Staff Farewells

Staff

Farewells

Paulette Weegberg Mrs Paulette Weegberg commenced employment at the College in 1994 in the Food Technology area and has provided 27 years of dedicated service. She has been instrumental in ensuring that the men of Mazenod develop basic life skills in food preparation, methods of cookery and technologies used in the safe production of food.

Many Mazenod College students have fond memories in the kitchen, baking chocolate chip cookies, making festive gingerbread houses and learning to cook meals for their families. Food Technology has for many years been the most popular subject within the College with over 400 students undertaking classes in a given year!

Paulette is to be congratulated for her most professional, engaging and creative lessons. Over the years she has also inspired many students to continue with studies or businesses within the hospitality industry. Of note, is former Master Chef George Calombaris. Other chefs and business owners include The Last Piece and Sette Bello, both local restaurants run by former students of the College.

Of course, Food Technology has not been all about career paths within the hospitality industry, it has been about encouraging the young men of Mazenod to not be afraid of the kitchen and to embrace the special cultural dishes and traditions within their own families. For many students, food technology lessons at school were the first time that the young men had washed a dish. Paulette soon made it known that it would never be the last!

Over the past 27 years, Paulette has amazingly managed food allergies, life-threatening anaphylaxis and has adapted work stations within the food technology area to ensure that every student could participate in the practical classes, and not be excluded. During the period of remote learning, she creatively ran her own YouTube channel, ‘Cooking with Paulette’ so that the young men of Mazenod could still actively engage in practical lessons and more importantly, could develop meals for themselves and their families whilst at home.

Congratulations Paulette on your amazing years of service to Mazenod College and over 40 years of service in Catholic and State schools.

The entire Mazenod College community, both past and present, are richer for the gift of having you on staff! We pray that Almighty God blesses you, Mark and your children. We wish you good health and happiness in this next stage of your life. Your smile, good humour and the occasional special morning tea in the staffroom, will be sorely missed! Vivian Seremetis Richard Faragher The year was 1994. Movie goers flocked to the cinema to watch Forrest Gump, Bon Jovi and Mariah Carey ruled the airwaves, Blue Heelers was a smash hit for the Seven Network, and Richard Faragher joined Mazenod College. 1994 will certainly go down in history as a very successful year!

As a teacher, Richard is the consummate professional. Despite often being tasked with students who were ‘mathematically challenged’, Richard has an amazing ability to connect with all students, accepting them as individuals, encouraging them to reach their potential and being able to deconstruct difficult concepts to a comprehensible level.

While there is no questioning Richard’s skills as a Maths and Science teacher, it was in the Outdoor Education environment where Richard came alive. Whether it be kayaking, mountain biking, surfing, hiking up a mountain or driving a mini bus, this is where Richard thrived as a teacher, providing a once in a lifetime experience for hundreds of students over many years. He is a notoriously brilliant storyteller around the campfire, and loved nothing more than challenging the students to get out of their comfort zone, ‘bush bashing’ through rugged terrain.

On a personal note, Richard will be greatly missed by so many. With a lack of pretentiousness and the ability to make people laugh, he is the perfect office companion, supportive colleague and coffee buddy. He is extremely generous with his time, volunteering to assist colleagues with marking or to accompany his mates to Arbor for a quick coffee and dose of perspective. As the President of the Breakfast Club, a quiz master in the staffroom at lunchtime and a regular attendee on a Friday afternoon, Richard always guarantees lively conversation and plenty of laughs. We have watched Richard’s 1994 dress sense evolve from short shorts to a svelte figure with matching shirt and tie combinations in 2020, while those that have boxed with him can testify to the epic power of his right hook.

While we will miss the many social interactions, we know that you will keep in touch and hopefully be an honorary guest at Breakfast Club meetings. We hope that you will still make the time for us in your busy schedule of bike riding, hiking, volunteering for the Knox Environment Society, gardening, Magnetic Island trips and most importantly, grandparent duties.

