Flinders student achieves her Commonwealth dream

(posted 27.08.10)

She’s aiming to go to university next year, but first Year 12 Matthew Flinders Anglican College student Tessa Wallace will swim for Australia at the Commonwealth Games.

Tessa has just competed at the Senior Pan Pacific Championships in California as a member of the Australian Swim Team.  As a result of her solid performance, Tessa’s ranking gained her selection in the Commonwealth Games to be held in Delhi from October 3-14.

This week Tessa flew from California to Hawaii to compete at the Junior Pan Pacs. She arrives home next week when she will return to school to resume her Year 12 studies. 

Juggling school and her busy swimming schedule is a challenge. Tess took a laptop with her to the Pan Pacs so she could keep up to date with her assignments and school work.

When she returns from the USA she will have three weeks back at school before heading off with the Australian Swim Team to compete at the Commonwealth Games. Tessa, who turns 17 in September, will be the second youngest member of the Australian Swim Team.

Proud mother Vicki Wallace said Tessa’s school had been extremely supportive of Tessa - the recipient of a Flinders Co-Curricular Scholarship - in the pursuit of her dream to swim for Australia.

“Flinders has provided tremendous support to Tessa in fulfilling her academic goal of successfully completing Year 12 and attending university next year.”

The College also nominated Tessa for the Pierre de Coubertin Award, which recognises high school sporting achievers whose endeavours, both on and off the sporting field, exemplify the philosophies of the modern Olympics and those of their founder, Baron Pierre de Coubertin. 

More than 100 secondary school students were honoured at the annual awards ceremony held in Brisbane on June 26. Tessa was presented with her medal by Olympic swimmer Jessicah Schipper.

Matthew Flinders Anglican College Acting Head of Secondary Gary Davis said Tessa was a worthy award winner and a role model for her fellow students.

“Tessa has demonstrated an amazing passion for her sport and a strong determination to represent her country at the highest level,” Mr Davis said.

“She is a role model who shows all Flinders students that you can make it to the top of the world, even from the Sunshine Coast.”

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