past employees` association newsletter

FROM THE CHAIR
FEBRUARY 2016. ISSUE 16
PAST EMPLOYEES‘
ASSOCIATION
NEWSLETTER
Don’t Forget
PEA Members have access to the restaurants
on the Moorabbin and Waverley campuses.
Cilantro, Moorabbin campus 9209 5599
Zest, Waverley campus 9564 6241
Short course programs can be found on the Holmesglen
website or contact the department on 9564 1546.
Short courses are available to all PEA members at a
discount price, for courses costing more than $140.
Committee Members
•Frank Virik (Chairperson)
•Eleanor Wratten
•Joan Salmon
•Barrie Morrison
•Shirley Evans
•Catherine Higgins
•Marion King
•Peter Miller
•Leonie Millar
Assisted by Holmesglen staff:
•Bruce Prescott
•Tricia Farnes
•Susan O’Brien
•Liz Jansz
Holmeglen Liason Officer: Maree Wilson
To update your contact details
please email Maree Wilson at:
E: past.employees.association@holmesglen.edu.au
www.holmesglen.edu.au
CRICOS Provider Code: 00012G. TOID: 0416
Media Services Department PEA NEWS Issue 16
We are fortunate at Holmesglen Institute to have a fantastic
Past Employees Association (PEA), keeping past staff members
socially involved, after spending many years working together
as professionals. Not many organisations have this model.
Last November, the PEA luncheon had 70 past staff numbers
attending, who came to hear Bruce Mackenzie report on our
sector.
It was interesting to listen to Bruce Mackenzie’s review of
TAFE, commissioned by the Victorian Government. Bruce was
well positioned and was chosen to undertake the TAFE review,
especially due to his special role as CEO of Holmesglen as
the leading Victorian TAFE provider over the last 20+ years of
Vocational education.
Bruce’s main focus was to inform the Government of with better
strategies in Vocational Training environments, control financial
needs, take stock of educational providers and to provide a
well established training model for future skill training. Bruce’s
philosophical focus as always was to provide educational
flexibility and good skill structures for the community.
The luncheon raised over $1500 forming part of our PEA
commitment to Holmesglen education processes, now we have
the ability to fund the 2015 Vocational College scholarships with
some funds also left over for 2016. Hope we can do as well this
year by the attendees at the lunches.
This year, we will run two luncheons with the first function on
18 March 2016 at the Waverley Campus with a presentation by
Mary Faraone.
During the first event, Mary will provide us with a focus on
“Holmesglen in 2016 and beyond”. This will be very interesting
as the TAFE role is ever changing with new programs, systems
and capacities. Holmesglen has new strategic plans to sort out
its future.
PEA administration has also changed for us since last year.
Looking after Institute coordination is Tricia Farnes who
replaces Avril Reagon who has now retired. We also welcome
Maree Wilson who will look after our secretarial services.
I want to especially thank our previous secretary, Jill Thompson
who maintained a fantastic framework for our communications.
Thank you also to Avril for also always being there for the PEA.
Now for the PEA for 2016, I hope that more and more past
staff will continue to come to our luncheons, firstly to see each
other and secondly to see how Holmesglen Institute is doing in
vocational education.
Frank Virik
Chairman, PEA
RON GASCOIGNE –
PROGRAMMING FOR WORK,
LEISURE AND GOLF
It is hard to believe that it is approaching two years since my
departure from Holmesglen. The idea was to work for maybe two
to three days a week, play more golf (especially on Tuesdays in the
retirees’ competition) and to assist with some charity work within
the local community. All good intentions, a good program – though
implementation has been hard to achieve!
The lifestyle was available as we had built a new house at the
Sandhurst Golf Club and this provided all the amenities including
golf, swimming, gymnasium, tennis as well as bike riding and walking
paths. So the on-site Members’ Bar and restaurant facilities have
been extensively tested.
However, a company I had dealt with in Sydney had heard I was
retiring and asked me to assist with the project management for
their Melbourne projects. They needed a start date of April 2013,
only two days after finishing at Holmesglen….so much for a break.
At that time there was only one project, for Bupa, which involved the
development of an on-line booking, payment and queuing solution
for their new Australia wide Visa Assessment Centres. But this role
quickly became full time if the schedule was to be met. BUPA then
requested that I be retained for the implementation period, a further
two weeks, and then my contract was extended for another 4 weeks
to train and assist the new Systems Administrator in his role.
In the meantime, NEXA had won contracts with the Royal Children’s
Hospital (RCH), Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) and the new
Victorian Cancer Care Centre (VCCC), formerly Peter McCallum.
At least for me these projects were only PM roles and not the more
time consuming technical support and document development.
