Darwin High School celebrates 60th anniversary

Throughout the year, the class of 2023 has been working hard to develop large-scale catering skills. Now they are putting them to the test.

Darwin High School student Deslon Palomaria said his love for cooking tied into his excitement to celebrate a major school milestone.

The school’s Year 12 integrated learning class is set to cater for its 60th anniversary on Saturday.

“I really like cooking, sometimes at home I like to impress my parents and my family that I can cook too,” he said.

“We have to get ready hours before the event, we’re probably going to have to make around 150 caramel slices.”

Darwin High School senior teacher for careers and home economics and former student Picture: Sierra Haigh

Classmate Emmanuella Ogo-Okonkwo is also passionate about cooking and its remedial benefits.

“Cooking is a big interest of mine, after the long day’s work of all my other subjects, I feel like this is just a way for me to de-stress and just calm down. It’s something relaxing that I enjoy doing.”

Throughout the year, the class of 2023 has been working hard to develop large-scale catering skills.

They have been learning about the importance of native ingredients and how to cater large events.

Darwin High School Year 12 integrated learning student Emmanuella Ogo-Okonkwois Picture: Sierra Haigh

Senior teacher for careers and home economics - and former Darwin High student - Sevi Redwood said using a lot of native and territory-focused ingredients set her students up for the future.

“We try to give them a little bit of insight into things that are local and that are impacting on the NT,” she said.

“We’d love to see more local food and native ingredients being used in kitchens, and if they’re going to become aspiring chefs, starting early introducing them to that type of food is a great way to get them to open their minds up to different flavours.”

Darwin High School Year 12 integrated learning students Siri Nichols and Delson Palomaria Picture: Sierra Haigh

The anniversary event will be held from 4.30pm Saturday at Darwin High School for former students.

Guests will have the opportunity to take a tour of the school, browse some of their memorabilia, enjoy some performances from current students, while being catered by the Stage 2 Catering students.