During the Class of 2023 final assembly last Wednesday a number of significant awards were presented to year 12 students that included:

ADF Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Award

The Australian Defence Forces Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Award recognizes students who display qualities of leadership, the ability to work in a team, good communication skills and who contribute to their school and community, as these values reflect those of the ADF. It comes with a certificate and a prize of $550.

The ADF Leadership & Teamwork award for 2023 goes to Rohan Shillito.

Rohan is a Rice House captain and has been the secretary of the SRC this year – two roles that have allowed him to develop his leadership and communication skills. He has been part of Damascus rowing in each of his 6 years at the College and this year received the Senior Rowing Excellence Award. As part of his VET & VM programs Rohan has volunteered at Emmaus, Buninyong and Ballarat Specialist school – helping within the classroom and at sports days. He has been involved with community sport from a young age in both football and rowing. All these activities have allowed Rohan to demonstrate teamwork, communication and leadership skills – the qualities being recognized with this ADF Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork award.

ADF Long Tan Future Innovators Award

The ADF has developed this award to recognize students who show high levels of motivation, innovation and achievement in STEM related fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), as these are skills and abilities that are highly valued within the ADF program. This award comes with a certificate and a prize of $550. 

The ADF Future Innovators award goes to Drew Smith. Drew was chosen due to the work he has done in Systems Technology where he has demonstrated excellent skills and the ability to problem solve to overcome hurdles and achieve the required outcome.  He is also completing other STEM subjects of Mathematical Methods and Media, and together these three subjects have allowed him to develop and demonstrate strong STEM skills.

ACU Impact Award

This is sponsored by the Australian Catholic University to the value of $200. This award recognizes a Year 12 student who:

• Demonstrates empathy, insight, and openness to difference and debate

• Challenges stereotypes and strives to make a positive impact in their community

• Has been a listener and leader in their senior journey

• Always strives to be the best they can be.

The 2023 ACU Impact Award goes to Wyatt Pilmore

Wyatt is a Xavier House Captain and in that role he has worked hard to help plan and manage a variety of school events, including swimming and athletics carnivals, Damascus Day and the 2023 Academic Assembly. He has always been an enthusiastic participant in these school activities and this enthusiasm encourages others to get involved as well. Within the classroom Wyatt is respected by his peers and teachers, and this is another area where his willingness to be actively involved in his learning has been apparent, however he also listens and respects the opinion of others. Wyatt’s teachers all attest to his determination to achieve the best he can in his studies and to the positive contribution he has made to school life both in and outside the classroom.

Business Entrepreneur Award

This new award for year 12 is sponsored by past Damascus student Giovanni Piazza, Class of 212 and has been developed to recognize a year 12 student who demonstrates:

• strong business and entrepreneurial skills

• an ability to be innovative and think outside the box

• a strong work ethic to achieve in their chosen endeavours

The inaugural winner of this award is Year 12 student Kobie Balazic.

Kobie has, for several years, been running an online business which has currently amassed over 200,000 followers. He spends around 20 hours each week, brainstorming and implementing new ideas and this commitment has allowed his online business to flourish. Next year Kobie is planning to continue his endeavours with his online career, whilst exploring new opportunities that may arise.

Notre Dame Science Prize

The University of Notre Dame School of Medicine runs a clinical school in Ballarat for training of medical practitioners and sponsors an annual Science prize of $100 for a student who has demonstrated academic excellence in their Science studies, and who intends to pursue a career in the Sciences.

The 2023 Notre Dame Science Prize is awarded to Brianna White for excellent academic achievements in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Brianna has been a motivated, self-disciplined and independent learner who has worked diligently to produce assessment tasks of a high standard. Next year Brianna is hoping to study a double degree in engineering and science at either RMIT or Monash University. She has a particular interest in chemical engineering and the application of chemistry in medicines and, innovative techniques for furthering the sustainability of common chemical applications within a multitude of industries

Senior Art Acquisition

The Senior Art Acquisition Award recognizes an outstanding piece of work from a student in Years 10 to 12. The chosen piece of work is purchased from the student for display around the school – and no doubt you all will have seen previous purchases on display in the Undercroft and the Library.

This year’s chosen artwork is titled Kairosclerosis by Year 12 student Brynne Milne. The media is oil paints on a wooden panel.

The word Kairosclerosis means “the moment you realize that you are currently happy, and then consciously try to savour and enjoy the feeling before it fades”. Brynne’s work aims to depict that moment of happiness in the images of light and warmth, which contrast starkly against the darkness of the background which represents ignorance and the unknown. The figure curled up clutching the light reflects the unwillingness to let go of that happy moment.

Brynne receives $100 from the school for hers work, and we have the pleasure of having this piece of art available for display in our school.