Lorne Victoria Australia

Lorne people with family names starting with O.

O’Connell, Megan (2018)
O’Donnell, Stella (2017)
Osta, Cherie (2018)

O’Connell, Megan (2018)

A year as a Monash University exchange student in Johannesburg, heightened Megan’s interest in Africa. “It was a bit of a culture shock but I loved it.” During her time studying, with an interest in volunteer work, Megan helped out at The Oak Tree Foundation, an organisation to help young people. On completion of her Arts Degree, with majors in psychology and philosophy, and tired of study, she headed off on her own to backpack more of Africa and to explore Europe.

After a year Megan returned to Melbourne and began work with the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. Four years later she took a job with Melbourne University’s Advancement Office, first in administration then in fund raising, becoming particularly involved in the Student for Students Campaign.

Although Megan enjoyed her job, after four years she was tiring of sitting in an office. Her interest in fitness and healthy living prompted her to qualify as a personal trainer and join a friend’s newly formed company, ‘Liv Fun Fit’. She developed an interest in boxing and ran small group classes.

Megan has been coming to Lorne for holidays with her family since she was born. “Mum was pregnant with me while the beach house was being built. Lorne had always felt like a second home.” She had a cousin working in hospitality at Bottle of Milk who, when she expressed interest in escaping the city, encouraged her to move down. She quickly found work as a waitress, loved “the energy of it and dealing with customers “and living in Lorne – so decided to stay.

That was two years ago. She has since met Tim. They bought a house and a dog, she set up three bee hives, keeps fit boxing a bag, reads and walks on the beach. She has more than likely been one of the helpful waitresses who has served you at Ipsos.

I have the feeling we will be seeing Megan around for some time.

O’Donnell. Stella (2017)

After three years as Secretary, Stella O’Donnell has been appointed President of the Lorne Op Shop. She says it is an honour to serve the community and an enormous privilege to work with the band of dedicated volunteers she sees as a microcosm of Lorne’s history and diversity. “I have learned more about life, hope and the resilience of women since my involvement at the Op Shop, than at any other time.”

Stella, third eldest of ten children, was born and educated in Melbourne, began her career as a secondary teacher. She married at 21 and had three children. Before becoming pregnant with number three she enrolled in fine arts at The Phillip Institute to specialise in film, video and photography. She began a project with an all women crew to capture the Wye River Anzac Day march but had a baby instead. (The tapes are still waiting under the house she has owned for 34 year at Wye – one of the lucky ones to escape the tragic fires.)

After her family was impacted by a traffic accident, her interest turned to road safety. She created her own business to work with others to develop resources in the safe and appropriate use of public transport, and bus and pedestrian safety for use in school and community education settings. Her appointment as Victorian Business Safety Coordinator saw her investigate and report on bus safety education, engineering and enforcement strategies. At the same time she lectured and was a trainer at William Angliss (TAFE) in hospitality, business and tourism management.

In 1993, Stella was elected an independent local government councillor for Northcote. “I served on 18 different sub committees from public housing to the arts”. In 2001, she bought a country hotel and was its publican for five years while it was restored. She sold the hotel after owning it for ten years. Stella continued to teach and study during this period and completed a Masters Degree in Education Policy (International) including an international study tour and research project into adult education service provision in a regional area.

Stella semi retired in 2012 and moved to Wye permanently becoming involved as a volunteer in the Wye CFA, Lorne Visitor Information Centre and the Lorne Op Shop. Her passions are history, community development and gardening – her own and the Wye Community garden when she has time. She loves movies, documentaries, reading and travelling. In her mid 50’s she travelled solo around India for three months.

I am sure this is only half Stella’s story. I told her she must write a book I know there is lots more to tell. But right now, I am going to “have a cup of tea, a Bex and a good lie down”!

Osta, Cherie (2018)

Have you noticed how ‘ like new ’ the iconic shark sculpture looks in Sharky’s Surf Shop window?

Well, that’s thanks to just one of Lorne P-12 College, multi award winning teacher, Cherie Osta and her team’s many VCAL programs.

Much has been written about Cherie’s achievements recently (VCAL Teacher of the Year 21017) but she is far more interested in talking about those of her students. She is the totally dedicated, highly motivated coordinator of VCAL (Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning) at the Lorne School – which by the way she attended herself for some years. She loves her job and the connection she has with her students and her supportive colleagues. Her energy is endless. Lorne’s programs have been so successful that she has been asked to mentor and support other schools, including Horsham and Mildura. She has conducted master classes in Melbourne.

Cherie’s family has always had a house in Lorne. She was brought up in an environment where giving back to the community was highly valued. “My mother, Jenifer Collins, has always been a strong advocate of ‘hands on giving’, from supporting those with addictions on the streets to volunteering in the Lorne Op shop. She was a wonderful role model to all of us.” This is the spirit that flavours Cherie’s life, at home and at work. Social justice is the focus of the programs she creates to individually suit her students every year, such as working with The Sisters of Charity and feeding homeless men, being involved with the Arts Festival, renovating the ‘Dolls House’ and making a documentary of the construction of The Great Ocean Road. “Refugee teenagers have been welcomed into Lorne through the students’ initiative to experience our wonderful community and swim in the ocean for the first time”. Soon her VCAL students will travel to Alice Springs to work with a group of Aboriginal teenagers who in October will make a return visit to Lorne.

“My main highlight has been to witness the incredible link between community and the Lorne VCAL students. Not just financial support but through people’s time and energy – sharing stories, experiences and skills”. With this community support and providing them with knowledge, personal skills and confidence, she has been able to inspire students into starting their own businesses or work in a profession that they are passionate about.

Cherie says she is blessed to have the opportunity to work with people who are not only intelligent, gifted teachers but who share her passion.

“At the end of the day it’s all about my amazing students. I learn as much from them as they do from me”.

There would be few of us who couldn’t help but wonder what a difference a teacher like Cherie, could have made to our own education and ultimate careers. Nothing wrong with dreaming !