Toongabbie Christian College

LEONIE ISAAC Parent 1988-2013

The clouds were hanging ominously overhead, threatening to spill their load at any moment. Parents were sitting up in the stands of the Sydney Showground waiting for our children to perform an item for the Bicentennial Celebration of Christian Community Schools in Australia. The year was 1988 and our eldest child Joshua’s first year at Toongabbie Baptist Christian Community School (as it was known then). There were hundreds of students participating from Christian schools all over Australia. Each school had learnt and practiced the song and choreography and were now all together after a brief practice that afternoon. If that rain fell the logistical nightmare of trying to locate children in the rain would not only spoil the whole event, but more importantly the opportunity to present the message of God’s love would be missed. We were praying desperately! The children filed onto the field, each of them wearing a T-shirt that stated on the back ‘Australia for Jesus’. They performed brilliantly, singing of God’s love for all people and forming a giant cross of children. I remember crying tears of grateful praise to God for Christian schooling and the opportunity to have my children taught in a safe and caring environment. Praise also for the teachers and students who had put in the hard work to present this message that God saves and finally that God held back the rain until we were all reunited with our children. I was working at a transport engineering company that was going to close down. Then, the School advertised for a maintenance man. Feeling God leading me, I applied for the position. I started working for TCS in December 1995 and was there until December 2015, totalling 20 years of service. I am now retired. I was originally employed as the School Maintenance Officer, but my role expanded to include School Bus Driver, Security Officer, Janitor and Equipment Supervisor for the MPC. I saw and experienced God’s presence and blessings during this time. I have also worked alongside many great Christian brothers and sisters. God has used me and my abilities over the years to benefit the School. You can see my handywork all around the place. I built and modified many things, including chair trolleys for under the MPC stage, working with the IT team to install interactive screens and making the sliding whiteboards. Some of my handywork was admired by others schools who ended up copying some of my ideas. There have also been other memories including being called out for false alarms in the middle of the night and driving the tractor for rides at the school fetes. I’d like to finish by saying all praise and glory to God for all He has done and continues to do.

GRAHAM BECKETT Parent 1988-2004 Staff Member 1995-2015

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