Emerald Secondary College marked a major milestone celebrating its 40th anniversary with past and present staff, as well as former students on Friday, 21 November.
The nostalgic reunion event was complete with campus tours, displays of old photographs and memorabilia, presentation and an afternoon tea.
The afternoon began with guests arriving for campus tours from 3pm, followed by a welcome from the principal, James Barut, in the EPAC, accompanied by short speeches and a slideshow showcasing four decades of the school’s history, with many attendees enjoying the trip down memory lane.
After the presentation, around 5pm, the cakes were cut by two of the longest-serving staff members: Shane Closter, who has been teaching since the school opened in 1985, and Melissa Stephens, who has been employed as a teacher since 1997.
The vice president of the school council and one of the main organisers, Kara Montoneri said she wanted to make the anniversary a special occasion.
“When I found out it was the 40th anniversary of the school, I didn’t really want to let it go. It would be a really nice opportunity to bring some of the staff who were getting a little bit older back. It’d be nice to bring everyone back together,” she said.
Montoneri said the event was important for retired staff and the wider college community.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for current staff to see how strong the community this college has, the history the college has, and I think it’s just a great thing for people to be able to come back and reminisce and see their friends and catch up,” she said.
“Being in the room with the display and just seeing everyone interacting with the old photographs and pointing each other out, really taking that trip down memory lane, it’s been really, really great to watch. It’s been very nostalgic.”
Bev Williamson, who taught at the school from 1987 to 2018 in textiles and junior home economics, described the day as a wonderful opportunity to reflect on her career.
“One of the biggest highlights was having a home group that went from Year Seven right through to Year 12 with the same group of people. You just built such a bond with the group of students,” she said.
She also recalled being involved in the school’s Rock of Stedford productions.
“Doing the costumes and working with such an awesome group of teachers, it was wonderful,” Williamson said.
“It’s amazing to look back in the history. We have done so much. It’s just an amazing school, and it does good to be able to see it all again.”
Williamson said she enjoyed reconnecting with former colleagues and studnets.
“The group of teachers, we had lunch together before we came here, and just to see so many people turn out, and the memories that you have back with those was absolutely amazing,” she said.
Another teacher who attended the ceremony was Katrina Benoiton, she taught at the school from 1999 until her retirement in 2023.
“Extremely satisfying work with lots of beautiful children and lots of wonderful staff,” she said.
Benoiton’s highlights included school camps and overnight visits to the Melbourne Zoo for her students.
“It was a really wonderful experience to do that for them, especially, and to be part of that, enabling them to do that,” she said.
She also reflected on the personal lessons the school instilled.
“It taught me empathy, compassion, being able to work with children with special needs and the impact that has on not just their family but the wider community and being able to include those students,” she said.
Benoiton described the anniversary as “nostalgic” and “uplifting.”
“From the last, it’s been wonderful. I was anxious about it this morning. It’s just been great stepping back. Colleagues who always looked out for you – it was fabulous,” she said.
Montoneri said the strong sense of community at Emerald Secondary College was evident throughout the event.
“The school still has a strong sense of community, and I’m just really committed to building that so hopefully students can have that same experience and connections. This is something that you would hope continues to do in the coming decades,” she said.
