Trae Mongta Cruse has graduated from Year 12 at St Stanislaus’ College, a rural Catholic Boarding School for boys, at Bathurst.
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The former Eden Primary School student gained a scholarship to go to St Stanislaus.
“I would like to thank Leah and Ray Williams for their support throughout primary school. They were the ones who saw I had potential and began the process which got me into Stanis,” Trae said.
The Williams weren’t the only ones who spotted Trae’s potential. “A few people at the primary school saw my potential, and the local psychologist did some testing and realised I had a high potential.”
“I felt physically displaced for the first couple of months after moving to Bathurst,” Trae said.
“But it didn’t take long for me to merge into the St Stanislaus community.
“The people I met were very friendly and the staff catered well.”
Long-time family friend and Aboriginal Evangelical Church member Allan Gibson explained that Trae had completed his seven years, and was a prefect this year.
“Trae gave the Welcome to Country speech to a few hundred people at the graduation ceremony,” Allan said.
“As a boy, Trae was tutored in guitar by Ester of Eden Music, and last Saturday he played guitar before some 400 people.”
Trae’s younger brother Paul is now in year seven at St Stanislaus’ College.
Trae came second out of 82 students in Chemistry, and is now excited about two interviews at the University of Wollongong to study Mining Engineering or Medicinal Chemistry.
He is hoping to become a doctor, or have engineering as a backup.
He likes the idea of studying at Wollongong, because it’s on the coast.
“I missed the beach when I was at Bathurst,” he said.
Trae said being relatively close to Bathurst is good. “I don’t want to lose friends I’ve made there, and family members live in Wollongong and down the coast.”
Trae’s parents are Nina Mongta and Dennis Cruse of Eden, and his great grandfather is Pastor Ossie Cruse.