Forrest Gump was right when he suggested that “life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get”, but in Richard we always know what we are going to get - honesty, integrity, engaging conversation and a plethora of Dad jokes. Clare Caldwell

Jason Mears At the end of Term 3 this year, Mr Jason Mears informed us that he would be leaving and it was certainly a shock and very unexpected news. Jason took over from Kevin Morgan as our Brass Specialist in late 1996, almost 24 years to the day. Back in the day, we were a much smaller department hidden in the current Year 7 area, in two small classrooms.

Jason has been an integral part of the development of Instrumental Music at the College. He has conducted every kind of music group, including several successful musical production projects as Musical Director. As a musician and a teacher Jason has always been held in the highest regard, striving for absolute perfection from himself and his students alike. As a trumpeter, Jason performed with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and was an active participant in several iconic Victorian Brass Bands, holding Principal positions as a player and later as a conductor. Ask him about a particular person in a brass band and the chances are he knows them! Jason has nurtured and developed many great musicians and his impact was such that some have gone on to their own careers in music. Andrew Power, Chris Lee and Ryan Koraknai to name a few old boys and he also taught Mr Melitsis and Mark Fitzpatrick, who currently holds a position in the State Orchestra of Victoria. Jason was not only an excellent teacher and musician, he was able to develop close relationships with his students, many of whom would become friends and colleagues long after their school days had finished. At its core was a respect for his musical prowess, expertise and his open and friendly nature.

As many of you will know, over the last 15 years or so Jason has battled with his health, culminating with a liver transplant about 8 years ago. He came perilously close to dying. After a successful transplant and a long recovery, Jason eventually returned to work. Jason embraced this life changing moment in the most incredibly positive way, leading him into cycling and running, including in more recent years a few marathons. His attitude to his new lease of life has made him quite the poster boy for transplant departments in Victoria. He is often asked to present his inspirational story to fellow transplant patients and if you look closely he can even be seen on the recent Footlocker advertisement. His positivity has certainly been inspirational to all of us and he has never let his health interfere with his work commitments.

In more recent years Jason has been energised by his connections with Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School, enjoyed working with the students. He has been personally responsible for the development of their amazing music program, one that is now impacting positively at Mazenod. A large number of our most advanced students began their musical journey with Jason at Good Shepherd. Mr Mears will be remembered as one of the iconic long serving members of the Mazenod music staff, responsible for its continued expansion, diversity and development. Best wishes for the future, you will be sorely missed. Doug Leutchford

Midori Cranston After a teaching career spanning 36 years and four schools, Mrs Midori Cranston has decided to retire to pursue her passion for travel and language.

Born of Japanese parents, Midori completed her primary school education in Milan, Italy. As a fluent speaker of Japanese and Italian, Midori’s zest for life and connection with young people attracted her to education. Renowned for her self-deprecating sense of humour, Midori has always preferred teaching boys, because they make her laugh the most.

Midori cared for her students and loved to see them thrive and is an outstanding teacher. Her commitment to her professional development was evident in her roles of VCAA Deputy Chief Assessor of Japanese and Assessor of Italian. During her seven years at Mazenod, she entered her students in poetry competitions, wrote and directed their Italian play, supported them in the Mock United Nations competition and accompanied them on five Language Study Tours to Italy and Japan. She was instrumental in building a relationship between Mazenod and Sacred Heart Girls’ College and always took the credit whenever one of her students met their Year 12 formal partner through the shared activities between our schools.

However, Midori loved the classroom most of all. She engaged her students in an environment built on trust, humour and a thirst for learning. Her positive psychology techniques like rewarding good behaviour with ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ cards, made her much loved. She was generous with her pre-service teachers and language assistants, because she enjoyed sharing her passion with those wanting to learn.

