ALUMNI UPDATES 

ENGAGEMENTS AND MARRIAGES

Congratulations to Jordan Wishart and Tamara née Pillay (both Class of '14, WS) who were married in January 2020! The bridal party included Andrew Stubley (Class of '14, WS), Dorothy Chu (Class of '14, WS) and Esther Gullaci (Class of '14, WS). 

Congratulations to Andrew Ratnasingham (Class of '10, WS) and his fiance, Stefanie Thomas, who became engaged last year!

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Ser-Lein Wan (Class of '11, WS)

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I'd make it into the Volleyball Victoria State League Premier Division as a player, let alone being selected this year as an Assistant Coach of the Under 15 Girls Junior State Team.

I've been playing State League for five years with one season spent in the UK National League. I first touched a volleyball in Year 11 when Mr Dekker would open up the gym and say, "come and have a hit!". I couldn't even serve overarm back then. We also had the car park concert and Mr Dekker would sometimes put the net up for us to play. I was a very late bloomer because I was playing netball at the time and academic outcomes were my family's focus.

The year I turned 23, out of nowhere I saw a flyer that said, "Trials for the State League - all beginners are welcome". I thought to myself, don't be ridiculous, State League is out of my league. Anyway, I took the risk, showed up to the trial and made it on the team. I found my confidence in playing the sport; it helped me to grow as a person. However, it was also tough! At times, I was told that I wasn't tall enough or good enough, but I have worked extremely hard to get to where I am today over the last five years. When I was told that I wouldn't make it because I'm an "older" athlete and I didn't go through the Victorian pathway, I felt like giving up because, "I'm not good enough, so why try?". Ever heard of the saying, "it's 90% hard work and 10% talent?" Well, that rang true for me. To improve on my skills, I went in search of social competitions and played beach volleyball. In 2019, I was fortunate enough to play in the National League in the UK alongside many great Italian and Spanish players. 

Whilst trying to advance my skills, a former Australian player (Sue Rice), took me under her wing and I learned some coaching skills. So as a part-time job (while at University), I was coaching volleyball at APS and AGSV schools. Following this, I was invited to the Rising Stars National Talent Camp as a coach. I decided to apply for the Assistant Coach's position this year and was successfully appointed! Unfortunately, due to COVID, this year's Australian Volleyball Youth Championship was cancelled. 

My career highlight was making the Premiers Division and being able to play against some current Australian team players. The most notable highlight was playing in the National League with Italian and Spanish players. These days, you can find me coaching at the Bendigo Academy of Sports (Volleyball), playing at State League and refereeing games.

Jessica Lawton (Class of '08), now PhD candidate, is featured in The Age's article, 'Shy phascogales finally given a close-up'. Congratulations, Jessica!

Shy phascogales gave a close-up

Shared from the 9/7/2021 - The Age Digital Edition

An extremely shy, nimble and bushy-tailed critter is more widespread in central Victoria than previously thought, La Trobe University researchers have found, using heat-sensing cameras to spot the fast-moving phascogale.

Phascogales are usually too quick and clever to detect with spotlighting or trapping, so PhD candidate Jessica Lawton and La Trobe University researchers installed cameras at 50 nesting box sites in the Mount Alexander area.

What they found, Ms Lawton said, came as a ‘‘a really big surprise’’. Caught on camera, brushtailed phascogales visited 84 per cent of the sites, far more than the researchers expected, given the creature’s reputation for evading detection.

More of these bushy tailed critters are living in central Victoria than previously thought, thanks to plenty of forest cover and connecting habitats on farms, along roadsides and streams, the study found. The use of cameras was more effective at spotting phascogales, suggesting the species could be more widespread in other places surveyed using traditional techniques. The study is published in Austral Ecology.

It’s welcome news for the threatened species, already locally extinct from some regions, and comes as State Parliament holds an inquiry into Victoria’s ecosystem decline and as Threatened Species Day draws attention to animals and plants at risk of extinction. The research means actions by local landholders to retain habitat like logs, leaf litter and trees can help ensure the phascogale’s future.

An estimated 15,000 phascogales live in Australia, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, but there are no robust estimates of population size or Victorianspecific numbers.

Although found in several Australian states, central Victoria – where the study was conducted – is now one of the threatened species’ last remaining strongholds.

‘‘We think phascogales are widely distributed there because they are supported by a large amount of forest, and they use the extensive connections along roadsides and creeks to move through the landscape,’’ Ms Lawton said.

On camera, one phascogale was filmed carrying nesting material, another eating ‘‘invertebrate food’’, she said, most likely a spider, centipede or beetle.

