Bendigo South East College celebrated its 100th anniversary at the weekend, with hundreds of past and present students turning out to mark the occasion.
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Beginning as a school of “domestic arts” in 1916, BSE has variously been known as the Bendigo Girls School and Flora Hill High School among other names in that time, before taking on its current moniker after merging with Golden Square Secondary College in 2008.
Alumna Esther McRae, who now works at BSE and led the committee that organised the celebrations, said while some might have taken the school for granted, all the college’s alumni were blessed to have been a part of its history.
She singled out the story of three students who attended the school in 1917 and remained close for years afterwards.
“It actually moves me that in such a transient fast-paced world three friends who called our school home have taken the time to stay connected without Facebook, emails and sometimes without a phone,” she said.
“This is the power of a connection, this is the power of our school days.”
The magic words
When Ben Hubbard was asked to speak at the 100th anniversary celebrations, he was both honoured and somewhat reticent.
“What do you say at such an event in front of hundreds of people after 100 years of talented people coming through the doors?” he asked.
But it was the mention of a fondly remembered former teacher at the school that got him over the line.
“My reservations continued until I heard the magic words: ‘Nina Harris suggested’ – you had me at ‘Nina’,” he told the school’s packed stadium.
Mr Hubbard, who has served as chief of staff to former Prime Minister Julia Gillard and chief executive of the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority since he enrolled at the school in 1986 said his life experiences had given him the wisdom to have some understanding of “the winds of change the college’s current students will face as they make their way in the world”.
“Profound social, economic and environmental changes are making lifestyles, jobs and communities unrecognisable from 1916 and even 1986,” he said.
“Change is a constant and that means this school and the very able teachers at this school have their work cut out for them in preparing the students, you the students that are here today for the future, but with facilities like this, great facilities, and a great school community you should feel confident in their capacity to deliver.”
Mr Hubbard said at 42, he believed his life’s work was still just getting started and the school now known as BSE would provide an excellent jumping off point for generations to come.
“In the many things I’ve done in those 27 years since I left Flora Hill High School I’ve been guided by a simple set of values, opportunity, fairness community and respect – values that were formed right here in Bendigo,” he said.
“I also know for a school, a great school, 100 years is just the start and for the students here today and those that’ll be here on Monday it’s an institution for a great start in life. Congratulations on just getting started.”