Kelso High School's Panorama magazine is back after brief spell

Hans Stroeve, who retired from Kelso High three years ago, said he picked up the challenge to publish the mag, even though he's never done anything like it before.

He said in Kelso High School's history, there have only been about five missed publications.

"One of them was the year of fire," he said.

Unfortunately for the last two years, the school has gone without the publication, which was killing Mr Stroeve, who loves nothing more than cataloging the school's history, so he decided to put up his hand to help.

"I've never done it before," he said

"But Wendy (his wife, also a former teacher at Kelso High School) is a whiz on the Mac, so she's helping out too.

Mr Stroeve said he was talking to her about the fact 2020 was going to be another year with no school magazine, when Wendy just said to him.

"Why don't you stop whinging about it and just do it.

"So I thought Let's see how it goes."

While he's still a long way from finishing (he's still taking and collating photos and stories from the students and teachers, and will be doing so until the end of term) he said it's going well.

He said once it is completed he's having the book printed locally at Central Commercial Printers, but copies must be pre-paid, and ordered from the front office.

With COVID-19 obviously causing disruptions during the year Mr Stroeve said it has been challenging generating content, in the fact the majority of students were working remotely earlier in the year, and many sporting and other school activities had been cancelled as a result of the pandemic.

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"There's been no excursions or things like that"

"But the English department has been busy sending in short stories and there are kids at school taking pictures every day."

He said the students are really excited to be part of the project, and ultimately he hopes in the future they will have an even greater role in the publication.

He said his aim is to have the mag back every year, with students participating in a very hands on role.

He said the importance of a school magazine is evident by the number of requests he has from former students for copies of Panorama dating back decades.

"I'm really hoping to get it going again, its something great to be able to look back on," he said.

The magazine can be pre-ordered at the school's front office at a cost of $15. It is expected to be available in time for the Year 12 grad.