There will be a celebration of community and achievement this week as Shalom College marks its 40th anniversary.
All past and present students, parents and staff are welcome to attend Shalom College’s 40 years celebrations at the school’s Performing Arts Precinct from 3.30 pm on Friday 11 October.
Shalom opened in 1984 as a catholic co-educational secondary college, replacing the former Christian Brothers College Bundaberg for boys and Loyola College for girls.
The event will include tours of the College, musical acts from past and present staff and students, the premiere of the 40 Years of Shalom documentary, and canapes and drinks in the PAP foyer with the shortlisted ‘My Shalom’ photography competition entries on display.
College Principal of the past 16 years Dan McMahon said everyone was looking forward to celebrating such a significant milestone and everything that the college and its students and staff had achieved over the years.
“Anniversaries, like those in good marriages, are a chance to look back and be grateful for the work done and the lives changed for the better over the years,” Mr McMahon said.
“Shalom began as a bit of a gamble – Br Hogan, the first principal, amazingly, returned a $1,000,000 cheque to the Federal Government which had been given to improve the run-down facilities at the Christian Brothers’ site, which is now the Bundaberg Library, although one of the original buildings, fronting Woongarra Street, still stands, housing U3A and other community organisations.”
Br Hogan said at the time, that the money would have been wasted as the property could not handle the needs of young people in Bundaberg.
“The decision was made to move to the current Shalom site which many thought was far too far away and no one would come – they were wrong,” he said.
“Anniversaries are a chance to celebrate the people who had a vision, those who did the hard yakka to make a vision a reality and all the young lives improved over those 40 years.”
Guests include 40 years of Shalom staff and students
“We’ll be very pleased to welcome back the second principal of Shalom, Br Ted Magee, who now works in the Parish here in Bundaberg, and with him, his sister, Mrs Jan Aplin, who was secretary to every principal in the college history – may she take all of those secrets to her grave!
“Other guests include Gary and Marg Schultze, who also were long-term employees, friends of the College, parents, and grandparents.
“Jim and Kerry Stephensen will also be back.
“Both Jim and Kerry spent many years teaching and coaching at Shalom.
“Jim claims to have picked up most of the sticks and stones that needed to be cleared to make our main oval out of the bush!”
Shalom has naturally continued to grow and develop massively in regard to teaching and facilities over the years, but importantly it has always maintained a strong community feel.
“The school has changed but the foundations have only become more obvious – young people are cared for, treated well, encouraged to be excellent and held to a high account.”
Mr McMahon said they had tried to capture the stories and reflections of the women and men who have made Shalom what it was today in a documentary.
“We were able to interview every Principal, other than Br Hogan who died some years ago,” Mr McMahon said.
Long-time College Instrumental Music Instructor-Strings Mrs Bernadette Connolly, nee Habermann, a graduate of Shalom’s first ever Year 12 cohort of 1984, said the musical performance at the celebration of 40 years would feature some of Shalom’s best musical talent past and present.
“When Shalom opened in 1984, there was no music, classroom or instrumental, to speak of in the college, but over the years, through leadership’s commitment to providing educational excellence to the Shalom community, the music program has grown to become one of the strongest offered in the region,” Mrs Connolly said.
“We will showcase this excellence in a short concert which will take place as part of the celebrations.
“The concert will open with a performance by the College Choir and Orchestra of a work which was commissioned this year from past Shalom student, (her son) Mr John Rotar.”
John graduated from the college in 2012 and has since become a well renowned composer throughout Australia and beyond.
All past and present Shalom students, parents and staff are welcome to attend the 40 years of history event. Tickets are available here.
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Shocking we have not had a school built in 30 years… & even longer if you are looking at public schools. Both Shalom & Saint Lukes are private.