ROTARY IN OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS
AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
Each year, the Rotary Club of Albert Park presents ‘Awards for Excellence’ to graduating Year 6 students from local primary schools. Year 6 teachers choose recipients based on their positive participation in school learning and other activities, as well as their intention to start Year 7 at a government secondary school the following year. The award is to assist in meeting some of the expenses associated
with commencing secondary school.
Members of our Club attend the graduation ceremonies at local primary schools to present the awards. As well as the financial prize each recipient also receives a framed certificate. We started making these awards in 1994. In 2024 we included Galilee Primary School for the first time, and in 2025 we added St Kilda and St Kilda Park Primary Schools to our program – bringing the number of schools to eight.
We presented a total of 22 awards at the 2025 graduation ceremonies. Our total contribution to the local community through this program has now reached $94,900.
Our 2025 Award presenters were:
- Albert Park Primary School Jim Prokhovnik
- Galilee Primary School Matthew Proctor
- Middle Park Primary School Stan & Vicki Teschke
- Port Melbourne Primary School David Gorman
- St Kilda Primary School Jim Prokhovnik
- St Kilda Park Primary School Richard Chater
- South Melbourne Primary School David Gorman
- South Melbourne Park Primary School Vicki Teschke
INSPIRE AWARD
Albert Park College opened in 2011 with year 7 students and consequently had its first year 12 graduation in 2016. At that first ceremony our Club presented the Inspire Award of $250 (Inspire is one of the three arms of the school’s motto – “Lead, Achieve, Inspire”). We have continued to make this award at every graduation since, increasing the award to $500 in 2023. Raelene Hunt attended the 2025 ceremony to make the presentation.
VALUES AWARDS
Port Melbourne Secondary College opened in 2022 with year 7 students. At the foundation year’s final assembly our Club presented four awards reflecting the school’s values – Excellence, Endeavour, Relationships and Character. Each award being a $50 book voucher and a framed certificate. In 2023 we presented these four awards for both years 7 and 8, in 2024 to years 7, 8 and 9 and in 2025 to years 7, 8, 9 and 10 – also increasing the awards to $100 each. The intention is to present these awards annually, which means year 11 will also be recognised in 2026. The school’s first Year 12 graduation will occur - we will naturally introduce a more significant award.\.
VALUES AWARDS
Port Melbourne Secondary College opened in 2022 with year 7 students. At the foundation year’s final assembly our Club presented four awards reflecting the school’s values – Excellence, Endeavour, Relationships and Character. Each award being a $50 book voucher and a framed certificate. In 2023 we presented these four awards for both years 7 and 8, in 2024 to years 7, 8 and 9 and in 2025 to years 7, 8, 9 and 10 – also increasing the awards to $100 each. The intention is to present these awards annually, which means year 11 will also be recognised in 2026. The school’s first Year 12 graduation will occur - we will naturally introduce a more significant award.\.
Jeremy Paton attended the Year 7/8 assembly and the Year 9 assembly. Jim Prokhovnik presented at the year 10 assembly.