Dalby school rugby captain recognised for stellar efforts

GRADUATING Our Lady of the Southern Cross student Samuel Gillespie praised his school for his mighty achievements in this unprecedented year.

BIG YEAR OF STUDY: Our Lady of the Southern Cross College student Samuel Gillespie. Picture: Sam Turner

THE final year of schooling for Dalby high school students has been full of compromises and changes, however Our Lady of the Southern Cross leader Samuel Gillespie thrived.

The school rugby captain was recognised for his stellar academic, sporting, and leadership achievements throughout 2020 at their awards ceremony held on November 10.

Samuel’s list of recognitions included the Academic Excellence Award, Western Downs Regional Council Community Spirit award, the Sports Excellence award, and the subject award for chemistry.

He was even able to win the coveted Our Lady of the Southern Cross Award for his huge efforts in every sector of school this year.

For the year 12 student, he never imagined his final year would go down the way it did, but in his words, it ended up “pretty good”.

Our Lady of the Southern Cross College student Samuel Gillespie. Picture: Sam Turner

“The school put a lot of effort in for us to still have a lot of extra-curricular activities to keep our spirits up,” he said.

“So we still had a pretty good year.”

His recognition of leadership on and off the footy field saw him take out the Australian Defence Force Long Tan Leadership award as well.

Samuel said in his final year of schooling he was able to play with his mates in footy, while coaching some of the younger teams due to his love of the sport.

“I did what I enjoyed all year, and I just showed up everyday, and had a good time for my last year,” he said.

“I wouldn’t of had it any other way.”

Looking past his schoolies celebrations, Samuel is planning becoming a physiotherapist, or exercise physio in his tertiary studies in 2021.

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