Turning the page on school history

A NEWLY launched digital flipbook is allowing everyone an insight into the history and evolution of one of Ballarat’s newer schools.

Released last week, Ballarat Christian College’s 40-page work Yesterday Until Today tracks the school’s development from its mid-1980s beginnings through to the present day.

Principal, Ken Nuridin, said the work was about getting students in touch with the institution’s roots.

“We had a realisation that our students and even some of our staff don’t have perhaps a good understanding of the college’s early days,” he said.

“We’re coming up to our 40th year in 2025 and on looking back through old journals and photographs, the college had very humble beginnings.

“It’s good for us to be aware of that and for our students to be aware of those who’ve gone before them.”

Established in 1985 as Carmel Christian Community School, Ballarat Christian College has grown from 22 students to more than 300.

The digital book is being complemented with QR codes placed around the school’s campus highlighting the background behind buildings like the Kerry Hutton Centre, which was named after the longest serving principal from 2006 to 2015.

Mr Nuridin said the recent efforts at capturing history are part of a broader aim at reconnecting with and showcasing the school’s past.

“We’re one of the younger schools in Ballarat but we’ve got students whose parents went here and staff who attended,” he said.

“It ties in with our efforts in more recent years as a school that’s maturing. We’ve made more consistent efforts in the last few years to tap into our alumni.

“This year and last we had reunion weekends and invited students back. We’re looking at maybe even getting some students back to talk to current ones about their chosen careers and the pathways they’ve taken.”