West Moreton Anglican College set for second-gen preppies

Bags are being packed and school shoes shined by parents at this top Ipswich school, which is about to accept a record number of “second generation’’ students.

West Moreton Anglican College's record number of “second generation’’ students in 2023

Bags are being packed and school shoes shined by parents at this top Ipswich school, which is about to accept a record number of “second generation’’ students.

As West Moreton Anglican College celebrates it’s 30th anniversary, a record 14 children of alumni, affectionately known as WeeMACs, are due to begin their first day of prep on Tuesday.

Some are the offspring of foundation parents who were among the first students enrolled at the school.

When it opened there were just 220 students — an enormous difference to the schools current population of more than 1400.

Tim Evans and Colleen Evans (nee Stevens) as students at West Moreton Anglican College.

Foundation parents Colleen Evans, an alumni from 1998, and her husband Tim, an alumni from 2005, said it was easy to deciding to send their children Jonah and Virginia to WestMAC.

“We saw it (the school) from when it was a dirt patch. We used to have chapel and assemblies out on the lawn, the same teacher for five subjects,” Mrs Evans said.

“We were wanting certain things for our children.

“You look around at the opportunities in the are and what the college offers and it didn‘t take very long to narrow it down.

“We had a wide range of experiences and opportunities when we were at WestMAC, including camps every year, and we want our children to be exposed to be part of such programs including the outdoor educational opportunities.’’

Tim and Colleen Evans and their children, Jonah, Virginia and Sean.

Virginia is about to join her older brother, who is entering Year 2, and her mum said she could not wait.

“I think she’s really excited. As soon as we bought home the new school shoes, she had to try on the whole uniform.”

Alumni parent Aaron Mitchell (1998) said when he was looking at schools for his daughters — Year 3 student Eva and new preppy Charlotte — it also was an easy decision.

Aaron Mitchell as a student at West Moreton Anglican College

“One of the key points was that we were looking at a school for them to have their whole school life in, to help them in their transition,’’ he said.

“We also wanted it to be co-ed. In my mind, male and female-only schools are very old school.

“I think its important for kids to experience their learning as it is in the real world.’’

“We looked at a couple of schools, WestMAC offered best extra curricular activities and the campus is unrivalled.

“It blew my mind there was teachers there from when I was there.”

“If teachers are staying there, then there’s obviously a good culture there, that for me was the deciding factor.”

Aaron and Zoey Mitchell and their daughters Eva and Charlotte.

Kirsten Mullen, Head of Junior School, has been with the college from the beginning and said she remembered many of the foundation parents from their time as students.

“It’s an honour and joy to have the responsibility of nurturing and developing the potential for individual excellence in these second generation of students now attending WestMAC,’’ she said.

“It’s also wonderful to know that they have such positive memories of attending WestMAC as students and that they so valued their education and experiences here that they have chosen to send their children to our college.’’