Alumni Spotlight: Class of 1985

In honour of the Class of 1985 who will soon hold their 40th class reunion since leaving Servite College, we are highlighting a couple of flashbacks from 1985 as described through the lens of the students at that time!

North-West Trip Report

As the 1985 Wagon Train pulled away from the Servite Priory – too early, on May 17 – 23 students, Mad mackle, Mr ‘Fixit’ Hill and Mrs ‘What am I doing here’ Branson were looking for an adventure in the great dust bowl in the Nor-West.
If wouldn’t be right to mention the trip without the Violent Femmes adding it up or the Hoodoo Gurus or ‘wink’ of fires or practical jokes or sandwiches!

After a freezing night at Paynes Find, we headed for the Kumarina shower where a desperate cry “Help! I’m stuck in the toilet!” was heard from a red-headed female (Julie Ryall) but really the door was open all the time!

We made it to Wittenoom and set up in our five-star accommodation which was to be the scene of many practical jokes for the next week. Lisa and Mandy had birthdays here which included a cake and party games. No-one got any sleep because we didn’t want to be attacked or tied up or carried outside in the middle of the night.

The highlights of the trip (besides Paul’s cut-off jeans, hat and coat) were the breath-taking gorges which were simply gor…… beautiful!

The Deep Reach mud fight was an event to remember though Julie thought we’d forgotten her birthday. She was later surprised when we stopped in the middle of nowhere and sang ‘Happy Birthday”. Another surprise birthday (about the only thing we kept hidden from her during the trip) – was Mrs “Mum” Branson’s, celebrated in style. Carnarvon, the height of civilisation, provided a few late nights while the boys and Mr Hill were bitten by the fishing bug. Kalbarri, with swimming, boating and trampolining and fires, before we took our last drive home.
Bus stops and streetlights appeared as an unwelcome sight to many of us but we made the most of our last few hours.

As the bus pulled into the Priory with a last blast of ‘Add it Up’ we were filled with mixed emotions. It had been a trip none of us would forget – and we’d all do it again, given the chance.

– Written by Mandy Rowse

Yearbook Committee Report

Oh well, another year passed and here’s another Yearbook! This sure has been one hectic year – with highs and lows.

Mr Shanahan’s unexpected death six weeks into first term came as a shock to us all. We more senior students remember him for the man he was – ad younger students now and in the future will hear much more about him. However, we are all proud that his name is commemorated in our new wing – the Shanahan Wing.

We adjusted to the spaciousness and comfort of the new rooms, after ‘squashy’ conditions of the early months, and then started the fundraising, donations, fete, Open Day (a great success despite the rotten weather) and the Walkathon (Ooooh! those blisters!)

The Beazley/McGaw system brought changes – mainly to the Year 11’s but everyone has hung in there and seemed to manage.

The Senior Dance was a night to remember and went off without a hitch. The band was fantastic, and everyone looked great.

Once again, Servite excelled in sporting activities. The lower school showed up us ‘oldies’ with the first-ever under 13’s Football Premiership and a variety of junior netball premiership teams. We are also proud of our boys who made the final of the Federation Cup.

To finish, we would like to thank Mrs Fernandes, Mrs Turner and Mrs Webb for the incredible amount of work and effort they put into our 1985 Yearbook.

The Year 12’s leave with our very best wishes for their good luck in the future. May Servite remain in your memories forever!

– Written by Nerida Cicci