Cornerstone College Old Scholars Reunion

Class of 1996, 2006, 2011 Saturday 2 April 2016

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Class of 1996

Class of 2006

Welcome to the 5 year, 10 year and 20 year anniversary respectively, of the graduating classes of 1996, 2006 and 2011.

I have the privilege of being the third Principal at Cornerstone College, commencing in 2012.

This has been a very exciting time for the College with the commencement of Year 7s in 2014. We now have 920 students and 133 staff make up the College community.

Today we are a much larger school in terms of both student numbers and facilities but we remain ever mindful of our humble beginnings. We are grateful to the students who were here in our formative years for how you helped shape who we are today.

We understand that it is the Christian ethos, people and culture of Cornerstone which make this a great school. We also know that quality teaching and learning programs are supported by the facilities. Over the past ten years we have seen the addition of a number of new buildings and resources with the construction of a Middle School building, Atelier (Arts), the Purtinga Environmental Centre with wetlands and an astro-turf sports field, to name a few.

We work very hard to uphold and live out our stated mission;

“We are a caring Christian community nurturing within students a growing relationship with Christ which promotes individual excellence, learning and responsibility, for life.”

In all that has happened at Cornerstone from 1990 to 2016 Christ has been our firm foundation. The Cornerstone community has been and continues to be richly blessed by God.

We are always looking for Old Scholars to assist with reunions and events. Please let us know if you can help your old school and remain connected to this community.

I trust that you enjoy the opportunity to meet with fellow classmates and teachers, rekindle past friendships, reminisce about past school days and share your life stories since leaving Cornerstone.

I encourage you to keep in contact with the College through Clippings or ‘like’ our Old Scholar Facebook page; a purpose-built page for old scholars to keep in touch with each other and the school.

I sincerely thank you for coming along to help make this a special night. My very best wishes as you continue on your life journey.

Mr Craig Fielke Principal   

 

  

Class of 1996 

Linda Bell (nee White) In 1998 I met my now husband Charles Bell. We bought a House together in Prospect a year later and in 2000 welcomed our first daughter. We married in 2002 and now have 5 Children (April 15, Rhianna 14, Ivy 12, Hazel 8, Victor 6). While raising the pre-schoolers I opted to stay home with the kids. During this time I worked casually as a face painter, body painter and henna artist on weekends. Now they are all in school I have shifted my focus to Visual art, working from my home based studio and regularly have artworks for sale in a Gallery in the City. I also run Henna stands at numerous events around Adelaide as well as henna workshops for a number of community organisations, councils and schools which keeps me busy. Celeste Charlesworth (nee Preiss) Wow, is it really 20 years! I remember leaving school still not really knowing what I wanted to do. I tried out a few different jobs, but after a time I realised that I needed to follow the artistic side and studied Graphic Design/Advertising. I completed my studies in 2003. I met Leong in 2004, and the pull to come back to the Adelaide Hills was too strong it seems. We bought a cute little house in Bridgewater and married in 2007, but not before we did some travelling. We had our first child Ava (7) in 2009. We then realised our cute little house wasn’t big enough so we moved just around the corner to Aldgate in 2010. Having our second child Liam (5) in 2011. I now run my own graphic design business Cel Designs from home. I still count some of my best friends today from Cornerstone.

Benjamin Gallasch My secondary education seems like a lifetime ago when so much has changed! While I used to look forward to the next big party, I now find my satisfaction in different ways; The subtly of a fresh coffee, the laughter of my pigeon-pair children, volunteering and learning valuable leadership skills in community groups, the practice of teaching Music and Christian Studies, tranquil evenings on the couch with my wife and a good drama series, devotion to prayer and Bible study, working with teenagers and seeing their faith developing, enjoying my garden and working in it, the charm and character of our old home, the freedom of cycling out the front gate coupled with the joy of the return trip to a place of happiness. Despite these differences I look forward to catching up with the Class of 96. Really, two decades already?

