Governor of Victoria Linda Dessau made a ‘virtual visit’ to Assumption College Kilmore and Nexus Primary Health on October 4.
Ms Dessau was joined by her husband Anthony Howard to continue her commitment to maintain important links with regional Victoria.
During the virtual visit, Ms Dessau and Mr Howard spoke with the college’s principal Kate Fogarty and 2022 college captains Sophie Beveridge and Oliver Nuttall.
Ms Fogarty said she was extremely honoured for the time Ms Dessau and Mr Howard spent virtually at Assumption College.
“The virtual visit was a chance to discuss with Her Excellency how we have dealt with the most challenging of years and circumstances, and how the college and its staff and students have fared throughout the pandemic,” Ms Fogarty said.
“It was also a time to highlight the onsite pop-up vaccination centre and the actions our college and the community have been doing to look after each other.
“During these physical restrictions, we were appreciative that The Governor and Mr Howard made full use of technology to engage with our college, student leaders and Nexus Primary Health. It was evident Her Excellency wanted to stay connected with our community during COVID-19.”
In sharing the difficulties that Assumption College have endured over the past 18 months during the pandemic, Ms Dessau and Mr Howard praised the Mitchell Shire community for their actions undertaken and the Assumption College teachers for remaining resilient.
Ms Dessau also spoke with frontline medical staff from Nexus Primary Health, who have so far provded more than 1400 vaccines to students and teachers at Assumption College, Wallan Secondary College, The Kilmore International School and Broadford Secondary College.
“Over the past 18 months, like many other schools, Assumption College has had to change the way we have delivered education due to the pandemic. The Governor was very knowledgeable and showed genuine interest and understanding this may have caused in our region,” Ms Fogarty said.
“Assumption College have also had the added pressure of being a school on a metro-rural border local government area. This has made the delivery of education more complex and trickier to manage. Some of our boarding students are also from interstate.”
Mitchell Shire Mayor Rhonda Sanderson said Mitchell Shire was grateful for the virtual visit to find out more about how the community was responding to the pandemic.
“Congratulations to Assumption College, the school community and to Nexus Primary Health for taking such proactive and quick measures to look after the wellness of our community and to help move us towards getting out of lockdown,” she said.
“This community spirit is what makes Mitchell such a great place. It is encouraging to see that spirit shine so brightly in the next generation of community leaders and we look forward to a time when we can invite Her Excellency and Mr Howard to Mitchell Shire to showcase this in person.”