These were great projects and it was satisfying to see such good
business improvements as well as good outcomes for patients
in the reduced waiting times at clinics and increased flexibility for
them to do other things around the hospital, rather than sitting in
a waiting room.
But prior to the testing and implementation at VCC, my old ankle
injury resurfaced and I was forced to have surgery in mid August
2015, with a recovery period of 16 weeks. It was therefore
necessary but disappointing to have to hand over the PM role to a
different person.
The operation was a success, and the initial plan for more and more
golf is being fully implemented. At present this means just a Tuesday
social competition as well as an informal competition with a small
group of us on Friday afternoons. We go by the appropriate name of
PROFs (Pissed Retirees on Friday).
So that I can dabble in mounting (golfing) memorabilia and also to
cover necessary beer and betting activities I have also completed a
picture framing course. Well one can live in hope.
The racehorse breeding has stopped after two colts and one filly,
bred from our mare and stood with the stallion at Think Big Stud
in Bowral, NSW. None however were really interested in racing and
have subsequently found alternative lodgings with others. I am
also part-owner of three other horses going around: Kakanui (three
starts - two wins and one second and soon to resume training after
an injury 12 months ago), Grande Filou and as yet unnamed filly, a
half-sister to Kakanui and Divine Mr. Artie. Well the names sound
good anyway and it is an interest and good excuse to go to the races
with friends.
The latest and possibly biggest work change is an opportunity
to work in Qatar as a Site Manager for the completion of the
accommodation for players, the construction of 390,000 person
fully air-conditioned stadiums and associated infrastructures for
the World Cup in 2022. Golf is an option and a fellow resident at
Sandhurst Golf Club is likely to be working on the project. This would
be for approximately 2-3 years with an opportunity to work longer if
the desire is still there.
It does provide great opportunities for Robyn and myself to meet
at locations around the world for scheduled breaks, as well as
returning to Australia every 15 days to catch up with family and
friends and to play golf in a cooler climate (no jet lag of course and
the horses can look after themselves).
Once this phase is complete, that will be it for working – and the
good times will really commence with:
- more grandchildren time
- more travel and definitely more golf
IT’S NOT ON FUN RUN A HUGE SUCCESS
On a beautiful Sunday morning 400 runners/walkers
descended upon Bicentennial Park in Chelsea, for the ‘It’s Not
On’ Run for a Change.
Launch of building works for the Holmesglen Private Hospital at Moorabbin
campus. L-R: Robert Cooke, CEO and Managing Director of Healthscope;
Peter Darvall, Director, Holmesglen Board; Mary Faraone, Chief Executive,
Holmesglen; the Hon. Steve Herbert, Minister for Training and Skills; and
Cr Tamsen Bearsley, Mayor of the City of Kingston.
MINISTER JOINS
LAUNCH OF A
NEW ERA FOR THE
MOORABBIN CAMPUS
The Hon. Steve Herbert, Minister for Training and Skills,
officially announced $8M capital funding to Holmesglen
Institute for the proposed redevelopment of Building 4 at
the Moorabbin Campus.
The capital fund is in response to the development of
the South Road frontage of the campus by Healthscope.
Construction work has commenced on the site and the
Minister and representatives from Healthscope and
Holmesglen toured the site.
Robert Cooke, CEO and Managing Director of Healthscope
also spoke at the event and complimented all parties
involved for their support of such an important project.
Also in attendance was the new Mayor, Tamsin Bearsley
and CEO, John Nevins of the City of Kingston, the local
council which has been instrumental in its support for the
hospital.
The hospital is on schedule to be finalised by the end of
2016 and operational from 2017. Construction on the
redevelopment of Building 4 at Moorabbin will commence
in early 2016 and is planned to be completed by November
2016.
The Holmesglen Private Hospital will signal an important
milestone in the development of the Moorabbin Campus as
a health precinct. The focus on the educational partnership
with Healthscope is significant and we are pleased to
announce that Associate Professor Debra Kiegaldie has
been appointed to the new jointly funded Chair, Workforce
and Simulation, commencing in early 2016. Debbie has
a long history in nursing education and most recently has
been at Monash University.
SHORT COURSES ARE
AVAILABLE TO ALL PEA
MEMBERS AT A DISCOUNT
PRICE, FOR COURSES
COSTING MORE THAN $140.
The fun run which was organised by Holmesglen’s Vocational
College students alongside the Victorian Police Task Force
Alexis and Rosie Batty, raised funds for the Luke Batty
Foundation and Impact for Women.
With the help of their teacher, Linda Dennison, the Vocational
College students created a campaign that could be rolled out
at local sporting clubs, primary and secondary schools, with
the fun run being the final event. Its purpose was to teach
these groups what family violence is, where they can find
support and how to support somebody they know in crisis.
“This project enabled students to work alongside the
community, while leading the way to change, rather than just
talking about it”, Ms. Dennsion said.
