Lions Lending Support

Greater Shepparton Secondary College’s Year 9 and 10 students took part in the Pat Cronin Foundation’s ‘Be Wise’ program recently as part of the school’s extensive Social and Emotional Curriculum. Pat Cronin was the 19-year-old victim of a coward punch that proved fatal and the Pat Cronin Foundation works to teach young people across Australia important skills in handling conflict, looking after mates and making wise decisions. 

Foundation presenter, Peter Eames spoke to the students about Pat’s story and how we can all make wise decisions together so we can end this type of senseless violence, that devastates families and communities. This includes working through feelings of anger and aggression before they turn violent.

Greater Shepparton Secondary College has a variety of wellbeing and supports to assist young people in coping with their feelings and in demonstrating appropriate behaviours, including within our Social and Emotional Curriculum and everyday schooling.

Year 9 student, Thomas, who attended the presentation said the message was powerful and emotional. “The story really dug deep and it got us to show empathy for a person we didn’t even know,” he said. “The message showed us that we need to stop and think about our behaviour.”

The delivery of this program was made possible thanks to a generous donation from the Shepparton Lions Club. The Lions Club donation was made up of funds provided by local businesses and through the clubs’ fundraiser selling tickets to the Circus Quirkus performance held earlier this year.

We extend our thanks to the Shepparton Lions Club and the Pat Cronin Foundation for delivering such an important and powerful program to our students.

For more information regarding the Pat Cronin Foundation please visit: https://patcroninfoundation.org.au

For more information about the Shepparton Lions Club, please contact the club President Patsy Lansdown on 0403 252 286.