VCAL / FLO

CASTLEMAINE STATE FESTIVAL

Did someone say ‘State Festival?’ The time-honoured, bi-annual Arts Extravaganza recently hit Castlemaine , and FLO and VCAL students found themselves in the thick of things.

Mel Robertson, technical co-ordinator for the Festival, provided a number of opportunities for students to be involved in the Festival.

Mel visited both FLO and VCAL classes, explained to students the various pathways for employment in the festival scene, gave an overview of the technical side of CSF in terms of sound, lighting and logistics, and did a workshop showing students the correct way to fold leads and cables.

VCAL students, with the help of Pete Weston from Environmental Solutions, constructed and painted a large ramp that was the centerpiece of the opening night of the festival. Once the festival finished the ramp now serves as a skate ramp at Etty St.

The opening night also highlighted the talents of a number of our indigenous Etty St students. Chase Norfolk, Bailey Muscat, and Sequani Telford were outstanding in their performance at the opening ceremony.

Talullah Foley also completed a work experience placement with Mel and gained invaluable insights into behind-the-scenes doings of how the festival operates.

Students were also fortunate enough to hear from photographer Darron Davies who had a photography exhibition titled ‘The Big White Dyno’ showing hot-rodding event on the salt plains of South Australia.

In all, the event provide a terrific opportunity for Applied Learning students at Etty St to participate in a real world/real life learning opportunity.

VMR UPDATE

Things are ticking over nicely with the project out at VMR (Victorian Miniature Railway). Friday the 29th March was a significant day for VCAL students out at Harocurt. After 12 months of constructing track it was the first time track had been laid and Colin Meirsch showed students the process of how this is done. Students were given individual lessons how to drive a miniature train and pieces of track were carried along the track.

It was a great moment as students got to see the labour of their efforts over the past 12 months, and as Colin explained something the VMR Club have been working towards for 3 years.

Next issue we will have an update of the progress of building the station out at VMR.

HARCOURT LIONS CLUB

Shout out to VCAL students Angus, Charley, Travis, Bailey, Bryce who have helped Harocurt Lions Club set-up their huge marquee for both the Applefest, and CAstlemaine Swap Meet. This task usually takes over an hour but with ‘all-hands-on deck’ approach we have the task down to just under 30 minutes.

The Lions Club are extremely grateful for this effort and are sponsoring students in the VMR project with a work outfit of boots, socks, trousers, high-vis fleecy tops when they assist with the station construction at VMR.