Kangan Batman TAFE's Top Students for 2006
4 April 2006
A former PA turned fashion designer, a remedial massage therapist, and a gourmet chef are among Kangan Batman TAFE's top students for 2006.
The following students, selected from a pool of 26 000, will be presented with their awards at the Graduation and Awards Ceremony on Friday April 7, Flemington Racecourse. This ceremony recognises students from the two of Kangan Batman TAFE's teaching areas - Business Services, and Community Youth and Health. Gold Medallion Awards are presented to the top students in each of these teaching areas. Kangan Batman TAFE is grateful to the Hume City Council for being the major sponsor of this event, along with Supporting Sponsor - Broadmeadows Shopping Centre and FedEx Kinkos for sponsoring print materials.
(High resolution photos of all award winners are available on request. See contact details below).
Student of the Year Gold Medallion Award (Business Services Group)
Tracey Osborne
Tracey Osborne
Diploma of Textiles, Clothing and Footwear
There aren't enough hours in the day for fashion student Tracey Osborne. As well as being a mother of three children aged 10 to 15 years, Tracey lives on a farm in the Macedon Ranges, and is heavily involved in community activities, like Pony Club, coaching netball and teaching children at her son's school to sew.
Tracey has always loved sewing and fashion, and had an interest in it for a career change from her former job as a personal assistant. Studying fashion at Kangan Batman TAFE has been an eye-opener to all the career possibilities in the industry, she says.
'It is so hands-on. The number of our teachers who are currently working in industry, and the work experience is invaluable. You could walk straight out of the TAFE and be able to tackle a job,' she said.
Her teachers say Tracey has boundless enthusiasm and energy, matched with outstanding skill levels, and the ability to encourage and support other students, in team work assignments.
Tracey's hard work in the course was recognised at the Australasian Young Designer Wool Fashion Awards in 2005. She took first place in two categories, Evening Wear and Active Daywear categories, and was awarded the Handbury prize because of her innovative use of wool. The prize consists of a two-week, all expenses paid scholarship with one of the most prestigious fashion schools in Milan, Italy.
Gold Medallion Award (Community, Youth And Health Group) And David Lawton Award
Gabrielle Noonan
Gabrielle Noonan
Diploma of Auslan
Soon after Gabrielle Noonan began the Diploma in Auslan course 15 years ago, she decided to take a break to raise four children.
She returned in 2004 to complete the two-year course, even if it meant travelling a great distance from her hometown of Nar Nar Goon to the Richmond campus. And even though many years had passed, Gabrielle's passion for helping the Auslan and Deaf Community had only grown stronger.
'Re-entering education after 15 years of being a 'mum' brought me into contact with a wider community,' said Gabrielle. 'Most importantly, I developed a greater understanding of the Auslan and Deaf community.'
Her teachers say she was valued as a student and classmate for her sense of humour and warm personality. Gabrielle created a positive learning environment and took on a leadership role, motivating all her classmates towards their studies.
Gabrielle displayed extreme determination and resilience in learning about the Auslan and Deaf culture. As well as her studies and familial responsibilities, Gabrielle took on many Auslan and Deaf volunteer roles.
She volunteered in the 2005 Deaflympics, and for Deaf Children Australia, an organisation committed to enriching the lives of deaf and hearing-impaired children and young adults. Gabrielle also volunteered her time with Deaf Catholic organisations.
Less than two months after completing her studies at Kangan Batman TAFE, Gabrielle gained employment in her field, assisting a deaf Auslan teacher in a primary school in Nar Nar Goon.
Gabrielle has embarked on another year of studies, undertaking a Diploma of Interpreting at RMIT.
Outstanding Student In Vet In Schools Student
Vassiliki Dandanis
Vassiliki Dandanis
Certificate III in Community Services (Community Work)
When VET in Schools student Vassie Dandanis was asked why she believed she was the best person for the award, she unexpectedly turned the question around.
'What could I do for others if I won the award?' she said. 'I could inspire others to go into community services, and set an example for those currently completing the VET in Schools program. I could show them that you can start from an interest or an experience, and build from there. '
This answer is a clear indication of Vassie's determination, commitment and selfless attitude to her chosen field.
