By Melissa Blewitt

Hard working students at St Joseph‘s Parish School Condobolin were recognised at an annual Presentation Day on Friday, 13 December.
Special guests included Director of Education – Wilcannia-Forbes Diocese Paula Leadbitter, Parish Priest Father Getulio, Lachlan Shire Deputy Mayor Megan Mortimer, Condobolin Lions Club member Susi Brangwin, Mrs Amy Milne (representing Condobolin Born to Read), St Joseph’s P and F President Sarah Connell, Mrs Linda Brangwin (Condobolin CWA), and the 2023 School Citizen Award Recipient Jacqueline Allen.
St Joseph’s Parish School Condobolin Aboriginal Education Officers Bridgette Larry and Krista Kirby gave the Acknowledgement to Country.
The 2024 School Captains Peter Elias and Willow Frost began the event with a Prayer, which was followed by Principal Natasha Brotherton’s speech.
At the conclusion of Mrs Brotheron’s speech, Mrs Paul Leadbitter presented Service Certificates to Sophie Birkett (10 Years), Hannah Ridley (15 Years), Bev Taylor (25 Years) and Jennifer Brady (45 Years).
President of the St Joseph’s P and F Association Sarah Connell then said a few words on behalf of the Parents and Friends Committee.
The Lions Club Award for Academic Excellence (presented by Mrs Brangwin), the Class Award for Academic Application and Effort (presented by Councillor Mortimer) and the Mary MacKillop Award for Christian Values and Attitude (presented by Miss Brotherton) were then presented to students from Kindergarten to Year Six.
The Lions Award for Academic Excellence is awarded to a student in each year level that displays exceptional academic results. The Award for Academic Application and Effort is awarded to a student in each year level that constantly displays effort in all areas and applies themselves in their learning. The Mary Mackillop Award for Christian Living is awarded to a student in each year level who displays the qualities of Saint Mary MacKillop, who lives their life in light of the Gospel values.
There was also a Certificate of Achievement for each student, presented by the class teacher.
Mrs Rachael Bendall and Miss Krista Kirby presented the 2024 Year Six awards.
The Lions Award for Academic Excellence was presented to Deniesse Donaire. The Award for Academic Application and Effort went to Alexis Merritt.
Abby Connell, Sally Ford, Willow Frost, Charli Keates, Olive Mercieca, Oscar Charters, Peter Elias and Hudson Taylor were presented with a Certificate of Achievement.
Mrs Sue Byers and Mrs Courtney Jacobson presented the 2024 Year Five awards.
The Lions Award for Academic Excellence was presented to Kaitlyn Serrano. Reni Hall won the Award for Academic Application and Effort. The Mary Mackillop Award for Christian Living went to Brooklyn Merritt.
Anabel Allen, Damien Dodgson, Zarah Coe, Razzak Elhassan, Kyara Dodgson, Todd Jones, Erika Geeves, Rueben Sloane, Emison Jacobson, Tighe Worthington, Austin Watt and Harrison Browning attained Certificate of Achievements.
Mrs Sue Byers and Mrs Courtney Jacobson named the Award recipients for Year Four.
Jett Martin won the Lions Award for Academic Excellence. The Award for Academic Application and Effort went to Tate Durning. Antonio Elias received the Mary Mackillop Award for Christian Living.
Year Four Certificate of Achievements went to Molly Wynn, Jayte Golya and Lucas Palima.
Mrs Rachael Bendall and Mrs Bev Taylor announced the Year Three Awards.
The Lions Award for Academic Excellence was presented to Charles Geeves. The Award for Academic Application and Effort went to Patsy Jacobson. Scarlett Barnes received the Mary Mackillop Award for Christian Living.
Certificate of Achievements went to Meliah Bendall, Nicholas Brangwin, Isabella Fair, Samuel Jarvis, Stephanie Fleming, Finn Jones, Georgia Connell, Darcy Keates, Mahalia Larry, Jack Kennedy, Ella McTiernan, Henry Nagle, Audrey Merritt, Youki Nishimoto, Isla Watt, Cooper Quade, Rheanna Cabilin and Fletcher Smith.
Miss Bronte Doyle and Mrs Bridgette Larry presented the Year Two Awards.
Jonas Sloane won the Lions Award for Academic Excellence. Matilda Haworth attained the Award for Academic Application and Effort and Ava Charters claimed the Mary Mackillop Award for Christian Living.
