Growing stronger, bigger, and better than before

There is never a ‘typical’ year at the Yiramalay/Wesley Studio School. In my 10 years with the school, I have never known one that hasn’t been filled with joyous moments alongside significant challenges. This year has been no different in that sense, however, it has of course been so very different.  2020 has needed us to think outside the box, to be creative and innovative in ways we had only dreamed of in the past. To almost be on the other side of the coronavirus pandemic, or at least sitting more comfortably with the ‘new normal’, with 15 Year 12 graduates is testament to the resilience and determination of our community.

At a recent presentation I attended, Positive Leadership - Anti-Fragility in Difficult Times (via Zoom of course!), Tal Ben-Shahar, strongly made the point that it is critical that we create understanding within our organisations and personal lives and that it is indeed possible to grow from adverse conditions. Growing stronger, bigger, and better than before is achievable if you already hold a belief that recovery will be attainable. This is certainly the story of Yiramalay 2020. The remarkable optimism that the Yiramalay leadership team held all year that saw them working tirelessly to ensure that our students were receiving the best possible quality of education, no matter what the challenge or the circumstance, was truly inspiring. 

I take this opportunity to sincerely thank Kaylene Marr, Matt Watson, Felicity Byres, Monique Fewkes, Helen Grist and Sheryl Chaplin, along with our Student Wellbeing Coordinators, Fiona McKenzie and Brent  Simons, for the energy they have given to our community. To our hard-working and amazing teachers, mentors, coordinators and ancillary staff, you receive our most sincere and heartfelt thanks for the attention directed towards the flourishing of our students both virtually, and in person. I would like to congratulate our Year 10s and 11s for their outstanding achievements this year and wish our very special group of Year 12s nothing but the best for their next steps; Corry, Tenisha, Memphis, Alena, Renisha, Calvin, Kelsey, Geromono, Shakaya, Thadius, Samuel, Coen, Mathius, Kyhona and Lizaria have made us so very proud.

I also recognise and appreciate the ongoing generous support and friendship of the Wesley College Council and College Executive, Friends of Yiramalay, Glen Waverley Learning in Residence, along with the Bunuba and Fitzroy Valley communities, whose  

encouragement and well wishes have sustained us. Sadly, we say goodbye to Frank Concilia, Tegan Gluschenko and Ryan Ali-Akil from the Yiramalay Program, they are going on to pursue opportunities both within Wesley and beyond, at the end of 2020. The contributions of these three staff members to Yiramalay have been nothing short of outstanding and we wish them all the very best for the future.

As I myself prepare to leave Yiramalay after 10 years of service and Wesley College after 20 years, I would like to offer personal thanks to both Wesley and Bunuba for the privilege of this opportunity to lead. The experience has left its mark and I am most grateful for that. I congratulate Matt Watson for his appointment as Principal of Yiramalay, to begin in 2021 – the school could not be in better hands.

Felicity Pearson, Director (Acting)