BLAST FROM THE PAST

A LOOK BACK ON PRODUCTIONS

Secondary Productions at Waverley Christian College are never short of crowd appeal and pizaz! As a winner of various acting, directing and technical direction awards over the years, the College continues to attract large audiences from within and outside the school community. Boasting an outstanding array of talented Waverley Christian College students over the course of ten years and beyond, the school’s Performing Arts Department has been an inspiration to many Victorian audience-goers and beyond.

Wantirna South Campus

With the talent of writer and director Asher Johnson, assisted by Production assistant Sue Sprately, Musical Director David George and other hard-working staff, the Wantirna South campus made waves across Melbourne’s amateur show circuit with their prolific showcase of Productions from Fiddler on the Roof, to the Sound Of Music, Les Miserables, Godspell, the Wizard of Oz, the Lion King and Mary Poppins, with many other Year 10, VCE and Act Three theatre group performances in between. If this wasn’t enough, the team, under the direction of Mr Johnson, produced its own feature film entitled Wormhole at Daylesford, also written by its director. Bringing together alumni and VCE Drama students, Wormhole and Daylesford debuted in front of a live audience at the cinema and was impressive on all cinematic fronts.

Narre Warren South Campus

With an older sibling like the Wantirna South campus, it wasn’t hard to follow suit and create an extraordinary show in the Narre Warren South Campus’ first Secondary Production year. The 2017 production of Annie was like nothing the cast and crew could have predicted. With show stopping musical numbers, stunning costumes and high calibre acting skills, this amateur show boasted high professionalism. The 2019 production of Beauty and the Beast was also nothing short of spectacular, with eye-dropping sets, technical design and a talented cast that brought humour and emotion to this iconic story.

What are your favourite memories from our past productions? Jump on to WCC Connect to join the conversation and even share some photos! To see more photos and content, log on to wccconnect.com.au.

Miss Natalie Ruiz (Head of Performing Arts, NWS Campus)

The College has been around for 43 years this year, and over this time it has changed, expanded and built up a community in which you are all involved in today. A number of our past students, since attending, have gone on to become valued staff members here at the College. Below are the reflections of some of those staff members.

JOEL CHAPMAN

1. What years did you attend the College? I attended Waverley Christian College from 1993 – 1996.  (Years 7 – 10). The College only went to Year 10 at the time. It was based at Wantirna South, Narre Warren South wasn’t even a suburb, let alone a school!
    
2. What is your fondest memory of your years of being a student? The best memories are always about friends. There was only one class of students in my year level, so we were all pretty close. At the end of Year 10, the whole class had a sleepover at one of our classmate’s homes, which was a lot of fun. I will always remember Mrs Aboyage – whenever you were naughty in her class you never got in too much trouble, but had to wander around the oval (real grass!!!), holding her hand while she prayed for you.
    
3. What are some of the main differences about the College now compared to when you attended? The buildings. When I was at WCC, there was just the Primary wing and the Secondary wing.  Now there are buildings everywhere, and one of the “new” ones that we had then, has just recently been demolished! We also have a new campus and loads more staff and students. There is plenty that still feels familiar. Mr Sheahan’s office is still a daunting place to be called to!
    
4. What has never changed? Mr Sheahan - not even his hair colour. Also, the carpet in the Secondary Wing is the same. The care for students is still the same as well.  We don’t walk around the oval holding their hands, buts lots of prayer and care goes on within the College.
    
5. How long have you been working at WCC? This is my 19th year. I'm hoping for a gold watch next year…
    
6. What do you love most about working at the College? The people – teachers and students. I love the people I get to work with and it is really satisfying watching a student move through the challenges of the teen years and graduate as a young person ready to change the world.
    
7. Any final thoughts/reflections on your time at WCC over the years? Hopefully, we are making a difference. The day I was enrolled at Waverley Christian College genuinely shaped the rest of my life. I hope we are still doing the same thing today.

Mr Joel Chapman (Deputy Head of Secondary, WS Campus)

PAUL FREER

1. What years did you attend the College?
   I started as a student in Year 8 in 1992 and attended through to Year 10 in 1994. 
    
2. What is your fondest memory of your years of being a student?
   The memories that hold the strongest for me are the teachers that I was privileged to have. Teachers like Mr Birkett, Mrs Swain, Miss Hussey and Mrs Aboagye (as well as many more), who made an impact on my life through their passion and care.  
    