Working in the community wasn't just something she started in Year 12 - it's been an integral part of Vassie's life. Her first taste of volunteer work began at the Royal Children's Hospital when she was only in grade six. Since then, she has been involved with Kids Helpline, Port Phillip Special School and the Genetic Support Network Victoria. Vassie is also active in the Victorian Turner's Syndrome Association where she has both organised and participated in forums and workshops on issues such as disability. Vassie is also a committee member for the Chronic Illness Peer Support Program at the Centre of Adolescent Health, and was instrumental in setting up the Hidden Treasure Auxiliary, an organisation that raises funds for the Royal Children's Hospital.
Vassie demonstrated an exceptional level of determination and commitment to complete her VET studies. Since her high school did not offer the Certificate III in Community Services, Vassie had to travel every week to another school. She even completed more than the required hours of volunteer work experience, giving up all but one week of her summer holidays. In 2005, she was one of a few Victorian students recognised with the Federal Government's Australian Vocational Student Prize for excellence in VET in Schools study.
Vassie is currently studying a Diploma of Community Welfare at Holmesglen Institute of TAFE, where she is the youngest in her class. She plans to continue her studies after this course.
Apprentice of the Year
Adam Jeffs
Adam Jeffs
Certificate III in Hospitality (Commercial Cookery).
When he was halfway through Year 11, Adam Jeffs decided he wanted to study cooking. He was offered an apprenticeship in Commercial Cookery the next year, so Adam left his Year 12 studies to work at a fine dining restaurant in North Melbourne.
Adam's next move was to a family restaurant, and while it wasn't exactly gourmet cooking, he did learn to work at fast pace in hot conditions, and is grateful for the experience.
TAFE classes were an eye-opener, Adam says, bringing him the experience of the quality and creativity of good cooking. Adam has moved up from the simple volume cooking of his first placement and is now a fully qualified chef at Berth, gourmet restaurant at Docklands, where he is training to be second-in-charge. He appreciates the good food that the kitchen produces, using the finest of ingredients for the dishes. Adam loves the great atmosphere in the Docklands precinct, and the chance to work at the cutting edge of the industry.
'The Berth owners, John and Steve, have helped me find my feet over the last few months. I'm grateful for the leadership role they've given me,' said Adam. 'I know I'll go pretty far because of the knowledge passed onto me by Matt Smith (Berth's Head Chef).'
When he is not cooking, which is a hobby for Adam as well as a job, he works out in the gym, and has even taken up boxing.
It's a pleasure to have to learn more of the food, wine and cheese industries as part of your studies, Adam says. There is so much more to learn, says Adam, and all of it will one day lead to owning his own restaurant or perhaps a boutique hotel.
Harold C Richards Student Of The Year Award
This award is presented to a student who has overcome hardship to excel in their course. It is named after Harold C Richards, the inaugural Council President of Broadmeadows College of TAFE (in which Kangan Batman TAFE has its origins).
Gorges Marqos
Gorges Marqos
Diploma of Remedial Massage
'If you do something you have to fight for it - first, you've got to have hope and then try.'
This has been Broadmeadows' resident Gorges Marqos' mantra for all of his life. As a young boy from a poor family in Iraq, Gorges studied hard, and gained a qualification which enabled him to work alongside doctors in a military hospital, helping soldiers recover from war afflicted injury. Hoping to find a better life for his wife and children, Gorges eventually moved his family to Greece and then to Australia, where they were granted refugee status.
Adjusting to this new country was difficult. Gorges spoke little English and found it hard to gain employment, so he decided to return to study. Gorges said he chose the Diploma of Remedial Massage because he wanted to remove pain from people without medication.
His teachers say he was an outstanding student, bringing information to share with his classmates, motivating his peers, and never expecting anything in return.
'I was always observant of others' needs,' Gorges said. 'If I saw anyone unhappy, I'd speak to them, to see what I could do to help.'
