Ross Emslie

“Teachers gave their heart and soul so you could be the best you could be.”

Wearing a cap and a very bright red jumper as part of his school uniform took a little getting used to for Ross Emslie. Ross was a foundation student of Yarra, joining in Year 7, when the school looked nothing like it does now.

“I remember a lot of earthworks happening where the ovals are nowadays. There wasn’t a lot of grass around and it was quite barren. The entire school consisted of three grey blockwork buildings,” Ross says.

Sport at Yarra in those early days mostly consisted of two options – cricket in summer and footy in winter. Ross admits that neither was his strong point.

“The oval sat on clay and during the season it held water that got more and more stagnant. If you got tackled and ended up in a puddle, you smelled like a drain!” he says.

Ross was one of the foundation students at Yarra who planted the impressive array of trees enjoyed by everyone at the school today. With his father, he planted a towering gum tree near Plymouth Road.

“I know exactly where that tree is and I was very proud to know there’d be a lasting memory of my time at Yarra,” says Ross.

Through applying himself to his studies and working hard, Ross got the HSC results he needed to study mechanical engineering and he became the first person in his family to study at university. This launched him into his dream career working as a mechanical engineer on major projects, including with mining companies in Western Australia.

Ross was one of a team of engineers who helped design powerful rock crushers that worked effectively but were much quieter than standard models.

In the past few years, he has wound back his career but still works a few hours a week in a consultant engineering business.

During his time at Yarra, Ross took part in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme and also progressed through the scouting movement. He’s been a scout leader for 15 years.

With his wife, Ross also helped fund the rebuilding of a Nepalese school destroyed by fire. During a visit he showed teachers how to conduct science experiments that would engage children in their learning.

He has fond memories of some of Yarra’s legendary teachers.

“Ken Clements was a talented, beautiful man who checked on us individually to see how we were going in his maths class. Les Christie had a wicked sense of humour and Norman Maggs was a delightful man who had time for everybody,” says Ross.