 

  

 

Class of 2006 

Scott Bau After leaving school, I applied for work with Nation Parks and Wildlife as Seasonal Firefighter. There I travelled the state doing prescribed burns, assisting in natural bush fires and park maintenance. I was also part of the 2009 Black Saturday fires where a team of us went over to help. I stayed with Parks and worked until February 2012 where I was accepted in to the South Australia Police. I graduated in September and was posted to Grenfell and Hindley Street. I am now based at the Norwood Police station on general patrols. In between all that I umpire with the SANFL and was lucky enough to go over to Melbourne and officiate in the AFL NAB under 18’s competition. On the 3rd of January 2015 I got married to Lauren who I met in 2010 and just before getting married we built a home in Mt Barker at Bluestone. Joel Burfield Following Year 12, I completed a four year cabinet making apprenticeship with Benchtop Replacement Services. I married Alison in Jan 2011 then worked for Jag Kitchens for a couple of years. In 2012 we shifted to Melbourne and lived there for 2.5 years. I worked for two different companies while in Melbourne, gaining skills and experience, before relocating back to the Adelaide Hills in late 2014 after purchasing our own home. In March 2015, I launched my own cabinet making business, Transform-A-Space. We are based in the Adelaide Hills and service Adelaide and beyond. The most satisfying part of day-to-day business is completing an installation and seeing a smile on the client’s face; the vision for their space has become a reality! As a result of client satisfaction, word of mouth referrals provide the majority of work for Transform-A-Space, so if you're looking for cabinetry or know someone who is, visit transform-a-space.com.au today! Alison Burfield (James) After taking a gap year I began my university study, completing a double degree in Management and International Relations in 2012. In June 2008 I began working casually for World Vision based in the Adelaide office, and haven't ever left! In 2010 I completed a three month internship with World Vision International based in Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs team in Singapore, and visited Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. I then married my high school sweetheart Joel in Jan 2011, and have been working for World Vision full time since then. In 2012 a role at the head office in Melbourne opened up, and we spent 2.5 great years living there. I was fortunate enough to secure an amazing role as a Field Experience Program Advisor, where I coordinate overseas trips for our supporters to visit World Vision's development work. It is an extremely satisfying role, leading teams in Uganda, Nepal and Cambodia and organising many other trips. Having returned to SA in Oct 2014, we have settled into our Echunga home and our lives are about to change considerably with our first child due in September! Stefanie Carapetis After completing year 12, I studied at UniSA, graduating with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy. I accepted a graduate physiotherapist position with ACHA Health and spent the next two years gaining experience on rotation between ACHA's three

private hospitals. Since 2013, I have been permanently at Flinders Private Hospital, where I am fortunate to enjoy a varied and challenging role. Sarah Cooper (Ind) Since school I have been studied and completed my Out of Hours School Care Diploma and Diploma of Early childhood education and am currently working in a childcare centre in Woodcroft. I got married last April to Stuart Cooper, and have loved our first year of marriage. We have just brought a home in Sellicks beach - down south, and have loved living near the beach! Derek Irvine - I intially Studied for few years at Tafe SA focusing what could support me in supporting others. - Worked for an accounting firm, followed by technical support specialist roles within Internode and later Optus. - It was then time to move away from IT. I travelled abroad throughout the US, Canada and Europe. Lived in Alberta within the Canadian Rockies for 18 months, working initially as a Lift Operator then a Ski Patroller. - I have recently started a new role with SA Ambulance in their triple zero call receipt and dispatch department, to keep the momentum towards bigger challenges up. - Through out this time, assisting the community through volunteer firefighting and training new firefighters with various skill sets. - Been tackling recent hobbies such as 4WD camping, Fishing and Hiking. Whilst also continuing to perfect my involvement in sports through activities like backcountry ski touring and mixed netball. Katherine Grace (Mills) While many things have changed over the last 10 years, one thing remains the same. I continually get mistaken for a 16year old. My teenage looks have not dissuaded patients from letting me care for them as their nurse though, for which I am grateful. I have even managed to get myself a handsome husband and a beautiful daughter. I definitely feel like 10 years have passed since I really was 16 and I am thankful for all that I have been able to do in that time. Jamie Groutch Since graduating in 06 I have joined South Australia Police where I've spent the last 6 1/2 years on patrols including Hindley Street, Adelaide CBD and Murray Bridge, where I'm currently based. I bought a house in Mt Barker where I currently live with my fiancé. We got engaged in Koh Samui in 2014 and get married in November. The next phase of life is to build a house and start a family. Amanda Smith After studying a Bachelor of Public Relations and post grad in Journalism, I launched my freelance writing business. I write creative copy for agencies and editorials for magazines - both locally and internationally. I’m also the Editor and Creator of Loco Collective – a travel company, about to release a travel magazine. The heart of this project is the storytelling, which aims to supress stigmas and hesitations on a deeper

level that prevent people from travelling. Later this month, I’m heading to Indonesia to write from there for the rest of 2016. Ali Walsh Since school I have completed a Bachelor of Science majoring in Genetics and Computer Science (2010), including 6 months on exchange at UBC in Vancouver; Honours in Genetics (2011), including several publications; and a Bachelor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Honours (2013) at Adelaide University. While studying, I did work experience at Maptek and at ASC in the submarines section. I spent an incredible 5 months in 2013 after I finished my degree visiting 25 countries, mostly in Europe, with more highlights than fit in 150 words. I have been working for SA Power Networks since 2014 as a Graduate Electrical Engineer rotating every 6 months into different roles in the business and enjoying it very much. On our recent trip to New Zealand while walking the Milford Track my partner asked me to marry him and I said yes. We are planning a wedding for some time in 2017.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

