ADF News

ADF (Australian Defence Force) Student Mentor Newsletter Report – Term 1 2022

Hi - My name is Raelene (Rae) McKenzie and I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself – I am the new ADF Student Mentor at Viewbank College this year which is alongside my role as a student counsellor.

A little about me and my connection to the ADF:

I grew up with my dad in the Army, so I too was an ADF kid/student
As a teenager I did Army Cadets at Simpson Barracks Watsonia … LOVED it! I achieved the highest rank as Cadet Under Officer (CUO) and then went on to becoming an Officer of Cadets (OOC) which I enjoyed for a small time and then gave it up to concentrate on other life adventures.
I have former and current serving members in the ADF within my family

This year I plan to not only support the integration into normal school life but also really try to engage with the ADF students to work with them as a group and individually if and when needed.

I have created an ADF TEAMS page and chat so I can keep lines of communication open. Earlier this year I did a ‘Meet & Greet’ by each year level where I asked each ADF student to attend. I appreciated the effort some students made by coming along.

CONGRATULATIONS to Zach Shortis of Year 11 for winning the Anzac Day Poster Competition that I recently held with an awesome prize of a $30 movie voucher just in time for the school holidays! I am pleased that a number of ADF students rose to the challenge and submitted a poster. All posters are currently being displayed both in the library and in the wellbeing centre.

The winner was announced at our ADF Student End of Term 1 Pizza Lunch where ADF students mixed, met & mingled with fellow ADF students across the school and myself whilst enjoying some tasty pizza!

It was a positive turn out and a great opportunity to say hi in a social environment and for me to meet more of the ADF students too.

I am looking forward to further engagement with all the ADF students in Term 2 with a few ideas up my sleeve one being ‘Milo Mondays’ where ADF students can come into the wellbeing Centre each Monday during First break to relax & mingle and enjoy a warm milo just as the cooler months kick in. Which I feel will build a positive relationship amongst our ADF student crew here at Viewbank College.

Raelene (Rae) McKenzie

ADF Mentor