YarninBlak Episode 3 out now!!
YarninBlak is a new 2023 podcast series that looks at highlighting the diversity and uniqueness of Aboriginal people.
In this episode, AJ talks with Dion Whitfield - the new 2023 School Captain of Scotch College, and the first Aboriginal student to ever hold this title.
Dion is a proud Aboriginal person who is a descendant of the Gamilaroi people of Northern NSW with ancestral links throughout the New England North West region of NSW. Originally from Moree, NSW, Dion has called Armidale (on Anaiwan Country) his home when he is not at boarding at Scotch College.
Dion has been described by those around him as someone who is ‘social, friendly, has a great sense of humour, and someone who works incredibly hard and is very supportive of others’. Even at a young age, Dion prefers to let his actions do the talking and is most modest in his outstanding achievements.
More recently, Dion has attended Scotch College, Melbourne on an Indigenous Scholarship through the School’s Indigenous Program where he graduated in 2022 with his Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE). At the start of Year 12, Dion was successful in becoming only the third Indigenous School Prefect.
A natural leader and communicator Dion in his role as Prefect has gone on to make a big impact on his School whether it be in the boarding house, with Staff or his peers.
Dion was successful in gaining a prestigious Melbourne Chancellor's Scholarship to the University of Melbourne where gained a place to study a Bachelor of Arts with guaranteed entry into the Juris Doctor (a Law degree) he intends to study in his postgraduate studies.
However, Dion has chosen to defer his tertiary studies until 2024 because he was successful in being appointed as the School Captain of Scotch College, Melbourne in 2023.
The School Captain position at the College is one specially appointed by the Principal from one of the previous year’s Prefects. As such, Dion will be returning to Scotch College in 2023 to undertake the role of School Captain– as the first Indigenous School Captain in the School’s 172 year history it is yet another historic achievement for Dion.
Dion truly embodies what it means to be a ‘life-long learner’ as is evident in him committing himself to another year of service to his School and community. He says that he is ‘incredibly grateful to have received his Scholarship through the Evonne Goolagong Foundation (EGF) and Scotch College Indigenous Program’ and wants to think he has ‘used his Scholarship for the better’. He also says that ‘choosing to spend another year at Scotch was a relatively easy decision to make, and I think that this is just one way that I can continue to give back to my School and all that it has given me’..
Check out the podcast here: