November 26, 2014
by Marcus Priaulx
Barambah PaCE
The South Burnett’s indigenous Year 12 graduates are brimming with confidence and set to make their mark in the world.
At Murgon State High School, a record number of Year 12 graduates are confident in their ability to achieve the goals they’ve set themselves.
Principal Greg Smith said 14 of the school’s total of 56 Year 12 graduates were indigenous.
This means his indigenous students’ graduation rate is almost on par with their non-indigenous counterparts who started in Year 8.
Greg said one of the main aims of educators was to have their students prepared and confident in their ability to chase their dreams.
He arrived to lead Murgon State High School on the same day as this year’s graduates began their secondary education and he believed definite progress had been made over the years in improving indigenous outcomes.
“The school’s now in a great position to move forward,” he said.
“It’s well-resourced and with Great Results Guaranteed funding we’ll be able to give greater support to our students.
“If parents, families and friends continue to encourage their children’s learning from the day they’re born we’ll be able to work together in partnership to guarantee great results for all our students.”
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At Kingaroy State High School, principal Helen Maudsley said she believed the previous sense of “shame” put on students who made an effort to succeed had diminished over the years.
She was confident her six indigenous graduates would do well in life.
Keanu Cullen was a high achiever who planned to travel before possibly studying law.
Other Kingaroy State High School graduates have completed a school-based traineeships.
“Tylor Johnston is the first from her family to finish Year 12 and our staff are very proud of her efforts to succeed,” Helen said.
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St Mary’s Catholic College principal Michael Nayler is passionate about improving education outcomes and works closely with Cherbourg families and community organisations to ensure this occurs.
“Our parents are pretty amazing,” he said.
“They send their kids on an hour’s bus trip to get here and they have high expectations.
“We’re seeing the results with students going on to university, apprenticeships, traineeships and work.”
St Mary’s is set to have more than 50 students travel from Murgon and Cherbourg next year.
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Nanango State High School principal Darryl Early said his staff were delighted by the effort of its indigenous Year 12 graduates who had great prospects.
Jasmine McCormick graduated with two TAFE certificates, Anthony Flanagan had three and wants to be a chef and Eddie Gesler and Courtney Eagle have university aspirations.
Courtney wants to study a dual Science and Urban Environment Planning degree at Griffith University.
Eddie hopes to study law at the same university.
“We have an unwritten rule for students and it’s ‘you can do anything’,” he said.
“These students have certainly lived up to that.”
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FOOTNOTE: A special celebration for community Elders and the 2014 Year 12 graduates will be held on Thursday evening at Murgon Town Hall.
