Alumni 2021 Newsletter

GREEN POINT CHRISTIAN COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWSLETTER October 2021 ent tud her S the Teac en h sa W me to o c ud o Be r p y ver mni e r a Alu CC GP loy 16 p em

In 2021 we are blessed to have 11 of our Alumni teaching and serving the next generation of students in both our Primary School and Secondary School. We also have another five Alumni working in our ICT, Counselling and Educational Support Departments. In Primary, our teachers are Jo Pearson, Georgina Battle, Joel Gibbins, Laura Gourlay, Kaylie Turner and Kristie Pocknall. Our Secondary teachers are Alex Yule, Lauren McMahon, Katelyn Stewart, Andrew Watt and Keegan Raeside. Our Support Staff include Stephen van Tongeren, Rachel Horler, Scott Linton, Callum Young and Matthew Bootes.

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2020 GPCC Dux Congratulations to Cody Battle, scoring an ATAR of 97.1

GPCC CELEBRATING 40 YEARS IN 2022

We extend a warm invitation to join us at our Alumni/Past Student Breakfast to celebrate our 40th Anniversary at GPCC (pending COVID restrictions).

Date: Saturday 19 February 2022 Time: 8:00am Please RSVP by booking your free seat

40th Anniversary ALUMNI Breakfast

GREEN POINT CHRISTIAN COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWSLETTER Past Student News 1

1) Congratulations to Nick Millar (2014) on your engagement to Tahlia Brown on 30 July 2021.

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2) Congratulations to Jamie Collins (2013) and Andie Barber on the birth of little Lily, born 17 June 2021.

3) Congratulations to Courtney Wilson (nee Drover) (2008) and Matt Wilson on the birth of baby Oliver on 28 May 2021.

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5) Congratulations to Charlotte Ryan (2016) on your engagement to Alex Jorgenson on 27 February 2021.

7) Congratulations to Kaitlyn Drover (2009) on your marriage to David Tennant on 24 October 2020.

8) Congratulations to Jeremy Marsh (2016) and Lily Reilly (2016) on your engagement on 4 November 2020.

9) Congratulations to Ben Shelley (2016) and Bethany Munro (2016) on their marriage on 9 October 2020.

4) Congratulations to Mike (1997) and Sophie McCarthy (nee Latella) (2007) on the birth of baby Mara Stevie on 15 March 2021, sister to big brother, Emmett.

6) Congratulations to Callum Young (2009) and Xara Young on their marriage on 30 January 2021.

10) Congratulations to James Hewitt (2004) and Candice Hewitt (nee Drover) (2007) on the birth of little Arie, born 3 April 2020, a brother for David.

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11) Congratulations to Connor McLellan (2014) and Stephanie Sijecic on your engagement.

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GREEN POINT CHRISTIAN COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWSLETTER 12) Boaz Suranyi (2012) is now an Aeronautical Engineer working for Boeing Defence Australia at Williamtown Airbase at Newcastle.

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13) Naomi Harris (2007) - Naomi became a Civil Engineer specialising in water and in particular flood modelling. She now works for Blacktown Council. Naomi married Nathan - a Terrigal boy in 2014, and has a son Orion (2 1/2 years) and welcomed their a baby girl, Serenity ion 4 September 2021.

14) Ben Harris (2009) - Ben completed a degree in Occupational Therapy and is now in his last year of a Theology degree at Moore College. Ben Married Sophie in 2014. They are going to New Zealand in 2022 to work in a church. They have two children Reuben (3 1/2 years) and Eden (1 year).

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15) Joel Harris (2011) works part time as a barista and is studying social work. Joel married Evangeline in 2020. They are involved in leading an organisation for Missionary Kids.

17 16) Riko and Bethany Panjaitan (nee Rochford) (2003) welcomed Judah Monang Panjaitan on 22 June 2021 at Bali Royal Hospital. Kerrie Rochford was able to travel to Bali for a visit/assist during Term 3.

