College Activities

Legacy Junior Public Speaking Award

An array of extremely talented speakers, including Aitken’s very own Helena Riley in Year 9, competed in the State Final of the 2017 Legacy Junior Public Speaking Award at the Telstra Conference Centre last Monday. One of 12 speakers participating on the day, Helena proved that she was able to match it with some of the most engaging speakers under the age of 15 who came from schools all over the state including St Kevin’s College, Haileybury Girls College, Tintern Grammar, St Leonard’s College and Balwyn High School.

The students were judged by three Legatees but the crowd included a variety of distinguished guests including, Ms Victoria Hall from the Department of Education and Training.

Despite Helena delivering a flawless speech on Social Justice and presenting an enlightening impromptu based on the topic: Climbing Ladders, William Maligin of St Kevin’s College was announced the winner and will now be competing in the National Final in Tasmania next month.

Helena has been a great representative of Aitken College at all three rounds this year and her efforts should not go unnoticed. As most of us know, people have a great fear of public speaking and to compete at such a high level is not for the faint-hearted. Well done Helena!

Mrs Belinda Jarvis-Dymond

English Teacher

Class of 2012 – Five Year Reunion

Unlike the movie of the same name, 'Friday the 13th', (October) was anything but scary, when Aitken welcomed back some of its favourite Alumni to the five-year reunion of the Class of 2012. They were overwhelmingly bright, happy and excited to return; clearly feeling a close bond and connection with the College. This cohort has always been remembered fondly by staff.

Approximately 35 Alumni attended and an additional 25 sent their apologies. Many of those unable to attend are currently working or studying interstate or overseas: Townsville, New Zealand, Macau, Sydney, Japan and Perth. And then there were a handful of others for whom the timing of the reunion clashed with plans to catch some sun in Queensland or Thailand or large scale European adventures. A couple too were on the sick list, recovering from surgery or incapacitated by sporting injuries.

For those in attendance there was a real buzz in the Food Technology Centre and genuine joy and affection expressed as people connected again after a five year gap. Like other Alumni groups seeing this facility for the first time there were sighs of regret with the lament ‘Oh, we missed out on this'.

However, while Aitken was growing and adding facilities such as the Food Technology Centre, these young people were also growing, developing useful skills and gaining qualifications. Many are at the final stage of a five year training program and are keen to take their place in the world as newly minted lawyers and speech pathologists come the end of the year.

In addition to this we met Alumni in a variety of fields: midwife, medical student, electrician, accountant, editor, mechanical engineer, travel consultant, teacher, event manager, dietitian, retail manager, communications consultant and underwriter. All have engaging stories to tell and were interested in the journeys undertaken by others.

The busyness of life can get in the way of the heartfelt promises to stay in touch made earnestly and with good intent at the end of Year 12. Ongoing commitment to such Alumni events helps bridge the gap. May they continue to do so. My sincere thanks to all the staff in attendance; alumni are always genuinely thrilled to reconnect.