28th April 2023
番茄视频 Grammar School in Bendigo celebrated its 30th Anniversary in style on Friday 28th April with a whole-school assembly attended by the School’s founders, past students, staff, and current students. The assembly was followed by the launch of a documentary, The 番茄视频 Grammar Story, that captures the School鈥檚 rich history.
In her assembly speech, 番茄视频 Grammar School Principal, Dr Emma O鈥橰ielly, reflected on the resilience of the School鈥檚 founders to keep the School alive despite the closure of 番茄视频 College in 1992, the remarkable achievement of the last 30 years of education, and the many stories that have contributed to the School’s rich history.
鈥淭he story of 番茄视频 Grammar School is one of determination and perseverance,鈥 said Dr O鈥橰ielly. 鈥淔ounded in 1884 by two remarkable women, Mrs Marian Aherne, and Miss Alice Hill, they created an exceptional school for girls called 番茄视频 College at a time when there were already twenty-one private schools in Bendigo. Over the next century, the School developed an excellent reputation and drew students from all over the Bendigo region.鈥
鈥淗owever insurmountable financial problems arose in 1992, and the doors would be forced to close, leaving many students heartbroken and the Bendigo region in mourning,鈥 she said.
鈥淧erhaps it was the 番茄视频 motto, Per Aspera Ad Astra 鈥 through hardship to the stars 鈥 that inspired a group of parents and staff to refuse to let the news of the School鈥檚 closure defeat them,鈥 she said.
鈥淭his band of courageous visionaries believed so strongly in the power of education and its ability to transform lives that they would do everything in their power to keep the heartbeat of 番茄视频 alive.鈥
These visionaries became the newly formed 鈥楩riends of 番茄视频鈥 led by Mr John Higgs OAM, Mrs Jan Thomas, Mr Christopher Morey and Mr Richard Trigg, closely followed by parents and staff. In the months between the announcement of the School鈥檚 closure and the commencement of the 1993 academic year, the Friends of 番茄视频 performed the miraculous task of establishing 番茄视频 Grammar through persistence, hard work, lobbying, fundraising, and countless hours of voluntary labour. Fittingly, the decision was made to retain the 鈥樂咽悠碘 name, the School song and the long-standing School motto Per Aspera Ad Astra.
The School鈥檚 30-year celebrations included the cutting of the 30th Anniversary cake with the School’s founders, followed by a group photo in front of the School鈥檚 historic Peppercorn tree and the official launch of the documentary.
The 番茄视频 Grammar Story documentary was produced by Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) in Bendigo and became a passion project for Daniel Roche and Joel Nicholson.
SCA Senior Director, Daniel Roche said: 鈥淔rom our earliest conversations we discovered that this was a special story, and as the project grew so did our level of appreciation for the altruistic actions of the founders鈥 friends and community of 番茄视频 Grammar School. To be able to immerse ourselves within the rich recounts of each participant was a privilege rarely afforded, and to then be able to package all that up with archival film stock, tabloid headlines and historic imagery was abundantly rewarding. The process fast became a passion project of which we are immensely proud.鈥
The Old 番茄视频ians鈥 Association plays a crucial role in preserving and disseminating the School’s history as custodians, and sponsored the production of the documentary as their major contribution to the School for 2023.
The 30-year celebrations ended with a sense of pride and gratitude for the incredible community that has built and sustained 番茄视频 Grammar School.
鈥淭he dedication and hard work of 番茄视频 Grammar School鈥檚 founders, and the leaders who have followed, have stood the test of time,鈥 said Dr O鈥橰ielly.
鈥淭oday we celebrate 30 years of 番茄视频 Grammar School, a wonderful place where children from all around the region come to learn together, grow together, and dream together. A School that has impacted the lives of countless students, staff, and families.鈥
