Community
13 September, 2024
New Spirit of Mercy inductees announced
A CAMPERDOWN stalwart and a cycling expat are among those who have received this year’s Mercy Regional College (MRC) Spirit of Mercy and Young Spirit of Mercy Awards.
Camperdown Theatre Company president Toby McKenzie and Jake Rowbottom, who rode his bicycle from Noosa to Camperdown earlier this year, were listed as inductees of the Young Spirit of Mercy Awards alongside Sophie Rowan.
Five MRC alumni were listed in the primary Spirit of Mercy Awards, with Ken Hinkley, Sarah Wall, Peter Morgan, Ben Blain and Daniel Meade recognised.
MRC principal Sharon Gillett said she was clear on the reason MRC introduced the awards last year in the college’s 50th Anniversary Jubilee year.
“Young people are less likely to be inspired for their future if they don’t have visible role models,” she said.
“You can’t be what you don’t see.
“The aim is to tell the stories of our alumni who have had amazing career achievements and who have made exceptional contributions to their local, national or global communities.
“We want to inspire our students to have a broader vision for their own futures.”
Mr Rowbottom, who managed to raise $26,000 for the Breast Cancer Foundation and the Prostate Cancer Foundation through his ride in April, said he wasn’t expecting the award at all.
“It’s nice to be recognised for something I’ve done,” he said.
“It’s really good to have something connecting me back to my old school.
“It’s great what they’re doing – recognising what people do in the community.
“I didn’t do what I did for attention, but it’s nice that some people saw it as a positive thing and passed it on to whoever is running the awards.”
Mr McKenzie said he was proud of his achievement, as well as those of the other inductees.
“I know that Mercy helped steer the path towards giving back to the local community and I have had the pleasure of helping with local events for many years,” he said.
“I appreciate and thank them for the recognition.
“It is great to be among such a wonderful group of alumni and I congratulate them all.”
The Spirit of Mercy and Young Spirit of Mercy Award recipients will be officially inducted at an awards dinner to be held at the Ridley Recreation Reserve in Terang on Saturday, October 26.
“In 2023 we were delighted to induct Jocelyn Bignold, Rose Henry, Joshua Hose, Gregory O’Shea, Mark O’Shea, and Michael Ryan into the inaugural Spirit of Mercy Awards alongside our first Young Spirit of Mercy awardee, Ella Gleeson,” Ms Gillett said.
“This year we again called on members of our broader MRC community to nominate former students of the college who exemplify the Mercy values of Excellence and Community.”
“This year’s inductees comprise a diverse group of people whose work and interests have taken them on very different paths in their lives and careers, but they are united in both their connection to MRC and their shared spirit of service to their communities.”
Tickets to the awards dinner are available through https://www.mercy.vic.edu.au/alumni/spirit-of-mercy-awards/.