East Gippsland primary and secondary students were recognised for their achievements and citizenship traits at a special East Gippsland-wide awards night at the Bairnsdale Sporting and Convention Centre last Tuesday with Far East Gippsland students well represented at the regional event.

Bairnsdale Secondary College acting principal, Noel Creece, welcomed students, their families and staff members to the 11th East Gippsland Schools’ Awards Night with koorie engagement support officer, Aunty Dottie Moffatt, providing a Welcome to Country.

The national anthem was performed by Orbost Secondary College’s VCE Group Performance Band, which also entertained guests with Riptide and Feelin’ Good, as they dined.

Mr Creece said he was pleased to have 16 government schools from as far away as Mallacoota join in on the night with 39 students from grade one to year 12 acknowledged for their achievements this year.

Mallacoota P-12 College principal, Tim Cashmore, was spotlighted on stage as he was interviewed by some of the awardees, Airly Embleton-Mews (Mallacoota P-12), Laura Jennison (Lindenow PS), Mitchell Clancy (Clifton Creek PS) and Emily Morton (Nicholson PS).

The awards were presented by Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, East Gippsland Shire mayor, Cr Natalie O’Connell, and Toorloo Arm Primary School principal, Kerry Hughes.

PICTURED: NEWMERELLA PRIMARY SCHOOL: Staff members, Lauryn Geddes and Michael Brooks with award recipients, grade six students, Ashleigh Grech (leadership, sporting and academic), Kaylib Wade (koori achievement and leadership) and Kortni Stedman (community excellence).