1 April 2009

Openings mark beginning of new academic year for Avondale

Cooranbong, New South Wales
Lyndelle Lawrence

Staff members and students on Avondale College's Lake Macquarie and Sydney campuses have officially marked the beginning of the academic year during opening ceremonies on March 4.

Sanitarium Health Food Company CEO Kevin Jackson spoke during opening convocation on the Lake Macquarie campus about passion, purpose and perseverance-the "three Ps essential for success."

"Perseverance is good but perseverance without purpose and passion is meaningless," he said in his speech. "You are running a race and while it will be tough at times, you aren't running alone."

Mr Jackson reminded students God is on their side and of their ultimate purpose-to reflect the light of God into the dark corners of the world. At the end of his speech, he presented students with this challenge: to live passionately, persevere and fulfil their purpose.

Dr Marion Shields, senior Faculty of Education lecturer, thanks Kevin Jackson for his opening convocation speech. Photo by Ann Stafford.

Earlier, public relations officer Brenton Stacey, representing the Avondale College Alumni Association, presented a leather-bound notebook to Avondale Student Association president Natalie Verhoeven. The notebook contained handwritten messages of advice and encouragement from members of the association's committee, and from the previous student president. It serves as a symbolic link between former and current students. "We're keen to get to know you because we want to keep in contact-and not just when you graduate," Mr Stacey told the students in his speech.

The college's vice-president (administration and research), Dr Vivienne Watts, encouraged students to pursue further study upon completion of the objectives of their units. She suggested students even negotiate higher grades with their lecturers on publication of any original research.

Staff members and students shared speaking duties during a more casual opening forum on the Sydney campus. New Avondale Nursing Student Association president Andrew White introduced his new team and acknowledged the previous president, Ernie Koh, who graduated this past year but attended the forum.

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