The College recently reconnected with Old Collegian Mark Mason (SPC 1971-76) who found his calling as a teacher and continues to enjoy his creative talents in retirement making exquisite ceramics in his studio at Castlemaine and holding regular exhibitions of his work.
Where has life taken you since leaving SPC?
After leaving St Patrick’s in 1976, I did teacher training at Aquinas College. After graduating in 1979 I started my teaching career at Holy Spirit PS in Casuarina Darwin.
I taught there for two years until the sudden death of my father to cancer. I returned to Victoria to teach in three different primary schools, Our Lady of the Pines, Donvale, Holy Spirit North, Ringwood and Holy Trinity ,Wantirna South.
At Teachers’ College I became interested in art and design, especially ceramics. In 1986 I started further studies at Chisholm College Frankston. In 1989 I completed an Associate Diploma in ceramic design. This allowed me to teach secondary art and design. I taught at St Joseph’s College Ferntree Gully in the Art and Design department for seven years. I gained much from these years from a number of great mentors.
In 1996 I started a 23-year career at Scotch College in their Art Department, 10 of those years as Head of department. In 2000 I completed a Degree in Applied Arts majoring in Ceramics. At Scotch I introduced Visual Communication and Design to VCE students.
Many of my students went on to become architects, product designers and graphic designers. It is very rewarding to me that I still hear from many of them and continue to monitor their careers.
I was a State reviewer for Visual Communications and Design and worked on the review of the study design.
In 1997 I completed an Associate Diploma in graphic communication. While at Scotch, I was involved in the boarding house and coached rowing, rugby, football, basketball and volleyball. I was an officer of cadets for 10 years and also designed the scenic art for the senior school plays.
I was a leader of three overseas tours, one to Nepal and two art tours to Italy. I also led four outback trips to northern Australia.
After a very rewarding teaching career, l retired in 2018 to Castlemaine. I have built my own studio and enjoy my time now creating my ceramics. I sell my work in galleries and continue to hold exhibitions, under Mark Mason Ceramic Design.
During this busy time, I was supported by my wife Imelda. We were married in 1985 and have three wonderful children. My wife is an excellent special education teacher. We have three children, Laura is an architect, Lucy, a teacher of speech and drama and Lachlan is a graphic designer.
Do you have family ties with SPC?
The only family connection is my two younger brothers, David (SPC 1975-81) and Simon (SPC 1976-80, PY1981) both went to St Pat’s.
What are your fondest memories of your time at St Patrick’s College?
I was a bus boy and travelled from Ballan each day. Which could often be a challenge. It also limited my ability to be involved in sport. I did manage to do swimming and rugby. I was born on St Pat’s Day (17 March) and remember that the school always celebrated that day, so it was extra special for me.
I remember in Year 7 having to wear a cap and suit coat which spent most of its time in my bag. I remember singing in the mass choir. It wasn’t until Year 9 that I formed a strong friendship group, mostly from cadets. I was in cadets for three years and went to two promotions courses at Puckapunyal. I was promoted to a CUO and led a company.
My time in cadets is where I have my fondest memories, made great friends and where I gained the insight to become a teacher.
I remember in Year 12 Brother Nangle asked me to do a reading at mass. I wasn’t a very good student and found reading difficult and this was a huge challenge for me. I couldn’t stop shaking from nerves but managed to get through it.
Which teacher from your time at SPC had the greatest impact on you? Why?
I remember two teachers fondly. Mr Shelly Bond taught me in Year 8 and 9. I got on really well with him and enjoyed his sense of humour and his relationships with his students. He left and I always wondered where he went. I always tried to form strong relationships with my students and always tried to have a sense of humour.
The best teacher I had was in Year 12 was Br Noonan. He taught me Australian History, which was my best grade. He had a great knowledge of his subject and gave us many great insights. He was on the study board and could predict the areas that we would be tested on. He was the only teacher that was explicit in his teaching and developed each student’s strengths and weaknesses. He was the only teacher that actually taught me how to write an essay. He gave us many practice essays and always returned our work promptly with notes on how to improve. I tried to model my own teaching on his style.
How has your education shaped your professional life?
I knew I wanted to be a teacher from my time in cadets and from some of the teachers I had.
If you could pass on one message to the students of today, what would it be?
Follow your dreams! Find something that you are good at and pursue it. Make lots of friends and try and keep as many as you can. Family is important. Work to live not live to work. Relationships are important.
Check out Mark’s ceramic work on Instagram and via his website – Mark Mason Ceramic Design – Mark Mason Ceramic Design