Phascogales are usually active at night, relying on tree hollows for shelter and nest sites. They require large areas of forest – up to 100 hectares – to roam and forage, looking for food in the bark of trees, in leaf litter on the ground, and on fallen timber and logs. Males live fast and die young. They only last a year before dying from the stress of a frenzied mating season, often travelling quite far to find females, making use of scattered trees, patches of vegetation, creek lines and roadsides.

Ms Lawton said the study highlighted the need for public and private land managers to conserve habitat in the region. ‘‘Conservation reserves and large tracts of native forests are critical – but so are patches of forest, wooded strips along roadsides and creeks, and scattered trees across farmland,’’ she said. Landholders can help by retaining critical foraging habitat, Ms Lawton said. Conservation work by local groups is also important.

'ALUMNI APPRECIATION' INTERVIEW

We asked alumni graduate, Rebekah Amit (Class of '20, NWS), about her journey and experiences since graduating from WCC! 

What or who motivated you at Waverley Christian College?

Having supportive people around me motivated me. Mostly my parents and teachers helped when I was not sure what I wanted to do after school. Having them speak wisdom into my life and reassuring me that God had a plan for me kept me motivated throughout all the difficult hurdles I faced during school. 

What were the biggest challenges you’ve faced since leaving School?

My first challenge was right after my final exam. I had come home feeling so excited to have finished, however, not long after I thought, ‘’what next?’’. I knew I wanted to go straight to University and work towards a career in the medical field. However, I still felt uncertain about my future.  

"What if I don’t get into my first preference? What if I don’t enjoy it? Is this really what I want to do?’’. There were mixed emotions! I was delighted to have finished, but I had just spent 12 years of my life in school and I really didn't know what was next for me. 

Another challenge that I faced was adjusting to my new life. Once I graduated, I went from seeing my friends and classmates every day to rarely seeing them. It became difficult to organise a catch up because everyone’s schedule is different. When we finally saw each other in person, it felt like a lifetime had passed since I had last seen my school friends. 

What goals did you set yourself when you finished at WCC and have you stuck to that plan?

One goal I had was to ensure that I kept a routine. It can be easy to sleep in till noon and pull all-nighters when you don’t have school the next day, but I made it a goal of mine to stay in a good mindset and keep consistent with my sleep schedule.  

Another goal was to try to keep in contact with school friends. This was difficult because everyone has different commitments, but overall, I have been able to keep in contact with most school friends via social media. Every few weeks we have a video chat, or we try meeting in person. 

What drew you to your area of work or study, and what do you love about it?

I have always wanted to have a science-related career. However, recently I decided that I wanted to work in the medical field, and I am currently studying Nursing and Midwifery. Initially, I wanted to pursue Medical Imaging as I didn't think I would enjoy Nursing - but I've fallen in love with it! 

I love learning how to care for and advocate for patients. I enjoy all my practicals where I learn exciting clinical skills. The midwifery profession is so different to nursing but I love learning both.  

What is the best piece of advice you've ever been given?

"Always do your best and trust that God will do the rest." 

I had a few teachers and my parents tell me this and I still hold it dear to me. It is easy in the heat of VCE and exam revision to feel like you’re not doing enough; I always try to remind myself that if I can confidently say I made every effort, then I know that God will multiply my hard work and make the outcome so much greater. 

What excites you most about the future?

Becoming a Registered Nurse and Midwife. I love what I'm studying and am eager to start working as a registered health professional. It’s amazing what frontline workers have been doing the past two years and I feel honoured to be a part of it. 

What advice do you have for current students?

Always try your best. It's easy to start comparing yourself to your classmates and think that you’re not good enough. It is so important to self reflect so that you can develop; you cannot control those around you, only yourself. Academic results can sometimes feel like they are more than just a number, but try to see school as a comfortable place for you to take opportunities, give it all you’ve got and learn from the experience.  

How was your work/study affected in 2020/2021 and how did you respond/cope?

In 2020, I found that being mostly at home resulted in me being less physically active. This progress impacted my ability to focus on work and my mental health. I didn’t do much to fix this in 2020, but in 2021 I made it a goal of mine to be active (whether it be a run or walk) at least five days a week. I have found that my productivity and mindset have dramatically improved since. 

Any additional comments? 

In essence, I am happy with how I've gone after leaving school. It was daunting at first, but I had amazing teachers who prepared me for life beyond Waverley. 

In terms of the students, always make sure you are not comparing yourself to the people around you because you cannot control them, only what you do is in your control.

We asked alumni graduate, Sarah Lee (Cheah) (Class of '03, WS), about her journey and experiences since graduating from WCC!

What or who motivated you at Waverley Christian College?

