‘Out of an orphanage’: Geelong Christian College under fire for new uniform

In an extraordinary move, a Geelong Christian school has warned parents of possible legal action after they complained publicly about a new ‘orphan-like’ uniform.

The proposed new grey, shapeless ‘orphanage-like’ Geelong Christian College uniform has students and parents up in arms. Picture: Supplied

The board of Geelong Christian College has issued an extraordinary reminder to school families who publicly objected to a controversial new uniform proposal, warning they could be subject to legal action.

The school is facing mutiny from parents over its proposed new uniform, which has been described as medieval, cult-like, and “straight out of an orphanage”.

Scores of students and parents from Geelong Christian College have signed an online petition demanding the planned uniform overhaul for 2024 be scrapped.

The petition calls for more consultation and modern, practical and gender-neutral items of clothing.

Many have also taken to social media to air their views.

In a statement sent to parents on Saturday night on behalf of the school’s board of directors, board chair Reverend Paul Stephens said it wanted to “remind” school families about defamation risks.

Geelong Christian College has told uniform dissenters they may face legal action. Picture: Supplied

“The Board has been made aware of the comments being made by some parents on social media in response to the media coverage. A range of commentaries are being offered and we respect the right of all people to have a voice. However, the Board wishes to remind our community that the posting of inappropriate and personal attacks on individuals or organisations may be considered defamation, and this extends to online publications,” Rev Stephens wrote.

Earlier, the school principal said parents and students publicly objecting to the planned new school uniform were ‘fraying the very fabric’ of the school.

In a letter to parents and guardians on Friday, long-time Geelong Christian College principal Glen McKeeman said he was disappointed to see images of the new uniforms shared on social media.

“At a time where our community and families need us to be united, it is disappointing that such behaviour only serves to fray the very fabric that is at the heart of Christian College,” he said.

“I am encouraged by the words of Paul to ‘fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal’. 2 Corinthians 4:18”.

The school, which charges parents $16,425 a year, received $6.7m in JobKeeper in 2020 and posted an operating surplus of $3m.

School families who signed the online petition likened the new uniform to “Addams Family cosplay”, “a window cleaner in the plague”, and “straight out of Hogwarts”.

“Do they want us to look like old librarians?” said one.

“I didn’t realise the school was still an orphanage…,” said another.

A proposed new Geelong Christian College uniform has students and parents up in arms, with claims it looks ‘straight out of an orphanage’.

A number of students also likened the uniform to the popular #berriesandcream Tik Tok which features a man dancing in a Tudor-style outfit.

Parents and students signing the petition argue the wardrobe update can’t be justified as students have barely worn the existing uniform for the past two years.

Others say it’s the wrong time for many families to pay for a new uniform and appears to be a cash-grab by the school.

One petition signatory said: “The uniforms are certainly not cheap and to integrate a new uniform is unfair on all the families in the school community that have suffered financial loss due to Covid”.

Objectors to the planned new uniform say it is medieval and cult-like. Picture: Supplied

But Mr McKeeman said adopting the new college wardrobe would remove the current requirement to have a separate summer and winter uniform, as the range would offer a choice of items that could be worn by students all year round.

“The College engaged two leading Australian school uniform designers and manufacturers to lead and guide the process,” he said.

“The ongoing process and final designs are a representation based on feedback from a range of students, staff, and families, together with the college leadership, executive team, and the college board.”

Mr McKeeman said the petition was disappointing and “not helpful or appropriate in the current climate”.

He said the uniform overhaul was started three years ago when “it became apparent that our traditional and formal uniform needed to be reviewed to provide a more contemporary design that would offer more flexibility, choice, and greater comfort for our students”.

In a statement provided to the Herald Sun, the school said it was “excited” by the prospect of new uniforms.

“The College appreciates and understands that changing a College uniform is a challenging task and the final result will never please everyone.”

However, some parents are concerned that the uniform change is part of a push towards a more conservative, fundamental Christian vision for the school, which hit the headlines in 2003 for banning the “evil” Harry Potter books.

The current Chistian College summer uniform.

Christian College Geelong music students in the current uniform with crimson blazers. Pictures: Supplied

Christian College Geelong junior school students in their current uniform. Photos: Supplied

It’s been a turbulent few years for the five-campus college, with a music teacher, Daniel Zampatti, jailed for sexual abuse of a student in 2016.

In 2015, a group of students dressed as Arabian princes - who chartered a helicopter to land on the school oval on muck-up day - were threatened with not being allowed to graduate.

The theme of the school’s “celebration day” was “Living the Dream”, with students encouraged to dress up.

In its statement on Saturday, the school board said: “We state categorically that Glen McKeeman has the full and unreserved support of the College Board to fulfill his role as the Principal of Christian College, and to lead this community.”