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The Naval Association

of Australia

CITATIONS OF EXCELLENCE DINNER 2007 in association with Thales Australia / LEUKAEMIA YOUTH FOUNDATION - Held at the All Seasons Resort, Bendigo, Victoria Saturday 11 August 2007.

The National Council of the NAA held a black tie dinner to recognise outstanding Victorian Secondary School students and raise some funds to assist the Leukaemia Youth Foundation. Hundreds of guests attended the evening organised and compered by Bernie Fallett from the Border Sub Section.

Thales Australia's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Air Vice Marshall Norman Gray AM FAICD RAAF Rtd and his wife Linda together with executives from the Thales Australia, Bendigo Protected Mobility facility attended and supported the evening. Thanks go to Norm for his inspiring talk to the students and for his assistance in presenting Certificates of Citation to the assembled youth leaders.

Parents of the students were rightly proud that their children were being recognised for their achievements both academically and in sport and other cultural activities.

During the evening we were entertained by Miss Kelly Hope with Country and Western songs and music, much of it being her own compositions. Her underlying theme was nobody tells you how....it was obvious that shear determination combined with musical talent assisted her success.

The 2007 WA Young Australian of the Year - Damien Lomman presented an inspirational story of achievement outlining his success in the engineering field particularly in getting para and quadrapalegic persons mobile and accessing apparently unattainable goals. Both of these young people were inspirational and a pleasure to listen to.

Also in attendance were representatives from the Australian Defence Force Cadets. It is great to see their enthusiasm and well-turned out presence.

Peter Cooke-Russell stood in for the President of the Leukemia Youth Foundation Mr George Griziotis reading a message for the gathering and State President Ray Gill made a presentation and gave a background talk about Michael Dudycz.

Thanks must go to CMDR Michael Murray representing the CO HMAS CERBERUS who stepped in at the last moment to accept a gown destined for an abandoned baby on behalf of the Victorian Department of Community Affairs.

The National President of the Naval Association, Les Dwyer with wife Lynda travelled from the Sunshine Coast, QLD and CMDR Peter Cooke-Russell, RAN Rtd, National Secretary, NAA travelled from Canberra to participate in the evening.

Thanks to Bernie Fallett for organising the evening and running it single-handedly. Next year we hope that he may be able to find somebody to assist compering and running the evening to take the load off his shoulders.

Congratulations to the following students for their exemplary performances in their Secondary Schools:-

Emma Lynch - Eaglehawk Secondary College

Danielle Wheeldon "

Robert Aitkenhead "

Kimberley Parker Flora Hill Secondary College

Martin Burston "

Madeline Howard Bendigo Special Development School

Samuel Thompson "

Shane Lowry Golden Square Secondary College

Amelia Eddy "

Paige Combridge Kangaroo Flat Secondary College

Patrick Clarke "