  

Class of 2011 

 

Alison Castine After my departure from Cornerstone, I commenced a degree in Nursing at Adelaide University. However, after six months and a placement in a gastro-intestinal ward, I realised that Nursing wasn’t for me. So, I took eight months off and worked. After this, I transferred into a Bachelor of Teaching with a Bachelor of Arts (English Major/French Minor). I did this for a year and then decided to take a gap year. During this time, I travelled on my lonesome to France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy and England and spent four months overseas. For three months of my trip, I was an au pair in France. When I returned home, I went back to university and changed my major from French to History with a minor in English. I am now in my third year and hope to do further study in History. It’s been a rollercoaster. Catherine de Prinse Following high school I went straight into a Double Degree of Music and Arts, majoring in composition and Mandarin. During the five years of that degree I have been involved in numerous Australian and world premieres of musical works, performed in and developed ensembles (I currently teach Cornerstone's ensemble Crescendo), and spent time on ABC FM and RadioAdelaide. I have worked part time alongside university study and have spent most of my money on two overseas trips, one of them a six week stay in remote China by myself. Most people thought Mandarin and Music was an odd combination of study - however, in September this year, after graduation in July, I will be relocating to Beijing to take my post as Assistant Music Director to Beijing Playhouse, the largest English theatre in China. In 2017 I have plans also to spend several weeks in Holland to improve my Dutch language skills. Brady Evans Upon graduating in 2011 from Cornerstone I started my Business Double Degree at the University of South Australia in Sport and Rec Management and Marketing. I thoroughly enjoyed this and it provided me with many great opportunities such as a placement with AFL Auskick and an international exchange to Scotland. I loved the UK and have since returned upon graduating from Uni (in July 2015) and currently reside in Newcastle-upon-Tyne (have since the start of September 2015) where I work for ASOS (online fashion retailer). I am enjoying life in the UK and the great travel opportunities it provides around Europe and Northern Africa. I am planning on a return to Australia in 2017. Elysha Irrgang (Conroy) 2012 saw me take a gap year and head to Uganda, Africa. During the four months I was there, I lived among the locals of the small village, Bussesa and taught English to a year 5 class of approximately sixty students. After my volunteering, I travelled to both Kenya and Rwanda, both of which are beautiful countries.

I started my Aged Care course in 2013 and worked in the industry until myself and partner moved to Albury/Wodonga in 2014 to follow his career in the Australian Army. 2015 has been my biggest year since leaving Cornerstone, April saw Matthew Conroy and I engaged, August saw us welcome our son Riley and we were married in December. March of this year we moved back to South Australia for Matthew’s next army posting, and I am thoroughly enjoying my maternity leave and being a mum. Rhianne Klatt Since graduating Cornerstone College in 2011, I have kept my passion for science alive by undertaking a Bachelor of Forensic and Analytical Chemistry degree at Flinders University. After fracturing my foot in September last year and enjoying a few months off to recuperate, I successfully completed my Bachelor of Science Honours degree in February 2016. During my time at Flinders University, I was heavily involved in the Science school's student society and was instrumental in organising various events. Currently, I am taking a few months off before heading into the work force and will be travelling through China and Europe with Catherine de Prinse at the end of the year. Blake Kramm I chose the option of a gap year in 2012 to assist in my long recovery of the mental illness Bipolar Disorder which caused me to not complete Year 12. In between three times in Glenside Hospital over five years I was encouraged to take on volunteering. I have tried the Mount Barker Library, Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary, Monarto Zoo, Trees For Life and Hahndorf Animal Shelter to walk small dogs. In 2013 I completed the TAFE course of Certificate 2 in Business Studies at Mount Barker. I attend a weekly cooking group at Mount Barker and fortnightly men’s activity group at various locations. In the future I hope to find a supermarket shelf stacking job and complete Certificate 3 in Spatial Information Services at Regency Park. Overall this has been a challenging time for me but I have achieved some small steps of improvement and rewarding experiences. Elizabeth Jemson-Ledger Since graduating from high school in 2011, I have spent 4 years studying a Bachelor of Physiotherapy in which I graduated in 2015. During university I was working in a Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit until recently starting as a Physiotherapist in rural areas around Murray Bridge. Since finishing school I am still extremely close to a lot of my friends that I see on a regular basis! I have also done some travelling to Thailand and Bali with some university friends but am hoping to head to the United States or Europe next! I have also developed a passion for building various things and the fashion industry; so I definitely wish I stuck with Home economics and Tech subjects in high school!

