Students graduate

More than 280 people gathered at a Longerenong College ceremony on Friday to celebrate 2018 graduates.

Some graduating students travelled from Tasmania and Western Australia to attend the event.

Officials used the occasion to announce award winners, with Lucy Powell from Paraparap being Diploma of Agronomy dux.

Rebecca Sluggett from Vectis was announced Victorian Wheat Research Foundation’s outstanding first-year student. She was also Advanced Diploma of Agribusiness Management first-year dux and won an award for insect collection.

Ellie Mcdonald from Dadswells Bridge was Advanced Diploma of Agribusiness Management dux and Stevie Bibby from Horsham, Certificate IV in Agriculture dux.

Matthew Kerr from Dunrobin was Certificate IV in Agriculture Dux, first year, Bailey Frankel, Patchewollock, won a Farm Management Award

and Caleb Leith an Apprentice Achievement Award. Other awards: Jack Wilson from Geranium, plant collection award; Ashleigh Sanders, Wemeth, plant collection award; Tim Koch, Boundary Bend, plant collection award; Brylee Robinson, Benalla, most outstanding effort in show steer for 2018; Bryan Matuschka, 2018 lecturer of the year. Marion Wilson, who with her husband Ian farms at Clear Lake, was guest speaker at the graduation.

Mrs Wilson has a long affiliation with the college. She has been a member of the Longerenong College Animal Ethics Committee and a student liaison officer for three years. In 1972 she became one of the first female students to enrol at college.

Before proceedings, St Brigid’s College student Harriet Overman sang the national anthem and Michael Stewart from Horsham Pipe Band piped graduates into the ceremony.