Chair Gordon Curran introduced Professor Gerry Quinn, Head of the Science Campus, to present the Rotary Deakin Award Presentation to a student making excellent academic progress, who is actively involved in community or student services and who is in financial need. This year’s $1000.00 Rotary Club of Warrnambool Deakin student award winner is well known Sharks footballer and marine biology student James Crawford. James grew up on Flinders Island, off the north-east tip of Tasmania with a population of about 600.
His dad is a sheep farmer, and his mum a nurse with the Flinders Island Aboriginal Association, and they have four sons, James being the eldest. James attended Flinders Island District High School until grade 6 before having to shift to Launceston Church of England Grammar School as a border to complete secondary college. School holidays and long weekends were spent back on the family farm, where his father had little trouble finding work for him to do. Like most farm boys, James got to drive cars and ride bikes and shoot guns early in life. He went fishing and surfing a lot, a pretty cool way to spend your childhood. A promising football career started with little league on Flinders Island, although the term “league” is a stretch. With only two teams, “Red” played “Black” each week. Private school football followed, and he played for South Launceston and North Launceston in his teens. Then came the question of what to do after Year 12. Growing up near the coast, marine biology was a big attraction. James applied for Deakin Warrnambool, and got in but deferred for a year.
Wanting to get away (from Tasmania), and see the mainland, he did a gap year working in the shearing sheds as a wool presser, based in Hamilton but travelling to South Australia, the Barossa Valley, Broken Hill, Armadale, Tamworth, and Dubbo. He commenced Marine Biology studies at Deakin Warrnambool in 2014 and soon became a key player for the Deakin Sharks, kicking 19 goals in nine matches.
James was awarded the School of Life and Environmental Sciences Head of School Prize early this year as the full-time student completing first year who has achieved the highest weighted average mark in the Bachelor of Environmental Science (Marine Biology).
In addition to his substantial sporting involvement, James is registered with the CFA, Warrnambool Coast Guard and is volunteering with the whale watching and recording program this year. He is involved with volunteering for Fishcare Victoria and has been to East Warrnambool Primary helping teach children about bag limits, catch sizes and invasive species. James is able to return home just once a year due to the high cost of flying to his remote island home.
He is currently working part-time milking cows locally to help fund his studies.
President Steve presented James with a $1000.00 cheque from the Rotary Club. James thanked Rotary and Deakin for the nomination and the interviews and the cheque. He will continue doing his best in his studies and with his community involvement.
Professor Gerry Quinn spoke about the future of Deakin University. He started by commenting that for a Regional area of about 40,000 people we have large and successful university. Other large regions do not even have a university in their area. On Saturday 1 August Deakin celebrated 25 years of being. 10 years ago due to a Federal decision the Warrnambool Institute became Deakin University. During this time Deakin has become secure and committed to the South West and Warrnambool. They have invested 40 million dollars in infrastructure and facilities; new student housing block, shop front in Timor Street and a marine aquatic facility.
Deakin wants to be relevant in its role in Warrnambool and the region. They are looking at the courses they offer and remodel them to suit our regional area. They are enticing students from around the state and country to come here to study and maybe even to work and settle here by looking at a broader range of subjects as well as offering the important and popular courses. Deakin is trying to engage with business and industry to gauge what is needed and how they can meet that need. This is being developed in the 20:20 strategy which is headed by Grant Sutherland.
In November the university is planning a 25th year celebration and all of Warrnambool is invited. It would be great if Warrnambool was looked upon as a university city.
Greetings from Broome, Western Australia. Doing the Bulletin whilst on holidays from different computers is challenging, so please be kind if you see any errors in this edition. Judy is also away, and I therefore don't have access to the roster, so you might have to "wing it" on the 18th.
Congratulations to Bunny who drew the Ace and won $54.00!