NewsShorts

> A former St George Rugby League player addressed students at Avondale High School, Cooranbong, NSW, on May 28 about the dangers of taking drugs. Darren Marton, the “Drugs: No way” campaign manager, spoke to students, staff and parents at an information session designed to tackle the increasingly dangerous issue of drug and alcohol abuse among teens. Mr Marton spoke of his own struggles with drug abuse, which culminated in the destruction of his promising football career. With recent statistics suggesting that up to 20 per cent of teens are using and abusing alcohol while 13 per cent live with alcohol abusers, it is an issue the community needs to tackle head on. All 480 Avondale students listened to Mr Marton’s powerful presentation, with a small handful of parents and community members also attending. Leighton Heise, Avondale school chaplain, said that although hoping for more community involvement “it highlights even further the drug culture in Australia, and how as families we tend to be apathetic about drug use, particularly alcohol in our communities.”—Braden Blyde

> “Jesus saves,” was the theme of a recent week-long spiritual program at Pacific Adventist University (PAU), which saw two students baptised and 50 others publicly dedicate their lives to Christ. After struggling with peer pressure and addictive substances, Neil Macdonald and David Kundi were both baptised during the program, which called on the students to recommit and consecrate their lives to God. PAU chaplain, Pastor Jeffrey Paul instigated the meetings after several recent incidents on campus.—Warren Marape

> Staff and students of Mountain View Adventist College, Sydney, NSW, volunteered their time to run a stall at the annual Blacktown Festival, held on June 2. Families from all over western Sydney were present, providing a good opportunity to present Adventist education to the local community. Hundreds of information packs were handed out as well as free balloons and face painting, done by student Revona Govender who finished in 2006, but came back to help promote the school. Marketing coordinator Fiona Lelilio was extremely thankful for the support of the MVAC staff and students. “Having an MVAC stand at the Blacktown Festival allowed us to get out in the community and show God’s love,” she says.—RECORD staff/ Fiona Lelilio

> Mountain View Adventist College (MVAC), Sydney, NSW, has begun its “Pray for 50” campaign in an effort to have 500 students enrolled by the end of the year. The school recently saw the need to build a new Middle school block, catering for students from Grades 5 to 8. Plans to further develop the college by building a much needed administration block after the Middle school building is completed at the end of July were planned but due to limitations in funds, the development cannot go ahead until 50 new students are enrolled at MVAC, and there are sufficient funds to continue the building project. The concept was envisioned by MVAC chaplain, Pastor Jean-Pierre Martinez, who is excited by the possibilities of God’s intervention.—Fiona Lelilio

> The Duke of Edinborough weekend camps have seen 19 Avondale School students (Cooranbong, NSW) experience the challenges of the Australian bush. Half the students ventured south to Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain on the last weekend in May, hiking through the rugged wilderness in rain, high wind and the occasional sunny period. The highlight of the weekend was walking to Marion’s lookout, although bad weather stopped them climbing to Cradle Mountain’s peak. The other 10 students spent the weekend riding through the Watagan Mountains, NSW, on pushbikes as part of their bronze-level award. They completed 65 km during the weekend, including steep climbs and rugged descents but students were blessed with no injuries or mechanical failures. Bill Ward, coordinator of the program, is already planning to make the trip an annual event for those going on to silver and gold levels of the award.—Braden Blyde