3. What are some of the main differences about the College now compared to when you attended?
   Mostly the buildings - we have a lot more of them now!
    
4. What has never changed?
   Peter Sheahan is still the Principal and hasn’t aged one bit. Also, while programs and buildings have come and gone, teachers remain just as passionate as ever to support students and students keep getting older and leaving at the end of Year 12!
    
5. How long have you been working at WCC?
   After leaving as a student, I returned as a PE teacher in 1999. I worked at the Wantirna South campus for 15 years before heading down to the Narre Warren South Campus at the beginning of 2014. This year is my 22nd year on staff.
    
6. What do you love most about working at the College?
   That’s easy – the kids and the teachers!
   I love being able to work with young people and the opportunity that I have every day to help make a difference in their lives. Also, the team of teachers that I work with are so passionate and committed. It makes the College a great place to work.
    
7. Any final thoughts/reflections on your time at WCC over the years?
   I have really loved being able stay with the College and see how much it has grown over the years. While so many staff and students have come and gone throughout this time, all of them have had a part to play in shaping Waverley Christian College to become the school that it is today. While there has been so much change along the way, helping students to grow through care and support continues to be at the heart of everything we do.

Mr Paul Freer (Secondary OHPE Teacher and Year 8 Coordinator, NWS Campus)

LYN SMITH

1. What years did you attend the College?
   As a student, I attended the College from 1978 – 1981. I was there the day the school first opened (20th February, 1978) as Parkmore Full Gospel College. I attended the College from Year 7 – Year 10 (the school didn’t offer Years 11 and 12 in those days).
    
2. What is your fondest memory of your years of being a student?
   We had a large room which was set aside for the Secondary students to use as a recreation room, including table tennis tables inside. I loved hanging out with my friends in this room, playing table tennis and card games like UNO.
    
3. What are some of the main differences about the College now compared to when you attended?
   During the time that I attended, there were less than 150 students. The first year, all the 46 students from Years 1-10 worked in the same room using individual work units, called PACES. Two teachers and two assistants looked after all those year levels. The school building was over 100 years old and was at the intersection of two very busy roads. The school also had limited access to technology. Not many people owned a computer or had a mobile phone in those days and the internet, as we know it now, didn’t start for nearly 20 years after this time.
   
   Nowadays, we have two campuses, over 2000 students and hundreds of teachers. The oldest buildings at Wantirna South were only constructed in 1989, and new buildings are being built right now. The facilities are in a much quieter setting, and you don’t hear the squealing of car/truck brakes very often. Our learning is done remotely or in class settings, not individually. Nowadays, students couldn’t function without their phones and other technology.
    
4. What has never changed?
   Mr Sheahan!  He started as the PE teacher the second year I attended the College, and he is still here. Also, the College still has great Christian teachers who love and care for the students.
    
5. How long have you been working at WCC?
   I started as a staff member in 1989 and have been here ever since, apart from a few years off for additional study and family leave. I spent many years teaching Year 2 at Wantirna South and have also worked in the LEAPS Department there. Since 2014, I have been the Primary EAL (English as an Additional Language) teacher at Narre Warren South.
    
6. What do you love most about working at the College?
   Working with some great colleagues!
    
7. Any final thoughts/reflections on your time at WCC over the years?
   I am proud of the fact that I have such a long association with the College.
   
   I often look at the College and am constantly amazed that the vision that was given to a few passionate people in those early days has grown into the College that we have now. I often think about the seeds that the College has planted in so many students' lives and how those seeds have grown into so many young (and now not so young) people who making an impact for Christ all over the world, as well as locally. 
   
   Seeing the children of those students who I taught so many years ago starting their own journeys at the College is also fulfilling. Waverley Christian College must be pretty good if it is the first place that these families chose for their own children! Personally, I never considered any other school for my own daughter.
   
   For those who may be interested:
   After working at the College for over 12 years, I became a mum to my beautiful daughter, Amanda, when I adopted her from China in 2004 (at the age of 18 months). Amanda is now 18 years old and is currently completing Year 12 at Wantirna South.

Miss Lyn Smith (Primary EAL Teacher, NWS Campus)