CONNECTIONS 2023
An ELTHAM College Publication
INSIDE ELTHAM College Principal: Farewell and Welcome
CONTENTS Community Connections Leadership Reflections
CALENDAR MAR 1
MAR 21
Welcoming ELTHAM's New Principal A Year in Performing Arts Alumni News
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Alumni – Class of 2022 Reunion
10 Alumni – Reunion Day 12 Alumni Community News 13 Alumni Sporting Clubs 14 ECCA News – Welcome, Support, Connect 16 Feature – Future Leaders 18
TBA
ELTHAM College, 4.00pm – 9.00pm
ELTHAM in Action school tour
Harold Mitchell Performing Arts Centre, 9.00am – 11.00am
Reunion Day – 10, 20, 30 and 40 Year Cohorts ELTHAM College
MAY 29
ELTHAM in Action school tour
JUN 13
Australia's Biggest Morning Tea (Cancer Council)
JUL 23
ELTHAM in Action school tour
AUG 10
50 Year Anniversary Gala Dinner
OCT 22
ELTHAM in Action school tour
Feature – Innovative Learning From the Archives
Open Day and Twilight Market
TBA
Harold Mitchell Performing Arts Centre, 9.00am – 11.00am
Swipers Gully Training Restaurant, 9.00am – 11.00am
Harold Mitchell Performing Arts Centre, 9.00am – 11.00am
Venue to be announced, 6.00pm – 12.00 midnight
Harold Mitchell Performing Arts Centre, 9.00am – 11.00am
Class of 2023 – 1 Year Reunion Venue to be announced
NOV 30
50 Year Anniversary Family and Community Day
NOV 30
50 Year Anniversary Short Film Festival
ELTHAM College
ELTHAM College
CONNECTIONS
Editorial
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
As I retire as Principal of ELTHAM College and look back on my 10 years at the College, I wish to acknowledge our unwavering dedication to quality education, decency and respect for each other.
We believe in the ability of young people to excel, regardless of their areas of passion
We believe in the ability of young people to excel, regardless of their areas of passion. I hope I have instilled in ELTHAM College the importance of our unique traditions and ceremony, not only in programs, but also in a strong acknowledgement of the College’s founders and the many families who have passed through the College. It is important to acknowledge the foundation of ELTHAM College in 1974 and how it has grown to become a thriving community of learners. We must never forget the vision of founder Les Clarke and other College families. This a unique school where creativity and intellectual diversity are celebrated, where students are encouraged to explore their passions and develop their talents. One of the hallmarks of ELTHAM College is its natural setting and engaging teaching spaces. Because of these, the school has always been able to create a place where students can thrive and excel not only academically, but creatively and socially.
The future of education is changing rapidly. As we navigate this new landscape, it is essential that we remember the importance of education. I am confident that our students are resilient and adaptable; that they can think critically and creatively to survive and adapt to the world they live in. Noted Canadian educator and thinker Michael Fullan, who has inspired me since the 1980s, says: “The future of education is all about unleashing and developing the potential of each individual … creating a culture of curiosity, creativity and collaboration. It's about developing the whole person, not just their academic skills. And it's about preparing our students to thrive in a rapidly changing world." I hope that my unwavering commitment to education and belief in the potential of every student reflects Fullan’s words and will have left an indelible mark on the College. Go well into the future.
Simon Le Plastrier Principal 2014 – 2023 ELTHAM College
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News
LEADERSHIP REFLECTIONS
SIMON LE PLASTRIER'S TENURE AS PRINCIPAL As Simon Le Plastrier farewells ELTHAM College after 10 years as Principal, ELTHAM College Executive reflect on Simon's impact.
“What stands out to me about Simon is his unwavering dedication to education, decency and respect for people, and his belief and positivity in the ability of the young people we work with, regardless of their areas of passion. Simon also instilled the importance of tradition and ceremony to ELTHAM College. Key school events such as the ANZAC assembly, the leaders BBQs, the 30-second speeches at the final Year 12 assembly, the student talent assembly, and of course, piping out the Year 9 students as they embark on a year of independence, are all significant traditions that Simon will leave as lasting legacies.” Lesley Moulin, Director, Senior School
“I’ve worked with Simon for more than 20 years at two different schools, and my abiding feeling about him and his work as a career educator centres on his tireless pursuit of students realising their potential – whatever that looks like. Simon has always advocated for students, personally investing in individual enthusiasm, and supporting student passions whatever form they take. I’m excited and relieved that he will continue to pursue his advocacy of young people through his work at CSE (Centre for Strategic Education) in the years to come. Go well Simon!”
