Year 9 CLC Program

Our Year 9 CLC students have been sinking their teeth into their all-important Volunteering Projects, at various organisations across Wangaratta every Wednesday.

Wangaratta West Primary School are hosting almost 20 of our kids across 3 groups. On the Sport Courts with Wang West P.E teacher Demi Walker and guided by our own P.E legend & CLC mentor Newmo, nine “Clinic Takers” (Billy Hiskins, Gus Jayet, Kade Hadley, Lachy Pensak, Jackson Bell, Jayla Keys, Xavi Bennett , Parker Lappin and Callem Box-Corsini) split into two groups are taking P.E lessons for Grade 6, Grade 5 and even Prep classes. Billy Hiskins apparently especially shone on the very first day with his delivery.

It was an extraordinary scene on Wednesday looking across the new courts in freshly painted blue, the sun beating down, with two classes running through drills taken by our kids, just kids themselves. Great stuff, and in fact so great that there is high demand for other classes wanting to come out and get a taste of it.

In the Wang West PS classrooms, five “Classroom Helpers” (Ethan Rhodes, Marcus Iley, Faith Mayer-Young, Zoe Jeffries and Aurelio McIllroy) have been having a blast in Prep and Art classrooms. As usual they are coming back with stories of hilarious and powerful moments helping the littlies. Again, there are reports of Preps speaking of the CLC kids by name at the Dining Table. Just so powerful.

Our “Grounds Crew” debuted at Wang West this past Wednesday like a volcano, managing to complete 4 separate jobs itemised for them by gun Vice-Principal Danielle Ashmead. The five boys (Jayden Laxton, Brando Moore, Ryley Yorke, Noah Simmons and Levi Smith) worked flawlessly and hard. With mallets and string, they first drove new stakes beside 15 new Ornamental Pear Trees planted along the front of the school. 

They then split into various jobs including using Power Sanders to sand down 3 of the large wooden lunch tables ready for varnishing, whipper-snipping grass the mowers couldn’t reach, and blowing pathways of debris.

Levi & Noah in particular were workhorses, powering on like seasoned tradies without any need for reminding. At one stage it was mentioned we could pack up tools after the 2nd table was completed, and Levi quashed the thought, grabbing the sander and urging he group to finish the whole job, spending another 20 minutes on the task. 

There was great moments involving our ex-Wang Westers. At one stage Leadership came out to thank the boys, and Levi & Noah proudly showed off their work and new haircuts. We noticed a plaque on a nearby tree labelled “The Jayet Family” while 50m away from that tree on the courts there was Gus Jayet and his old Wang West mate Kade suddenly young men standing twice the height of the Preps they were chest passing balls to. Aurelio was able to catch up with his little brother at Lunchtime, Ethan popped into his grandmother’s office, and so many of the Wang West staff came out to say hi to their old students. Brilliant stuff.

Elsewhere around town similarly great things are happening At Iloura Aged Care Home, Stevie Driscoll, Luke Macklan, Alec Armstrong and Hamish Tanner have been spending time with the residents, playing games, helping deliver food, and even eating with them. 

Woking under the wings of Patti Stafford from Inner Wheel, the trio of Jaymie Law, Emily McMurray and Markus Mibini made a massive impact on their first day, helping to cook and package almost 50 meals to be given to the Wangaratta Carevan who provide free meals to Wangaratta’s Homeless.

Down at the Wangaratta & District Specialist School, three of our girls in Zoe Taurega-Green, Sharni Hepworth and Meagan Young have been helping in classrooms. Others have been planning fundraising for the Make-A-Wish Foundation (Hunter Boruch, Teagan Stewart and Jorja Vanbree) which begins with a Cake Stall in a fortnight’s time, and the Wangaratta Night Shelter (Dylan Hooper and Kyle Boldt) including involvement in the concert fundraiser for Zac’s Place, the day time retreat for Wangaratta’s homeless community.

The CLC team is very proud of our kids and we thank them for their efforts so far. We of course thank all of our wonderful people at the community organisations willing to host and help our kids. Looking forward to reporting back on the achievements over the next fortnight.

• Jud Mullins