Rotary School Link Program - Girrawheen Senior High School

Girrawheen Senior High School

As part of the Youth Directorate, Rotary clubs were allocated a school in their area by District. This was an opportunity for students to participate in Rotary District Youth Programs.
 
On looking at the schools in our area,  we felt we could “make a difference” by finding a school that had less opportunity than the ones in the close vicinity of our club.
 
Girrawheen Senior High School was a school in need, both in “hands on” projects and student mentoring so we approached the then Rotary Club of Mirrabooka as this school was in their territory. This Rotary Club raised no objection to our Rotary club taking on this school for our Youth directorate activities.
 
The school principal Barry Wells was an inspirational leader and was receptive to having Rotary assistance at the school. Barry was subsequently awarded Heirisson’s very first Principal of the Year award.
 
The very first links with the school were made in 1991 and a quote by one of our members at the time was “This is a school that is desperately crying out for help and our links have become very strong.”

The major project we will always remember was the brick paving around the school. The bricks were procured and laid by us. We also assisted with the landscaping of the gardens and their maintenance over many years – this is the focus of the slides today. Also, for many years our members participated in National Clean-up Days at the school.
 
Some educational needs at the school were met by our Rotarians who donated unused stationary for use. We also provided interviewers for over 400 students annually who participated in the Job-Seekers preparation for employment. We also facilitated the hosting of students for work experience in our businesses.
 
Heirisson Rotarians also provided public speaking and media training for participation in the district Four Way Speaking competitions.
 
Over the years Heirisson also enabled a number of students to participate in many of Rotary’s programmes.
 
Rotary member showed support by attending school concerts, speech nights and school plays including the schools 25th anniversary dinner.
 
There were so many facets of this project within the school that EVERY Rotarian of Heirisson was able to help in some way.
 
But it wasn’t all a one-way street. The school gave back to the club as well by hosting and catering for biannual Rotary breakfast meetings on site and providing speakers and entertainment.
 
Students were also on hand as ball kids for our many fund-raising tennis days. Students also helped out with other hands on projects such as the East Perth cemetery busy bee.
 
In 1996 the school principal Barry Wells said:
 
“I doubt that any school in Australia enjoys as close a link with a Rotary Club as we enjoy with Heirisson and I believe we have set a tremendous model for others to follow if they have the energy and the imagination.”
 
In 1997 Barry left as principal, passing the baton to Lesley Street, then a member of Heirisson. In later years under other principals, the drive to keep Rotary and Girrawheen as a tight knit unit waned. There was no more brick paving or landscaping to do. The main drivers of these projects had left our club and the club’s focus had started to move to other projects.
 
The passion was ignited again in 2000, through members who felt the relationship should be rekindled. Sadly this only lasted a couple of years as later principals didn’t see eye to eye with our club’s philosophies. During this time we were responsible for instigating Food Bank breakfasts into the school. I am pleased to say that on a recent visit to the school last month, I established that these breakfasts are still provided.
 
As to the power of Heirisson, This project demonstrates - Total club commitment, a variety of tasks so each member could be involved in their own way, the two way street of our club helping an underprivileged school in so many ways and yet getting so much back in return and building a solid relationship.
 
To bring us back to the present time and focussing on projects that build a special relationship, I liken our Girrawheen experience with our emerging role in ASeTTS.
 
In my closing, teaming up with Girrawheen Senior High School enabled our club to make things happen.
 
PP Carolyn Earle

Updated:  2011-03-24