Student Recognition
Lions Youth of the Year
On Monday February 24th, Dromana College participated in the Lions Youth of the Year Competition. This year, we were represented by four Year 11 students: Lilly Snow, Charlie Parker, Ginger Sansom and Olivia Wicks. The girls had to sit an interview with a panel of judges, where they had to answer some general knowledge questions and explain what their plans were after graduating. They then had to prepare a five minute speech on a topic of their choice, as well as answer two impromptu questions in front of an audience.
Lilly chose to talk about how the school values have shaped her as a person, Olivia spoke about the importance of technology in medicine, Ginger spoke about how a small conversation with someone can change a life forever, and Charlie explained the importance of pill testing at music festivals. The judges commended the professionalism of the girls and were impressed with their achievements. Ginger won the Lions Public Speaking award, and Charlie won the overall competition and has progressed to the next round. We wish her the best of luck!
Victorian Mountain Bike Championships
During the latter part of 2019 and early 2020 two Dromana College Students competed in the Victorian Mountain Bike Championship Series. Harry Doye and Mali Pimlott raced at a number of events all over the state as part of the series. Competition was of a very high level with up to 160 riders form both Victorian and interstate competing in each race.
Each Vic Champs Series event consisted of two races over a weekend. The first rounds were in Beachworth and Yackandandah, in North Eastern Victoria. The series then moved onto the lush and leafy area of Forrest in the Otway Ranges and further afield to Castlemaine in Central Victoria where rocky terrain really tested the riders and their bikes.
Rounds 7 and 8 were in Red Hill and gave the Dromana College Riders a chance to pit their skills against the best on their home trails. Some skillful riding in unusually humid conditions, along with some local knowledge, ensured both Harry and Mali earned podium placings on each of the two race days.
The penultimate round, held in Falls Creek coincided with the 2020 Victorian State Championships for Cross Country Mountain Biking. Here Harry took first place giving him the both the State Championship title for Under 15 men and the Vic Champs Series win!
Mali took out second place overall for the Under 15 Women in the Victorian Championship Series, an excellent result against the best riders in the state.
Dromana College students save swimmer in trouble
Over the summer Dromana College students made the news with the following report from the Herald Sun.
'A group of teenagers who pulled an unconscious man from the water at Rosebud say more warning signs are needed on Mornington Peninsula beaches.
The four mates from Dromana Secondary College worked together to rescue a man after he got out of his depth on Monday.
Kristin Blight, 18, Brock McMahon, 16, Madyson Linsey, 17, and Jorja Conole, 17, were at the end of Rosebud Pier about 2.30pm when they spotted five swimmers in trouble.
“They were about 100m from the pier and waving and screaming for help,” Kristin said.
“I jumped straight in and started swimming out to them.”
Her stepbrother Brock and friend Mady followed her into the water while Jorja stayed on the pier to phone for help.
“When we got out there was a man under water. His friends had been trying to hold him up but they were struggling too and starting to panic,” Kristin said.
“We sort of took over then and pulled him back to the shore,” Brock said.
Once on the beach the trio placed the man in the recovery position.
“He was drifting in and out of consciousness and we were just talking to him and supporting his head,” Kristin said.
The ambulance arrived and the paramedics took over.
The man was taken to Frankston Hospital.
Brock said the man couldn’t swim and had been using a floatie on the sandbar.
“He’s got caught in a current or rip and been pulled out into the bay,” he said.
Jorja said the group were visiting from metro Melbourne and not familiar with the beach.
“We’re local and down here all the time so we know the dangers but most people don’t know how to spot a rip or what to do to get out of one.
“It’s always a good idea to check with a local before going into the water.”
Brock said more signs were needed to warn people.
“There are signs on the back beaches but there aren’t any near Rosebud pier and that beach is really popular with visitors,” he said.
“People think it’s safe because it looks calm but it doesn’t take much to get into trouble.”
Life Saving Victoria’s Paul Shannon said all beaches could be dangerous.
He encouraged beach goers to be aware of conditions and prepare by refreshing water safety skills, including personal survival techniques, swimming skills and water safety knowledge
“In the event that you are not sure, ask a lifesaver about the beach conditions,” he said.
Kristin said it felt good to be able to help in a crisis.
“Brock and I are both CFA volunteers, Mady was in the junior CFA and Jorja was a Scout. I think our instincts kicked in and we put what we had learnt there into practice,” she said.'
Dromana College is extremely proud to have such accomplished students.
Melbourne Aquarium Ambassador
Dromana College Year 8 student Amira Dika has been successful in gaining a role as the Melbourne Aquarium Ambassador. Below Amira has written about her role.
My name is Amira Dika, and I am a Year 8 student at Dromana College.
I have been selected as an ambassador for an amazing opportunity at Melbourne Sea Life Aquarium called ‘Ocean Youth’ for 2020. This was a very hard program to get into as more than 40 people aged 13 to 17 applied for the program. Only 11 applicants were offered a spot and I am the youngest. In this program, we participate in many things such as:
A snorkelling trip to Portsea to gather information and data on the Weedy Sea Dragon
Beach clean-up days
A Yarra River clean
We also run fundraisers, event days, dive with sharks and lots more!
I will also be involved in workshops and will complete a project that I will be presenting at the Melbourne Aquarium at the end of the year. This program runs for the whole year and it will be my job to raise awareness with my peers. I would like to share my knowledge with others and fundraise for problems happening in today’s society involving the ocean and the precious animals that live there.