By Jesse Graham
HEALESVILLE Primary School student Chloe Lorgelly received a helping hand with her transition to high school on Monday, 5 December, winning the school’s scholarship for one of its top students.
Chloe, a Grade 6 student, received the Tricia O’Reilly Scholarship on Monday, in front of parents, teachers and the entire school in an assembly.
The scholarship was created in memory of Tricia, herself a Grade 6 student who was killed on her way home from school in 2001.
Chloe was presented with a plaque from principal Cameron Heath, with representatives from Healesville police, Healesville High School and the O’Reilly family watching on.
Former recipients, Marc Jones and Jacinta Scragg, spoke to the students before the presentation about how receiving the scholarship had helped their schooling life, before Chloe was announced as winner.
Mr Heath said the scholarship was awarded to a Healesville Primary School student who was going to Healesville High School, and who exhibited qualities like Tricia did when she was at the school.
“The student exemplifies Tricia in that they are accomplished, interested in being involved in all aspects of school activity, well organised, conscientious in all things that they do and they are also the sort of person who is sporty, cheerful, fun, loving and respectful,” Mr Heath said.
“This person has shown all of those things this year, and not only this year, but in the whole of her … schooling life.”
Thanking Tricia’s father, Peter O’Reilly, for attending the presentation, Mr Heath said that announcing the scholarship was a “sad occasion”.
“But it’s also a happy occasion, because it actually gives students like Marc and Jacinta the opportunity to do things that they may not have been able to do, without this support,” he said.
Chloe told the Mail after the presentation that she was “excited” about getting the scholarship, which includes money to assist with school costs, a plaque and her name on shields at both schools.
“I wasn’t expecting it at all, really,” she said.
She said that she had been looking forward to high school “for a long time”, and that she would be starting her orientation on Tuesday, 6 December.
As for her plans after high school, Chloe said she was keeping her options open.
“I’m not sure,” she said.
“I have a couple things in mind – I want to be a teacher, but I also want to be an actor or something like that.”
Teacher Marlene Williams told students at the assembly to take note of their behaviour, with teachers looking for award-winning students for “a couple of years” before their graduation.
“We look for a couple of years beforehand, and we’re looking, looking, looking, taking notes, discussing it as the years go on,” she said.
The scholarship is funded by bitumen and transport company Gornroamin Pty Ltd, through the Yarra Valley’s Picone family.
