Beaconhills College

House Patrons

	Carole and Neville Clark Carole and Neville Clark were members of the meetings held to establish Beaconhills College during 1980-1981. Carole attended over 50 meetings of the original Steering Committee and became a member of the foundation School Board from 1983 until 1988. During this time she made a significant contribution to the development of early school policy in steering the College through the early years of its establishment. During 1981, Neville provided the heavy equipment needed to grade the drive and construct the raised area for future positioning of school buildings. He continued to regularly contribute his time, energy and plant equipment to the College during the early years.
	Nigel Creese Nigel Creese was the interim Headmaster of Beaconhills College for Term 1 of 1989 after the resignation of Frank Millett and the appointment of Rick Tudor. During his brief time in his capacity as Headmaster at Beaconhills, he consolidated the young and rapidly developing College. Three of his initiatives were the school prayer, the school flag and the Latin version of the school motto, ‘Lux Luceat’. In May 1989, Nigel was elected to the Board of the College and later accepted appointment to the position of Deputy Chairman where he was able to use his broad experience as an educator to guide and encourage the new Headmaster, as well as continuing to offer his wisdom and experience to the Board until 1995.
	Reverend John Leaver Reverend John Leaver was involved with a number of the College’s early planning meetings in 1980-1981. He provided a great deal of guidance to the early planners, drawing on his experiences of setting up a number of other Christian Community Colleges. John provided the planning group with the conviction that the vision of a Christian Community College in Pakenham could be achieved and it was his strength of commitment that greatly inspired the early planners. Reverend Leaver was the founder of the Christian Community College movement in Victoria and has been a consultant in the establishment of many other such Colleges including Newhaven, Portland, Flinders, Highton, Braemar and Cranbourne.
	John McConchie It was John McConchie’s vision for a Christian Independent School in the Upper Beaconsfield, Berwick and Pakenham areas which led to the first meeting of the Planning Committee in August 1980. In 1981, John was appointed Chairman of the Steering Committee and, in 1983 John became the first Chairman of the College Board of Directors, a position he held until 1987. There is no doubt that the establishment of the College was primarily made possible through the drive, determination and imagination of John McConchie, and it was his personal commitment, financial acumen, community contacts and persuasive personality that sustained Beaconhills during the pioneer years.
	Frank Millett Frank Millett was the Foundation Principal of Beaconhills College. Formerly the Principal of Blackheath and Thornburgh in Charters Towers, Queensland, he took up his appointment at Beaconhills in 1982. Frank’s energy and determination resulted in the steady growth of the College during his seven years as Principal until 1988, including the development of a reputation as being a school where the care and concern for its students is of paramount importance. The College owes much to the leadership, commitment, hard work and enthusiasm of Frank Millett during the College’s foundation years.
	Reverend Roger Rich As the vicar of the Anglican parishes of St. John’s, Upper Beaconsfield and St. James’, Pakenham during the planning phases and the early years of the College, Reverend Roger Rich provided strength to the people working to establish the College. He also worked closely with John McConchie to make the dream a reality. Reverend Rich’s involvement in the establishment of the College included researching the purchase of the land, seeking support for the College from local churches and communities and taking an active role in developing the designs for the new buildings. He also filled the role of College Chaplain in the early years.
	Major Edward Tregoning Major Edward Tregoning is the College’s principal benefactor. On several occasions he made generous donations; providing the deposit in 1981 towards purchasing portable classrooms to enable the school to open in 1982 and financial assistance before government funding became available. In 1983 a third donation provided the College with almost half the required funds to purchase the 13.5 acres fronting on to Gembrook Road. After migrating to Australia in 1964, Major Tregoning came to live in Upper Beaconsfield where he was a member of St John’s Anglican Church for many years. It was through this association that he came to support the College so generously.
	Archbishop Sir Frank Woods Archbishop Sir Frank Woods accepted the position of Patron of Beaconhills College in March, 1981. After 20 years as Archbishop of Melbourne (1957-1977), he spent much time in retirement at his holiday house in Upper Beaconsfield where he became very interested in the concept of the College. Archbishop Woods was a source of great encouragement to the people who worked hard to establish the College and, after 1982, was a visitor to the College on numerous occasions. His support was particularly valuable during the first two years of the life of the College during which it struggled for registration and financial viability.