Emerald Secondary College marked a major milestone celebrating its 40th anniversary with past and present staff 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 learned it was the school’s 40th anniversary, I felt it was important to acknowledge such a milestone, we had a wonderful opportunity to welcome back long-serving staff and bring our community together again,” she said.
Montoneri said the event was important for retired staff and the wider college community.
“It was a wonderful opportunity for our current staff to see just how strong the school’s sense of community is, and how much history sits behind it, people can come back, catch up with old friends, and relive memories that mean a lot to them,” she said.
“Being in the display room and watching people recognise themselves and others in the old photos has been lovely, it’s been such a warm, nostalgic feeling throughout the afternoon.”
Bev Williamson, who spent more than three decades teaching textiles and junior home economics at the school described the celebration as a “meaningful opportunity” to reflect on her long and fulfilling career.
“One of the real highlights of my time here was having a home group from Year 7 all the way through to Year 12, and spending those years together meant we formed a really genuine bond,” she said.
She also recalled being involved in the school’s Rock Eisteddfod productions.
“Working on the Rock Eisteddfod costumes with such a passionate group of teachers is something I’ll always remember, because it was a lot of work, but it was always so rewarding,” Williamson said.
“Looking back over the school’s history has been amazing, we’ve all achieved so much together, and seeing it all laid out again brings back so many good memories.”
Williamson said she enjoyed reconnecting with former colleagues and students.
“Catching up with the teachers I worked with and seeing so many familiar faces turn up today has been truly lovely, it reminded me of just how special those years were,” 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 truly wonderful experience to be able to offer that opportunity to them and to play a part in making it possible,” she said.
She also reflected on the personal lessons the school instilled.
“It helped me develop real empathy and compassion, and taught me how to support children with special needs in ways that not only benefited their families but also the broader community and it reinforced just how important genuine inclusion is,” she said.
Benoiton described the anniversary as “nostalgic” and “uplifting.”
“Reflecting on the experience, it’s been truly wonderful, I was a little nervous this morning, but it’s been so rewarding to step back and reconnect again. Seeing colleagues who have always supported me has been really special,” she said.
Montoneri said the strong sense of community at Emerald Secondary College was evident throughout the event.
“The school has maintained a strong sense of community, and I’m committed to further developing that, so students in the future can enjoy the same sense of belonging and connection, it’s something I hope will persist in the years to come,” she said.
