FORMER De La Salle student Mike Smith is putting the call out for a Friday, August 23 reunion with other former students.

The event will mark 60 years since his year group left school.

Mr Smith said the event would be an informal lunch at a former classmate’s residence in Greenmount and hoped the call-out would find its way to those he’d been unable to reach.

“We’d just like to reestablish connections with our old mates,” he said.

“There’s at least a dozen we’ve lost contact with, and we’ve not been able to find them through work contacts.

“It’ll be a great opportunity to catch up and say hello.”

Mr Smith marvelled at the changes the school had undergone since 1964 and said he’d treasure a chance to recall the past through everyone’s unique memories.

“When we were there, there were only six classrooms and a toilet block – that’s all it was,” he said.

“It was run by the De La Salle brothers, and they had their own chapel and accommodation.

“I was up there five years ago with some other former classmates for a book launch and when we got there, we went, ‘holy moly’.

“Now they’ve got lecture theatres, labs, swimming pools, workshops, and a library.

“The buildings were in the right place and when you walk in you kind of expect it to be the same, which is silly in a way.”

Mr Smith said he hoped any former classmates with reservations about meeting again could cast aside their doubts and come along.

“We had a former classmate from Adelaide, Peter, who was back in Perth, and came to meet up.

“He turned up and was really nervous thinking, ‘I won’t know these guys,’ because we hadn’t seen each other since the 60s but within 10 minutes it was like the good old days.

“We got (to Siena’s) at 12pm and before we knew it, they started tapping us on the shoulder around 4pm suggesting for us to leave. That’s how well it went.”

Mr Smith said he’d hate to see a former classmate miss the reunion simply due to a lack of awareness which was why he reached out to Echo News.

“What I would hate to see is somebody going, ‘Why didn’t you put a notice in the paper?’” he said.

“I’m trying to avoid that and there’s only so much you can do.

“So, this is what we’re doing, and the more the merrier.”

Mr Smith encourages all interested former classmates to get in touch with him on 0400 779 373.