Garden feature: Michael Mann’s children, Josh, Sam, Sarah with their mother Jenny, stand with The Guardians, the carved centrepiece of the garden created in memory of their father and husband, Michael Mann. Picture: Yanni

MICHAEL Mann made a lasting impression on dozens of teenagers during his 28-year career at Rosebud Secondary College.

Mr Mann died in 2011 while assistant principal and the positive impact that he had on student Kayla D’Angelo led to her suggestion that a Reflection Garden be created as a memorial to him.

Kayla went on to become the college’s 2015 vice-captain and her vision for this garden is now a reality, thanks to the work of a group of students and the generosity of several businesses.

Liam Kelly and Franz Mahr, who run the college’s Hands On Learning program, led a team of more than 50 students which over the past 18 months converted lawn into a landscaped path and garden.

“Hands On Learning provides a day each week for our students to engage with practical learning experiences outside of the classroom,” Liam said. “These kids have shown a lot of commitment to the process of turning a blank canvas into something beautiful.”

The Hands on Learning team developed Kayla’s original design and proposed a centrepiece of two sculptural poles by artist Christabel Wigley. The sculptures, The Guardians, were erected last week and link the garden to three other works that Christabel designed and carved in 2010 with the college’s year 11 students.

The garden has a bench seat that incorporates the old Rosebud High School sign, which previous generations of students will recognise as the arch from the school’s wrought iron gate.

 First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 8 November 2016