Newsletter for the Rotary Club of Greater Geraldton - Issue No.: 780 Issue Date: 15 Apr, 2024

Director of the Academy, Karl  Pirrotina, welcomed us again, and pointed out that the team that cooked us breakfast arrived at 6.00am to do so!!

The Clontarf Foundation exists to improve the education, discipline, life skills, self-esteem and employment of young indigenous men and by doing so, equip them to participate meaningfully in society. It is not football a program, there is less emphasis on this now.

The aim is to get year 12 students ready for work and independence. Part of this involves “Keys for Life”, a program to assist the boys in obtaining their drivers licences. There are 60 students in the Academy at Geraldton Senior, and of the 12 students who will graduate this year, five have their licences and the rest have passed their tests prior to log book hours. 

Nationwide there are 92 academies, with an 11,000 student capacity. Although consideration is being given to include girls (There is the “Shine” program running for them at Geraldton Senior) it is felt best to “go hard” with the boys and the girls will follow. The latest developments are the academies moving into Townsville and Cairns, the “other” Ian Taylor from this Academy leading in Cairns.

The MWCF prides itself in its alumni, many of whom have returned to encourage and support the present students. The Alumni vs the Present Footy match is very popular!! There are two Academies in town, the other at John Wilcock College and they combine on Wednesday mornings for breakfast!

The next challenge for the Academy  is integrating the year 7s into the program and the move out of the old John Frewer building into a new location on the school oval site. This will allow the Academy to be closer to the action of the main school.

Ray Haynes expressed our appreciation to Karl for his talk and the boy's hospitality.