Year 12
Tomorrow marks the last day of Term 3 and the Year 12 students’ last Brigidine Day. The leaders have been working tirelessly to collect raffle prizes and organise activities to ensure the day will be a huge success.
During the second week of the Term 3 break, the students will sit their practice exams. These should be seen as an opportunity for them to familiarise themselves with the style of exam and ensure they are adequately prepared for the VCAA exams which begin in less than a month. To support the students with their study the library will be open during the first week.
Sue Dempster
Level Leader: Year 12
Michelle Newland –
An Inspiring Individual
On 17 September, the Year 11 and 12 students were extremely lucky to have the inspiring Michelle Newland come and tell us about her incredible story. Michelle began by telling us about how at the age of 19 her life was perfect. She had achieved an ATAR of 94, had her licence, a great group of friends and had just completed her first year of university, completing a degree of teaching; which was her dream career.
On a February morning in 2002, Michelle suffered a severe Asthma attack, stopped breathing for 10 minutes and practically died in her mother’s arms. When she arrived at the hospital, there was enough electrical energy throughout her body to revive her; however, due to the lack of oxygen flowing to her brain during that period of ten minutes, Michelle incurred a catastrophic brain injury. Michelle’s family were told she would be a vegetable for the rest of her life and that the most she would ever do is blink. However, Michelle defied this, and continued to defy all the odds the doctors placed against her. She re learnt how to walk, talk and eat. Michelle did not eat a single piece of solid food for six years after the injury; she was fed through a tube in her stomach and she lived in a nursing home for 16 months with people over the age of 80. This did not burden Michelle’s hope; she fought and is continuing to fight. Michelle now lives independently in her own home next door to her parents, highlighting that anything is possible if you set your mind to it.
Michelle’s main message to us was that the sky is the limit, never give up hope and always have faith. On behalf of all the senior school students, I would like to thank Michelle, her mother Ann and carer Cindy for coming in and giving us an incredible presentation that taught us all to appreciate life as it is.
Darcy Clohesy
Year 12