Midori is ‘one of a kind’. She will be remembered for her energy, humour and hopeless sense of direction. We wish her an adventure-filled retirement with her husband, Ron. As soon as the borders open, she will be on the next plane to London for her long awaited reunion with her daughter, Catherine. Arigatou mille Verde! Nessuno. Joanne Noone

Staff

Farewells

Ramesh Gammune Ramesh joined Mazenod College in 2015, after completing his teaching rounds the year before. Three years on, Ramesh took a small break to go teach at De La Salle, however hastily returned in 2019 till present to be a valued member of both the Visual Arts and Design Technology team. He has an amazing wealth of knowledge in regards to technical drawing and inspiring our young men to be forward thinkers. Ramesh’s passion for all areas of design have seen his students grow to be independent thinkers and strive to challenge themselves with their conceptual ideas.

Another passion of Ramesh’s has been his involvement with the cycling club alongside Joanne Noone, Jen Vissenjoux, Joshua Muling and led by Richard Faragher, even adding his custom painted Ducati Motorbike. However, as of late, he has chosen not to cycle anymore “I run now, less people try to run you over with cars when you’re a runner! I do still have a few bicycles though!” Ramesh loves cooking and is very proud of his sourdough bread creations which he loves sharing with his wife Adrienne.

We were very sorry to see Ramesh leave at the end of Term 3, however we know he will do amazing things at his new school Wesley College. We wish him the very best in his adventures and you might even see him one day flying a Qantas plane on your next holiday. Rimma Campos

Sandra Begazo Sandra joined Mazenod in 2019 for a short time as a long service leave replacement teacher and immediately became an important member of the Chemistry team. She has an amazing wealth of knowledge and experience in both Chemistry and Mathematics, but more importantly she is a lovely person to spend time with. We were all overjoyed when Sandra came back this year as a permanent Mazenod staff member.

She is always willing to share her knowledge and resources, along with a chat and a cuppa in the office or staffroom. Sandra loves to talk, as all teachers do, and is always available for a debrief after a hard class or just a friendly catch up. I have never seen Sandra without a smile on her face. In the morning, she breezes in, smiling, finds time for a laugh during the day and then still leaves with a smile on her face even after a hard day of work.

We will all be sorry to see Sandra leave at the end of the year, but hope that she misses us as much as we will miss her and then decides to return to the Mazenod family where she will always be welcome. Dayna Hale Michael Bevis Michael was, and in some ways still is, an integral part of the Learning Diversity team and Mazenod College, assisting students with special needs and advanced disabilities.

His journey started in the mighty summer of 2012, bigger than the London Olympics, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and Facebook’s listing on the stock market or even the dulcet tones of Psy smashing out Gangnam Style. His involvement around the school helping students with physiotherapy, first aid or computer issues (some involving adult staff) were always done with care, a sense of pride and finesse.

Michael was always ready with a hello to all that he passed around the school and happy to construct a solution to the problems at hand. His knowledge definitely surpassed his position, although his humility gave way to others whom he thought were probably needier. Sadly, he has now left us to fulfil his growth and knowledge, working within his expertise in the disability sector. Michael is helping families work through the difficult process of finding their abilities and what part they can play in society, a best-fit style of solution.

Thanks Mike, you will be missed. Dennis Leong

Kevin-Pierre Nguyen Kevin-Pierre Nguyen, a student, colleague and friend. His contribution at Mazenod has been amazing. A vibrant, enthusiastic student who had vision and dedication, constantly organising events and making ideas a reality. Nothing has changed! Kevin has been involved in coaching Volleyball teams, visiting the homeless and working at Rosies, all whilst studying for a degree in Business and Accounting.

Joining Mazenod as an Oblate Youth Minister, Kevin was instrumental in organising the Prefect portfolios and coordinating fundraising for the missions. We wish Kevin all the very best in his new role at the CEM as an Analyst for funding and thank him for his outstanding contributions and commitment to the College. Pier Bourne

Lachlan Stuart Lachlan commenced at Mazenod in July 2018 as a member of the APM employment program to work in the Library and as a member of the Maintenance Team. With qualifications in History studies, Lachlan was drawn to the Archives, using his research and IT skills as Archives Assistant. He will be missed as a friend and valued member of the Library team. Camilla Elliott