How to Organise a Reunion

Class of 1987

Class of 1997

Past Students Celebrate
Class of 1998

How to Organise a Reunion

First you need a small group of friends who will assist you then……..

• Berwick Secondary College can help – contact the School on 87681000
• There is a database of names and addresses of past students. This will be your starting point.
• Speak to others who have organized their year level reunion. There have been at least twelve held over the last twenty years.
• Start the process of communication- it is like a ripple effect. (Fact –approx 50% of parents still live in the area.)
• Pick a date and time as well as a venue – there is a host of places in Berwick used in the past Shanikas, Beaconsfield Hotel, Cardy Pub the College VCE centre.
• Contact Rob Hansen: robhansen@optusnet.com.au

There is also a Berwick Secondary College past students group on Facebook with over 250 members.

Good Luck! Rob Hansen

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Class of 87 Reunion

As part of the 30 Year Celebrations, a group showed great initiative and organised a reunion for those who began their education in 1982. On Saturday November 10 the Class of 82-87 commemorated 20 years since their education at Berwick Secondary College ceased.

A well organised committee headed by Tara Samson arranged for the group to meet at Shanikas Restaurant in Berwick on Saturday November 10 beginning at 7.30pm.

To view original image click here

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Class of 97 Reunion

It had been 10 years since they parted ways. They made time to come together and share experiences. A table was booked for 40 people on Friday 26th October 2007 at The Beaconsfield Central Hotel. 60 people attended this well organised event. Thanks Kate and Devin.

Contact

Kate Varty: kate.varty@southernhealth.org.au

Devin Beckwith: walker.devin.m@edumail.vic.gov.au

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Past Students Celebrate Glories at Reunions

In the last three weeks there have now been two reunions where former students have met to renew acquaintances with class colleagues as well as chew over the abiding memories they hold of their time at Berwick.

On Friday October 26 over 60 young people collected at the Central Hotel to toast the Class of 1997. Together with six teachers they gathered to talk, laugh and dance as they re-lived their youthful experiences at Berwick Secondary College. Kate Varty, Devin Beckwith and other assistants organised this very successful function and were impressed by the attendance.

Don Callen, Mark Woodbridge, Rex Valena, Mark Saunders and Rob Hansen also attended and enjoyed the evening and it was interesting for them to catch up with the likes of Chelsea Stoikos – currently completing her PHD at University – Chelsea Zlonzak, as well as Sarah Oldmeadow. Gary Hunt and Stuart Black still make up a formidable combination. Quite a few from this group have become teachers – following in the footsteps of mentors?

On Saturday November 10th an equally large number of the Class of ’87 jammed into ‘Shanikas’ in Berwick to chat, view a well documented slide show as well as listen to pumping music in the small upstairs backroom at the restaurant. Organised by Karen Evans (Woolley) and Tara Sansom the affair inspired many of the participants. Staff able to attend included Don Callen, Manfred Horn, Rob Osborne and Rob Hansen. “It was rather amazing to discover the interesting and diverse paths that many attendees had followed following their education at Berwick.

The College can rightly feel proud of the contribution that these young adults have already made to our community. At least four of that group have children currently attending the school,” according to foundation member Mr Rob Hansen.“ Who would have dreamed that Paul Phelps would become a Psychologist, Alicia Bellgrove head of the Marine Biology Department at Deakin University and Michael Ryan a successful horse trainer? Sam De Vos has enjoyed the limelight in the Fleetwood Mac cover band while Mandy Neave has appeared in quite a few ads on television.”

Class of 98 Return to Celebrate

On Saturday November 15^th over eighty former classmates who travelled together through the Berwick Secondary College Education maze joined together to reflect, reminisce and celebrate their achievement. They were the Class of 1998 who had grown together over six years of being shaped, developed and sent out into the world as products of an educational environment at Berwick. If that product can be judged by looks then this group matches many others who are a credit to the college.

Jessica Mills, former President of the Student Representative Council, used her diverse talents to collect her former colleagues at the Central Hotel in Beaconsfield to salute ten years of participating in the community around the school.  The group danced, laughed and re-counted their collective experiences during an entertaining evening. They also enjoyed meeting a number of their former teachers and quite a few thanked the staff for their positive input into their lives.

The College has now established a Past Students and Teachers Association headed by former staff member Rob Hansen. Other groups who wish to organise similar functions can contact the college to receive assistance in organising similar activities (87681000).