Meredith News Feb 2021

24 MEREDITH and DISTRICT NEWS
An Impressive Young
Woman
Marg Cooper
Charlie Stone has just moved with her family to live in
Bamganie. Two years ago, the family moved to Ballarat
and, after visiting several schools at their Open Days,
she chose to study for her VCE at Woodman’s Hill
Secondary College, because of the benefits of it being a
small school and close to where they lived. There were
30 - 40 students in Year 12 classes and very good
teachers and, although it took her a while to find
common ground with the other students, she was very
much cared for at the school. And then there was
Covid! But, because she had previously been home
schooled, Charlie jumped straight into online
education. Being in a room at home with her mother
who is a qualified teacher and who was also studying,
helped. She excelled! Charlie was a School Captain and
Dux of the school.
The family have moved often and Charlie has attended
Catholic Schools, Baptist Schools, done home
schooling, been in an International school, a Geelong
school and schools in Norway when she was an
exchange student in 2018. She loves the Scandinavian
countries where she became is a big fan of snow (which
she says is different in Norway) and has developed a
particular interest in their architecture, their culture and
their history.
Charlie, as a school captain, hoped to organize lots of
social experiences during the year for the students,
because she believed that in Year 12 there should be a
balance between study and pleasure. She was also
disappointed that they didn’t get their Year 12 jumpers.
However, they were able to have a full-blown
graduation ceremony in the Performing Arts Centre at
the school, and to dress up and go out for dinner.
Charlie wore her mother’s wedding dress of baby blue
satin, slightly altered, and had a mask of the same
fabric made to wear to the dinner.
In 2021 Charlie plans to study psychology at a
Melbourne University. She doesn’t know where that
study will lead but is excited at the prospects. She has
chosen to go to Melbourne to learn and experience the
city and to live in a shared house.
Charlie has worked at several part time jobs including
as a waitress and a swimming teacher. She likes art and
attends a group class and loves zipping around in her
little bright red car which she calls ‘Ziggy’.
The school nominated Charlie for a Dorothy Irene Ellis
Thomas scholarship which she was successful in being
awarded. Since 1995 when Dorothy died, a scholarship
has been awarded to a male and female completing
VCE from each Ballarat school to help with their
tertiary education. She also was nominated to attend a
leadership course at Narmbool. (Charlie is going to
write about that experience in the next Newsletter.)
Summertime
Puzzle