By BRIDGET COOK
PAST and present staff and students of St Peter’s College took a trip down memory lane on Friday night as they celebrated the school’s 20th anniversary.
More than 250 people attended the gala dinner to mark the milestone occasion of not only the school’s anniversary, but of Catholic secondary education in Cranbourne.
Seven current staff members were honoured at the event for 20 years of service, who were all foundation staff members of the school.
The service awards went to Kerrie Birrell, Kevin Cooper, Patricia Ellis, Patrick Grant, Catherine Heijden and Robyn Young.
Principal Tim Hogan thanked the staff members for their long service and congratulated them for reaching such a wonderful achievement.
“In past years we have honoured those staff that have completed 10 years of service and we did so again this year,” he said.
“But we were very excited to be able to honour seven of those founding members of St Peter’s College staff who after 20 years are still delivering dedicated service to St Peter’s College students, staff and families.”
Many past college captains attended the event, as well as the college board chairman, Cranbourne MP Jude Perera, Casey mayor Geoff Ablett, Parish priest Fr Denis O’Bryan and the director of Catholic Education Office from the Diocese of Sale Maria Kirkwood.
St Peter’s College marketing officer April Hampson said the school had a rich and successful history.
“There are many who have contributed to this,” she said.
“Our past students and staff at the forefront of the day to day activities have seen St Peter’s College become an integral part of Cranbourne and surrounding areas development of our young adults, many of which have gone on to achieve great things in their chosen fields of endeavour,” she said.
The school has a number of other activities planned throughout the year to celebrate the 20th anniversary.
There will be a day for the students to enjoy at the St Peter’s Feast Day and a commemorative pin to be presented to all current students and staff.
Later in the year, a group will go on a 21-day pilgrimage which will include a visit to Rome and the Vatican, time in Assisi, where a traditional Peace Walk will be undertaken between Perugia and Assisi and then a walking pilgrimage on the Camino Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain.
