Along with the usual challenges ‘teenagerhood’ presents, these Defence students also endured the added challenges that come along with the military lifestyle. Frequent and often long parent absences due to deployments and exercises, posting into many schools over the years, the constant adjustment to differing teaching styles, making new friends only to say goodbye, new doctors, new dentists, new homes and locations, and time away from extended families are just some of the obstacles they have had to contend with during their schooling years. These challenges can illicit young adults who are resilient and adaptable and able to get on with the job at hand, and to those who are about to step into the adult world, I wish them all every success as they carve out their own path in life.  Goodbye and Good Luck!

Remembrance Day

On the 8^th November, Ripley Valley SSC commemorated Remembrance Day with our annual Remembrance Day assembly. In a moving ceremony, members of the school community including staff, students and families, along with Ipswich Sub Branch RSL President Paul Rogers, members of the Ipswich Council, including Mayor Teresa Harding and P&C representatives laid wreaths in honour of our fallen. Defence students Lucy Day and Jayla Cameron read ‘In Flanders Fields’ and ‘The Ode’ respectively, and our wonderful Piper, Adam Regnart, play his pipes to accompany to wreath laying. Dale Ezzy, our resident music teacher, bugled The Last Post beautifully, a task that can very challenging during the sombre nature of a commemoration.

Our ceremony rounded out with the participation of our wonderful Army Cadets, who took up the role of Flag Orderlies with clear pride and professionalism.

On the 11th of November, Deputy Principal Daniel Pym, accompanied by Defence School Mentor Tracey Cooper, Defence Peer Mentor Jayla Cameron and Defence Student Cynthia, attended the Ipswich Sub Branch RSL Remembrance Day commemoration to lay a wreath on behalf of Ripley Valley SSC. 

Each year the attendance at this commemoration grows, and of particular note this year was the number of schools that were in attendance. The young people attending these services is a promise to past generations that we will continue to Remember to Remember

A Year in Review

As the end of 2024 draws near, I reflect on the year that was for our Defence students at the college.

Term 1 activities saw welcome morning teas for new Defence families to the college, and the commencement of planning for our ANZAC Day assembly. The Defence Peer Mentors, Jayla Cameron, Ben Coop and Jackson Sheen were awarded their badges at our Investiture Assembly.

Term 2 began with ANZAC Day commemorations with the college hosting the Dawn service for the South Ripley Community, the creation and installation of Defence Family silhouette, and in week 6, a Defence Student Parental Absence Workshop was held for our Defence students.

In term 3 we held our annual Defence Week activities, which included a visit from 9FSB and their camel mascots, Penny and Vernon from RAAF Base Amberley.  The Poppy Project was launched and the college was represented by students at the Battle of Fromelles, Korean War Veterans Day and Vietnam Veterans Day commemorations.

The year has rounded out in term 4 with Remembrance Day, Wellbeing Expo, Year 12 Defence Student farewell lunch, completion and mounting of ADF Family plaques in ANZAC Place, ADF Long Tan Award on awards night, DSM introductions a feeder primary schools, and the inaugural Defence Student Christmas break up,
which was a great way to kick off the wind down to Christmas

It has been a very busy year for the Defence community at the college.  I have met many new students and their families, and I have said goodbye also.  It is always a privilege to be a part of the support system for our Defence families, and I look forward to doing it all over again in 2025.

If you are new Defence families who will be joining the Ripley Valley SSC community next year, you can identify as a Defence family when you enrol at the college, or you can contact me directly by calling 3819 5333 or by using the contact details below for any other information about the Defence School Mentor program.

I take this opportunity to wish you all a very merry Christmas, and a safe and wonderful holiday, and I look forward to working with you in 2025.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

DMFS SUPPORT INFORMATION

Defence Member and Family Hotline - 1800 624 608

DMFS https://www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/family-programs-services

To contact the Defence School Mentor: Tracey Cooper

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 0800 - 1430hrs

Email: tcoop203@eq.edu.au

Phone : 3819 5333