2014

2014 was the year that my good friends Frankie and Liam Davison lost their lives on board Malaysian flight 17. Frankie was the Head of Year 8 and an exceptional teacher. Sad times that confirmed my belief that the TC community is like a family to me. I miss them very much.

I only had 3 students in my SPE12 class that year, the numbers are disappointing, but a great trio of girls they are - Renee, Molly and Maggie. Renee went on to become Dux of TC and is now studying Medicine at Melbourne Uni.

Toorak College also celebrated their 140th year as a school. We had an assembly near the Village in Mt Eliza, followed by a walk down Old Mornington Road to school led by a Navy Marching Band. Cliff Elliot buzzed the procession with his Drone. We also had a carnival complete with 'Dunking Machine' and another all school photo. Plans are in progress with developing a Middle School with its own curriculum and building. Year 10 to 12 now receive their reports only 'online'. We have a 10 day timetable with 60 minute lessons except for Thursdays when the lessons are 55 minutes long. The sad news was that a previous Deputy Principal - Kathleen Rumph had passed away, ironically on the anniversary of Christine McKay's death. Hamilton won the House Singing competition due to the hard work of Anna Durham. The Staff performance was a Michael Jackson medley, led by Alison Swift on vocals, Jenny Stevenson on Piano, Nick K on drums and Brendan on Bass. It was the first year that we organised the tutes into House groups. So I have the Year 12 Hamilton girls. It has worked well.

I work with a beautiful bunch of talented women!!

SPE12 - Maggie, Molly and Renee

My wonderful Hamilton Year 12 Tute

2013

In 2013, Helen Carmody introduced the positions of Director of Music - Jayne Turner, Director of ICT - Jenny Luca and Director of Innovation, Teaching and Learning - Liana Gooch. All school Executive positions. Along with these positions was the Head of Curriculum - Julie Carrington. She finally released her position as Head of Mathematics that she had held for many years. We now have another Business Manager - Anthony Steer. (I have lost count of the number that have worked here). The school clock tower was repaired thanks to a generous donation and a bell was purchased for the old bell tower, an iconic piece of architecture at the school. I have always loved the Valedictory at the end of the year for Year 12s. It has been in many locations: Frankston, Mornington but there is no place better than in the Gym. Its transformation is always amazing. Retirement packages were offered to staff over 55 during the year, that sees a number of staff taking early retirement - Deb Page, Roger Wiggins, Mark Richardson, Ev Kreppert and Gina McIntosh. Unfortunately our dear friend Christine McKay succumbed to pancreatic cancer on the 9th May. She will be remembered forever though, due to the annual presentation of the Christine McKay Literature Award. A fitting tribute to this lovely lady was held at TC in the Hall with many past staff and students in attendance. 

Yi Jien from Malaysia in SPE12

Hubbard Yr 12 Tute

Valedictory with Nat and Jess

2012

I again took LSL in Term 2 of this year. Rhonda and myself travelled to Egypt and Europe. We finally travelled around Spain and Portugal. We loved it and I managed a Blog while I was away that many staff and students commented on. Helen Carmody started as Principal while I was away. Andrew Williams took over the SPE12 class for me for the year. It was the first time in my teaching career that I didn't teach a Year 12 class! However, I did get to teach an amazing bunch of girls in Year 9 and 11. Hattie Kelso was in my Yr 12 Tute and as a farewell present, she gave me a very delicate Orchid. It is still alive, but only just. It is amazing how many experts there are out there when it comes to growing Orchids! Another student in my Tute was Seren Oroszvary. She was a very talented actress, I even performed on stage with her once, or should I say that I walked onto stage as a Policeman with her once, and even then, I botched it.

Abbey Rich and myself danced in the Tute Dance competition, Abbey in her wheelchair with me pushing her around.

My Tute that year. They will be pleased to know that I still drink from the cup with their faces on it and I still use the mouse pad with their faces on it, though it is starting to look a little shabby now.

2011

The Principal, Noel Thomas came back from the Term 2 holidays and announced that he had an epiphany on the cliffs of Merimbula and had decided to finish up as Principal immediately. He now works in China. The rest of the year was spent with Lois as acting Principal with a number of staff picking up extra jobs to get us through to the end of Term 1 in 2012. Notably Lee -Anne Marsh as the acting DP, she did an outstanding job. In 2011 the Beyond Boundaries trip that I attended was Thailand. We worked with the Hill Tribes in the north of the country painting and concreting. We also went on an amazing Elephant trek up into the hills and stayed overnight in a small village.

