Students from the 60s and 70s might remember this particular BOX, made, and painted, for a very special purpose.
In the beginning, the college was without funds, resources and support staff. Two wonderful men, Leo Steel (lawyer) and Kevin Curnow (accountant) had a chat. They wanted to help the new college. They masterminded the formation of St Thomas of Canterbury College Investment Account.
This provided an opportunity for raising money to help the college get established. Parents, and people in general, as well as the students, could invest money in the account, at a good interest rate. The capital could be used to purchase necessary items for the school.
C Block, also known as the Science Block, was paid for from the Fund. Also an outstanding debt on the new playing fields across Middlepark Rd was attended to. Mr Bill Sewell, a member of the Parents and Friends Association, was very involved in caring for that project.
Everyone looked at the accomplishment and said that it was very good.
During Period 1 on a Monday morning a lad, carrying the BOX would visit each classroom. Students with money to invest dropped their contribution into it. In the envelope was the Investment Book for recording transactions, and the money. A student could invest a deposit as small as 6d (became 5c in the decimal currency). Mrs June Steel, wife of Leo, and mother of young children, took the contributions away. She attended to the task of recording the contribution and the banking of the money. The box, with the Investment Books, and new envelopes were delivered to the college on Friday for the students to take home and prepare for the next deposit.
And many students said that it was very good.
This procedure continued until the college was Integrated into the State System in 1981. It was improper to have such an account under the new arrangement. There were other opportunities which were attracting attention for Investment, and the SToCC Investment Account had fulfilled its objectives. Investors had been well served and their investment account was returned.
After such successful service it was graciously rested in a peaceful place. The sturdy, colourful BOX, easy to recognise even today, had played its part.
In more recent times it has been called to a new life and is performing another role in the changed world of the 2020s.