All the best for exams
Year 12 exams commence this week for students around Victoria.
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Students have worked hard over many years to reach this point and it's understandable that they may be feeling at least a little nervous as they start their exams.
I want to wish students in all schools the best of luck as they complete their exams.
You have worked hard, this is your opportunity to be able to show what you can do.
Remember that you have your family, school and friends there for support.
I hope that whatever results you receive in December reflect the effort you've put in and the plans you have for the future.
Finally, when results are released I encourage the media and schools to recognise that the results belong to individual students,not to schools.
Bendigo has remained largely free of the rabid school promotion of VCE results seen in other places.
I hope that we can remain a city where students are recognised for their VCE achievements without being used as promotional objects.
Good luck Year 12s, your future awaits!
Dale Pearce, Bendigo Senior Secondary College principal
The waiting game begins
Voting is now over and we await the outcome the election of our new council for the next four years.
I, amongst others, have found it difficult to ascertain some of the candidates attributes and suitability for election.
Mostly, the problem is the cost for candidates in campaigning for what is, basically, a volunteer position.
As a result, the knowledge of candidates suitability and ability to serve council in the way we need to proceed is not clear .
It is tantamount to running a chook raffle.
There is absolutely no point in sacking all councillors. Some are extremely valuable in terms of their long-term knowledge of the city’s issues and means of fixing them.
However, there is certainly room to bring new perspectives to the council table.
Without detracting from the record and endeavours of our current councillors seeking reelection, or the chances of new candidates, I pray and trust that we retain the services of Rod Fyffe, James Williams, Barry Lyons and Peter Cox.
I fervently hope that we add Margaret O’Rourke and Wayne Gregson as major contributors of new perspectives.
Beyond that, there will be three councillors elected who it is hoped can express their views freely and sensibly and agree priorities with their peers.
Bruce Phillips, Maiden Gully
Perceptions must change
On Tuesday, October 11, thousands of people across the country generously threw their support behind the inaugural headspace day.
This national day is to ensure that every young person has access to youth-friendly mental health services, no matter where they live.
Headspace day celebrated 10 years of innovation in youth mental health and was also triggered by alarming new research from Orygen and headspace that revealed over 50 per cent of young people were waiting six or more months before seeking help for mental health issues.
This period of waiting and worrying can have detrimental effects.
From social isolation to relationship breakdowns, drug and alcohol abuse and in severe cases, incidents of self-harm or suicide.
The research also uncovered that close to 50 per cent of young people said financial cost was a barrier in preventing them from getting treatment. Nearly half said they believed they could not be helped and more than 50 per cent said they were afraid of what others would think.
We need to change these perceptions.