By Tate Papworth
The tight-knit St Peter’s Catholic Primary School community has celebrated the school’s 40th anniversary.
Past and present pupils and other guests last month enjoyed a celebratory mass officiated by Bishop Mark Edwards, followed by a community lunch and entertainment.
The principal of the Sunshine West school, Karen Bergin, said many hours were spent swapping stories and sifting through nostalgic memorabilia.
“We had a fantastic day – it was actually overwhelming with 400 to 500 people coming back to the school,” Ms Bergin said.
“We had a number of people who were here in 1979 when school started which was fantastic … it was more than just St Peter’s, it was a day of fun and colour for the whole West Sunshine community.”
Ms Bergin said the school had become a real family in the past four decades.
“We’ve become such a multicultural, multi-faith school,” she said.
“On the day, we had an Ethiopian family showcase their culture as well as a few other nationalities – it really showcased who we are as a community.”
Ms Bergin has been principal of the school for the past seven years and said it’s been a privilege to hold the position.
“This school is a real hidden gem of Sunshine West – a lot of people don’t know we’re here,” she said. “Our numbers have stayed pretty stable at 180-200, but we’re always looking to add to the family – we’re more a family than a school, being small we all know each other.”