Billie Calton, Austin Barnes, Maria Elias, Mason Durning, Kylie Lumanta, Harrison Fleming, Adella Sloane, Beau Ridley, Aria Smith, Enan Small, Harper Taylor, Pius Joseph and Audrey Wynn were given Certificate of Achievements.
Mrs Natalie Buitendag and Mrs Alisha Taylor presented the Year One Awards.
The Lions Award for Academic Excellence was presented to Ella Kennedy. Odin Bekker received the Award for Academic Application and Effort. The Mary Mackillop Award for Christian Living was presented to Eva Watt.
Phoebe Browning, Ryan Brangwin, Billie Jacobson, Josiah Dodgson, Emily Jarvis, Lewi Hall, Cadence Merritt, Jeremiah Mckenzie, Chloe Quade, Oliver Nagle, Aubrey Smith, Cooper Pearce and Lylah Smith were given Certificate of Achievements.
Mrs Janelle Grimmett and Mrs Kristy Ticehurst announced the recipients of the Kindergarten Awards.
The Lions Award for Academic Excellence was presented to Hank Taylor. Ruby Dawson won the Award for Academic Application and Effort. Matilda Reardon received the Mary Mackillop Award for Christian Living.
Certificate of Achievements went to Piper Calton, Rory Bendall, Amara Olaya Concha, Mackayla Dodgson, Gerard Elias, Caylee Durning, Dominic Jones, Kate Fair, Rome Pawsey, Lucia Hall, Eddy Smith, Phoebe Haworth, Arlo Small, Lucy Kennedy, Olianna Larry, Ella Lewis, Ruby Lewis, Bethany Ridley, Emilia Thornton, Ma Ysabelle Mayangao and Ella Mitchell.
The Catherine McCauley award for Christian Leader went to Willow Frost.
Alexis Merritt won the Spencer Family Award for Creative Arts.
The Warwick Glen Memorial Trophy for outstanding achievement in sport was presented to Peter Elias.
Abby Connell received the Rotary Club Award for Community Involvement.
Special Perpetual Awards were given out to recognise students from different year levels across the School.
Zarah Coe was named as the Country Women’s Association Star Award winner.
Mrs Natasha Brotherton presented a Wilcannia-Forbes Sports Achievement Award to Rueben Sloane (athletics in the area of shot put) and Harrison Browning (running) for representing Polding at state level.
The Condobolin Born to Read Committee donated two book prizes that are awarded to a Kindergarten girl and boy. The recipients were Ma Ysabelle Mayangao and Ty-Ohni Coe-Charters.
The Father Denis Doyle Memorial Trophy went to Kaitlyn Serrano. The Father Denis Doyle Memorial Trophy is awarded to a student whose Christian values define their everyday living.
The Sportsperson of the Year Award went to Rueben Sloane.
The School Citizenship Award, donated by former Member of Parliament Mr Tony Lawler, went to Willow Frost. 2023 awardee Jacqueline Allen presented the Award.
In 2024, the school presented a CWA Oxley Education Grant. Mrs Linda Brangwin presented the Grant to Alexis Merritt. The Grant is aimed at helping with the costs associated with starting high school.
2024 school captains, Peter Elias and Willow Frost were also presented with a special gift of appreciation.
The 2025 school captains, Emison Jacobson and Austin Watt then accepted Student Leadership Team Shield on behalf of next year’s leadership team from 2024 School Captains Peter and Willow.
At the Presentation Day, the School said goodbye to a number of families who finished their journey with St Joseph’s at the conclusion of the 2024 school year. Miss Natasha Brotherton and Father Getulio presented these families with a small gift of appreciation. These families included Leilane and Trifuno (Deniesse), Suzannah and Lachlan (Sally), Alison and Luke (Olive) and Simone and Jeremy (Willow).
Each year the Year Six children and their families work hard to raise money. As a thank you to the school they use that money to buy the school a parting gift. Charli Keates presented the 2024 gift to the school community. The gift was a new set of jerseys, shorts and socks for students to wear when playing for the school in rugby league, netball or league tag gala days.
The awards for the Presentation Day were purchased through generous donations from Born to Read Condobolin, Condobolin Rotary Club, Condobolin Lions Club, CWA Condobolin Branch and Ogden’s Coaches.
Light refreshments were provided in the staffroom for special guests, friends, and families at the conclusion of the Presentation Day.