By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
BELOVED art teacher Phil Perryman may be gone, but he will never be forgotten by the students he taught.
The Narre Warren South P-12 College teacher lost his battle with leukaemia in April but left an indelible mark on the school where he contributed so much.
In memory of his legacy, the school’s Year 11 VCAL students managed to raise $3000 for Phil’s wife Rylea, and three children Samara, Tahlia, and Billy, which they presented to the family in the form of a cheque earlier this month.
Teacher Flynn Wilkinson said Phil’s death, and the hole it left in his family, had a profound effect on the school’s students and staff.
“Phil’s passing left his wife Rylea to bring up their three beautiful children on her own,” Flynn said.
“The funeral of Phil saw their two daughters Samara and Tahlia crying inconsolably but two-year-old Billy ran all around the room, meeting as many of these ‘strangers’ as he could.
“It put a real poignant exclamation mark on what happened and left all of us with much to think about.
“Moments such as these leave us thinking – how can I help?”
The VCAL students run a series of fund-raising projects, which included a sports day, a VCAL concert, and a special student-led breakfast.
“Our students were steadfast in their determination following Phil’s passing – we must help this family,” Flynn said.
The cheque was presented to Rylea on Thursday 19 November at a special assembly, with her little son Billy also a welcome guest.
