Alumni Spotlight: Joseph Millimaci

I moved from Sacred Heart Primary in Highgate to St Kieran’s in 1974. The following year I was in Grade 5 and started at Servite College. That meant moving across the street to the basement in the Priory in Myers Street, a whole new uniform (green shirt, green shorts, and green socks).

The Tuart Hill High School students called us grasshoppers because of our green uniforms. Our Grade 5 class had just boys and our teachers, Mr and Mrs Lucas were very strict. I remember playing marbles in the Priory grounds at lunch time and we used to walk 15km for our Walkathons to raise money for the missions and other charities.

In 1976 and 1977 (Grades 6 and 7) we became part of St Kieran’s again and went back to a grey uniform and our classes were co-educational. We loved having classes with the girls again. Although we enjoyed our time at St Kieran’s, we couldn’t wait to be in high school at Servite in Year 8. Our class was downstairs where the locker dungeon is now. There were only 5 volleyball courts on campus, one for each year, and the line was always so long. We would have loved to have a patch of grass to play soccer. Our tuckshop (canteen) was on St Kieran’s grounds and their library belonged to Servite and was where we had our movie nights. Those were great social events.

I loved playing soccer for the school and being part of the Photography Club and Yearbook Committee. We had a dark room on the Montorsoli campus (we called it the Arts buildings back then). We learned to develop negatives in total darkness and our own black and white photos using the enlargers and a variety of chemicals. Many of our photos are in the 1982 Yearbook, the one with a purple cover.

Some of my favourite teachers include Mr Kissane (Maths) and Miss Crikis (Science). I didn’t realise what a positive impact they and the other staff members had on me until I was walking across the “quadrangle” on my way to my interview to start teaching at Servite. Mr Shanahan was our Principal, Father Mackle was our spiritual guide and they and the other teachers taught us about faith, integrity and hard work.

I fell into teaching by chance and loved it. I’ve taught English, French and Italian at Lesmurdie SHS, Bunbury SHS, John Forrest SHS, Mount Lawley SHS, S.I.D.E, St Mary’s Karrinyup and then finally closed the circle by returning to Servite after 41 years!! Mamma mia!

I absolutely love travelling and, in the meantime, I studied and worked in Italy, played in bands, worked as a DJ, raised 3 sons with my wife, Fiona and all that time I maintained my friendships with my Servite classmates.

It was really special to come back to Servite. For our 30th Reunion they gave us a tour of the school and Mr Branson asked me, “So when are you going to come and teach at Servite?” Wow! How did he know that it would actually happen? I’ve made some amazing memories since coming back and I am very grateful that I get to give something back to our amazing Servite community!