MP gives thanks those who give to school communities

OPINION PIECE BY

CATHERINE KING

MEMBER FOR BALLARAT

ONE of the best parts about being the Member for Ballarat is having the chance to meet and thank some of the hardest working and most dedicated people in our community – the ones who put in the long hours behind the scenes to ensure that our community groups, schools and not-for-profit organisations can do the work we all rely on.

At the end of each year, I take the opportunity to acknowledge this important work through awarding the Catherine King Community Shield.

Since 2001, it has been offered to every school across the electorate to recognise somebody who they particularly want to thank.

It can be students, parents, teachers, grandparents, groundskeepers – literally anyone who the school community wants to single out for particular thanks at the end of the busy year.

Every year, these awards remind me of how important schools are to our communities.

Now, I want to take the chance to share with you the names and stories of three recipients from this year.

Jodie Cooper is a very well-known name at Black Hill Primary School. She began volunteering for roles at the school in 2007 when her eldest child started kindergarten.

During the last 16 years she’s worked tirelessly to assist with fundraising efforts which have undoubtably contributed to the school’s capacity to deliver a vibrant educational experience for their students.

Jodie has given so much of her time and energy to fundraising activities such as welcome picnics, Bunnings barbecues, raffles and the annual Easter and Christmas hampers, as well as assisting with excursions, incursions, and sporting events.

Through all her hard work Jodie maintains an incredibly positive attitude and is consistently encouraging fellow parents and community members to participate and give back to Black Hill Primary.

Another recipient is Tristan ‘Pancakes’ Harris who works at Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative.

As part of his role, Pancakes has facilitated the Burron Guli program at the Gillies Street campus of Ballarat Specialist School.

Through this program he has helped boys connect with their culture and develop a deeper understanding of their heritage, as well as educating them about topics such as Indigenous music, culture, and sorry business.

The program has had an incredibly positive impact on Indigenous students and helped them to develop their cultural identity and sense of self.

And from Mount Rowan Secondary College there’s Sharon Hope.

As the school careers coordinator Sharon has been an integral part of developing programs that help graduating students transition to tertiary education and the workforce.

She’s been so successful that in fact, she has a 100 percent strike rate in supporting students who choose a tertiary option to be accepted into their 1st or 2nd preference.

Her focus has always been on a tailored and individual approach to support every student.

She has changed the lives of, and created opportunities for hundreds of students over her 20 years at Mount Rowan.

She has also mentored other staff in their careers as well, and has been an invaluable member of the Mount Rowan community in her time there.

Her fun and easy-going personality, and her dedication to her work and community will be missed as she finishes her two decades at Mount Rowan this year.

As we head into the end of the year, I hope everyone keeps an eye out for the quiet achievers and unsung heroes of our community. They do the hard, unglamorous work which isn’t always seen or noticed by everyone, but without which many events and activities wouldn’t happen.

Thank you to Jodie, Pancakes, and Callan, and to all the other recipients for the incredible work they have done and will continue to do.

Without you, our community wouldn’t be such a great place to live.