Ballarat Regional Opening of the Education Year

Annette Rome (VIC Pres), Eva Deutscher & Ben Shepherd (co- Senior Students)

Ben Shepherd and David Shepherd (Senior Educator)

Annette Rome, Faye Stevenson & Laura Bajjada (Flash Drive Inc.)

Brad Fry (Ballarat Reg Pres), David Shepherd & Annette Rome

Thursday 10^th February saw the annual Opening of the Education Year for the Ballarat regional group of ACE. The event was conducted at a reception at the Ballarat Town Hall, being hosted by the City of Ballarat. The awards were opened by the Mayor of Ballarat, Cr. Craig Fletcher with the Master of Ceremonies Cr. John Phillips. The Mayor spoke of the broad range of educational offerings available at all levels in the Ballarat region and the pride with which the City of Ballarat hosted the Education Awards each year.

Three major awards were given; The Senior Educator Award, which was won by the Principal of Ballarat and Clarendon College, Mr David Shepherd for his transformational leadership of the College over 14 years. The second award was the Community Education award, for outstanding community education in the Ballarat region. This was won by Flash Drive Inc. - Beyond the Classroom, a not for profit enterprise supporting the education and development of the disadvantaged in Ballarat.

Finally the Senior Student Award, which is awarded for academic achievement, leadership, community involvement and contribution to the life of the school,to a Year 12 student of the previous year. This award was shared by Eva Deutscher (Ballarat Grammar) and Ben Shepherd (Ballarat and Clarendon College).

The event a most enjoyable occasion and was attended by over 60 people, with the Victorian President, Annette Rome, making the journey up the Western Freeway to present the Community Education Award. We are grateful to Annette for making the time to attend and look forward to the Term 2, 3 and 4 events the College plans to run in Ballarat in 2011.

Brad Fry

(President, ACE Ballarat)