Toongabbie Christian College

GENEVIEVE BRUMMELL Parent 1983-2001 Teacher 1983-2018 Assistant Principal 2006-2016

In the early 1980s we were challenged by our pastor to consider Christian schooling, in particular TBCCS for our children. We lived in the area and were excited by what we had heard about this fledgling school. We decided to give it a try. Our earliest memories were of 1983 as our family embarked on the Christian school journey. Our daughter Kathryn’s Kindergarten class was held in a Sunday School classroom in Toongabbie Baptist Church. Lunchtime saw the teachers crossing the students over Octavia Street to the school site to join the Year 3 to 6 classes. In 1985 our second child, Amanda, also began her school days in the same Kindergarten classroom at the church. While resources were scarce, the quality of teaching was excellent. The students enjoyed a rich variety of additional activities: carnivals, excursions and special events. 1985 also saw the opening of the two-storey Primary building which housed five classrooms. The official opening, where the students marched down Octavia Street, was unbelievably exciting. The students had modern, purpose-built classrooms and Kindergarten had a spacious learning area. This area has continued as a Kindergarten classroom to this day. The position of the new building was soon to cause grief when, on two occasions, the adjoining Girraween Creek flooded, inundating the K-2 classrooms and admin area. Those early days at TBCCS were rich years as we learnt about Christian education and how to implement it in the classroom. The sense of community was strong and each family worked hard to support a growing school. There were Saturday working bees where teams of parents kept the school grounds in good condition. Twice a year, School Fetes provided funds for much needed school resources. Parents served in the stalls at each of the fetes. Fetes helped foster a strong sense of community. Our family served at one fete on the Saturday morning even though we had a family wedding, in which the girls were flower girls, the evening before. The annual swimming night at the beginning of the year was a wonderful community event. Families made great sacrifices to enable the school to prosper. Parents volunteered their services free. Mrs Rosita Elmer, a hairdresser, cut children’s hair and donated the money to the school. As a casual teacher I, Genevieve, was always asked whether I was working as a paid employee or as a volunteer. If I worked for a day I donated my time. I really enjoyed working as a casual teacher throughout the 80s as it allowed me to learn first-hand what a difference Christian education makes to young lives. I saw my own three children grow in their faith as they were challenged through their lessons, at school camps and through other school events. The children were given incredible opportunities in their Primary years. In 1988, for the Bicentenary of Australia, many Christian schools from around the nation, came to Sydney to join together to perform in the main arena of the Sydney Royal Easter Show. It was a spectacular show and a wonderful witness to the wider community. Many of the school families, including ourselves, billeted students from all over Australia. The students developed an understanding and appreciation that they were part of a large and growing group of schools. The 90s was a period of rapid growth for the school with the Primary expanding from one to two classes per grade. Secondary came on site from Dunmore House at Pendle Hill and had their first students undertake the HSC. I, Gary, left the state system after 15 years of teaching and became a class teacher at TBCCS. I felt called to support the fledgling Secondary Department. Our first child was going to high school and I wanted to help provide additional experience to assist the school to grow strongly.

GARY BRUMMELL Parent 1983-2001 Teacher 1990-2000 Assistant Principal 1992-2000

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