Henry Lewis Soon after finishing my five years at Cornerstone, I found employment as an Electrical and Instrumentation drafter with the American engineering company, Jacobs. Over the next eighteen months I enjoyed my employment in the Oil and Gas industry, working predominantly on projects for Santos. During this time I also began tertiary education as a part time engineering student. In 2013, I left my previous employers for an Adelaide based company called GPA Engineering. I've spent most of my time with GPA focusing on Instrumentation and Control System design projects for multiple clients in the Oil and Gas and Power Generation industries. I’ve been fortunate enough to have taken numerous trips abroad over the years including spending 2016 as a year of sabbatical leave from GPA to teach English in Japan. I intend on returning to education after my time in Japan comes to an end. Bethany Miller After I completed a Bachelors degree in Media in Adelaide, with two exchanges to Japan and USA, I moved to Melbourne. I completed Media and Communication Honours at RMIT with first class honours. This year I’m currently working at Stockland in Melbourne, a property developer while I undertake Masters of Marketing Communications at the University of Melbourne on Scholarship. PS: Dad is well also, after never having dogs, he and mum have two toy poodles! Kamila Prokopowicz Medical science. Disability and education. Full time employment. Second job lined up in New Zealand. Incredibly busy, but really happy to be so!!! Might move to NZ in a few years :) But for now, holy shit I love my job!!! But ask me again in 5 years because I really hope the move works out - fingers crossed! Xx James Rudd I am pursuing my creative career, currently writing arts reviews for Glam Adelaide while finishing off the last courses of my Media and Arts degrees. Since leaving Cornerstone College I have also completed my first novel, managed a proper travel-blog, worked in the communication department of Accolade Wines and spent far too much money on books. I returned to Adelaide in February after living, studying and learning the language in Germany for half a year. I’d love to return to Europe soon to explore even more, but am also keen to get to New Zealand or Japan in the meantime! Caitlin Sampson After leaving Cornerstone I went to university at Tabor Adelaide and completed my Bachelor of Education - Secondary, majoring in Home Economics and a minor in Physical Education. I am now teaching full time at Cedar College in Northgate. It has been a challenge adapting to a new career and a new school, especially as I am teaching out of my comfort zone in Science. But the year is off to a good start and I am loving it. Throughout my studies and work I have continued to play basketball for the Eastern Mavericks in the Premier League. I still thoroughly enjoy it and hope to continue on for many more years. Amelia Schiller In 2012 I started studying Fashion Design at TAFE (a three year, full-time course), moved from Murray Bridge to the city for study, and stayed in Adelaide for 4 years. I

designed and created my first fashion collection which was paraded on the runway at my TAFE graduation. I scored a job working full-time at Caleche Bridal House in October 2014, creating wedding dresses. I have recently moved back to Murray Bridge, I'm still working at Caleche, traveling to work everyday and starting to make more garments for my own label 'Alirah Signature'.

Hannah Sierp and Ben Hage Since school, Ben and I have been having a wonderful time. We got married a year ago, on quite possibly the rainiest day we had all year - but it was absolutely perfect. We've spent our last five years travelling, creating a home, starting apprenticeships and university degrees - and we're currently counting down to the next adventure, off to South America and Europe (...which is why we sadly can't attend the reunion). We're excited for many more fabulous years together and we look forward to the 10 year reunion! Kiralee Thompson Since graduating in 2011, I spent seven months travelling around USA where I visited my extended family, worked as a camp counsellor at Camp Jewell YMCA and spend Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas as an American in Seattle. I fell in love with the camp atmosphere and met new friends from all over the world and decided to return to Connecticut the following year for another summer of camp fun. I then drove around Australia with one of my friends from camp and was completely in awe of the beauty right on our doorstep. In 2015, I travelled to the UK and Europe and fell in love with the beautiful landscapes, the history and the old architecture. I am currently in my third year at Flinders University studying Early Childhood Education with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in English minoring in Philosophy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Class of 2011