school captain last year – presented detailed plans to principal Alan Marr to obtain permission to run events to raise awareness. He planned and organised a student-led sports day with the Peninsula Specialist College and arranged for fruit to be donated by a local fruit shop as part of the event. He also organised a guest speaker from the I Can Network to talk to the VCAL students about autism. He and his team also organised a school free-dress day to raise awareness for autism. Alex led the team in writing a proposal to the school council to gain permission, prepared promotional posters around the school and made ribbon pins for teachers and years 11 and 12 students to show their support. On the day, Alex’s group raised $984 for the I Can Network, the highest amount raised by the school for a free-dress day. The judges agreed Alex had shown “great ambition, work ethic and drive for his project to raise understanding and awareness of autism”.
As school captain, he also helped organise and promote other projects, including the 26 kilometre Two Bays hike from the Cape Schanck Lighthouse through to Dromana, in which he also participated. Although he has now left the college, Alex still fundraises for the I Can Network and hopes to complete the Two Bays hike for a second time. “From my experience in raising awareness for autism, everyone can give it ago,” he said. The college’s acting principal Simon Jones said Alex had been an “exemplary student” during his six years at Dromana College. “He thoroughly deserves the recognition of his state VCAL achievement award,” he said. “Our college community is very proud of Alex’s achievements in raising awareness of autism and we offer him our congratulations.” Stephen Taylor
Group explained IN celebration of NAIDOC Week, the work of Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Warringinee Group supporting cultural and services for Aboriginal people and Torres Strait islanders in the region will be detailed by group leader, Karan Kent, at the next meeting of the Southern Woman’s Action Network (SWAN). All women welcome, $8 donation includes morning tea. The meeting will be held from 9.30am Sunday 16 July at the Mornington Peninsula Shire Offices, corner Queen and Vancouver streets, Mornington. Call 0400 835 486.
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Party house complaints on rise Continued from Page 1 This evidence helps determine if further formal action can be taken, including issuing an improvement notice or a prohibition notice to stop the noise under the Environment Protection Act 1970 or the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008. “In many cases the investigation process and negotiations with the owner of the property has addressed the problem,” he said. Residents living near a Rosebud Airbnb “party house” – who do not want to be named – said they had met with neighbours to form a group to develop an action plan to protect their peace and quiet.
“We going to go to the council to start asking questions and approach our local member [of parliament] for support,” one resident said. “One particular party house is causing us grief – we are up to pussy’s bow with it. “I am exhausted and aggravated; we do see the [non-resident] owners there from time to time and we call them when we are disturbed. This is especially in summer.” A resident living near another “party house” said, “We have a big problem with our neighbours letting their house next door and we are on acreage. “They live in Melbourne and don’t care. We know so many others in the same boat.”
est 1997
50 Hartnett Drive, Seaford (Opposite Vic Roads) 9782 4142
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www.jaleighblinds.com.au Southern Peninsula News 4 July 2017
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