Seats of learning

By Lia Bichel
TENNIS fans at Narre Warren South can sit themselves down and cheer on local athletes, thanks to local students.
With the help of timber donations from Lumber Softwoods in Dandenong, the Year 11 Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) students at Narre Warren South P-12 College have donated seats which they designed to Willow Lodge and the City of Casey Tennis Courts.
This was one of several projects VCAL students completed that had a focus on community. Other students raised $4000 for a range of charities including the Make A Wish Foundation and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, as well as continuing their support of Tyler Fishlock.
Teacher Jonathan Vallance, who supervised the students who worked on the benches, said the students worked hard to deliver a quality product.
“It is great for the students to get involved in projects like these which can benefit others in the community,” Mr Vallance said.
Narre Warren South Tennis Club secretary Julie Jenner said she was pleased with the donation.
“It means we will be able to have seating around our courts which we couldn’t provide by ourselves,” Ms Jenner said.
“The students have been extremely generous.”
Narre Warren South P-12 assistant principal Rob Duncan said VCAL students continued to do great work despite an announcement earlier this year by the State Government that VCAL co-ordination funding will be cut.
“This is what is great about VCAL. At a time when the government chooses to take away funding from this program, our students have raised over $30,000 for charity since 2006,” Mr Duncan said.
“This year alone, they have raised $4000 as well as provided their local community with quality seating. We are all very proud of the efforts of our students. They are to be congratulated for their contribution to making a better community.”