Student Leadership 

Dromana College:

Lest We Forget

Mr Alexander Woolley, Student Leadership Coordinator, shares his insights on the Anzac Day Ceremonies held this year.

Anzac Day, the day of remembrance for our fallen soldiers, is given great significance at Dromana Secondary College. Mr Woolley, the Student Leadership Coordinator and Community Engagement Learning Specialist, has been an integral part of the school's Anzac Day commemorations since 2017. 

Mr Woolley’s job goes beyond teaching classes to creating opportunities for students to assume leadership roles and to connect with external organizations. He first joined the school in 2014 as an integration aid, providing personalized support to students with learning difficulties. In 2015, he was offered a teaching position, which he has held ever since and in which he seeks to make a lasting impact.

When it comes to Anzac Day, Mr Woolley's decision to honour the day goes beyond his professional responsibilities. He has attended numerous memorials throughout his life to honour his own family's military legacy, and so Anzac Day holds personal significance for him. As the Student Leadership Coordinator and Community Engagement leader, he has actively participated in the ceremonies every year, except for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through his dedicated involvement with the commemorations, Mr Woolley has developed a strong relationship between the school and the Red Hill Dromana RSL, further strengthening our school's connection with the local community.

For Mr Woolley, involving students in Anzac Day activities is of utmost importance. He believes that historical understanding and critical thinking are essential outcomes of honouring the sacrifices made by servicemen and women, rather than the ceremonies promoting militarism or blind adherence.  Understanding historical events, through valuing and considering the service of others is crucial to making informed decisions and preventing the repetition of past mistakes.  As part of the commemoration, students are encouraged to establish a personal connection with their family’s history through shared images and stories. The observance of Anzac Day aims to foster a sense of relevance and involvement for students.  According to Mr Woolley, comprehending our history is vital for shaping a better future.       

During the recent Anzac Day ceremony Mr Woolley, alongside College Captains, Oliver Delany, Robby Wood Ingram, Mackenzie Duncan and Esther Leishman, met at the Read Hill RSL in Dromana to begin the day with an early morning dawn service.  They received a breakfast invitation from the RSL, but the staff deferred to give priority to the veterans and allowed the College Captains to represent the school at breakfast. 

After breakfast, the group assisted in packing up and then assembled at the IGA car park in Dromana. From there, they marched collectively in the parade.  The parade started from the top of the IGA car park foreshore and proceeding towards the Cenotaph.

On arrival at the destination, the School Captains joined others in respectfully presenting a wreath on behalf of the college, symbolising the collective tribute of the college through the floral embodiment of gratitude and remembrance.  This presentation was accompanied by the school's choir and vocal ensemble, under the guidance of Miss Rodden. The choir performed their renditions of "Flanders Fields" and "We Are Australian," as well as the National Anthem. Readings took place, with a respected veteran sharing his experiences as the guest speaker.

Through participating in both the Anzac Day ceremony in Dromana and the whole school assembly commemoration, Mr Woolley encourages individuals to recognize the tragedy of past sacrifices and emphasises the importance of reflection and awareness. The significance extends beyond the historical facts, and also reflects on individuals serving the community today such as the military, police, fire and ambulance services.  He emphasized the honour and importance of defending and protecting society, highlighting the collective efforts required to maintain the well-being of the community. Mr Woolley aimed for attendees to leave the ceremonies with a sense of reflection, with appreciation for past and present sacrifices, and a renewed commitment to community service.

At Dromana Secondary College, Anzac Day holds a special place in the hearts of students, teachers, and the wider community. Mr Woolley's dedication to empowering students and honouring the sacrifices of those who served in the military has made a lasting impact. Through his involvement in the Anzac Day ceremonies and his efforts to foster historical understanding and critical thinking, Mr Woolley is helping shape a future where the lessons of the past are remembered and learned from. As we commemorate Anzac Day each year, we remember the sacrifices made and express our gratitude to all who have served and continue to serve our nation.

Interviewer: Romily Donovan

Year 9 Journalism 

MODEL UN - Expressions of Interest: September 2023

Hey everyone, 

Dromana College will be hosting a Model United Nations Conference in September. The topic will be:

 A Responsibility to Protect: Preventing Mass Atrocity Crimes

If you are interested in participating, please fill out the following Google Form to register your interest.

 https://forms.gle/5K28KgLXLfKEvCMq7

There will be a meeting first week back of term 3, so please keep an eye on Compass so you don't miss the meeting. Anyone, whether you have participated in a Model UN previously or not, is able to come along.

Below is some information from UNAA about what a Model United Nations is:

"A Model UN Conference runs over the full school day and is a creative simulation of the United Nations General Assembly in which students represent Member States of the UN. In teams of 3 or 4, students step into the shoes of country ambassadors and draw on negotiation and diplomacy skills to ensure the views of their country are heard. Students present their country’s position to the General Assembly, interact with other delegates during the caucus sessions, and move amendments to the clauses of a Draft UN Resolution.

The Model UN is an opportunity for students to learn about international relations, the UN system and important global issues, in an engaging, dynamic environment, while developing negotiation, conflict resolution and public speaking skills."

If you have any questions please reach out to Ms Joseph or Mr Woolley! 

IDAHOBIT Day Casual Dress Day - Tuesday 20 June 

The term 2 casual dress day was focused on raising awareness of and celebrating diversity in our community. The theme for the day was rainbow or bright coloured focus to help support IDAHOBIT Day. Officially Wednesday 17 May is IDAHOBIT Day. which is  the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.

Our chosen charity for this casual dress day was Beyond Blue and we raised approximately $800 for this vital charity that supports mental health in our community. 

In addition to the casual dress day was a number of lunch time activities designed to promote inclusivity and respect. The Library was turned into a concert venue with the Music Department putting on a fantastic performance for all who attended. The Wellbeing Team provided free giveaways and the Student Leaders did an amazing job running activity such as guessing the lolly jar number in exchange for a written positive message, badge making and other games and activities. With the hustle and bustle of the Library happening in there, another space was created as a calmer and quieter area where students could sit and play games quietly, make flags or colour or draw with their friends. Finally, for those with basketball shooting skills there were two games of ‘Diversity Dunk’ running where you had to shoot as many goals as possible in 30 seconds to win. The winners were awarded a very cool pride basketball. 

It was great to see so many staff and students get into the spirit of this day. The strength of the  Dromana College community was yet again evident through its ability to promote respect and diversity for everyone. 

Thank you to all those who helped make this day happen.

Gunnamatta Surf Life Saving Club - Meeting with President David Stogdale

In term one the Student Leadership Team helped raise money for the Gunnamatta Surf Life Saving Club as part of the casual dress day and bbq fundraisers. On Thursday 25 May, year 12 Arthur House Captain Chantelle James and Mr Woolley met Mr David Stogdale for a chat about how the club will be using the funds raised.

David was very grateful for the efforts by the college to help support their work in ensuring the Gunnamatta beach is safe for all users all year round. We donated $500 to the club and David informed us that the money will be going towards new signage to help inform people of the safe areas to swim and warnings for beach users. David is keen to visit the college in the future to discuss more about the importance of water safety and the work they are doing within their club.

A special mention to Chantelle who led the idea for this fundraiser and for her volunteer work at Gunnamatta Surf Life Saving Club.