“Simon has brought academic rigour to the College. He is a superb educator who understands students and how they learn. He pushes students by creating a challenging classroom environment which is at the same time a safe space in which students can take risks, make mistakes and learn from them. He asks open-ended questions and encourages students to formulate their own questions and go in directions that interest them. Many students benefitted from Simon’s Year 10 Beginner’s Guide to Ideas elective – they say it was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences they’ve had in their learning Rob Flavell, Head of Critical Thinking journey, that set them up for future academic success.” Helen Lucas, Director, Curriculum
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“‘Good people’ – it was a simple but nuanced answer to a question asked by a prospective family at an ELTHAM in Action school tour with the newly appointed Principal, Simon Le Plastrier. The question was about the qualities and attributes Simon wanted ELTHAM students to graduate with. These two words have stuck with me since I first heard him say them 10 years ago – a simple and admirable aspiration that beautifully describes who Simon is, and the humility and resolute humanity that drives him to be the outstanding educator that he is.” Mike Brennin, Deputy Principal
“With his favourite word being ‘why?,’ Simon encourages others to challenge the status quo, in his quest to bring about the best in everyone. Giving generously of his time and wisdom, he has succeeded in creating a foundation for young people to take on their own ‘daring adventure’ to be anything they want to be. He fosters this in his colleagues also. He is a loyal and supportive leader, and his cheeky sense of humour and love of storytelling has made working with him a pleasure.” Rebecca Millar, Director, People and Culture
“From an education and learning perspective, Simon’s legacy will be bringing a ‘rifle point focus’ to the goal of getting young people to learn how to think so they become critical thinkers who can solve complex problems. He also encouraged our young people to see learning as a journey, not a destination, encouraging them to be curious and embrace the many varied opportunities they are fortunate to have at ELTHAM College, and to take some risks and explore what’s possible.” Stuart Wenn, Director, Business and Operations
“Simon is very knowledgeable and is generous in sharing his wisdom with others. His focus is always student-centred, offering gentle guidance so that students can achieve their goals. Simon sees the positive in our efforts as a greater community – as a staff member, I appreciate Simon’s respect of our knowledge and expertise in our fields. His trust of me leading the ELC and Junior School and support are much appreciated.” Eleni Goulas, Director, ELC and Junior School 3
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News
RICHARD LISLE
WELCOMING OUR NEW PRINCIPAL IN 2024
An alignment in values sparked my initial interest in joining ELTHAM College. I knew ELTHAM was a place where my passion for holistic education would be lived every day; where teachers could be encouraged to show their passion for their subjects and think creatively about learning experiences, and where students would be at the heart of all that we do. I genuinely love being in schools, and I'm never happier than when I'm popping in and out of lessons, talking with students about their learning, helping where I can, and learning from great teachers along the way. I've worked at independent schools in New South Wales and South Australia, as well as in large and complex schools in the UK. Wherever I've worked, my central thoughts and values regarding schooling have remained constant. I believe a student's time at school should be exciting and challenging, full of opportunities for growth and the development of passions that will last well beyond their graduation. I value honesty, kindness and the ability to understand the perspectives of others, and strive to see my students develop those characteristics too.
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I’ve learned that successful schools are those who remain true to their vision and values. They build and support effective teams, and partner openly and creatively with parents/guardians and the broader community to provide outstanding opportunities to young people, as well as a sense of pride and belonging. Simon has been incredibly generous with his time and energy over the last few months, taking great care to pass on his vast knowledge of the history of the College and explain the thinking behind and outcome of so many of the initiatives he's driven. My family and I are excited about this new chapter in our lives. We are looking forward to becoming regulars at Swipers Gully, getting to know the community and building relationships.
Richard Lisle Principal ELTHAM College
Experience the community spirit of ELTHAM College at the 2024 College Twilight Market. Enjoy the best of what our beautiful local region has to offer: food and drinks, local designers, and live entertainment. The Twilight Market is a free event, designed to be the perfect way to kickstart the weekend. ELTHAM College – at the heart of community.
A unique range of premium wines, produced in small quantities, make up the range of Swipers Gully wine. Grown and made on site, adjacent to ELTHAM College within the Swipers Gully hospitality precinct, the vineyard frames our award-winning training restaurant and punctuates its bush-scape setting. Visit swipersgully.com.au/shop/ to purchase, or drop into Swipers Gully Training Restaurant.
Interested in being a stallholder, apply here: elthamcollege.vic.edu.au/twilight-market/
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News
A YEAR IN PERFORMING ARTS AT ELTHAM COLLEGE 2023 was another enormous and successful year for ELTHAM College Performing Arts. In May, in conjunction with the VCE Theatre Studies class, we produced our inaugural boutique production, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee . In this Year 10 – 12 musical, we partnered with Year 9 student Luca Miraglia to incorporate approximately 50 different Auslan phrases (which received a Lyrebird Judges Award for its beautiful execution). This was a task the entire production and creative team felt passionate about and it was an enriching learning experience for all involved. In August, the College was one of the first schools in the state to produce the musical Heathers: Teen Edition, with students in Years 9 – 12. The success of the production influenced
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News
several other schools in the state to produce the musical, as it touches on important themes relevant to the 21st century learner. In October/November, we produced CLUE: High School Edition for our Year 5 – 8 Production. Due to the popularity of auditions, the production was double cast and performed over two weekends. Arguably one of the best learning experiences was having students in Year 11 (Luca Macali and Bethany Riggs) and Year 12 (Alyssa Ktistakis), as well as past students Millie Craven (Class of 2022) and Devlin Stewart (Class of 2017) assistant direct the production. What makes ELTHAM College productions so special is the community created throughout the creative process. Staff, students and family members contribute their time, energy and passion into the productions to ensure they are a success. We were thrilled to receive 30 Lyrebird Nominations and an additional three Judges Awards for the 2023 Senior Musical productions, the most the College has historically received. However, more important than the nominations and awards, the highlight of this year has been witnessing the emotional development and maturity of the young students who work on the productions over the duration of the year. We look forward to continuing this success in 2024. We will be announcing our two College productions on Tuesday 6 February in the Clarke Auditorium, so stay tuned!
Dylan Licastro Head of Performing Arts ELTHAM College
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ALUMNI
News
ALUMNI NEWS Another year, and a lot has changed in the world, including the ways in which we navigate it.
Alumni Association Meetings 2022 Conference Room, ELTHAM College, 7.30pm – 9.30pm
Storms like these deepen our roots as individuals and communities and ensure we remain connected to our communities. The ELTHAM College Alumni Association has always strived to strengthen our roots; to reach, connect and support our Alumni by creating a values-driven, supportive, diverse and fruitful community.
Tuesday 1 February Tuesday 22 March
Tuesday 14 June – AGM
In 2023, we continued to offer a diverse range of events for our 10,000+ past students and parents, and over 3,000 past staff, providing many opportunities to build upon the lifelong connections that anchor us to ELTHAM College.
Stay connected via email or social! facebook.com/ElthamCollegeAlumni
These events included our school reunion celebrations, ECAMP musical performances, partnerships with the Research Eltham Collegians Cricket Club (RECCC) and Eltham Turtles Football Club, and our mentoring programs. We also expanded our school connection activities, recognising the importance of our visibility with students and parents, and fostering relationships between alumni and students. These activities included supporting the Year 10 retreat, hosting the Year 12 Transition to Life assembly, supporting the Senior School Careers Expo, gifting exam good luck packs for Year 12 students, sponsoring a Year 12 dinner and other career-based workshops for students. 2024 is shaping up to be an exciting year as we approach a historic 50 years of ELTHAM College. We are looking forward to an exciting array of celebrations where we are able to reflect on our story, celebrate our achievements and embed
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BELOW Naomi Taranto speaking at the Valedictory Dinner in November; gifting exam good luck packs to Year 12 students.
alumni@elthamcollege.vic.edu.au linkedin.com/in/elthamalumni
our legacy as a community. In the meantime, we love hearing and sharing your stories, so please reach out to alumni@elthamcollege.vic. edu.au. Make sure you stay connected with us through our LinkedIn and Facebook channels and get in touch if you would like to be involved in our Committee. facebook.com/ElthamCollegeAlumni alumni@elthamcollege.vic.edu.au linkedin.com/in/elthamalumni
Naomi Taranto (Class of 2016) President of the ELTHAM College Alumni Association
CLASS OF 2022 (ONE YEAR) FRIDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2023
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ALUMNI
ACTIVITIES
REUNION DAY CELEBRATING THE CLASSES OF 1983, 1993, 2003 AND 2013 At ELTHAM we have a strategic objective to create a "Connected and Engaged Community", Taking a new approach to our reunions, we recently hosted our inaugural Alumni Reunion Day, bringing together graduating classes of 2013, 2003, 1993 and 1983. This fresh format not only enabled peers to reconnect, but also provided opportunities for cross-cohort connections between our alumni, for personal and professional benefit. Hosted in our co-working inspired Amplify space, our alumni guests took a stroll down memory lane with a guided tour of the campus, before joining the reunion. We were delighted to have Mark Pobjoy return to the College as MC for the day.
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ALUMNI
Notices
COMMUNITY NEWS NOTICES Births
Keep us in the loop! Please email us at alumni@elthamcollege.vic.edu.au if you have recently welcomed a new baby, got married, celebrated a loved one or have a story to share.
Weddings
Top: Ching Yi (Venus) Yeung (Class of 2015) and Tianhui (Elvis) Zhou were married on 3 December 2023 at Levantine Hill Estate Coldstream. Their dogs Momo, Cooper and Mini acted as ringbearers during the ceremony. Top: ELTHAM LOTE teacher Lucy Yang and husband Ben welcomed baby Dylan, a brother for Serena. Middle: Congrats to ELTHAM College Psychologist Andrew Garas and partner Stephanie on the birth of William in July. A little brother for ELC student Georgie! Bottom: Chester (CY) Yap (Class of 2016) and Nicole Ng welcomed daughter Chrissy. 12
Bottom: Victoria Adams (Class of 2016) wed Brandon Hults, with this photo taken after their second wedding ceremony in Smiths Gully.
ALUMNI
Sport
ALUMNI
SPORTING CLUBS
RECCC News It was a busy start to Season 2023/24 for the Research Eltham Collegians Cricket Club (RECCC) with over 150 playing members, many of whom are current students or Alumni of ELTHAM College. This season we introduced our inaugural women’s team. It has been a great initiative for the Club and fantastic to see our female members have the opportunity to play cricket. In addition to our women’s team, we now offer cricket to players of all ages and have members playing in an Over 60s competition, our Veterans teams, our five Senior teams and our nine Junior teams from U10s through to U18s, including dedicated girls teams. We remain particularly proud of our All Abilities team which plays in the Melbourne All Abilities Cricket Association.
We continue to build strong connections with ELTHAM College. Over two days in October we held cricket clinics for all Junior School students, culminating in the Club hosting a Super 8s cricket carnival for the Year 5/6 students. A huge thank you to Anthony Panou for his support on that front. Whilst the season is well and truly underway, it is not too late to register for Cricket Blast. Held on a Saturday morning, it’s a perfect introduction to cricket for girls and boys aged between 5 and 10. Visit www.reccc.net for more information. Chris Cunningham Junior Coordinator
TURTLES News At the Turtles, we judge success against a range of criteria. We ticked off all of our usuals – we introduced another 20 new players and their families to the Turtles culture, connected and supported all of our players and members on and off field, and showcased our great club to the wider community. We are now beginning to experience sustained on-field success. Our Senior Team made another Preliminary Final, ultimately falling at the second last
hurdle but proving that we’ll be one of the teams to beat in 2024. Our Reserves team defeated a previously undefeated Laurimar to claim our club’s first Premiership in 16 years, and our first in the NFNL. At the NFNL Presentation Night, we were named NFNL Senior Club of the Year. The award recognises how the club is perceived onfield and off-field, our impact on the community, administrative compliance and communication with the League. This is something
that everyone connected to ELTHAM College alumni can be proud of! Finally, we have secured a Netball Head Coach for 2024 and are on track to field at least three Women’s Netball Teams in the Winter Season. As always, if you are interested in being involved in either football, netball or anything off-field, please don’t hesitate to contact us via Facebook.
Shells on, Ben Crellin President
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ECCA
News
WELCOME, SUPPORT, CONNECT THE ECCA WAY
2023 has seen ECCA make some changes whilst continuing to Welcome, Support and Connect by engaging with ELTHAM College families and community. The merging of the Twilight Market and Open Day enabled ECCA, along with parent and student support, to showcase our wonderful College on both sides of the road. There was lots of yummy food options, music and great market stalls. The event went well and Mother Nature put on a show with a lovely sunset for all family members and the wider community, to enjoy at the end of the event. The Mother’s and Father’s Day events have taken on a more structured approach and now offer the opportunity for parents from across the College to share time with their children. Starting with a scrumptious breakfast offering from Three Leaves Café followed by some fun activities, we had great turnouts at both events. This year also saw the return of the Parents Night Out. A wonderful evening was held at 14
one of our parents’ cocktail bar, Naught – delicious food, great cocktails and mocktails, and lovely conversation all made for an amazing environment for family members to socialise and get to know each other. Amongst our year levels parents and guardians have connected through coffee mornings, parent dinners and family gatherings. These opportunities importantly allow our families to engage outside of the school setting. ECCA has also supported many other activities throughout the year, such as the Welcome Morning Tea, Biggest Morning Tea, as well as providing Year 12 Care Packs, Valedictory family gifts, Year 6 Graduation gifts and the new Year 7 Orientation bag. We look forward to doing it all again next year.
Ruth Bailey ECCA Committee
Want to help out? Would you like to work with the College to help us engage our wonderful community, and connect with other community members such as parents, guardians, students, staff and alumni? This year the College has a number of great opportunities to volunteer with us to help support important initiatives and events, including: • Our Open Day and Twilight Market on Friday 1 March 2024 • Parent and guardian year level engagement • Philanthropy and community outreach • 50th Anniversary events throughout the year • Friends of Music and Performing Arts • ELTHAM College Community Association (ECCA) Committee If you are interested in volunteering for the College and want to know more about any of these initiatives and events, please contact Bronwyn Neeson, Head of Marketing and Engagement on bneeson@elthamcollege.vic.edu.au
LEFT Open Day And Twilight Market. ABOVE ECCA highlights from the Mother's Day and Father's Day Breakfasts; Parents Night Out at Naught.
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Feature
FUTURE LEADERS
ABOVE AND BELOW THE LINE Mid-2023, Zach Driscoll, Senior School Captain at the time, partnered with Year 11 Leaders Harrison Wenn, Kaj La Ferlita and Ethan Reytomas to demonstrate positive group dynamics to a group of male Year 7 students. Through various activities and games held each Thursday during lunchtime, the older students engaged with the younger students, exploring the concept of 'above' and 'below the line' behaviours and how these impact social connections. This notion was one Belinda, a Year 7 teacher, had used before in coaching, but we decided that the messages were more impactful coming from the students’ peers. As this was a particularly sporty group of Year 7 students, there was no better place to learn and practise this concept than on the sporting field. Emphasising the importance of avoiding bystander roles, the leaders encouraged students to address any below the line behaviours, fostering a supportive environment and nurturing a positive social culture at the College. In simple terms, this meant that even on the field banter could be a talking point for what was above or below the line – and as the younger students gained in confidence, they would also start to call out language or behaviour themselves.
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The Future Leader’s program was a highlight of 2023, facilitating interactions between Senior boys and younger students through sports and enjoyable activities. Collaboratively, they cultivated a mature and memorable culture, one they aim to pass on to others. Programs like these play a pivotal role in fostering their growth into young adults throughout their journey in high school with us. Due to its positive impact, we are pleased to announce that the program will run again this year with the current Captains, and will be extended into an offering for female students as well.
