PRESIDENT'S REPORT

What a change has come over McKinnon Secondary College most recently! With the new East Campus up and running, the retirement of long-serving Principal, Pitsa Binnion and the appointment of new Principal, Michael Kan, it has been a momentous time. We were also delighted to have resumed our Grand Reunions following the Pandemic.

Within the magazine, there are digital photo galleries. By clicking on an image, you can enlarge it and then scroll through the photos.

EAST CAMPUS

This fabulous facility saw its first full year of student activity whereby the Years 8 and 9’s, numbering over 900, with their own specialized campus, have the ability to concentrate on educational requirements specifically related to their needs.

Located on the old Virginia Park site off East Boundary Road, the infrastructure has been tailored to make this a wonderful learning experience for McKinnon students for generations to come.

The college Principal Team has done a great deal of negotiating to enable parking facilities for staff and an extension of the local bus services to cater for to and from school movements. The staff also have spacious and modern office facilities and are enjoying the very different atmosphere that the new campus provides.

We are pleased to announce that this year’s Grand Reunion and the Class of 1973, 50th Anniversary afternoon tea will be held at the East Campus and all who attend will be amazed at what will be on show.

PITSA BINNION

Nobody thought Pitsa would ever retire, but her intention to do so at 2022 year’s end came as a shock. 

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Beginning at McKinnon in 1997 following teaching roles at Boronia, Koonung, Dandenong and Glen Waverley, Pitsa was appointed to various senior roles and then appointed as McKinnon Principal in 2008. 

In that time, her desire to expand and develop McKinnon has seen an enormous strengthening of McKinnon’s “Wisdom and Service” motto into student academic and personal growth. I know that anyone who has visited the Main Campus has to have been impressed with the ever-changing landscape with new buildings and facilities making life for students and staff so much better.

In special recognition of her time at McKinnon, special Ministerial approval was granted and the VCE building at Main Campus have now been named as the ‘Pitsa Binnion Senior Centre’. A wonderful and fitting endorsement of the legacy of Pitsa at McKinnon. 

A special feature of our Grand Reunions is the Pitsa Binnion ‘Meet and Greet’ at the front door welcoming back some of the many former students to their school with such warmth and enthusiasm. Pitsa has been a fantastic supporter of Thistlelonians and our work. We were delighted to present her with Thistlelonians Life Membership at her retirement function, in recognition of her support and encouragement of our aim to maintain an ongoing link with past and present McKinnon students, staff, and community.

Not bad for a young girl from Murrumbeena High School!

MICHAEL KAN

The announcement of Michael Kan as the new Principal of McKinnon Secondary College was greeted with great enthusiasm as his position as member of the College Principal Team for 10 years has placed him in a unique position to continue and further develop the future of this wonderful educational facility.

Michael has been a constant supporter of Thistlelonians. Congratulations to him on his appointment, and we welcome his ongoing guidance as we continue to maintain a wonderful link between past and present members of the McKinnon High School and McKinnon Secondary College community.

GRAND REUNION

We were delighted to be able to resume our Grand Reunion following the Covid restrictions and we are endeavouring to accommodate those whose reunion would have been held during the restrictions. This may take a little time.

The Grand Reunion is our major fund-raising event for the year with the monies raised being channeled back into College activities. 

This year will see the Class of 1973 celebrating their 50 years since graduation with Michael Kan inviting them to gather for a special afternoon tea prior to the Grand Reunion.

Both events will be held at the new East Campus and we are excited to be able to showcase this wonderful facility.

On Saturday 28th October, we will welcome back the Classes of 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1993, 2003, 2013 and2018. Also invited will be the Classes of 2000 and 2001 as this year’s groups who missed due to Covid.

The way the reunions now work is that we celebrate five years after graduating, then it moves to every 10 years until you hit your 40 years of graduation. This, in part, is to ensure healthy numbers at reunions, as some feedback indicated 5 years was too often.

We apologise for any confusion this may have caused and hope to see you at your next reunion.

Please ensure family and friends update their contact details via the link in order to receive our magazine and reunion information.

I am extremely proud to represent Thistlelonians on College Council and this is another means of spreading the news of our activities within the college. Thistlelonians could not operate without the ongoing support of the College staff and our loyal band of volunteers who all work to ensure the continuing connection to McKinnon SC.

Our thanks to all those whose input is invaluable. A special mention to the college Media Team – Andrew Krause, Chelsea Stanley, Caleb Goldwaser and the rest of the college Media Team for their maintenance of our social media sites and production of this magazine.

We are very fortunate that the College allows the Principal’s Personal Assistant, Melanie Lynch, to work as our Administrator. We thank her for her drive, enthusiasm and warmth in running our day-to-day activities.

A special thanks to our committee of Andrew Newton, Jenny Cooke and Pam Dickfos who oversee management and the direction of Thistlelonians.

We were saddened to lose our long time Treasurer, Ian Jackson, Class of 1966 who passed away in November. 

Ian’s work on the committee started when he moved back to Melbourne from interstate and his passion for numbers and spreadsheets was reflected in his work overseeing our finances.

I hope you enjoy reading of our recent and forthcoming events.

Geoff Woolnough

President