VALE Kym Raneberg

It was with great sadness that we learnt of the passing on Friday 16th May, 2025, of well-respected technology teacher Mr Kym Raneberg. Kym made a significant contribution to Ballarat High School and public education throughout his 28-year teaching career in Victoria. Kym is sadly missed, both professionally and personally.

Kym hailed from Wyalla in South Australia where he first qualified as a motor mechanic and worked for a number of different businesses, including BHP where he worked as workshop manager.  His interest in training others led to positions in a number of TAFE colleges in Wyalla and Nuriootpa, including supporting Aboriginal education through onsite work in an Aboriginal community. These roles all involved Kym in passing on his expertise and skills in the area of motor mechanics.

Kym always played an important role in the communities he lived and worked in, especially in the area of auto and flying clubs. Kym was a qualified pilot and diver reflecting a diverse range of interests with his main passion being classic cars and hot rods, an interest that led to his involvement in the Energy Breakthrough program at BHS. 

Kym formalised his teaching qualifications further, graduating from the University of South Australia with a Bachelor of Teaching in 1996. With his family continuing to live in the Barossa Valley, Kym never lost that strong connection to South Australia and the Barossa, making many visits home to see family and always willing to have a chat about the great things about his home state.

Kym first started teaching in Victoria at Stawell Secondary College in 1997 where he continued his study to be able to teach the wide variety of technology studies in the Victorian curriculum.  In 2001 Kym was appointed to Ballarat High School as an ongoing technology teacher and began his 24 year career at the school. 

Kym taught across a variety of technology areas at BHS - woodwork, electronics, metal and STEM.  He also worked within our VCAL program, supporting students with hands on learning opportunities and developing their work ready skills.  

Kym became the heart and soul of our Energy Breakthrough team for many years, utilising his mechanical knowledge and skills and the many connections he had in that area to support our students involved in the program. 

Culminating in the annual 24 hour race in Maryborough where students not only demonstrated their amazing driving and resilience skills but also their skills in designing sustainable vehicles,  Kym lead a team of dedicated students and teachers to train and fundraise throughout the year to make sure everyone was ready for that one weekend in November.  There were challenges and rewards throughout the years, all providing students with learning and development opportunities that were priceless and created so many amazing memories for everyone.   

The program provided countless numbers of students with a fantastic experience and a connection with the school that for many continued after they left school – every year in Maryborough ex EB students would call in to assist or to just be there to cheer the current team on – all of them happy to be back with “Ranna’s” and the team. 

The Ballarat High School community was fortunate to benefit from Kym’s teaching, his passion for supporting students and friendship. 

RIP Kym

If you wish to leave a tribute, please follow this link to an online Memorial Book. All tributes and messages will be passed on Kym’s partner Vicki and family.