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Wesley @Clunes
Online Newsletter
Group 4:   Issue No: 8
December 02, 2000

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From the Director
TIME OF YOUR LIFE

Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road.
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to do.
So make the best of this test, and don’t ask me why.
Its not a question, but a lesson learned in time.

It’s something unpredictable, but in the end is right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind.
Hang it on a shelf of good health and good time.
Tatoos of memories and dead skin on trial.
For what its worth, it was worth all the while.

It’s something unpredictable, but in the end is right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

So make the best of this test, and don’t ask why.
It’s not a question, but a lesson learned in time.
It’s something unpredictable, but in the end is right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

   Last night, at our final dinner, the students sung what has become their theme song, “Time of your life”. The words of this song captured the mood and spirit of this fantastic group of people. The words are full of optimism. They are about living life to the full, valuing all experiences and setting your own path in life. This group of people have certainly done this and more during their time here. There was a feeling of electricity in the air as if all our emotions were heightened. When intense journeys come to an end, you can’t help but feel a little bit different.

   There are times in your life where things just fall into place. Thursday night was such a time. We hosted Carols by Candlelight on our oval. The church came, the neighbours came and many others from Clunes came to be part of our village community. Even though we have been warmly received by the townspeople of Clunes during the year, it was only Thursday night that I felt we are indeed part of this community. It was a special night.

   As I write this last newsletter for 2000, I reflect on an extraordinary year. I can hardly believe we are at the end. It seems such a short time ago back in February, that the pioneer group arrived so full of expectation. So much has taken place during the year and each term has had its own special moments and events. What has it meant to the people of Clunes, the students who have resided here, the staff in Clunes and the wider Wesley community? After Thursday night I can only think that good things happen in Clunes. Each group had their own highlights and difficulties to overcome. When it comes time for each group to leave, the emotion in each person (including the staff) is intense. The students look back on eight weeks of experiences but have memories which will last a lifetime. The lessons they take with them, the opportunity to be part of a special community and to live in a country town are all experiences that should enrich their lives in the years ahead.

   Last night, I gave a farewell address to the final group of students. I thought of all the things these young people have done over the two months they have been here, the work put in from them and their unlimited energy! Multiply this by four and it all adds up to a wonderful year with so much to show and so much all the students and parents should feel proud of.

   Perhaps it’s because this is the final group for the year, but they seem to have an extraordinary bond of friendship and togetherness about them. I know when they depart, that the tears will flow. None the less it’s time to move on and go back to the real world. While Clunes is real for a time, it is only a small part of their lives. A lifetime of living and learning awaits them. If Clunes has helped them on that journey in some way, then, all the work and effort contributed by so many people makes everything worthwhile. What do the students feel about going home? The extract below is taken from one students’ final reflection in their journal.

“All in all, my Clunes experience has been really good and exciting and I really cannot believe that it’s nearly time to go home. I just can’t help thinking what it would be like not surrounded by your friends 24 hours day! I also constantly wonder what it will be like going back to Melbourne and catching up with all my friends! A part of me does want to stay but the other part is also really excited about going home. I suppose that most good things have to come to an end.”

   I would be very surprised if everyone else here doesn’t feel exactly the same.

   The first and pioneering year of Clunes is all but over. The work of the staff in Clunes has been outstanding and I have not had the privilege to work with a more committed and dedicated team anywhere. Their love and care for the children has been beyond what was required. The relationships formed with the students have indeed been very special. I am sure the students will never forget the kindness, the care and the wisdom given by the staff, which will help them on their journey through life. I would like to thank each of them for their contributions this year. No matter what else they do in their lives they will be able to say they were in Clunes when it all began. They were there in the first year. They were “The pioneers”.

Clunes staff 2001
Les Stott, Robert Grant, Basil Eliades, Michelle Leishmann, Kate Riddell, Kerry Grant, Michael Clarke, Robyn Marshall, Kylie White, Amy Fleet, David Mason, Suzanne Miller, Susy Pridgeon, Matt George, Ben Camm, Barry Ashton, Tim Hayes, Donna Hellier, Cheryl McCartney, Vivienne Clayton, Jonathan Nettlebeck.

