Assistant Principal (Secondary)

The ‘Beast’: Setting the #Vanlife trend 20 years prior.

One of life’s many pleasures is to remember and to reminisce, taking time to pause, to appreciate, to ponder and to be grateful. Many elderly people state that one of their biggest regrets is that they weren’t present enough, didn’t spend enough time reminiscing, being appreciative or being grateful. Many people reminisce about the time they first gained their independence, generally associated with turning 18 and getting the license. 

For me, one of the funny memories that always brings a sparkle to my eye is the memory of my first car. It was an absolute beast, it was the epitome of cool, a car for any 18 year old male, it oozed raw masculinity, speed and was the envy of my friends: namely a white, 1986 Mitsubishi Nimbus (aka, Mum's old car). 

Now, I hear many of you asking, ‘What indeed is a Nimbus?’, you may never have heard of it. Well, let me explain: a 7-seater people mover, with a 1.8 litre, 4 cylinder engine, 3 speed automatic and a carbi that never really worked, meaning it never pumped fuel quickly enough and accelerated slower than the slowest car on the road. A car I proudly drove for 4 years. What an absolute beast?!? Haha. 

But, it was a car that went everywhere, and carried everyone. It could hold a mattress and be slept in, it allowed me to travel to amazing locations, carrying everyone, then be used in the same way insta-influencers do now, butwithout the tacky photo filters or hashtags. I like to think that the Nimbus was the precursor to the ‘van life’ trend and I was simply 20 years ahead of everyone – well, I like to say that now, but at the time, it definitely didn’t feel like that. Despite many things not going well - in particular with the car, it is still a time in my life that I remember with fondness.

As we finish our first full year of teaching, learning, school and ‘normal’ life in three years, I think its important to pause, to remember, to reminisce, to be fully present, to remember the joys and sorrows and to be grateful for the year we’ve had. 

 At this time of year we need to savour, to reflect and remember with fondness the year that’s been. If we’re being honest with ourselves, we have to acknowledge that we’ve all had many highlights. As the end of the year approaches and the Christmas season begins, I’m encouraging each of us to pause, to breath, to reflect and be grateful for the joys we’ve had this year.  As a College, we pray that each of you have an amazing Christmas time; which allows you to appreciate what has been and focus forward with excitement to opportunities that will soon be coming in 2023. 

Mr Chris Graham

Assistant Principal (Secondary)