Competitors ran/walked for more than $5000 in prizes that
were donated by Safeway, Bunnings, Westfield, local police
and Sandhurst Gold Club. They were also treated to delicious
egg and bacon rolls that were cooked by members from the
Hastings, Sorrento, Chelsea and St Kilda SES and Rotary crew.
A highlight of the day for many was being ‘piped-in’ to the start
line by the Victorian Police Pipes and Drums corps. Thank you
to everyone at Holmesglen for their assistance with this event.
THE STORY OF THE MISSING
WHISKY BOTTLE
So the stage was set. A coin toss had been suggested as a way to
earn cash for the proposed Student Scholarship Scheme. A little
competition between Past Employees at the lunch, it was thought,
could make fund raising a little fun.
And for the prize, Leonie (clearly not a whisky lover) had offered
a very noble single malt of Scottish origins, something for all to
lust after. But perhaps, someone said, it could get knocked
over and break - a potential damage to the Institute carpet as
well as a potential tragedy to any lovers of the single malt.
So just in case, a whisky lover offered to fill an empty
bottle with a replacement liquid, dry ginger, deceptively
similar in appearance. Mind you, there was a slight
complication in getting this ready as (despite
degassing) the bottle tried to explode in the car drive
to the Conference Centre.
Well all went well at first with Catherine Higgins
looking after the competition in the foyer after the
main meal was served. Many PEAs took their aim
and donated their gold coins generously. But lo,
when the eye was taken off the game, the de facto
Whisky bottle was whisked away - and a ‘woman in
red’ was seen leaving the building clutching said
bottle!
So after much scratching of heads by Committee
members, we are all left wondering - who was the
'woman in red’ and when will she realize that it's
not whisky that she has taken possession of?
Let's hope it's not flat dry ginger that was offered
around at any Christmas dinner party. Or equally
bad, offered as a Christmas gift!
KATE O’BEIRNE.
RETIREMENT
AND WHAT IS IT
FOR ME? TAKING
CATERING INTO
THE COMMUNITY
It seems it is five years since I retired from my role as
Coordinator in Hospitality (had to check that out) but I am still
unpacking! Before retiring in 2010, things were frantic as I
worked to assist all Certificate III Hospitality studentS to meet
the necessary pass requirements. We did it---they did it. I was
also busy organising one of the Sensational Tasting Dinners (or
Regional Dinners) that hopefully you may all have experienced
while at Holmesglen.
What have I done since I have retired from Holmesglen in
2010? It seems I haven’t stopped working but now it is at a
different pace, with different responsibilities. And of course I
am still organising Regional Dinners and have another one to
plan for May this year. So I still answer to the rules in hygiene,
OH&S, Principles of Cookery, and not least the same work
ethic.
Initially, in 2011, I continued work at Campion Retreat Centre
which my husband and I had been involved with for many
years, employing Holmesglen staff and students, along with
catering work for Glenferrie Rotary Club at Manresa Function
Centre (we had started this Function Centre many years
before). But after retirement I increased my involvement with
Head Chef Responsibility at Campion House and have trained
a new Apprentice to take on increasing responsibilities. Our
involvement with Campion House continued until we eased out
of our hands on responsibilities there at the end of June 2013.
Since 2012 we have provided catering for a range of sporting
and community groups – for bowlers, and for folk attending
various Community Centres. So for example the weekly dinner
meeting of the Kew Heights Bowling Club/Tennis Club is part
of our patch (I was able to employ two International Students
for this dinner). And since 1990 it seems we have followed
PROBUS to various venues over the years and we are still
currently catering for them at the Balwyn Community Centre one
day per month.
In 2013 I also took on the Chef’s job for for 8 - 10 residents in a
Community House, cooking dinners for 4 nights per week. And
as well, one morning a week, I put on my chef’s hat to plate four
meals and leave them in the fridge at a different venue.
In more recent years we have moved permanently back to our
home in Geelong which for years had been virtually a weekend
and Christmas holiday retreat for us and all our family. I still
commute regularly from there, working about 20 hours per week
for both PROBUS and the Community House activities. But I
love my Friday, Saturday and Sundays and all school holidays
which give me a glorious break and a chance to catch up with
my garden. These last holidays I was determined to complete
upholstering two chairs my mother gave me thirty years ago.
They are now complete, along with an old stool as well!
So I guess my retirement is keeping me busy, keeping up with
seven families with 12 grand children and two great grand
children, supplementing my income and gardening - except when
a Regional Dinner pops up. These dinners are my appreciation
to Holmesglen for many enjoyable years.
This is where I learned many skills and somehow fitted in about
six years of Part time study ending at Melbourne University, not
to mention the many courses I actually did at Holmesglen.