Fabulous Baker boy

Tenison Woods College hands out its fifth Flyer Award

Craig Baker has become the fifth recipient of the Tenison Woods College Flyers Award – an honour created in the memory of four old scholars who went on to become pilots and who lost their lives while flying.

The award is traditionally presented at the college’s Remembrance Day commemorations, giving RSL president Bob Sandow a chance to share the stories of the four former alumni.

Anthony Casadio, John Friedricks, Reginald Van Leuven and Errol Kavanagh are the four former students that Mr Sandow through should be memorialised with a scholarship.

“I approached Tenison Woods College about nine years ago, to create a scholarship to honour the four old scholars who all became pilots,” Mr Sandow said. “This scholarship highlights the values of Tenison Woods College and the aim of the scholarship is to reward a student who has given their all in every aspect of schooling life.

My wife and I fund the award on behalf of the Mount Gambier Community RSL and will continue to do so as long as we can”.

All four men served in Vietnam with Anthony Casadio losing his life and the other three returning safely before losing their lives at a later date in flying incidents.

The Flyers Award honours the sacrifice and service of those men and women who served their country in a variety of military capacities. The award seeks to acknowledge a senior school student who has demonstrated their ability to go beyond what is generally expected of them, put others before themselves and has a strong sense of comradeship.

Fabulous Baker boy Tenison Woods College hands out its fifth Flyer Award 2022 recipient Craig Baker ticked all those boxes.

He is a mature, motivated, and hard-working young man, who is a beacon of workplace ethics, leadership, tenacity and positivity. Craig is currently undertaking two simultaneous Certificate III level programs – Forest Learning Pathways Program and Hospitality – and holds two jobs including one at the Tenison Woods College Sugarloaf Café, where he is completing a School-Based Traineeship (Barista/Front of House).

He is also completing his SACE pathway at the college and takes pride in serving those within the college community with intention to improve everyone’s day.

He is community minded, ensuring everyone is looked after in the Sugarloaf Café and is often putting in many more hours than required to support his work team, pre-empting high volume work periods without being asked to do so in a calm and friendly manner.

“I was extremely shocked to receive the Flyers Award,” Craig said. “I had not seen this coming at all, but I was really honoured to receive this award. My family was really happy to hear the news.

“It has been a great pleasure to win this award, but I would not be able to do it without the support of the people around me. Being able to work in such a professional environment with such a welcoming team.

“Without the help I have received from Sugarloaf Café Manager Jenny Vanikiotis, and VET Academy of Hospitality Teacher Jen McCourt, I would have not made it this far. Both Jenny and Jen have been two role models that have supported me through this journey which words cannot explain.

“The Sugarloaf Café at Tenison has given me so much fundamental knowledge, that next year I will be completing another school-based apprenticeship with The Barry Maney Group, as well as also completing my SACE.

“I would sincerely like to thank my work team, friends, teachers and family members who have supported me along my journey.” Craig joins the Flyers Award honour board that includes inaugural winner Taylor Fatchen (2018), Mitchell Watt, Patrick McCourt and Isabella Lamb.

Craig (pictured above with RSL President John Sandow) was presented his honour at the 2022 Remembrance Day assembly, which was led by newly appointed College Captains Aden Clarke and Gael Chizungu.

Students participated in a prayer dedicated to remembering those who died or suffered during Australia’s involvement in all wars and armed conflicts and RSL President Bob Sandow shared with the students the brief stories of the four old scholars in whose memory the Flyers Award was inaugurated.