My Year 12 Tute - pretty are they not?

SPE12

Thailand Team

Dressing casual with Phil Carew, Michele Coventry and Barb O'Brien

2010

The world lost a beautiful person this year - Jill Vines. She worked at TC for many years before moving to Mentone Girls'. Jill died unexpectedly at home. It was the largest funeral that I have ever been to. A great tribute to a great lady. She was known as the teacher who loved purple. The funniest prank ever perpetuated at TC by the outgoing Yr 12s was when they redecorated Jill's office in Orange (her least favourite colour). Complete with orange curtains, pencils, lights, sticky tape dispenser, everything. I heard Jill screaming from my office!

Maaya Suzuki - SPE12

Exchange student Seira Okimi, who came back as a language assistant in 2014

2009

This was the first year that a group of Year 12 students created a farewell video. Milly Davison, daughter of Francesca Davison, organised the filming. It was fantastic, you can still view the video on Youtube. Black Eyed Peas played the backing music 'I gotta feeling'. I still smile when I look back at that first video. My SPE12 class consisted of 11 girls from China, no Australian girls at all! Rowena Baer was Head Girl, and my 2014 Tute still talk in awe about her as they were in Year 7 at the time and say that she was 'Perfect'. Tess Moody was also in this cohort. I asked her to write me a poem for me to read at the final Year 12 Chapel service. It was sensational - The Farewell Equation. Georgina Cameron was Hamilton House Captain, and once again I was dressed up as a Pirate's woman, complete with an ample chest!! I was also fortunate enough to go on the BB trip to the USA with Catherine Loel. Catherine was the Head of Curriculum for many years. What an experience it was in Boston, New York and Washington. We visited museums, schools, monuments and the girls shopped till they dropped!

The last of the Pavics! - Mel at Valedictory

Washington

New York

2008

Julia Sewell was in my SPE12 class this year. What a talented student she was, good at everything. Julia went off to Uni to become a Doctor, however, it wasn't for her. She is a now a Sommelier working at The Rockpool Bar & Grill. At just 23 she recently took out the Dux of the Court of Master Sommeliers Certified Course (Level 20) making her not only the first Melbournian to do so, but also the first of her gender. The result is a scholarship to take the Advanced CMS test in the USA next year. An impressive achievement indeed. Louise Sloan was the Head Girl, a most impressive student and leader who was adored by all of the girls. 

Julia Sewell

Louise Sloan

2007

In 2007 I went to India with the Beyond Boundaries group. What an amazing trip. We trekked in the Himalayas, walked in the footseps of the 'The Beatles' in Rishekesh, went to the Taj Mahal and spent time with the orphaned girls in Udayan Care and the boys saved from servitude at Bal Ashram. While at Bal Ashram, we met a young boy, Ohm Prakash who was given the junior World Peace Prize for his work in providing all of the children in the area with birth certificates. He showed us a book about the presentation in Sweden. In his big moment of accepting the award and making his speech, what was he wearing? A Toorak College Jumper! He told us that it was his best jumper.I have loved the Beyond Boundaries trips and the Outdoor Education trips as they were previously known. I was fortunate to paddle down the Snowy River, the Mitchell River and the Glenelg river. I also attended surfing camps at Wilson's Promontory. And I was fortunate to go to China, India, USA and Thailand with some amazing girls and dedicated staff. 13 girls in my SPE12 class. It was also the second lot of LSL for me at TC. We went to Europe and travelled around in a car and a tent. So much fun!

SPE12

Sarah Ellis and Sarah Hunter-Smith

Katherine Bennett - KB

BB India

Ohm Prakash with the Indian Team

Megan Unthank - Head Girl

2006

Not many images from these days. Did digital cameras hit the scene? The students no longer gave me prints to stick on my wall.

After receiving a comment from a disgruntled student, I have updated 2006. It was an interesting year, as Danielle Smith, who was in my Tute, is now a PE Teacher at the school. In her final year Danielle used to disappear every week to complete her Horse Racing Stewardship course. However, the 'Pork Pie' hat wasn't for her and she has become a successful Horse trainer and well loved teacher.