The strongest memories I have of school are attached to subjects and experiences I enjoyed. I remember Computer Studies with Mrs Foley, Home Economics with Mrs Piesse, PE with Mr Freer, Music with Mrs Harrison, Jazz Ensemble with Mr Atkins, Health with Mrs Tabbagh and many school concerts and presentation nights, musicals, sports days - amongst many other memories!

There’s also a lot to be said for the community or “village” of people around you at school - classmates, other students, teachers, and staff who journey with you during school years. Also, having a safe and loving family to come home to at the end of every school day.

What were the biggest challenges you’ve faced since leaving School?

In my first year of University (first year out of school), I struggled with finding my place there. After spending 13 years living near to and schooling at WCC, I was then travelling 45 minutes or more to a University where I didn’t know anybody. I made a couple of friends in my first year, and by the time I had transferred course and did my first year of Occupational Therapy, I had found my feet and was more confident. This was simply by exploring, getting used to my new surroundings, speaking up, and having conversations with people around me.

Another massive challenge I faced was doing my Honours thesis! The research, the writing and editing, is the biggest piece of academic work I have ever done (and will ever do!). I’m so proud of what I achieved with this and to see my work published in the Australian Journal of Occupational Therapy, which has since been cited by various other clinical research papers.

What goals did you set yourself when you finished at WCC and have you stuck to that plan?

I wanted to study Occupational Therapy (OT) after hearing about it at a career fair, and after discussing it with our Careers Advisor at the time, Mr Kynoch. It “fit” in terms of the subjects I enjoyed and did well in at school, and with my desire to have a job working with people. I remember crying when I received my ENTER score as I knew it wasn’t enough to study OT. However, after a year of studying Health Science, I had the marks to enable a course transfer and then started studying OT! After graduating with Honours, I found a job as an Occupational Therapist at Dandenong Hospital and have been coming and going from working there over the last 13 years. It’s like my home base hospital as I’ll always see people I know whenever I’m working there.

I have also always wanted to see and experience life in different parts of the world and have been blessed with the opportunity to live with a local family and volunteer in Cambodia as well as live and work in the UK/London for several months.

I've also had the chance to follow many volunteer opportunities over the years, including volunteering as a LifeGroup leader and Kids Church leader at CityLife Church, doing camps and directors training with Southern Cross Kids Camps, being the Uniform Officer for our local kindergarten, and currently managing social media accounts for the Knox Community Gardens.

What drew you to your area of work or study this year, and what do you love about it?

I’m currently working as a Care Coordinator in the Emergency Department at Monash Health. It combines the role of an Occupational Therapist, Social Worker and Physiotherapist in the ED environment. After working in a few different areas of public health care (acute, community rehabilitation, home-based rehab,) I landed in this job as it suits my nature as a holistic, general, “jack of all trades” clinician. I work with a varied cohort of patients and every day is different! I could be seeing an elderly person in their 80s, assessing their walking and organising services or equipment for their discharge home, and then the very next patient could be a homeless person needing shelter and food.

I’m also enrolled to study a Permaculture Design Certificate this year and looking forward to doing so once restrictions allow. My interest in permaculture grew from my enjoyment of growing food. It’s a nice interest to balance out my hectic job - pottering around the garden, growing veggies, herbs and flowers, and learning about how to do so whilst making the best use of the resources around me.

What is the best piece of advice you've ever been given?

It's hard for me to remember specific words of advice, but I'll always be grateful to all the teachers, mentors, supervisors, and friends who have guided me over the years. I'll always remember their presence in my life at key times and have even picked up skills and habits through their modelling. For example, Leesa, one of my supervisors from when I was a new graduate OT, taught me the basics of clinical assessment and documentation, dealing with complex patients, and communicating with colleagues - all skills I still use to this day.

What excites you most about the future?

Doing life alongside my family, including my husband, Janan, and my two little ones, Georgia, and Ezra. Becoming a Mum and having a family grows and changes (and challenges) you! Watching them learn and discover the world around them is a beautiful season of life to be in. I'm also looking forward to being part of the WCC community as a parent!

What advice do you have for current students?   

What you do and learn, and how you grow as a person whilst at school, really does lay the foundations and sets you up for life beyond school in all domains: faith, study, work, leisure and personal and family life. It sounds cliche but work hard at what you do, seek out mentors/advisors/coaches and good people around you, and follow or look for opportunities and experiences, as they are all part of the process of discerning the path ahead of you. You may not see the whole picture of what is ahead of you, but God will provide enough light for the next step.

How was your work/study affected in 2020/2021 and how did you respond/cope?

