Monterey Secondary College
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| Monterey Secondary College |
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| Motto: Strive to Achieve | |
| Established | 1995 (1966 - Monterey High) |
| Type | State school |
| Principal | John Wright (Acting) |
| Students | Co-educational |
| Grades | 7-12 |
| Location | Frankston North, VIC Australia |
| Campus | Suburban and parkland |
| Colours | Cherry (Red) and White |
| Website | www.monterey.vic.edu.au |
Monterey Secondary College is a school located in Frankston North, Victoria in Australia.
The school was formed during 1995 when the former Monterey High School and Monterey Technical School merged.
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[edit] History of Monterey Secondary College
Monterey High and Technical Schools
Both Monterey High and Technical Schools were opened during the early 1960s to cater for the growing demand for education in Frankston North and adjoining Seaford and Carrum Downs. Home construction was advancing in Seaford while a post war Salvation Army settlement in Carrum Downs was evolving into a fledgling suburb for families attracted by its affordability and proximity to Frankston.
Both schools architecture constituted mixed brick, breezeblock and weatherboard single level structures based on indoor and outdoor 'wings' - corridors with adjoining classrooms. Wings were interconnected by outdoor pathways under the cover of corrigated plastic rain shelters. Both sites housed a gymnasium, reception area, outdoor toilet facilities, sealed playgrounds and sports oval.
The Technical school was more trade focused than its counterpart. Students undertook a number of vocational studies including woodwork, metalwork, cabinet making and electrical studies.
1980s
Throughout the 1980s, students of the schools earned a reputation for being 'mischievous' and 'unruly'. This was arguably as a result of Frankston North's low socio-economic status and the reputation was lost circa 1993 during a period when the suburb was enjoying major home renovation under the transfer of Government housing to private ownership.
In the late 1980s an extension was added to the High School to house a new library. In the early 1990s a number of temporary classrooms were installed between 'B' and 'D wings' at the High school to cater for increasing student quotas. By this time, Frankston City Council had undertook the decision to merge the schools to reduce administrative costs. Attendance at Technical schools had also declined as students now typically strove for academic achievements rather than learning a trade.
The Merger
After a series of consultative parent-teacher meetings, the merger was announced. School records show that opinions voiced in the High School gymnasium, the location of the main meeting, a number of parents and teachers voiced their concerns that such a merger might incite violence between traditionally competitive -and sometimes troublesome- students.
The schools were merged in 1993, with the old Technical School on Silvertop Avenue becoming the new College's Junior Campus (years 7-10) and the old High School becoming the Senior Campus (years 11 and 12). The Senior Campus was eventually closed at the end of 1994, with all students relocated to the single site on Silvertop Avenue. The Senior Campus buildings remained standing for some time after the closure, and were finally razed to the ground in 1995.
After the demolition, the area remained an undeveloped wasteland. Asbestos was found at the site as a community clean up progam was about to commence. The site passed from Private ownership to Government hands as it was sold by the Kennet Government then later donated back to Frankston City Council whom have also yet to properly redevelop the land. To date, the site remains a contentious community issue and one which frequently enters discussion at Council meetings.
A petition,signed by 1,879 residents of Carrum Downs and presented to the Legislative Assembly of Victoria in 1997 sought action to begin "construction of suitable facilities in Carrum Downs with the view of relocating Monterey Secondary College from its present location in Frankston North". The action, instigated by parents of students attending Monterey and whom lived in Carrum Downs, was unsuccessful. [1]
2000 And Beyond
In June 2005 Monterey Secondary College students gave a traditional 'Manu Samoa' welcome to the Minister for the Commonwealth Games, Justin Madden. [2] Justin unveiled the Queen’s Baton replica during an assembly and was told that a number of Samoan students at Monterey are helping other students learn about their community’s adoption to Australia via the "Adopt a Second Team" program. In 2004 students staged a mock Opening Ceremony including a torch relay for the Athens Olympics. [3]
In 2005 Monterey was awarded a $3,500 Financial Literacy Grant from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia [4].
In October 2006 Barbara Elvin was appointed Principal of Monterey Secondary College after the very public closure of Albert Park College. Albert Park College made headlines when it was asked by the Bracks Government to decide its own fate. The school council ultimately made the hard decision to close the school in light of falling attendance numbers. [5]
[edit] Nickname
Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, the High school was referred to by many as "The School Jimi Hendrix would have attended" (had he lived in Australia at the time), referring to the Monterey Pop Festival. The origins of this saying are unknown but it was commonly used when introducing Monterey High at events such as the Rock Eisteddfod and local area sports days.
[edit] Rock Eisteddfod
Monterey Secondary College made headlines in 1996 when it won the Victorian Rock Eisteddfod competition with a showcase based on a Batman and Robin theme. Controversy ensued when Channel Nine televised the event and relayed a rival school's performance, based on popular at the time 'X-Files' theme, instead of Monterey's winning performance.
The college repeated the win in 2000 with its production of The Ice Maiden. The college's productions are considered a benchmark of the competition.
[edit] Notable Alumni
- Lisa Campbell - Badminton Player & Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist
- Nathan Burke - Australian Rules Footballer (St Kilda Football Club Captain)
- Stephen Foster - International Triathlete
- Simon King - Australian and World Champion Road and Track cyclist
- Bruce Billson - Politician (Member for the Federal Seat of Dunkley & Minister for Verteran Affairs)
- Jackie Woodburne - Television Actor (Susan Kennedy/Kinski from the popular soap, Neighbours)
- Doug Hodgson - International Soccer Player
- Shaun Carney - Associate Editor of The Age Newspaper
- Daniel Hyland - Liberal Candidate for East Victoria [6]
- Counciler Glen Aitken - Labor State Member for North East Ward
[edit] Trivia
- Monterey Secondary College holds its annual swimming events at the Pines Forest Swimming Centre, located nearby on Pines Forest Drive.
- The School made local headlines in 1994 when it sustained several thousand dollars worth of damage due to internal and external graffiti. The principle at the time commissioned a legal graffiti mural area within the male toilets in an attempt to discourage further activity.
- The 'Les McNamara Scholarship Awards' provided by the 'Rotary Club of Seaford-Carrum Downs' presents a Monterey Student with a Scholarship each year. The program commenced in 1989. [7]
- The college site is used as a polling place for State elections.
- Monterey students placed second in the RACV 'Energy Breakthrough' program [8].
