We were thrilled to welcome back former full-time boarder Rupert Cheong (SPC 1988, PY1989) to the College prior to the end of the school year last year.
Rupert and his wife Sharon and daughter Elisabeth were delighted to take in the heritage buildings which Rupert called home, and to see how the College has continued to flourish in his offerings to students with the introduction of new building including the Whelan Food Technology and Performing Arts Centre.
Among Rupert’s memories of his time as a boarder was full cream milk – “especially the cream from the unpasterised milk” he says – on his brekky cereal, playing badminton as well as the pipe organ in the College Chapel.
He clearly remembered where his bunk bed was in the boarders’ dormitory, which is now the College library.
Rupert and his parents emigrated from Bruni in Malaysia. While Rupert’s parents moved on to Perth, in WA, Rupert remained in Ballarat.
Rupert said it was an enormous culture shock getting used to Ballarat’s weather and the language barrier.
After completing Year 11, Rupert transferred to Perth, where he has remained and is now operating his own tax accountancy business.
It was the first time Rupert has returned to the College since leaving over 30 years ago, and happily occurred by chance in a planned return to Victoria to attend his daughter Elisabeth’s graduation in Melbourne.
Rupert said he was delighted to show his family around the College after all this time.
Thank you to Rupert, Sharon and Elisabeth for visiting us!
A message received from Rupert after his visit – “Many thanks for the photos and the trip down memory lane. I am glad to have returned and visited St Pat’s. It will always have a place in my heart”.
