SCHOOL COUNCIL 

FAREWELL TO 

KAMRON WHITE

On behalf of the school community, I would like to thank Kam for his years of service at the school and as the School Council President. It is with a heavy heart we farewell him. He has been an amazing advocate for our school and a dedicated community contributor.

We would also like to take this opportunity to welcome Matt Row, School Council President 2021. Matt also has been a long standing contributor to KSC. We are grateful for his support, especially moving into this next phase of school development. 

2020 SCHOOL COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S REPORT

2020 was a very frustrating year and everyone I meet has a story of how COVID affected their lives. I think we have all learned a lot about ourselves, how to adjust and make the best of situations. We all have a greater appreciation for life and the freedoms we enjoy.

We really are fortunate to have technology that allowed for distance learning in 2020 and while many of us struggled with it, our incredible staff displayed amazing commitment as they persevered through lockdown after lockdown. Encouraging teenagers to remain on task presents a challenge at the best of times but when they’re just a face on a screen, and more often less than that; it takes incredible resolve to stay enthusiastic and keep showing up every day - so I thank them for that. Our teachers this past year truly were akin to breakfast radio hosts; they had to constantly park their own frustrations and disappointments to lift and inspire their students; and they were successful at this over and over again. Our VCE results were very good and I believe this is a good measure of outcomes for the year. 

Prior to moving to our present site our school used to be housed on the site of the Korumburra Primary School in Mine Road. When the Spanish Flu invaded Australia all Victorian schools were closed in January 1919 and our school was transformed into an emergency isolation hospital. Back then they also experienced two waves of the virus and the school was closed twice, for a total of 10 weeks until August, and their version of remote learning over this period was to hold classes in local halls and meeting rooms, with as little as 10% of their enrolment in a attendance. 

Postponing was a common theme throughout 2020 with many events eventually being cancelled altogether. For all of us to adjust to this constant change was exhausting and demoralising but we have all worked through our disappointments and the year actually went by quite fast. The cancelling of many milestone events was unforeseen, but I believe that we are more grateful now when things do eventuate as planned and this must provide us all with a brighter perspective on our futures. We know now that we can adapt and change and things will turn out alright. 

At the beginning of last year I was reelected to School Council for a two year term, but (unsurprisingly) my plans were changed and I now find myself writing my final President’s report. I really have enjoyed my time serving the community of Korumburra on the School Councils of this school and the Primary School, and also the Karmai board - for a combined total of 23 years. Please do not mistake this for altruism. My motivation for joining School Council, at the core, is really quite selfish. What I’ve invested the most in on this planet – unreservedly – is the lives of my three talented and endearing kids; beautiful human beings whom I burst with pride to call my own. School Council was merely the vehicle by which I could have some influence on their formal schooling; ensuring that they, and their peers, are suitably equipped with all the tools they need to succeed. Well of course I was going to put my shoulder behind this vehicle and push - and encourage others (yourselves) to do the same. 

I’d like to extend my thanks to all of you. Thank you all for committing your precious time and energy to continue caring for the School that has been such a fond part of my life for much of it. Thanks also to your families for sharing you with us. In a world that is becoming increasingly insular there are just too few generous people like yourselves working for the betterment of our community; yet I believe there is no place where we can have a more positive impact on society than in enriching the lives of our youth. School Council must ensure that our wonderful staff have all the resources they need to educate and enrich the lives of our kids. 

Thank you so much for your friendship and banter over the journey. The years have gone by quickly and I will quite miss our meetings. Keep doing what you’re doing.

Kamron Whyte