General News
23 December, 2021
Beloved staff set to depart College
TWO beloved staff members were among those to depart Terang College at the end of the 2021 school year after almost six combined decades served at the school.
TWO beloved staff members were among those to depart Terang College at the end of the 2021 school year after almost six combined decades served at the school.
Deb Cust and Narelle Holliday have finished their tenures with the school, with Ms Cust setting off into retirement and Ms Holliday joining Cobden Tech in the new school year.
The duo was farewelled last week at a high tea surrounded by friends, family and colleagues.
Mrs Cust acknowledged she was feeling apprehensive about her retirement. After 36 years at Terang College, she said walking away was not an easy decision.
“I have absolutely loved my time at Terang College,” she said.
“Every aspect of it kept me here, both the staff and students, but the students have been the main thing. The staff all work so well together and get on well, it’s all part of the wheel.
“But I will miss it. It’s going to feel very strange over the next couple of months to not be back.”
The Kolora-native has remained local throughout her working life, taking an opportunity out of school at Reicha’s Drapery before moving on to a position at May Noonan and eventually settling in to Terang College.
Ms Cust said she will fondly hold on to the memories she has accumulated over the years in her role as support staff.
“We’ve had open garden days, fetes, plays and all those sorts of things – I have loved all of them,” she said.
“We’ve catered for those and got to be a big part of them.
“Community is a big part of that, and it’s lovely to involve them. That’s probably the most important part.”
She and her husband will be taking it easy at the beginning of her retirement but are looking forward to travelling somewhere down the line. But for now, anywhere outside of Terang College is the furthest thing from her mind.
“Thank you very much to everyone I have been involved with,” she said.
“I have had a lovely time, and I will never forget all of this.
“They are some of the best memories I’ve got.”
For Narelle Holliday, her next opportunity comes after 23 years of dedication to Terang College.
She began her career working in education support before transitioning in to the role of education support worker in the prep room.
Where she really found her stride was around 2008 when the State Government implemented the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) program.
“I thought it was something I would love to teach, so I retrained,” she said.
“That was in about 2008, so I have been teaching ever since then.”
Ms Holliday said she had loved every day working at the school.
“There has never been a bad day at Terang College,” she said.
A number of moments have stood out among her favourites, but one week each year stood above the rest.
“The big breakfast we’ve had on the last day of Term 3, when all the community comes in for breakfast, was always great,” Ms Holliday said.
“I’ve been the co-ordinator of about 16 debutante balls, which the students always appreciate and is a real bonding time.
“But my favourite week every year is the Year 11 work experience camp where we take the students to Melbourne.
“It just opens their eyes to so many more possibilities of what they can do and are capable of doing.”
Ms Holliday said she had appreciated the support from the school community over the years, where her concepts were embraced and supported to fruition.
“Thanks for all the support from the parents, the students and the staff towards my crazy and wacky ideas,” she said.
“Thank you for all the help with the kitchen and garden, and for lots of things I have thought would be great for students and their education which the college community has always been behind.”