Gympie graduates gown up to celebrate

Students graduating from TAFE Queensland's Gympie campus with qualifications in study areas ranging from individual support and beauty to automotive and horticulture descended on The Pavilion Conference Centre recently to mark the culmination of all their hard work, and the exciting beginning of their new careers.

TAFE Queensland General Manager for the East Coast region Mark Reilly said the ceremony was an opportunity for students who’d completed their studies in 2024 to acknowledge their accomplishments and celebrate their progression on the path to achieving their career goals.

“Our students have invested a significant amount of time and effort into growing their skills and enhancing their career opportunities, and graduation is their chance to stop and reflect on how far they’ve come, celebrate the results of all their hard work, and look forward to achieving their career goals,” Mr Reilly said.

“As the state’s largest and most trusted training provider, TAFE Queensland changes lives. We help our students to pursue vocations they are truly passionate about, and in turn, they make a vital contribution to the community – from caring for our most vulnerable in times of need and helping our children reach their full potential, to building our homes, maintaining the safety of our cars, and helping us boost our confidence. So for us as an organisation, graduation is an incredibly rewarding time as we get to help our students celebrate and watch as they set out to make great happen,” he said.

“We congratulate all our Gympie graduates who have studied with us this year, including the many who were unable to attend last night due to work and family commitments, and can’t wait to see where their journeys lead them.” 

The ceremony was a particularly proud moment for 49-year-old Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC50121) graduate Retno Hand, who was awarded the 2024 Gympie Student of the Year for her dedication to her studies.

Retno said she was pleasantly surprised by the win.

“It means a lot to me, and it is a testament to the hard work I have put in to finish my study. I am grateful and appreciate the dedication of my lecturers, who provided guidance throughout my journey,” Retno said.

“It feels great to finally finish my Diploma in Early childhood Education and Care (CHC50121), and I can't wait to implement what I have learned.”

Passionate about supporting children’s development, Retno began her studies at TAFE Queensland in 2023, completing her Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC30121) in an impressive six months before graduating with her diploma less than a year later. An active member of the community outside her studies, Retno also organises and leads a children’s church program every Sunday, and aspires to pursue a teaching qualification in the not-too-distant future.

“My goal is to implement what I have learned and use my knowledge to support the community around me,” she said.

The graduation ceremony was also a special occasion for animal care teacher Barb Bailey-Dalheimer, who was awarded the 2024 Educator of the Year for Gympie. Nominated by her students, Barb said she was honoured by the acknowledgement.

“I was absolutely shocked and a bit overwhelmed when I heard my name announced, especially considering the many amazing educators at Gympie campus. It was such an honour and a wonderful surprise, particularly as this is the first cohort of students to complete the Certificate II in Animal Care (ACM20121) through Gympie campus,” Barb said.

“Receiving this award is incredibly meaningful to me as it validates the hard work and dedication I've put in this year. This accolade inspires me to continue striving for excellence and to keep making a positive impact on my students on the lives of my students.”