A Step Back In Time – MBC where it started
When I first arrived at the College, the area surrounding it looked very different to how it does today. I remember teaching in the English block, when across the road, the view was of land that was still open, raw and untouched bushland. I recall standing with colleagues at the window one day, watching bulldozers clear the trees and bush, making way for what would become new homes. We even saw kangaroos being caught to be relocated, a notable moment of change that symbolised how rapidly everything around us was growing, and foreshadowing the changes that MBC would also go through as the population around us grew.
In those early years, I also took on the role of Humanities Coach in the Primary School. One of the most memorable projects I had the privilege to organise was our “Step Back in Time” day, a full historical immersion for our students. The entire Primary School dressed as early colonists, and the energy of the day was nothing short of magical. We danced on the oval to the toe-tapping tunes of the Muddy Duck Band, filling the air with traditional Australian ballads.
Mr Ken Bramley joined us, banjo in hand, delivering a stirring rendition of The Man from Snowy River that had students joining in. We made damper bread, tried our hand at quilt-making, and experienced schooling the old-fashioned way. Mrs Tina Gratton stole the show as a strict colonial schoolteacher, guiding students through lessons using slate boards and ink pens, a truly unforgettable…and formidable role-play.
Looking back, those moments remind me not only of how much has changed but also of how much heart and history we continue to build into our MBC community. It is a journey of growth, creativity, and deep connection, and I’m grateful to have been a part of the College from the early years.
Sally-Anne Anderson | Teacher | Director of School & Staff Development
