"On the evening of Tuesday 30 July 2019, Rachel Bailey and myself attended a reception at Government House with The Honourable Linda Dessau AC Governor of Victoria and Mr. Anthony Howard AM QC (OP - Alphington). The reception was for Mathematics and Science Educators and their role in STEM education and the future.

After a short welcoming speech about STEM, the role of teachers and STEM education in Victoria’s and Australia’s future The Governor then invited all to enjoy the night. During the next hour there was much meeting and greeting with all different teachers from both Mathematics and Science education. At one stage, The Governor and her entourage came straight towards Rachel and myself and she greeted us by saying “I hear that you teach at Parade College. What a surprise!”. Her husband went to school at Parade Alphington.

Then it was also amazing to see Joshua Puls (1990) as one of her advisors. He has been working at government house for three years and before that in England with Prince Charles and Lady Camilla. What a wonderful way to catch up with a former student from my Yr. 9 homeroom in Rm. 12 at Mt. Sion in 1987.

One of the security people was also associated with Parade, Mr. Michael Jones, who had four boys go through Parade. How comforting and at the same time magical it is to see and encounter the length and breath of Parade’s community in and around us everywhere.

What a night."

Ivan Kummerle

Parade College Academic Advisor

image: Government House, July 2019. Official Secretary Joshua Puls stands at right with The Honourable Linda Dessau AC Governor of Victoria and Joshua's former teacher at Parade College, Ivan Kummerle.