4 minute read
Ongoing connections with our Old Michaelian Community
The Class of 2015 5-year reunion
The Old Michaelian Association Committee (OMAC) and our vibrant community of Old Michaelians rose to the challenges that emerged in 2020 by providing valuable support to our students in their endeavours, fostering community connections and nurturing a sense of belonging within the wider School community. This is evidenced by the significant number of Old Michaelians (OMs) who continue to have a wonderful presence at the School.
Year 12 Support
Every year the OMAC hold a Year 12 barbecue and provide treats for Year 12 students to cheer them on as they progress through their studies and head into exams. Unable to provide these usual boosts in 2020, the OMAC chose to take an innovative approach. OMAC member, Joanna Margiolis rallied nearly 40 OMs, spanning the decades, and compiled inspirational video messages of them wishing the class of 2020 all the best for their upcoming exams. The video was played as the conclusion to a very successful Virtual Valedictory Dinner and the students were delighted and buoyed by these special messages. The messages were also posted on the St Michael’s social media channels throughout the exam period to reinforce the wonderful support from the OM community. At the Virtual Valedictory Dinner, we were delighted to welcome back disability advocate and St Michael’s parent, Mandy McCracken (OM 1991), to carry out the tradition of officially welcoming the class of 2020 into our Old Michaelian community. Mandy, who also featured in Episode 1 of our Stories from the Crest podcast series, also presented the Old Michaelian badge to the students on behalf of the Old Michaelian Association. The badge was an inclusion in a Valedictory package of gifts and treats that was given to the students at the conclusion of their on-campus Valedictory Day celebrations.
Reunions
Although the restrictions precluded events being held at the School, it provided an opportunity for an innovative approach to celebrating reunions. Whilst the 30-year reunion was held on campus in February, all reunions for the remainder of the year, for the first time in the history of the School, were held online as virtual events. One of the positives of the online format was that many Old Michaelians living interstate and around the globe were able to attend their reunions for the first time in many years. Attendance peaked with the 5-year reunion for the Class of 2015, with approximately 40 OMs and staff members joining together onscreen. The 40+ years reunion for Peer Years of 1980 and earlier, planned to be held in conjunction with the School’s 125-year Anniversary celebrations, was postponed and will be held on campus when it is safe to do so. Old Michaelians are looking forward to attending their postponed reunions on campus in 2021 and 2022.
The Sandra Matheson Archives
St Michael’s welcomed all community members onto campus at the commencement of 2020 with a beautiful display of historical images and stories featured in prominent places throughout the campus in celebration or the School’s 125th Anniversary. The Archives sub-committee Dr Jan GordonClark, Sue Loughlin, Kim Crane and Carolann Thomson were delighted to see their efforts in supporting the development of the display, come to fruition. The sub-committee commenced the year with the first workshop, which was attended by a loyal group of enthusiastic volunteers who are devoted to preserving the history of the School. Detailed tasks were undertaken, such as cataloguing, identifying photos and working through collections that have been donated by Old Michaelians and their family members. Work on campus was halted in March and for most of the year, the team continued to work remotely and assist Staff and Old Michaelians by fielding queries and preparing archival materials for display at reunions. Along with this dedicated focus, the Archives Team supported the 125th Anniversary by providing historical images for social media and engagement with the community. The team was also delighted to see the realisation of their efforts, with the publication of the new School history book, The Art of Being Different, which was released in 2020 to coincide with the 125-year Anniversary. Each of the team members was gifted a copy of the book as an acknowledgment and thank you for a concentrated research effort which was integral to bringing the book to life.
From the Archives: The School's first Heron Island trip in 1941
In 2020 the Old Michaelian Association Committee (OMAC) have demonstrated resilience, innovation and flexibility and have continued to be integral in the strong presence of Old Michaelians at the School. Whilst the year played out in a very different way to what was first envisaged, the OMAC have played a pivotal role in the celebration of the School’s 125th Anniversary. Dr Jan Gordon-Clark’s visit to the Year 10 Humanities class earlier in the year to speak about St Michael’s during the Second World War has sparked the initiation of a war service project that will shine a spotlight on the contribution that the School and the many members of the St Michael’s community made to the war effort. A potential new podcast project involving students and Old Michaelians is also being scoped. We look forward to new and innovative projects springing from the challenges of 2020 and we also look forward to a time that we can continue to welcome back many more members of our Old Michaelian Community to St Michael’s in 2021 and beyond. If you are interested in learning more about the Old Michaelian Association Committee, please contact oldmichaeliancommittee@stmichaels.vic.edu.au