   It was interesting to see the students choice for “their” song. One of the themes for the staff this year and for Clunes has been a poem by Robert Frost. It is about making choices. The song and this poem reflect similar thoughts. We chose the poem because it showed what we thought Clunes should be about. The students chose their song because it reflected what Clunes was about! Maybe, just maybe, it’s working after all.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear:
Though as for that passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I –
I took the road less travelled by, and that made all the difference.

Robert Frost
DATES TO REMEMBER
Wesley @Clunes Reunion
Sunday, December 10






Dinner with Councillor Laurice Newman

We had the pleasure of Lou Newman, (our local councillor) joining us for lunch. I previously went with her and her friend to the Enterprise meeting in Minyip. We decided to get together again so House 12 offered her lunch. We had sausages, scotch fillet steak and salad. It was great fun and I'm happy to know Lou.
- Jacob Rothfield

OUT and ABOUT...activities in the community and news and events from...AROUND THE VILLAGE
The Concert





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The Carols by Candlelight


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The Community


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Michelle - an inspiration


From the word go Michelle has been flat out trying to get everyone organized. Not only did she organize the carols she also had a huge hand in all the concerts we have done up here at Clunes; not to mention all the practice and recordings that have been going on that she has been the key role for. But in the carols on Thursday night aided by Sandro, Michelle has gone and had a stage brought in especially for the event, which took a lot of effort. Since there was supposedly no stages around we were looking at having to bring in utes and using the trays as a stage. But the week before we were told of a portable stage in the community centre that we could use. The next item on the agenda was the lighting. So many options that just wouldn’t work. We could have called back to Melbourne and got them sent up by Wesley College - Glen Waverley but we decided that trying to bring that much lighting equipment up from Melbourne was far too risky. So instead we hired it from a local shop which cost us a bit more but was far better in the long run. So to Michelle a huge thank you from all the Students and staff up here at Clunes. Your devotion and commitment has been the very thing that has held all of these concerts together. Thank you Michelle and hope you continue the great work.
Graduation from Wesley@Clunes


The Movie Marathon

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The Life of the Staff
...Jonathan

...Matt


The Life of a Student
...Jacob
The following letter was received today from Barbara Adam, Secretary of the Clunes and District Agricultural Society to the Staff and Students of Wesley College. It is shown here in its entirety.

   It is with great pleasure, on behalf of all Committee and Members, I write to you and thank you for all your support towards the Clunes and District Agricultural Show. The help given to us on Showday and the day before was 'just the best'.
   With help hanging the local primary school art work, to 'planting' gum trees and everything in between on the day before Showday, made it so much easier for our small but hard working committee. Then on Showday most students helped with stewarding many of the events: from show jumping, to helping with pony rides, helping with the pet parade and calling the tug-of-war competition, thank you for everything, especially for just being part of a small community.
   On Showday, most of the students entered in competitions in various sections and won! Then to finish off a perfect day the student's band performed, it sounded great, made it a real picnic atmosphere and enjoyed by all. You all should be so proud of the way you have 'fitted in' so easily and well into our community. Thank you for your generous sponsorship towards our Show. We are very appreciative of the generosity and support from all involved with Wesley. All Staff involved should be so proud of the students, as it does reflect on them; they are such 'great kids'.
   Well done to everyone involved with Wesley, especially all who helped with our Show to make it one of the best ever. We all can be proud of the 140th Annual Spring Show. We hope you will return and support our Show, as you will be made most welcome.
   Thanks is really not enough!
Editor's note:
This is my sixteenth and final newsletter for Wesley@Clunes. I would like to thank the staff, students and residents who have assisted me with the content. I would also like to thank the students, parents and grandparents, and friends who have viewed our newsletter each week for the past two terms.