General News
11 November, 2025
Class of ‘85 set to reunite
Maryborough Technical College’s graduating class of 1985 are coming together this weekend for their first reunion in four decades.
It’ll be an opportunity to share memories and reconnect this Saturday for the 300-odd students who graduated from the former school 40 years ago.
Those who started Year 7 in 1980, finished Year 12 in 1985, and spent one of those years at Maryborough Technical College are invited.
That includes those who went to the school in that period and didn’t end up graduating.
The reunion’s organiser Darren Rayner said he hopes the get together will help people reconnect.
“We just want people to stand around, listen to a bit of music, and relive the past and where they’ve been in the last 40 years,” he said.
“That’s what it’s all about.”
Mr Rayner said he has fond memories of the school, the down to earth teachers, and most importantly the mateships shared.
“You create friendships that you never lose,” he said.
“You do make a lot of friends along the way but school friends are school friends ... you spend so much time together you do create bonds that never get broken.”
The idea for the reunion came to Mr Rayner after a near death experience last year.
He said he received a liver transplant with just days left to live in August.
It meant months in hospital, weeks in a coma, and a new perspective on life.
“After a major health issue you start to think about what life’s all about,” he said.
He moved back to the Central Goldfields region after 25 years away, reconnected with some old friends, and helped get the reunion idea off the ground.
“If we can put 50 or 60 people in the room together I’d be really happy,” he said.
The reunion is being held Saturday, November 15, at the Community Hub.
Doors open at 6 until around 9.30 pm with a $10 entry fee.
More information can be found on the Maryborough Tech School Reunion 1980-1985 Facebook page or by calling Mr Rayner on 0458 950