Three out of the four surviving members of the class returned to the college on Wednesday to celebrate their 70^th reunion. 

The class was the first group of third year students at the college and they graduated in 1950.

They nicknamed themselves the Diploma Dozen.

Classmates Stewart Finn, John Plunkett and Trevor Stannus attended the reunion.

Mr Stannus said the group had an extraordinary bond.

“There was originally 12 of us and the reason why our class was so special was because it was the first time there was a third year class at Longerenong,” he said.

“Previously, students had to go to Dookie near Shepparton to finish their diploma.

“We built up a friendship that I can’t ever explain.

“We trusted each other completely and even though we came from all walks of life, we were extraordinarily good friends.

“We had a reunion every year since 1975.”

Mr Stannus said he had many fond memories from his time at the college plus the years of friendship that followed.

“My time at Longerenong College was some of the best years of my life,” he said. 

“We all did well in sport and I was the captain of the cricket team.

“I grew into a young man at the college and we all received an education that provided a wonderful basis for our future.

“We had disciplines that don’t exist today – there were no cars or alcohol and we had to get our parents’ permission to smoke.”

Mr Stannus said unfortunately, not many of the Diploma Dozen went into a career in agriculture.

“Although we paid 52 pounds a year for our education, the government of the day did nothing to encourage people to work on the land,” he said.

“Only three out of the 12 went back to the land because their families had properties.

“I went on to be chief executive of what is now IGA supermarkets and I worked in charted accounting.

“That was really the sad part – we were well-trained but we couldn’t do anything with it.”

Families and widows of other classmates also attended the reunion. 

Mr Stannus said the group were given a tour of Longerenong College.

“It has changed immensely,” he said.

“We used to have 27 Clydesdale horses, a poultry section, a complete dairy, stables, an orchid, and a swimming pool – that’s all gone now.”

The reunion included an afternoon tea at the college and dinner in Horsham.