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23 NOVEMBER, 2022
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Warning for boat owners
Werribee Coast Guard members Aaron Noetzel, Kate Parker, Joe Gatty, Ting Lee, and Bob Shillito.
The Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Werribee is urging people to be water safe in the anticipated lead up to hot summer days. The group is comprised entirely of volunteers who look after the municipality’s marine environment, respond to search and rescue requests and emergency call outs on the water, and educate the public about vital safety practices. Media section officer Angelique Ford said the volunteers at the coast guard have already begun to notice an alarming trend. “One thing we’re noticing is that after the extended lockdown people hadn’t been taking their boats out, and because they haven’t been maintained, they tend to be breaking down,” she said. “If you’re going to be heading out on the water this summer please make sure your boat [is in good condition].” Ms Ford said volunteers patrol the water every weekend, are on call 24-7 and are based out of a newly upgraded facility. “We upgraded our volunteer training facilities, we’ve been able to run first aid courses, fire fighting training, we have a new shed, that’s really important that our boat is safe,” she said.
(Damjan Janevski) 308676_03
VCE decision is ‘unfair’ Werribee Secondary College students have started a petition calling for the school to allow all interested year 10 students to undertake VCE subjects a year early. The petition summary states the school issued a statement on November 7, informing students they would be unable to run a VCE Early Commencement program, that would allow year 10 students to undertake a VCE subject, in 2023 due to staff shortages. According to the petition, students enrolled in a Selective Entry Learning
Program (SELP) would continue with VCE classes as normal. Werribee Secondary College student and lead petitioner Nessrin Jomaa said students in mainstream classes deserve the opportunity to take part in a VCE Early Commencement program. She labelled the school’s decision as ’unfair’. “Our rights to participate in this learning opportunity have been taken away, and we question why SELP has been given priority over mainstream students,” she said. “If [the school] can still support SELP
Our aim is to take the stress and
[students], why can’t [it] support for us as well? Nessrin’s mother Diana said the students were disappointed. “It’s a bit upsetting that they won’t be able to do the program, why can’t it be equal?,” she said. The petition was signed by more than 100 students. Nessrin said she hoped other teenagers would feel encouraged to speak out. “Even if you feel like it’s not going to go anywhere, speak up, it’s better than just standing still,” she said.
Werribee Secondary College was contacted for comment. A Department of Education and Training spokesperson said students at Werribee Secondary College will have access to more VCE subjects in 2023. “The school’s offering includes 33 VET studies from both within the school and the network VET cluster which contribute to the Vocational Major Certificate,” the spokesperson said. “Accelerated students at the school can still undertake unit one and two subjects in year 10.”
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By Fatima Halloum