But results at Eastern University Games mixed
Basketballers reach nationals
August 14, 2014 by Brenton StaceyExpo returns interest
June 27, 2014 by Brenton StaceyGenerates hundreds of enquiries for Avondale
Brenton Stacey
Public relations officer
Avondale College of Higher Education
Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia
The facilities and support Avondale provides as host of an annual regional careers expo ensures its return to the college is a “no brainer.”
The Central Coast Careers Pathways Expo brings together exhibitors from the business, government, education and trade sectors and senior students from about 30 public and private schools in the region. It returned to Avondale College of Higher Education’s Lake Macquarie campus for a fourth consecutive year this past Tuesday (June 24), generating more enquiries—419 this year—and more goodwill.
“Working with Avondale is so good,” says coordinator Phil Williamson, the head teacher for vocational education and training at Northlakes High School in San Remo. He speaks of the facilities—the Chan Shun Auditorium is the primary venue—and the logistical support from Marketing Services, particularly the student workers it employs, as keys to the expo’s success. “The decision our planning committee makes to return each year is a no brainer.”
The agreement for Avondale to host the expo will enter its fifth year next year.
Helping Hands a win-win
May 28, 2014 by Brenton StaceyMentoring, recruitment initiative good for enrolment, community
Bianca Reynaud
Public relations assistant
Avondale College of Higher Education
Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia
An Avondale College of Higher Education mentoring and recruitment initiative is as its name suggests giving new students and their friends a helping hand.
An initiative of Marketing Services, Helping Hands encourages students to mentor those they introduce to Avondale by, among other things, helping them register, accompanying them to their first lectures and introducing them to life at Avondale. Mentors are rewarded with a free unit or $1000 off the cost of their accommodation and the satisfaction of helping a friend.
“She’s been tops,” says Breane Grange about her Helping Hand Monique Graf, a final-year Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Teaching student. Breane enrolled in semester one this year and is studying a Bachelor of Education (Primary). Helping Hands eased her into her course “because there was one person [on which I could rely.] It just made everything so much easier and less scary.”
Monique eased into her role, too.“Just be someone who’s approachable. Encourage, listen. Your student [needs to feel like] someone is there for them.”
Helping Hands began in 2009 but improved its accountability requirements the following year. Students must now attend orientation with their recruited student, complete an activity log and attend a mentoring session.
“I’m studying teaching to be a mentor,” says Monique, “and the mentoring session reminded me what it’s all about—thinking of someone other than myself.” She adds that “it’s been cool to see Breane settle in and enjoy [her time at Avondale].”
According to marketing officer Alana Brown, at least 50 students register for Helping Hands each year. They recruit about 100 students. This win-win builds a stronger sense of community on campus. Says Breane, “We feel like we’re part of the community from the very first day.”
From Bible lands to baptism
May 15, 2014 by Brenton StaceyStudy tour helps lead students to Christ
Brenton Stacey
Public relations officer
Avondale College of Higher Education
Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia
A Bible lands study tour and Seventh-day Adventist education entities have influenced four Avondale students to publicly declare their belief in Jesus Christ.
Emma McCrow, an international poverty and development studies major, joined chaplain Dr Wayne French on the Middle East tour in 2011. The experience, among others, contributed to a “gradual growing in her life” that led to the decision for baptism.
Primary education student Gina Siller wanted to get baptised on the tour in 2013 but decided to wait so her husband could attend.
Studying at the college of higher education helped Maree Bagley (bottom right), also a primary education student, make her decision.
Enrolling her children at Avondale School helped Kylie Stewart (bottom left) not only make a decision for baptism but also a decision to study primary education.
The baptisms at 7.28 this past Friday are likely to lead to others. Wayne says they and the Bible studies that precede them are the “best parts of my job.”
Great mates
May 7, 2014 by Brenton StaceyAll Stars show respect for student’s loss
Brenton Stacey
Public relations officer
Avondale College of Higher Education
Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia
Basketball took a time out at the beginning of All-Star Weekend as players and spectators remembered an Avondale student whose mother had died.
Kyle Armstrong has yet to return to college after the death of mother Kerrie at the family home in Forest Hill near Toowoomba, Queensland on April 25.
His friends paused to pray with other players and spectators before the Rookies versus Returns game on Saturday. Players in that game wore black armbands as “our way of showing respect,” says Avondale Basketball Association co-president Jarrod Cherry, a high school friend of Kyle’s.
The evening began on a musical note with four members of Avondale vocal ensemble The Promise performing their own arrangement of the national anthem.
In the games themselves, the women of Andre Hall defeated their contemporaries in Ella Boyd Hall 48-28 while in the men’s, Returns held off Rookies 63-60. Honours were even in Sunday’s City versus Country games, with the metro girls almost doubling their opponent’s score (45-24) and the rural guys winning comprehensively (68-45).