After 22 years of faithful service at Broughton Anglican College, foundation Headmaster Ron Webb has retired.
A thanksgiving service was held last Saturday where Mr Webb was farewelled and his contribution to the school acknowledged.
Under the watchful eye of Mr Webb the college has grown from two demountable classrooms and 60 students at the back of St Peter's School in 1986 to an enrolment of 1150 students on 27 hectares of land at Menangle Park in 2007.
Mr Webb was appointed as headmaster in late 1985 by St Peter's, Campbelltown, under the late Canon John Darlington, with the task of establishing a secondary school to complement St Peter's Anglican Primary School which started in 1983.
It has been the college's ability to share Christianity with countless children and families that Mr Webb regards as his greatest achievement.
"In setting up a school like ours the purpose was evangelism. The parish of Campbelltown saw the school as a vehicle to reach a school and local community with the gospel," he says.
"Parents and children have been touched by the gospel and brought into the kingdom. We have been keen to shift families into local parishes where they will continue to be supported well after the kids leave school."
Mr Webb's staff hiring policy has been instrumental in maintaining the college's strong Christian influence.
"I only employ Christian staff and I probably have someone on staff from almost every church in the area," he says.
"And while not many parishes could afford a full-time youth worker, for nine years I employed local Anglican youth workers for one or two days a week, so they were getting a full-time salary between our school and the churches. It was a great way to link parishes with the school."
The college has also been a Christian training ground for students and members of the community.
"We are a south west college for SMBC. They send lecturers out to run courses which are helping adults to broaden their understanding of the scriptures. No one parish could do that sort of thing, but as a school we can do that as a service to the community," Mr Webb says.
"There have also been a number of former students who have gone onto attend Anglican Youthworks College and serve in other areas of ministry."
Following his final day at the school last Friday, Mr Webb admits he has mixed feelings about retiring.
"Sometimes the thought of retirement is wonderful, but at other times it's quite sad because I will miss the relational aspect of dealing with whole families and seeing them change and grow," he says.
However, the Denham Court Anglican Church member admits he will find ways to keep busy even in retirement.
"After going to Queensland and doing the grey nomad thing for a few months to slow down I'll see what God has in store for me. I'm sure my rector [the Rev] Cameron Munro could find things to keep me busy all week," Mr Webb laughs.
