“The motto at Key College is ‘Accept the Challenge’, and that tells of us next year when Min won’t be working with us in a full-time capacity,” said school principal Ms Lou Single. Ms Bonwick has been involved with Youth off the Streets for 19 years, with eight of those years being full-time.
The graduation celebrated the amazing achievements of the resilient students who are seeking education to break the cycle of abuse and poverty in which they have found themselves. It was also a chance for many to express their gratitude to Ms Bonwick for the work that she has done. “I wouldn’t be half the woman or mum I am today if it wasn’t for you,” said one former student.
Upon reflection of his time working with Ms Bonwick, Father Chris Riley said: “I knew she was going to be good but I didn’t know she’d be this good and last so long.” Addressing Ms Bonwick, he added: “I’ve been a teacher for 40 years myself and you’d have to be one of the most inspiring, creative and caring teachers that I’ve come across in all those years.”
Despite her protests, the praise continued to come when her fellow teacher at Key, Ben Cook, got hold of the microphone. “I’ve grown so much as a person and as a teacher through working with Min. Over the years, so many kids and volunteers and community members and people that we work with would come up to me and just say how amazing it must be to work with Min and how she goes above and beyond in everything that she does, like ridiculously above and beyond. She certainly wouldn’t want any fuss to be made of her … She’s all about everyone else and not herself.”
True to her character she deflected the praise back onto her students, explaining that “nothing would happen if they didn’t want to do something for themselves”.
While Ms Bonwick will continue to be involved with Key College, her position will be filled by Joanna Nicholson, who has been teaching at the organisation’s Chapel School in Merrylands.
