Mr Mike Pitman’s farewell ceremony at ECC brought together a diverse crowd: SCEA ‘Pioneers’ who have served as colleagues with him from as early as 1990, community leaders who have the utmost respect for his leadership and direction, students past and present whose lives have been shaped by his care and concern for them over the course of three decades, and the excellent current group of staff at ECC who have enjoyed the last four years under a man affectionately known as ‘Papa Pitman’ for his fatherly approach to them.
In addition, WA’s Deputy Premier, Ms Rita Saffiotti MLA dropped in for the retirement festivities!
The service, which was held at the ECC Auditorium, was attended by the entire student population of ECC (now more than 650 students), the SCEA Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and ECC staff and parents.
Mr Pitman began as a classroom teacher at Swan Christian College: Junior Campus (then known as Midland Christian School) in 1990 and progressed to being Principal of Midland Christian School and Kalamunda Christian School before spending ten years at The Scots College in Sydney. On his return to Perth in 2018, Mike worked at Southern Hills Christian College (SHCC) before taking up the position of College Principal at ECC in late-2019. In the past four years, Mr Pitman has galvanised his staff at the Santona Boulevard campus as they worked through pandemic conditions, navigated the MetroNET train line construction through the centre of the school oval, and grown the College’s enrolments by an average of 9.6% per year!
The morning’s ceremony gave the gathered group the opportunity to hear from Mr Murray Thomas (former Principal – Beechboro Christian School and long-time colleague), Mrs Michelle Cockrell (Head of Primary – ECC) and Dr Graeme Cross (Chief Executive Officer – SCEA). The ECC worship band sang two of Mr Pitman’s favourite choruses (‘The Goodness of God’ and ‘Because He Lives’), the Dolce Voices Bella Voce Primary Choirs performed the Stevie Wonder song ‘Isn’t She Lovely?’ for Mrs Pitman and the cast of ECC’s upcoming musical ‘Bugsy Malone’ sang and danced a short number to celebrate Mr Pitman’s time at ECC. The ECC coffee shop (operated by Year 12 students) provided refreshments for staff and parents following the service.
Mr Pitman’s speech in response to this magnificent event showcased his trademark humility, his love for his wife and family, and a message from Romans 12 which summarised the approach that Christians should have to everyone they encounter in life:
Do not repay anyone evil for evil.
Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written:
“It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:17-21
