Connecting people and communities
Friday, 2 November, 2012 Page 5
Serendip cut angers residents By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN COMMUNITY groups hope to influence State Governement’s budget process to reverse a “disgraceful” decision to cut Serendip Sanctuary’s education program. Lionel McWilliam, of Lara residents’ group TLC, said more than 70 schools from Melbourne and Geelong used the facility last year. “The education program is now in decline yet schools made up 30 per cent
of the visits to Serendip,” Mr McWilliam said. “It is also affecting general visitor numbers.” Lara MP John Eren said the Government cut the education program after Parks Victoria decided against replacing a departing education ranger at Serendip. “The State Government has sneakily taken away Serendip’s education ranger, so we’re speaking with community groups and residents to see what we can
do to have the ranger reinstated.” Former Serendip ranger Mike Helman said he was “absolutely devastated” after spending 20 years developing the education program. “Serendip used to deliver the program to more than 16,000 students a year, far more successful than similar programs at Wilsons Promontory, the Dandenong ranges and the Grampians. “Yet these other less successful pro-
grams are still funded.” Opposition education spokesperson James Merlino said Parks Victoria promoted Serendip as “one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth”. “Representing Dandenong, I know firsthand how important these programs are and I heard about the success of Serendip compared to the others. “This is one of the most successful education programs in the state yet this is
the one that has been cut the most, courtesy of the Baillieu Government. “It’s a tragedy, so I’m backing the community campaign to get this disgraceful decision reversed. “State Government is about to start its budget review process so now is the time to agitate for restoration of that funding.” The Government had not returned the Independent’s call for comment when the paper went to press.
Trial gives deaf students ‘real-time’ benefit Lost $3m awaits owners ALMOST $3 million in “lost” money is awaiting Geelong owners, according to Australian Securities and Investment Commission. The commission (ASIC) said the money belonged to 4935 individuals and residents. The “unclaimed money” was in
By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN HEARING-IMPAIRED students across the region are set to benefit from a live captioning pilot program at Grovedale College. Teacher Gabby McMahon said the system enabled deaf and hearing-impaired students to participate in classroom discussions and activities virtually in real time. A teacher wears a microphone plugged into a mobile phone, which relays their words to a “captioner” who re-speaks them into speech-to-text conversion software. The text then appears on the student’s laptop or tablet computer in seconds. The pilot program is operating in a deaf facility serving prep-to-year-12 students at Grovedale primary and secondary schools. Ms McMahon said the facility was the only one for the Barwon south-west region, including Warrnambool, Portland and Colac. “We run outreach programs through video conferencing to help teachers of deaf students with advice and resources. “It also allows deaf students to talk to each other and share experiences, so they don’t feel so isolated.” Ms McMahon said the captioning program had multiple benefits for hearingimpaired students. “If there’s a discussion in an English class, for instance, hearing-impaired students could miss out on large parts of it, with people behind and to the side as well as the teacher all contributing. “The caption system also provides transcripts for students to take home so they
forms such as forgotten cheque and savings accounts, lost dividend or interest payments and deceased estates. ASIC said its free moneysmart. gov.au website could reunite the Geelong owners with their lostmoney.
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CLASS ACTS: Matthew Gargan, 16, and Gabby McMahon trial the captioning system at Grovedale College. Picture: TOMMY RITCHIE can catch up on anything they missed.” Grovedale College student Matthew Gargan, 16, said he liked the transcripts. “I get a second chance to check the classroom work, which the other students don’t get,” he laughed. “The caption system makes me feel like I belong; it gives me confidence to participate. “I feel more comfortable with the system when I’m in class.”
The system is part of a new Victorian Deaf Education Institute aiming to improve education outcomes for hearing-impaired students. Education minister Martin Dixon said Victoria’s 2760 deaf and hearing-impaired students previously lacked the same educational opportunities as their peers. A review discovered that one in two deaf or hearing-impaired students dropped out of school between years 10 and 12, he said.
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A message to Cowie Ward Residents I wish to sincerely thank our valued community organisations, sporting groups and all the good residents of Bell Park, Bell Post Hill, North Geelong, Hamlyn Heights and Batesford (Cowie Ward) for your strong support and your vote at the most recent City of Greater Geelong Council election. I am ready to serve you and genuinely excited with the prospects of working with you, Council and our newly elected Mayor Keith Fagg over the next 4 years.
Yours sincerely
Eddy Kontelj Cr Eddy Kontelj Cowie Ward
1053237-MD44-12