10 Nov 2016
The Dubbo College annual presentation night celebrated the achievements of more than 200 students from Delroy, South and Senior Campuses.
Organised by College head teacher Jo Doorey, the night began with the Team Zircon miniature four-wheel drive taking to the stage to the applause of a packed Dubbo Theatre.
Special guest speaker was former Dubbo College student and teacher Lars Newman.
Dr Newman talked about the path taken to his current career in medicine, and urged all Year 12 students not to be defined by their HSC ATAR result.
Circus West members Phoebe Farrell and ClairePeacock, who presented a breathtaking spectacle suspended above the Dubbo Theatre stage.
Dubbo College students were presented with awards for academic excellence, cultural contribution, citizenship, leadership and excellence in applied studies.
Achievements beyond the College recognised students for a range of activities including involvement in the West of the Divide band tour of Europe, study at the University of Singapore, public speaking, the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and National World Skills.
Recognition of excellence in teaching awards were presented to three College teachers – South Campus deputy principal Jacqui Thompson, Senior Campus TAS teacher John Miller and Delroy teacher Paul Woodhead.
Mrs Thompson's award focused on her work developing professional learning programs for staff, while Mr Miller was recognised for his commitment to technical and applied studies and his role in leading Team Zircon to the World Four-Wheel Drive in Schools championships in Britain earlier this year.
Mr Woodhead, who initiated Circus West some 25 years ago, was applauded for his commitment to the students of Dubbo College. In addition to running school-based circus programs, Mr Woodhead has implemented the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme at Delroy, including specialist cadet programs in the RFS and the SES. In this role he successfully led a student expedition on the Kokoda track in 2015.
The final award for the night acknowledged the 2015 dux of Dubbo College, Elijah Stanger-Jones. This award, the GH Taylor Memorial Medal, was presented by Ellen Mortimore, the great-grand daughter of Mr Taylor, to Elijah's favourite teacher James Eddy.
Elijah is currently studying at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston.