On Thursday April 27, 2023 a group of approximately 200 people came together to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Swan Christian College.
After beginning humbly in a rented space in Columbo Street, Victoria Park in 1983 with 85 students and 6 staff, the College now caters for more than 1500 students and over 200 staff.
Mr Rob Merrells, a founding staff member, introduced the night and prayed that this occasion would bring glory to God above all else. The old school song (penned in the mid-1980s) was performed by the SCC Choir and was hummed by a number of alumni who made up a large number of the attendees. Many of the original students from the Victoria Park days are now aged in their late 40’s and early 50’s with their own children attending SCEA schools.
Dr Darnelle Pretorius (SCC College Principal) addressed the audience, along with current Chief Executive Officer Dr Graeme Cross, who acknowledged the SCEA Pioneers’ work to create a Christian school for the early families.
Memories and prayers were remembered by SCEA’s founding couple Mr Bill & Mrs Joan Grosser, who spoke of the importance of ‘knowing God and enjoying Him forever,’ former teacher Mr Peter Nicholls who recalled a day in the life of those early years at Swan and the sense of God’s abundance in our lives and former student Mr Jason Bartell, who is now a school Principal in his own right and remembers the sacrifices made by his own mother and father to give him and his siblings a Christian education.
Current student representatives of SCC, year 12 students Mr Trent Howson and Ms Lily Farrell, also gave their perspective of the College, thanking SCC for the formative effect that the College is having in their life now.
Hospitality students from both SCC and Mundaring Christian College worked together to create an excellent selection of food at the post-event soiree under the watchful gaze of Chef Rob Do Carmo.
Here are several photos from the night:
