IT WAS a wonderfully musical pre-Mother’s Day lunch last Friday for the mums and grandmothers of Newhaven College, hosted by Misha and Nick Say at the Phillip Island Winery, and compered by college principal Tony Corr.
While the food and conversation, down three long, decorated tables, was the centrepiece of the afternoon, the guests of honour were royally entertained by two soloists from the college, Cecily deGoyer and Aoife O’Connell, who started the event with stirring renditions of ‘Anything Goes’, the title track from the Broadway musical, and ‘I have confidence’ from the Sound of Music.
Mr Corr provided the mums and grandmothers of students at the college with a report on the “really exciting times” at the school with a number of projects and programs completed and more on the way.
“One thing we are really proud of is adding a 12th bus route to the college this year, picking up students from Tooradin. We want to be seen as an independent school for the whole of South Gippsland, not only Phillip Island and I think it’s a great endorsement of what the school has to offer that we have students coming to us from wide area,” Mr Corr said.
He went on to highlight that the college had recently complete construction of its observatory, at the rear of the Year 9 area, which offered optimal viewing conditions, away from light pollution, and would soon be open for the use of everyone from fascinated little preps right through to Year 12 science students.
“I’m also excited to be accompanying group of 12 Year 10 and 11 students to Cambodia over the next holidays, going across there as part of a Projects Abroad initiative to teach English and to be involved in some of their projects there.
“Our young people are so fortunate with the opportunities they are offered but when much is given, much is also expected.”
He also spoke about the establishment of the Mountain Bike Academy and the work done by the students, parents and staff on the pump track with a flow track around the whole school grounds to follow, for running, walking and also bikes.
“We are fortunate to have 33 hectares of parkland environment and as an independent school, to be able to respond to the needs of our community.
“And we’re working on our early years school as well and hope to have ‘Little Haven’ open in 2026 again responding to the needs of the community not only by offering Prep to Year 12 here but also having three and four year olds running around here as well.
“So, to all the young mums out there, it’s never too late to get the benefit of our facilities,” he said raising a hearty laugh from the big happy lunch crowd.
On a show of hands it was agreed to make the first Newhaven College Mother’s Day lunch an annual event.
