Ali Najem
Since graduating from the senior campus of GRC in 2012, Ali Najem has looked back on his 13 years of schooling with a considerable appreciation of the opportunities created by his three schools. He has lived his whole life in the general St George area of Sydney and intends to live in Kogarah after he is married later in 2021.
Ali did not apply for university entrance during his HSC. He enjoyed his part time work in local businesses during years 8-10 and throughout his senior school years, appreciating the opportunities that his work supervisors were offering him post year 12. He is currently installing kitchens across the southern suburbs of Sydney during a home renovations boom. He has learned a great deal from his on the job training from considerate and skilled employers.
Ali’s two sisters and brother all attended Carlton Public School. All four Najem siblings were taught by the memorable Ms Leigh Rasmussen in Kindergarten. Ali remembers Ms Rasmussen fondly and wondered if the same Kindergarten teacher for all 4 siblings over quite a few years constituted some sort of local record. Ali’s mother and three siblings are all strong supporters of public education.
Ali also appreciated the encouragement provided by Jason Foote and Rae Williams, two of his Hurstville Boys campus teachers. They encouraged his participation in athletics and hockey and he remains committed to both these sports since graduating from GRC. Ms Williams encouraged him to train in the school gym during lunchtime and Ali credits the gym training in secondary school with inspiring his long term dedication to fitness and a healthy lifestyle.
At the Oatley campus Ali remembers Ms Leone Arentz encouraging his further participation in athletics. He is currently associated with Jock Campbell in local athletic coaching and assists in the training of school students in the club’s athletic development program. Some of the students he coaches from Trinity College, Summer Hill and MLC, Burwood travel long distances to their schools and he wondered why they were not taking advantage of the local public school options as his family had done. He is also passionate about swimming coaching for young people and is associated with the Mark Simpson Cronulla Swim School as an instructor.
Ms Spencer taught Ali Standard English in year 12 and he has often reflected since 2012 on the compulsory unit of work on the theme of “belonging”. It didn’t resonate so much with him during his HSC studies but in later years he realized that much of what the class had studied on the theme of “belonging” applied to his ongoing relationship with the surf, swimming and athletics clubs and his involvement in the development of the skills of young Australians.
Ali is proud of his Muslim and Lebanese heritage and is one of the very few young Lebanese locals who are active in surf lifesaving and rescue operations. Before he was persuaded to joining the club by Jock Campbell in 2012, Ali was not sure what a surf club was or what being a member and active participant entailed.
He was not familiar with swimming in the ocean and failed his very first swimming test. However, he was not deterred and soon mastered the skills not only to swim in the ocean but to compete in swimming races in the ocean.
He is an active member of the Wanda Beach Surf club and does regular patrols of the extensive Wanda Beach area to keep beach patrons safe. He enjoys coaching the nippers in the surf club. His leadership skills are constantly being refined.
Ali is very modest about his considerable achievements in the sport of beach sprinting. He is currently the 2021 record holder of the 2km beach sprint for Sydney, NSW, Australia and the world. He is the first beach sprinter to hold all four titles at the same time. He is also the first Muslim athlete to hold those titles. Sprinting on sand is very challenging and requires a great commitment to fitness and endurance.
He is very enthusiastic about the way Surf Life Saving unites people, respective of gender, cultural or religious background. The surf life savers are dedicated to saving lives and rescuing those who find themselves in difficulty. The surf clubs promote a healthy lifestyle for people of all ages, where respect for individuals and families is at the core of their beliefs. Ali really appreciates that he is an active participant and competitor in one of the largest volunteer organisations in the world.
He values resilience as essential for dealing with the challenges of life in the 21st century, especially during the 2020 -2021 once in 100 years pandemic. He is looking forward to the future with optimism. He wants his future children to attend Carlton Public School even if the memorable Ms Rasmussen is no longer at the school.
Ali’s commitment to sharing his sporting expertise, his positive outlooks on life and his cheerful disposition make him an ideal mentor and coach of young Australians from all cultural backgrounds.
Story by Judy King