Bass Coast College unveils Dennis Vague Honour Wall for sporting alumni

Dennis Vague did not live to see the sporting project he started but it has been finished and launched amid tributes for the popular Bass Coast College teacher.

Dennis Vague did not live to see the sporting project he conceived and enthusiastically pursued.

But, nine months after his death, it has been completed by Bass Coast College and launched by the cricketer he so admired, his former student and ex-Victorian captain Darren Berry.

For four years the popular South Gippsland teacher worked towards honouring the school’s rich roll-call of sporting alumni, from footballers, cricketers and netballers, to volleyballers, basketballers, swimmers and cyclists.

His starting point was his former student Berry and his Australian tracksuit top, given to the ace wicketkeeper when he was called up to the 1997 Ashes tour of England.

From there Vague badgered other prominent sportspeople who attended the college for playing uniforms, which he proposed to frame for display in the gymnasium at the Wonthaggi campus.

Dennis Vague (right) with son Ben and Darren Berry.

Vague, 70, died in March this year when his car and a truck collided at Pearcedale.

He was driving to his Mornington Peninsula home after spending the day as a fill-in teacher at Wonthaggi. The sports hall-of-fame was supposed to be unveiled a few weeks later.

It was launched on Wednesday as the Dennis Vague Honour Wall in a ceremony that also served as a remembrance of his 40-year contribution to education in South Gippsland.

Principal Darren Parker called it a “celebration of Dennis and of sporting success’’.

The wall recognises “outstanding sporting achievements by students who attended Wonthaggi Technical School, Wonthaggi High School and Wonthaggi Secondary College (now Bass Coast College)’’.

Berry, who was taught by Vague at Wonthaggi High and became his great friend, was among the first inductees.

Aside from his Australian tracksuit, he donated his Victorian cricket jumper.

Former Melbourne vice-captain Brett Lovett gave one of his Victorian State of Origin strips.

“This a fantastic initiative and it’s great to be here today to see it come to fruition,’’ Berry said. “I hope it inspires the next generation of young locals.’’

Former Victorian captain Darren Berry.

Former Melbourne defender Brett Lovett.

Star netballer Zali Anderson.

He said he had been inspired by Lovett, remembering how he used to regularly run up to 36 holes on the Wonthaggi golf course to build his fitness as he played for Hawthorn Under 19s.

“It gave me, as someone a couple of years younger than Brett, a bit of an idea that if you wanted to be good at something, you had to work a little bit harder than the next person.’’

Berry said he took his wicketkeeping gloves to school and would find someone to hit him catches at lunchtime. Sometimes it was hard – most of his mates were behind the trees at the golf course puffing on cigarettes!

Remembering the sporting rivalry between the High and Tech schools, Berry said: “We always used to belt them up in footy and smash them in cricket!’’

He said Wonthaggi had grown greatly since his childhood but wondered if sport had kept pace.

Berry urged clubs and volunteers to “not let the numbers dwindle in any sport in this town’’.

“For me, it was not only an avenue to chase my dreams but the social aspect of sport was crucial. And that’s where Dennis played an enormous role,’’ he said. “Dennis was everyone’s favourite teacher – or so he told us. He had passion and empathy for kids, his fellow staff members and unbelievable passion for the school.’’

Swimmer Amanda Drennan.

Paralympics swimmer Amanda Drennan also brought up Lovett, saying she was “star struck’’ to be in his presence. A school house is named after him.

As for Vague and his drive to recognise the sporting alumni, she said: “What an honour, what a legend, what a champion’’.

All inductees or their representatives spoke of the veteran teacher and his love for teaching and sport.

“Dennis was synonymous with our school,’’ Parker noted.

“He had that special ability to be at ease in all company and create fantastic relationships with so many community members.

“His connection with local sport was renowned. Local sport, plus school, plus family, resulted in Dennis being respected by so many. We miss ‘Vaguey’.

Volleyballer Phillip De Salvo.

“We cannot be too serious though. We are talking about Dennis. When selecting anecdotes, I find myself in the embarrassing situation of having to use pretty tame examples in this public forum. A typical example of how Dennis went about establishing those high-quality

relationships was usually by picking on people or pointing out some foible.

“He never missed an opportunity to tell the PE teachers that they weren’t real teachers. Often at the start of the day Dennis would arrive in the office and say, ‘Relax ladies, I’m here’. We absolute miss him.’’

He said the college was “devastated’’ by his death “but we do have many incredible happy memories’’.

Megan Reid with the AFL jumpers of her sons, Archer and Zac.

Angela Williams, the college’s finance manager, worked closely with Vague on the sporting alumni project and, after his death, saw it through to completion.

“The majority of the stuff was here … in fact we were going to launch it three weeks after he passed,’’ she said.

“We had a date and everything. We had it ready to go.’’

Ben Vague at the launch of the sports alumni program initiated by his father. He attended with his mother, Gayle, sister, Kara, and other family members.

She said Vague was an “enormous’’ figure in the region, having taught thousands of children and coached local football teams.

“Dennis was an absolute personality. Such a humble man. But by God he made it exciting to work here,’’ she said.