By Dongyun Kwon
A past Badger Creek Primary School pupil donated his talents to his old school.
Mervyn Bullas, 85 years old, travelled from Dromana, Mornington Peninsula to Badger Creek to attend the centenary event of his hometown community hall.
As part of the event, he toured his primary school which has been equipped with state-of-the-art facilities.
“There was a tour organised of the new school, and I took the opportunity with my niece and her husband to go and have a look at the new school,” the 85-year-old said.
“I couldn’t believe how well the brand-new system that they have for education.
“I thought it was magnificent and it’s time to do a little bit of input from my point of view.”
Mr Bullas’ family members have attended and still attend Badger Creek Primary School over generations.
Daniella Bullas, a grandniece of Mervyn Bullas, went to the school and currently works for the school as an educational support worker.
Kathryn Douglas, Mr Bullas’ extended family member, didn’t attend the school but now works there as a classroom teacher, and her son Will Douglas is a Grade 5 student at the school.
Mr Bullas said he enjoys seeing his family members attending the same school.
“I’ve got cousins and children going there currently. There has been a steady dribble of cousins and children from cousins, etc, that have gone to the school,” he said.
“I am a past pupil of Badger Creek Primary School No 3309 commencing June 1946.
“The headmaster at the time was Mr K R Birt who was able to give major direction to my education and future career in the building industry during my seven years at the school.
“After some 50 years of supervising major construction projects in Australia and the UK, woodcarving has become my hobby and continues as a source of enjoyment to this day.”
Previously, Mr Bullas donated a woodcarving of the school logo in 2011.
“The school logo originated from a design by Kym Tyler, a pupil at school,” Mr Bullas said.
“I was so taken with the effort the ex-student had to put into the design.”
He made busts of two Australian animals, a kangaroo and an emu, this time.
“In retirement, what better option is there than to advance a student’s education by giving an example of what can be gained by due diligence to the original source of that education,” the past pupil said.
“The proximity of the Sir Colin MacKenzie Sanctuary (now Healesville Sanctuary) to the school has been a source of subject matter.”
Principal Scott Crawford appreciated the special donation.
“With our new school building, it’s a lovely connection to our past,” he said.
“It acknowledges the important place that Badger Creek (Primary School) plays in the community as well.”
