Alumni Spotlight: Ross Richardson (Class of 1965)

I was very fortunate to be a foundation student of Servite College (or St Philips High School as it was then) back in 1958 as a Year 5 student. My class was the first class to graduate having gone through from Year 5 to Leaving.

Some of my best memories of teachers include Mrs Langoulent, Mrs Jowlett and Fr Vander Loop (with whom I had been in touch with until he passed away last year aged 96}. Memories from that time include our trip to Tardun when Fr Brian Rogan organised for us boys to travel up by train. When we arrived at our digs for the night, we were put up in old shearing quarters which were quite primitive, using only a generator for some power. One of the brothers from Tardun cooked us up a meal of emu and galah stew. The next day, he took us around on the back of his tractor/trailer looking for wild goats.

This trip really inspired me so, when I returned to teach at Servite College in 1969, I organised a longer trip to the north-west. Fra Liam Mackle and Mr Grenville Murray accompanied me on what would become the first of many North-West Trips into the Pilbara. Fra Liam Mackle was the heart of Servite College at that time and was very forward-thinking in terms of both education and wellness for our students which created a great sense of community and pride in our school.

Another memory that I recall from those early days was being part of the band. I played the drums and really enjoyed that creative aspect of my school days.
My teaching time at Servite ended in 1987 when I took up a position at Mercy College as Deputy Principal, followed by a similar position at the Catholic Agricultural College in Bindoon before retiring in 2005. For a short while, I drove buses for Transperth before CEWA asked me to take on the role of Acting Principal in Carnarvon for a short time.

Since retiring, I have kept busy with family and community work, having been a skipper with Sea Rescue for 14 years until retiring a couple of years ago. I am still a glider instructor and have recently commenced as a driver with St John Volunteer Transport.

Thoughts of my time at Servite, both as a student and a teacher, offer come back to me reminding me of the how fortunate I have been to have enjoyed such experiences.

My wife and I are the proud parents to five children, eleven grandchildren and one great, grandchild. Our lives are truly blessed.