Looking outwards - Wesley and the community
Last week a number of students attended a Commemoration Service for General Sir John Monash, a legendary Australian after whom the City of Monash (in which our Glen Waverley campus is situated) and Monash University are named. He was an engineer, lawyer, administrator and a commanding officer of the Australian forces during World War I but, above all, he was known for being a compassionate leader who cared very much for others.
The above statement was Monash’s mantra yet it also stands alongside Wesley College’s focus on looking outwards and ensuring that our students are active participants in the community.
At all of the three city campuses and at Clunes and Yiramalay, significant fundraising for a variety of local, national and international organisations occurs each year and our students are always keen to volunteer their time for annual events such as the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal, Jump Rope for Heart, Red Cross Door Knocks, Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, Shave For A Cure, the APS Foundation or to run cake sales or sausage sizzles.
However, it is the actual service activities that tend to have the most lasting impact on our students and the communities in which they occur. Many of the initiatives are being driven by the students out of the action components connected to their Primary Years Programme units of inquiry, as part of their Community, Action and Service (CAS) commitments for the IB Diploma, through the Duke of Edinburgh and Compass Awards programs, or simply from the passion of an individual or small group. The introduction of the Middle Years Programme is bringing a more consistent and dedicated approach to service learning in the Middle School too.
There are numerous examples where our students are actively involved in contributing their own time and effort and generally supporting social service in action activities. Our campus newsletters and the annual Chronicle record many initiatives. These examples include, but are certainly not limited to compiling birthing kits for developing countries or care packs and blankets for Melbourne’s homeless; knitting scarves; donating ‘cellos to Afghanistan; helping out at food shelters such as FareShare, providing music at retirement and aged care centres and hospitals; supporting micro-loaning; clothes’ drives and food and book collections.
Two teachers from the Junior School at St Kilda Road, Judy Dempster and Katie Orton, are also being strong role models for service by volunteering in Kabul, Afghanistan and Battambang, Cambodia respectively.
Wesley at Clunes has a strong and highly valued relationship with the local community. From the Friday morning community engagement and service program to community cooking and volunteering to help with larger events (Booktown, Clunes Agricultural Show or the annual Clunes Community Dinner). Our students also help younger primary school students in their classes and spend time with the elderly citizens. The creek and landcare programs involve working with surrounding groups and working bees in a range of community areas, such as the child care centre, are high on the agenda each term. Thousands of saplings have been planted in the district over the years and this is a clear legacy of the Wesley at Clunes program.
In addition, when our Year 8 students are at Lochend, they are all involved in an award-winning environmental action program that, for over 10 years, has cared for and rejuvenated a significant part of the Great South West Walk. The Yiramalay/Wesley Studio School and our Wesmob student action groups draw much needed focus and action on issues affecting Indigenous Australians.
We should be reminded of Sir John Monash. He was a man of action who strove, above all else, to use his skills for the benefit of the community, and at Wesley, where service is at the core, we encourage our students to ensure that service and care for others helps define their lives.
