December 8, 2017
“I hope your dreams come true” … this was Cherbourg Mayor Arnold Murray’s message to students at Thursday’s Nurunderi TAFE graduation ceremony.
Speaking after his Welcome To Country, Mayor Murray thanked the TAFE college and all the teachers for their efforts, and also congratulated all the students who were graduating.
Qualifications earned ranged from Certificate IIs through to Diplomas.
The certificates were distributed to the proud students by TAFE Qld South-West Region General Manager Brent Kinnane and Murgon State High School principal Maurice Ware.
Among the graduates was a group of Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS) students who have been combining Certificate II and Certificate III courses with their studies at Murgon State High School.
Mr Ware said the relationship between TAFE and the school had not come about by chance, but had been put together with work by both sides over the past 24 months which made Thursday’s graduation an important day.
Campus Business Coordinator Santina Schmocker listed some of the highlights for Nurunderi over the past 12 months, including a joint venture with South Burnett CTC at Gumnut Place in Murgon.
Ten trainees, studying a Certificate I in Construction, worked alongside Gumnut employees for four months on the construction of an extension to Gumnut’s laundry.
Mrs Schmocker said the project achieved a 50 per cent employment outcome.
A highlight of the ceremony was the Student Address by Certificate III graduate Malachi Wallace who has been studying Early Childhood Education and Care while also working at Cherbourg State School as a teacher assistant.
Speaking on behalf of all students, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, Malachi thanked the teachers at the college.
“Look at what we have accomplished as students of Nurunderi TAFE! These achievements are a credit to Nurunderi TAFE,” he said.
“The team have made it possible for all students here today to achieve their certificates,” he said.
“Having had this experience, I would be saying to anyone who wants to improve their career choices, lifestyle and their employment opportunities to please utilise the Nurunderi campus.
“We as a community want to see it used to its full capacity.”
- Malachi’s full speech can be found on our Facebook page