17) James McLarty (2016) is in his 5th and final year studying a Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours) and a Bachelor of Project Management at The University of Sydney. James is working two days a week as an Undergraduate Engineer for Laing O'Rourke on the 19 Central Station Metro and will be starting full-time work as a graduate in 2022 with Laing O'Rourke.

18) Laura-Jane McLarty (2017) will be graduating from Avondale University College with a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary) with a specialisation in Engish and a minor in Religion. She is moving to Melbourne in 2022 to start her first full-time teaching position as a Secondary English Teacher.

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19) Congratulations to Rachel Horler (2009) and Darren Sloey, married on 18 September 2021.

20) Congratulations to Sophie Wilesmith (2017) and Matthew Kelly-Ng married on 24 September 2021.

GREEN POINT CHRISTIAN COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWSLETTER

Silver Medalist at 2020 Toyko Olympic Games held in 2021

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Congratulations to Nicola McDermott (2014) GPCC Graduate.

GREEN AND GOLD FOR NICOLA - On Thursday 5 August, our GPCC students dressed in green and gold (online and onsite) to support past GPCC Graduate (2014), Nicola McDermott, representing Australia in the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Students took a break from their online learning schedule to cheer Nicola on in her High Jump Trials, clearing 1.95 metres to move into the Finals. Our school community tuned in from home to watch Nicola in her High Jump Finals in her outstanding and nail biting performance, winning a Silver Olympic Medal, and becoming the first Australian woman to jump 2.02 metres. GPCC congratulates Nicola on her magnificent achievement and the way she openly shares15 her faith and her inspiration that comes from God. Nicola has inspired so many in winning a Silver Medal for Australia and in a post event interview she shared: “I am going after the Gold in Paris, I am going to keep putting in 100 per cent because this is just like a little bit of encouragement for one person watching, that anything is possible when you have faith, then I have done my job today. As a teenager, I was always an outcast, and I got welcomed into a faith community that loved me. I remember encountering God’s love and it changed the way that I thought of myself as a misfit. It gave me passion and purpose, and I think in 2017, it was my big moment when it flicked a switch, and I decided to pursue God over sport and whatever comes with sport is a bonus. But I am already complete and perfect in love regardless of it. That has just allowed me to soar over every high jump bar and not be scared anymore. Because I am loved. That is the most important thing.”

SUPERLATIVES 2021 14 Competitions 3 Australian records Olympic Silver medal at Tokyo 2020 with 2.02m 8 Gold medals 5 competitions over 2 metres Competed in 7 countries 23 consecutive podiums - all 2020 and 2021 comps Ranked #3 in the world in 2021

Evan Mereau: Operations Assistant at Tuggerah Lakes Private Hospital

Tabitha Lay: UTS, Bachelor of Communications (Journalism)/Bachelor of International Studies

2020 Graduates

GREEN POINT CHRISTIAN COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWSLETTER

Ebonie Warton: UTS, Bachelor of 13 Communications in Creative Writing with a double major of Journalism Evie Nagle: UTS, Bachelor of Nursing

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Amy Gillespie: Macquarie University, Bachelor of Medical Science (majoring in Neuroscience and Anatomy & Physiology) Olivia McGarvey: Macquarie University, Bachelor of Laws & Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)

14 Kael Smith: UTS, Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation Logan Anderson: UTS, Bachelor of Civil Engineering Haven Barr: Macquarie University, Bachelor of Planning and Bachelor of Human Sciences Breanna Reynolds: University of Newcastle, Bachelor of Education Secondary, majoring in Health and Physical Education Cody Battle: University of Sydney, Bachelor of Science (Medical Science) Luke Moody: University of Newcastle, then Alphacrucis , Bachelor of Education Secondary at UoN, Bachelor of Ministry at Alphacrucis

GPCC ALUMNI LINKEDIN If you would like to see regular updates on our Alumni, why not follow our GPCC Alumni LinkedIn page at: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/green-point-christian-college-alumni-gpcc-/

Remember to book your free seat for our 40th Anniversary Alumni/Past Student Breakfast on Saturday 22 February 2022. We look forward to celebrating with you.