“Kindness spreads, so if I do something nice it will keep moving and eventually come back to me” – Ryan
“The program has taught me to be a leader from within the group and has helped me get to know people better” – Everett
Penny Van Gelderen and Belinda Harding Year 7 Teachers
“I’ve learnt about the importance of being nice to people and that looking out for each other matters” – Zach “You get to learn about being ‘above the line’ and you play sports and games with the older guys” – Levi
“You learn about your own behaviour while having fun and playing sports” – Erich
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Feature
INNOVATIVE LEARNING MULTIMEDIA IN YEARS 5/6
Multimedia skills are essential for all Year 5/6 students to develop, as technology is always progressing at a rapid pace and not only used in an educational context but throughout many aspects of life. For Years 5 and 6, the main focal points of Multimedia include Stop Motion Animation, Lego Spike Prime Robotics, Filmmaking, Photography, Image Manipulation and Adobe Creative Cloud applications. Year 5 students used the Lego Spike Prime Robotics equipment to help develop their problem-solving and programming skills. The students completed various builds, including a Rhino and a Driving Base, which were then programmed to move around various courses, stop when approaching objects and follow various coloured lines. This experience was very rewarding 18
for all and hopefully will spark an interest in competing in future Robocup Junior Competitions! ELTHAM College entered seven teams in the 2023 AEL Schools National Minecraft Challenge. Team Guacamole (Oden, Alexander, Mikko and Kaya) came second nationally in the Year 5/6 category with the theme Medieval Architecture. They had to recreate and innovate upon medieval architectural designs using Minecraft, allowing them to experience the nuances and history of this period while enhancing their design and critical thinking skills. In Term 3, all Year 5/6 students visited the city to participate in a media-based workshop and exhibition visit at ACMI (Australian Centre of Moving Image) in Federation Square. Students created news segments on the green screen and developed news reporting and interview skills. This workshop introduced students to the production process, including scripting, acting, directing and working behind the scenes.
It was a rewarding experience in Multimedia this year due to the combination of the Visual Arts and STEM based activities. This allowed for creativity as well as computational thinking and problemsolving throughout the specialist class. These skills will serve the students very well as they move into their next phase of their education, which will further expose them to the many possibilities within the Digital Technologies and Multimedia space.
Paul Cifone Multimedia/Senior Teacher
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From the Archives
DATUM POINT SCULPTURE FROM THE ARCHIVES Walking by ELTHAM College’s Junior School playground, it’s hard to miss the Datum Point sculpture. This sculpture has stood the test of time, having been climbed on by generations of ELTHAM students since it arrived on campus in 1974. Created and donated by local sculptor Matcham Skipper in collaboration with his son Marcus, Datum Point was installed on the day the school officially opened, 5 October 1974. The ceremony began at 2.30pm, but the sculpture and sculptor arrived very late. Founding Principal Des Davey wasn’t impressed, as he had expected it to be installed the night before the opening. It was only just in the ground in time for the start of the ceremony. As its name suggests, it was installed on the datum point of the school, which meant that a marker on this spot was used to make measurements and take levels from as the site developed. The sculpture has been lowered since its original installation. As you can see in the black and white photo of the children dangling off the sculpture, it used to be a lot higher! ELTHAM’s students have long enjoyed the Datum Point sculpture, with insights from a 1974 College newsletter including: “I think it looks like a spider with its legs stuck in the ground” (Jacob) and “A great statue to look at for the rest of our College days” (Adrian). Young student Lucy wasn’t so sure about the materials used however – “It would be better if it wasn’t rusty,” she wrote. As for its creator, Matcham Skipper was born in Eaglemont and his family became deeply involved in the building and evolution of Montsalvat. Matcham was a painter, sculptor, potter, craftsman, stonemason and jeweler. He died in February 2011, with his last sculpture being the man with a butterfly at Eltham Cemetery.
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Samantha Allemann Writer/Editor Esmae Boutros Archivist
GET CONNECTED
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