Emmanuel College celebrated 10 years of its Inspiring Alumni at Warrnambool’s Lighthouse Theatre in August.
The Evening of Inspiration was a joyous occasion inducting Cheryl Hicks, Stephen Lee, Michael Owen, Melissa Patterson, Helen Ridgwell and Fr. Barry Ryan into the Inspiring Alumni.
Whilst the inductees have gone in various directions since finishing their education at Emmanuel College, one quality, one characteristic links them together. Whether in the workforce or in their professional lives or in the local community, service to others is evident in the ways each of them is living out their lives. Whether providing legal expertise in the service of the recent Royal Commission into Institutional Responses into Sexual Abuse, or establishing the “Tasty Plate” catering service in our local community to employ people with disabilities, or providing access to educational opportunities for indigenous young people in the remotest parts of the nation, or providing rescue services in the Southern Ocean through Surf Lifesaving Victoria, or bringing environmental theology to thousands of university students, or being a pioneering woman in aviation, the inductees have positively impacted the lives of many.
“They are exceptional role models,” said Principal Peter Morgan, “of whom we are justly proud and through their leadership we acknowledge their capacity to inspire others to succeed and achieve. For the first time we inducted seven Young Alumni Achievers at this year’s event. Congratulations to Peter Cho, Edwina Goodall, Virginia McCormick, Emma McDowall, Liam O’Keeffe, Nathan Sobey and Aimee Timpson. These young people are all shaping and contributing to our Australian way of life. Congratulations to all our inductees.”
Along with the inductions inspiring current students were recognised for their exceptional achievements and student talent was showcased with: an art exhibition (a retrospective of past Art Hall of Fame Winners), fashion parade of student design work and performances including: the Frayne Speech Festival winning Voice Choir, the Senior Concert band performing Bohemian Rhapsody and an outstanding rendition of an award-winning song, Thulele Mama Ya, by The Emmanuel Singers.
