The Boyd family’s journey with Emmanuel College is nothing short of heartwarming.
Alicia and Ben both attended small country schools in southwest Victoria, with Emmanuel College bringing them together as Year 7 students.
Alicia's family have attended Emmanuel College for five generations, so the school has a special place in her heart. The continuity of community has been a positive experience for the Boyds.
Their son David, is currently enjoying studying in the 9@RICE program, and he feels grateful for the opportunity to form strong bonds with his peers without other year levels interrupting their learning. "It's just bonding together as a year level and getting better relationships," he shared.
Their youngest son, Tim, is eagerly anticipating his turn to join the program, where he'll be able to enjoy the state-of-the-art facilities.
Being part of the Emmanuel College community for most of their lives, Alicia and Ben take pride in the college's efforts to raise funds for the Emmanuel Centre in 2016, with the goal of continually improving the school's facilities and making them accessible to students. "That's been a hallmark of our experience, having been past students and then coming back as parents, is the continual upgrade in facilities," Alicia said.
"I think there was a huge sense of pride, pride that . . . a lot of money had been raised through the college community, and . . . through the local broader Warrnambool community.”
Ben replied, "To see a facility like this, with it able to house everybody in one place . . . it's a pretty nice complex that not many others have."
Both Alicia and Ben hope the community will come together once again to support the construction of the Edmund Rice Centre for the 9@RICE program.
