Janurary 27, 2007 – South Pacific Division Record

Braden Oliver and Janita Bond were the big winners at the academic awards forum on Avondale College’s Lake Macquarie campus on November 8, 2006.

Mr Oliver and Ms Bond each received the largest monetary award, the $A2,000 Avondale Foundation Award of Excellence.

Mr Oliver, a fourth-year student, also received awards of excellence in science ($A600) and secondary education ($A750). Foundation president Dr Norm Young, who presented the award, suggested because Mr Oliver had earned so much money, he should “invest it, in the foundation.”

“I’m blown away,” says Mr Oliver. “I was hoping for a science award, but the other two are completely unexpected.” He is pleased the awards are for more than just academic excellence, saying it reflects well on the college’s holistic approach to education.

Ms Bond, who is in the first year of her Bachelor of Teaching (secondary) degree, attended the first half of forum, but then told herself, “I’m not needed here.” She was labelling bottles in the chemistry lab where she works as an assistant when foundation general manager Greg Meddick announced her name.

Ms Bond will volunteer at Helen Hall’s Eden Valley Academy in Thailand this year.

She and friend Michelle Long personally approached Ms Hall about the positions – this means they are covering their own expenses. Ms Bond is also a member of a mission team to Cambodia. The award has helped cover all the costs of both trips.

Tammy Pannekoek won the first-ever Huguenot History Award of Excellence ($A1,000). She received it from the president of the Huguenot Society of Australia Dr David Buchesne.

The award is sponsored by royalties from the sale of the book The French Pilot, written by Adventist Media Network chief executive officer Dr Allen Steele and published by Signs Publishing Company. Dr Steele, a direct descendent of Huguenot refugees Andre and Suzanne Lamoureaux, tells their story in the book.

Edge Bible columnist Clansi Roy won the first-ever W A Townend Award for Biblical Christian Journalism ($A500).

Brenton Stacey