In the middle of last year, one of Gorges' fingers was severed in an accident, and had to be reattached by a microsurgeon. As hands and fingers are the main tools for massage, this was a huge setback for Gorges. But that didn't stop him from attending classes. He learnt to adapt new ways of doing things so he could continue working in the student massage clinic.
Gorges displayed extreme courage to overcome these barriers to study, and even graduated at the same time as his fellow classmates. Gorges is now working with a medical practitioner for a few hours a week. His future goals are to gain employment in disability services or aged care, and then to open a clinic of his own.
Gunung-Willam-Balluk - Uncle Norm Hunter Award
Kevin Ellis
Certificate III in Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Art and Design
Kevin Ellis has been a student at the Koori Programs Unit (KPU) since 2004. He completed the Certificate III in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art and Design in 2005 and has returned in 2006 to study in the Certificate IV in Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Cultural Arts.
He is also a proud Koori/Murri man, well-respected in both Indigenous and non Indigenous communities as a positive role model and leading artist. In 2005, Kevin facilitated and cooked at an Elders' Lunch held at the Gunung-Willam-Balluk Learning Centre, and recently he facilitated a 'bush tucker' workshop with Lakeside Secondary College.
In 2005, Kevin won second prize in the Children's Koori Court Art Competition, which meant his artwork would hang permanently in the Children's Koori Court in Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. He sold several works of art at exhibitions and was commissioned to do art murals for local secondary colleges and Indigenous organisations. Kevin has been awarded 'Student of the Month' a number of times and is a regular contributor to the KPU's newsletter 'Toom-Nangi'.
Kevin has strong values of respect, patience, talent, perseverance and commitment to detail and completion. These qualities have had a lasting effect on his peers and KPU staff alike, and it is for these attributes, as well as the achievements, that Kevin Ellis is awarded the Uncle Norman Hunter Award for 2005.
Arnold Davis Scholarship
Arnold Davis is an Elder of the local Indigenous Australian community who overcame adversity to excel in his studies at Kangan Batman TAFE. Arnold is a role model to Indigenous Australians, as is this year's award winner, Reg Edwards.
Reg Edwards
Reg Edwards
Victorian Certificate in Applied Learning (Foundation)
After admitting to 'mucking' around a bit at high school, Reservoir resident Red Edwards has now found a passion for making and recording music.
Soon after beginning VCAL Music course at Kangan Batman TAFE's Gunung-Willam-Balluk Learning Centre, Reg faced a great deal of personal trauma, and withdrew from the course. Yet he found strength and courage to overcome this, and eventually complete the course, along with parts of the Certificate III in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art and Design and the Certificate II in Learning Pathways.
Reg has a natural talent for music. He sings, plays the didgeridoo, writes, and records music. He co-wrote and recorded the music and lyrics with the Gunung-Willlam-Balluk Learning Centre band, and even performed at the Winberri Music Festival alongside Indigenous musicians Kutcha Edwards and Dave Arden.
Reg's commitment to his family and the Indigenous Australian community has seen him become a role model, especially for the younger students at the Gunung-Willam-Balluk Learning Centre.
'They need to know that someone's out there to look after them,' said Reg. 'I tell them that with an education, you can get a job, a car or a house. Life can be on track.'
Since starting the course, Reg has recorded three songs of his own, all of which are played on 3KND community radio station. As well as plans to work on more songs for a CD, Reg is keen to take on more studies at the Gunung-Willam-Balluk Learning Centre.
Our Graduation and Awards Evenings
A further set of major awards will be presented at the 5 May event, which mainly focuses on students from trade areas such as automotive and industrial technologies.
Each Graduation and Awards Evening attracts an audience of around 800, including the students, their family and friends, and representatives from the many industry and community organisations who sponsor student awards. The events will both be compered by media personality, Jo Pearson.
Kangan Batman TAFE thanks its sponsors for the Graduation and Awards Ceremony (April 7)
 Hume City Council: Major Sponsor |
 Broadmeadows Shopping Centre: Supporting Sponsor |
 FexEx Kinkos: Print Sponsor |