Danielle 2014

I was involved in the new teacher induction in 2014 and another student from 2006 has come back to work in Wardle House - Jessica Coates.

I have included some photos of students from those days below. Jess Featherby went on to star in 'Summer Heights High'. Interestingly, when I went to a prestigious school in New York with a school group, they found out that I knew Jess, I was given immediate celebrity status as apparently the show was a massive hit on HBO in the USA.

Jess Featherby

Jess Orr has been immortalised in print in the book created in 2014 to celebrate 140 years as a school. Jess has done a lot of work in Human Rights.

Jess Orr

 Lizzie Anderson, was the Hamilton House Captain in 2006. She did a wonderful job and the little kids in the House adored her. When I say little, many of them were taller than Lizzie.

Lizzie Anderson

 Maddy joined TC late but was immediately embraced by the school community. She has an amazing voice and performed on a number of occasions. I would love to know if she has gone on to become a famous singer. I feel a little out of it.

Maddison Wilson

My SPE12 class that year had 10 students in it. They were predominantly Chinese, but there was one girl from Thailand (her family had survived the 2004 Tsunami that had swamped her island) who had the longest surname I think that I have taught. Meradee Leelasinlapasat!

2005

2005 was a great year but also a tragic year. The first BB trip to China was instigated. We were going there for 3 weeks, trekking, touring and participating in a home stay in Tianjin. In this town we were to attend the opening of an Australian exhibition hosted by the Lord Major of Melbourne, John So. Just after arriving in China, we were contacted on the train by Roger Wiggins and informed that Alice Sloan had died on the Snowy River when a tree landed on her tent. What should we do? We decided to continue the journey in her honour. We held a ceremony for Alice in a 2000 year old monastery, we trekked up Emi Shan and inscribed a lock with 'Keep smiling for Alice', which we locked onto the railing surrounding the summit. Back at school a very special service was held for Alice. It was a very emotional time and especially as a number of Alice's best friends were on the trip. To cheer everyone up, the girls put on a beautiful Father's Day breakfast for me. One of the amazing things to happen, was when we went for a bike ride, all of the bikes had Alice on the frame. 18 students in my SPE12 class! A record.

My girls in China.

The White Lion Hotel

Giant Panda - it's real!

Team China - Mel, Jane and Heather

The Great Wall

Miss Carruthers, centre back.

Sue Jones, Jill Vines, Agatha Panetta, Julie Carrington, Jill O'Keefe, Ray Swann

I stole Julie Carrington's MMY12 class for a photo!

Team Hamilton - Al, Bron and Sal

2004

8 x 40 minute periods per day! The idea was that most classes would be 80 minutes long, however, many faculties requested shorter lessons, hence the 40 minutes. It was not a good year. Many staff would complain that they had 8 periods on. This timetable didn't last long. It was meant to reduce the number of subjects that a student would go to in a day, but it failed. I also taught MMY11, PHY10 and the maths extension program in Year 8. I caught up with a number of the girls at the reunion that occurred in 2014. Jessie Bainbridge, Shelley Paterson, Anna Loughnan, Angelica Guz, Chloe Krushka, Olivia Bowden, Laura McIntosh and Steph Sullivan (daughter of Kevin whom I worked with at Mt Eliza HS)

Ginny Xie

2003

2003 was a weird year for me. Kiah was now in Year 12 and I was contemplating the prospect of no longer sharing my drive to and from work with her after this year. Although it would be good to listen to the music that I wanted to. I never became a fan of Eminem! I was also teaching Lucy Wilson, my life long friend's daughter and Stacey Seakins who I have known since she was in Kinder with Kiah. In 2014 I was honoured to be at Stacey's wedding in Adelaide where she now works as a Doctor. It was also great catching up with Laura Trezise, another member of the SPE12 class of 2003. Anne Sarros left at the end of the year to take up the position as Principal of Firbank. Anne has now returned to TC as a member of the Board.

Joyce Lam

SPE12

Hamilton loves dressing me as a girl!

Yr 12 Valedictory - Anne Sarros and Agatha Panetta cutting loose