Kingswood College Doncaster

Infobox school
name = Kingswood College Doncaster


established = 1985
closed = 1989
type = Independent, Co-educational
denomination = Uniting Church
key_people = Mr Brian Keyte (Principal)
Mr Peter Haines (Vice Principal)
colours = Maroon & Grey
city = East Doncaster
state = Victoria
country = Australia flagicon|Australia
homepage = N/A

Kingswood College Doncaster was a Uniting Church secondary school and primary school located near the corner of Anderson's Creek Road and Warrandyte Road, Doncaster East, Victoria.

History

The school was established in 1985 in portable buildings on a north facing hillside.

Initially, there were approximately 65 founding students covering years 5, 6 and 7 but over the course of five years, the school expanded to accommodate new students, staff, year levels and buildings.

The founding principal was Brian Keyte and vice principal Peter Haines. They remained in their respective positions until the school's closure.

Due to over expenditure and the strain of the late 1980s recession, the school was closed down at the end of 1989. At the time of the closure, at least 62 staff members and 444 students were engaged at the school. ["Kingswood College Doncaster 1985-1989", page 60. 1989.]

Subsequently, the grounds became the Doncaster campus of Box Hill Institute of TAFE although this occupation was also short lived. Following the closure of the TAFE, the campus was vacant for some time before being razed in 2007 to make way for redevelopment.

Setting

The school benefited from a natural setting. Along, the northern and eastern boundaries, the Mullum-Mullum Creek meandered through a tree lined valley and in the basin of the valley, the school oval was formed. On the adjacent hillside, buildings were constructed. The south eastern corner near Deep Creek Drive remained mostly indigenous bushland. During 1987, Landscape plans were devised for the front entrance and for the areas around the buildings. ["School Diary 1987 - The Year Book of Kingswood College Doncaster", page 5. 1987]

Academia

From an inter-school perspective, Kingswood students competed in the Westpac Maths Competition, the Science Talent Search and the Alliance Francaise Competition. ["School Diary 1987 - The Year Book of Kingswood College Doncaster", page 35. 1987]

Within the school, "colors" were awarded for excellence in four areas (academic, creative, practical and personal) and an award (known as the "Wyvern Award") was given to a student at the end of the year for all-round excellence. ["School Diary 1987 - The Year Book of Kingswood College Doncaster", page 35. 1987]

Sports

Early on, four sports teams or houses were established in which students were divided. The houses were named after local orchardists (such as Tully and Petty), thus reflecting some of the area's early history. Sports facilities, however, remained limited and this necessitated some trips between Doncaster and the sister campus at Box Hill.

In 1987, Kingswood College Doncaster was admitted to the Eastern Independent Schools of Melbourne (EISM) and began competing with other schools in sports competitions.

Jump Start

In later years, a student rock band was formed consisting of Rachel Drew (vocals), Mark Hardley (vocals), Nick Maurer (guitar), Todd Shattock (keyboards) and Dan Morrison (drums). It remains unknown whether the band's name - Jump Start - had something to do with Hardley's characteristic 'jump' during performances of Stairway to Heaven.

After finishing high school, Morrison went on to form the bands Mad Not Madness and Area-7.

Alumni

The defunct status of the school presents inherit problems for keen alumni.

In the absence of any official reunion, an internet group utilizing the social utility facebook was established in 2007 in an effort to reconnect former staff and students.

References