A lionhearted gift
Wesley College Year 11 student Tom Church has constructed a life-sized pirate ship for the Glen Waverley Junior School playground. Tom is completing a VET Building and Construction course and has long wanted to leave a legacy to Wesley, as a way of giving back to the school that has given him so much. Wesley congratulates Tom on a fantastic achievement that will be enjoyed by Junior School students for years to come.
In Year 9, the talented student constructed a 1.5 metre long Santa’s sleigh with fellow Wesley College student Zac Comley-Burns. With the help of eight friends they pulled the sleigh around the Junior School spreading Christmas cheer.
In Year 10, whilst on an induction program at the Yiramalay/Wesley Studio School, Tom was chatting to the Glen Waverley Head of Campus, Peter Dickinson, about his idea of creating something for the campus. Peter recalled an old row boat sitting in the Year 1 back garden that many Wesley students had once loved, and the idea of the pirate ship was born.
Tom has worked on the ship every Wednesday afternoon for the majority of the school year, with assistance from the Wesley College maintenance team and his father. He says he is thrilled to have been given the opportunity to make this contribution to the school, and can’t wait for the official opening so the students can start enjoying playing on it!
As a part of his accreditation Tom has regularly liaised with Peter, presenting plans, costings and progress updates. Tom and Peter alike were delighted when the Purple and Gold Parent Association came on board with sponsorship.
Peter has commended the project saying it exemplifies the very best of Wesley. “Tom’s attention to detail has been extraordinary – sails, a wheel that he found in an antique shop, treasure map, bell, flag and a lion head for the front, which he moulded from the lions at the front of the school etc. It looks stunning and the Junior School students are very excited.”
In a lovely connection to another talented former Wesley College student, Tom has chosen to call the pirate ship Lionheart, the same name as the yacht that Jesse Martin (OW1999), who also attended the Glen Waverley campus, sailed around the world.
