By Callum Ludwig
Healesville Primary School has announced its annual Tricia O’Reilly Memorial Scholarship and Award winner for 2022.
The award, in its 21st year, honours the legacy of former Healesville Primary School and Healesville High School student Tricia O’Reilly who was tragically killed in a car accident while in Year Seven while making her way home, at the age of only 12.
This year, the honour was given to Wellbeing Captain Ella Kells for being the Grade Six student who best emulated Tricia’s academic accomplishments, interest and involvement in the school community and organisation and conscientiousness and who is going on to Healesville High School.
Ella said she was not expecting to receive the award.
“It was weird because the person who I thought was going to win it, her name starts the same as mine, so it was a bit of a shock,” she said.
“I’m really excited to continue the legacy of Tricia.”
The late Senior Sergeant Tony Van Gorp of Healesville Police set up the award back in 2001 to help cover the cost of school books, uniforms and school fees for the winner and he is widow Gayle Shelley proudly still attends to congratulate the winner each year. Sergeant Kirsty Swankie also attended on behalf of Healesville Police.
Ella’s Mum Anne Kells said she was extremely proud of Ella for achieving such an honour.
“I couldn’t be happier with her, she’s done such a good job and she’s such a lovely young lady,” she said.
“It was a huge effort on Ella’s behalf and she has a big sister at high school now that she is looking forward to going to high school with. She’s done such a good job at primary school and I’m sure she’ll excel at high school.”
Former recipient Chloe Lorgally also attended and told students about how her 2016 win set her up for many opportunities in high school that she otherwise may never have gotten and that it motivated her to achieve more.
Tricia O’Reilly’s sisters Danielle Mullins and Cheryl O’Reilly attended and Ms Mullins said it really does mean the world to their family.
“It’s always a proud moment to see it continue going on, Tricia was a bright memory and many people in Healesville would tell you that they still remember her, there’s nothing really else that we could be more proud of than what the school and the community did when she was hurt,” she said.
“It’s amazing watching the students, I see them more now in the high school than the primary school, but seeing them grow or seeing them in the newsletter and they’ve done amazing things so many of them.”
Tricia O’Reilly was killed when she was struck by a truck at the corner of Maroondah Highway and Don Road in Healesville, and her death was a major factor in the push for traffic lights to be installed at that site to make it safer for everyone.
