Students thriving

Didirri Peters

For those who don’t know, Didirri (Didi) Peters is a Warrnambool College Alumni who hails from the mighty Belfast House. He was a Class Clowns National Finalist and featured in key roles in several Warrnambool College productions both musical and drama. A talented musician himself, he was selected as a top 10 finalist competing for selection as the Australian act for the Eurovision Song Contest recently. The phone poll saw him ranked fourth which is an outstanding achievement.

Didi’s performances are deep, earthy, folk-like storytelling which is everything Eurovision is not (air pumps, ‘Bowie-like’ costumes and hairstyles, heavily synthesised tracks and backup singers usually hanging from the roof or on stilts while being pummelled by industrial fans).

His is an amazing achievement and as a product of our College Performing Arts program, something we should all be very proud of. We should never waste an opportunity to celebrate achievements in the Arts. Those that polled higher than him were career artists Casey Donovan and Vanessa Amorosi, and the eventual winner Montaigne.

Didi is in Warrnambool (after performances in LA, NYC and Toronto) on ANZAC DAY eve.

Tickets available from the Lighthouse Theatre. Don’t leave it too long!

Stella Bridgewater

Stella a Year 11 student, was one of 38 players picked in Greater Western Victoria Rebels’ squad, unveiled recently. Stella played football as a child before concentrating on surf lifesaving and netball. But the decision to introduce a female football competition, to be known this year as Western Victoria Female Football League, almost three years ago changed the course of her sporting pathway.

“I straight away thought about how fun it was going to be to finally get to play with all the girls. And it was a great opportunity – I made a bunch of new friends. Season one was pretty messy (overall) but now it’s really good, actually getting good kicks in and a bit of game play.”

Kalay Girls

Congratulations to Casey Harradine and Keisha Shaw who were awarded Marrung Education Scholarships in Melbourne today. They are pictured here with Sam Delany, our Kalay Academy Leader and Wayne Harradine, one of our Local Koorie Education Support Officers. Amber Sanderson was also awarded a Murrung Scholarship, however, she was unable to attend the awards ceremony today due to her Yr 12 Outdoor Ed camp.

Matilda Allen

Matilda Allen has been invited to participate in the Junior Cirque - 2020 Intensive Program with Le Petit Cirque in Los Angeles in August. Matilda will show off her impressive dance, cirque and gymnastics skills to casting directors for Cirque de Soleil and choreographers who have worked with the likes of Beyonce, Rhianna and Bon Jovi as well as Olympic level aero coaches and talent ages. Wishing you all the best, Matilda! To support Matilda's Fundraising for this amazing opportunity head to:

https://au.gofundme.com/f/lets-get-til-to-usa

Layla Watson

Layla, a Year 9 student, won the under 18 girls Ballarat Gift for the second year in a row in February. Qualifying for the final with the fastest overall time, Layla said she has improved markedly over the last 12 months. She said her efforts during training with a focus on her starts has allowed her to run “10 times better”. Layla is training for the Stawell Gift in April and we wish this talented athlete all the very best for that endeavour.