In 2020 I went on Maternity Leave and spent my final weeks at work in a non-clinical role due to the unknown risk of COVID for pregnant women following 28 weeks. The unknown of 2020 was not a bad time to be on leave. I spent a lot of time at home with my family and new baby and was able to get to know the community of neighbours and community gardens around me. This year, 2021, returning to work has been a good opportunity to see how the hospital and staff are responding and adapting to the challenge of COVID, I'm always amazed at my colleagues: nurses, doctors, cleaners, porters, allied health, admin staff and how they manage to keep being kind and seeing patients even during this tough time. The work is mostly the same, people still fall, have back pain and are homeless, even amidst a pandemic! The biggest difference would be managing all those usual things people come to ED with, whilst in PPE, and with the effects of COVID and restrictions as another layer.

I have also learned the importance of looking after my mental health and being intentional about it. For me, it looks like learning to take deep breaths and time out, walks and bike rides in the neighbourhood, gardening (must dig the hole now!), cups of tea in the sunshine and connecting with family or friends, usually over food!

Any additional comments?

When I think about how many WCC Alumni I know "in the real world", I am amazed at how many former students and staff I interact with in my life now. I have met WCC graduates who are allied health professionals, stay-at-home mums or dads, architects, patissiers, engineers, nurses, paramedics, electricians, gardeners, beekeepers, arborists, teachers, amongst many other life-roles! A highlight would be whilst working in the Emergency Department, meeting my former Science and Biology Teacher Mrs (Beth) Strybosch who now works as a paramedic. Another would be attending an Urban Farming class taught by Holly Hale (Chapman, class of '02.) It's wonderful to see how Waverley Christian College has seen through and grown so many students and staff who are now a valued part of their communities.   

PAST STAFF MEMBERS 

We asked former Chaplain (NWS), Mr David Cheah, about his journey and experiences since leaving the College.

Have you become engaged, married or had a baby in the past 18 months? 

Well! I haven’t been newly married as I have already been married for the last 38 years. All my babies have grown up with families of their own. However, I did become a grandfather twice over since I left the College. The youngest is Timothy (8 months) and the older Ezra (18 months).  

Have you recently completed your studies, apprenticeship or volunteer experience?  

I have been studying the Bible a lot more since leaving staff. I joined the Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) and really enjoyed new insights about who our faithful, gracious and loving Father God is. This has given me much more confidence in day-to-day life. It also prepares me for the future with real and current challenges going forward. Let’s not forget that B.I.B.L.E. stands for Believers Instruction Before Leaving Earth as we shall all one day be.

Have you entered a new and exciting business venture? 

There have been no new and exciting business ventures but I am pursuing my hobby as a woodworker; turning out pieces of furniture and household items for around the house. With recurrent lockdowns, it was ideal to have a hobby and I have had a lot of fun making several pieces for the family, especially the grandchildren. These are proudly announced to the family much to their delight! Another pursuit has been cycling and fishing in a kayak with my Mrs during lockdown; cycling was a great way to stay healthy, often finding myself covering 50km easily enjoying the beauty of God's creation.

Are you a Covid frontline worker and have a testimony to share?  

Even though I am not a frontline worker, both my son-in-law and daughter-in-law are. So is my daughter. I understand the strains and concerns that they go through with their high-risk occupation. As this has been a challenging time for us all, I thank God for all His provisions through staying close to Him and each other. Both Timothy and Ezra were born during the various lockdowns, so we were prevented from being there to support them at their birth, which was difficult for us. However, we were able to provide lots of caregiving when they came home. If the pandemic and lockdowns have done anything, it has brought us closer together. As a family, we have powerfully experienced God’s presence, care and strength, as good things come out of difficult situations. Our God is a good good God! 

What's new in the life of your church and personal ministry?  

With the various Covid restrictions in place, it was difficult for us to meet regularly in person. When we did, it was treasured and highly valued. What it did do, is drive us into more virtual ministries. Like all things, it has its good and bad, but we rather lean on God to allow these opportunities to work deep in the hearts of His people. Of late, we were part of a Marriage Course, run by Alpha, as support for the host. We loved it and thoroughly enjoyed interacting with all the couples who attended; it was a joy to see couples invest in their marriages. I believe that building strong families build strong churches, which builds a strong and stable society. Another ministry potential that we are considering is starting a Parenting Course (also run by Alpha). This came out of the realisation and a constant request from parents for advice about their struggles and raising their children. We live in a culture today that is full of alternative ideas and methods. What and which works best is bewildering, but most importantly we consider, "How do we parent as Christ-followers? What does the Bible have to offer?"

We have seen God doing much in our lives as a couple. We are reaping the rewards of trusting and allowing Him to have the first place in our hearts and family. All praise to His Name, to our Heavenly Father who has loved us with a love that will not let go.