In profile: Branko Zec
Branko Zec has been part of the Radford community since 1995.
Having begun here in a janitorial role (during which time Radford won awards for cleanest school), he has also worked in campus security and is now one of the College’s bus drivers. Though this role requires only a few hours a day, he’s happy, as he acknowledges it was time to slow down. Whether he actually does slow down remains to be seen, though. Always an extremely active person, Branko maintains an activity level that would exhaust someone half his age. He walks 50km a week and plays golf three to four times a week at Royal Canberra Golf Club, caddying too.
Sport has always been a passion. He tried his hand at professional tennis in the '60s and '70s before turning to coaching, working as Assistant Coach at the (then) National Tennis Centre, and coaching former world number 15 Wally Masur, among others.
After competing in representative karate, soccer and tenpin bowling over the years – in addition to tennis – Branko somewhat reluctantly turned to golf in 1996, when his knees gave him little alternative. He fell in love with it.
Faith is another passion and Branko's duties as President of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Forrest, and keen choir member, also keep him busy. He recounts one of his proudest moments as singing in the Radford Chapel for an event ‘about 15 years ago’.
He sang in Serbian, with Father Richard Browning translating the lyrics, and though he was at first nervous, he recalls this as his best-ever performance.
Another proud moment came on Foundation Day 2013 – the College’s 30th anniversary – when selected members of the Radford community had their handprints set into the Dirrum Dirrum and the Scar Tree artwork by Duncan Smith, now displayed in the chapel. The College Captains were asked to select a staff member to be included and chose Branko. His handprint features in the bottom-right corner.
Branko has enjoyed all his jobs at Radford and says he loves the connection with students on the bus – many of whose parents he knows through the school or golf. While he says ‘minding your own business’ will get you a long way in life, Branko loves a good chat, finds talking with the kids enjoyable and takes his responsibility for keeping them safe extremely seriously. He enjoys nothing more than seeing collegians who return to the College and take the time to say a quick hello and thank you.
Branko was largely educated in his native Serbia but was unable to complete his final year of school here in Australia, due to the need to work and contribute to his family. He regards Radford as an excellent school and says its growth is a clear sign of this.
‘I enjoyed Radford from day one. When I started in 1995 there were 300 students; today there are over 2000. This has to mean the school is doing the right thing.’ He sees Radford as a place that builds in its students respect, honesty, good judgement, good intentions and compassion.
Today, Branko and his wife, Sandra, have been married for 47 years. They have three children and now ten grandchildren, who bring them much joy.
‘You don’t know what is coming tomorrow or the next day, so you have to have faith and a positive attitude,’ he says with a smile. ‘I pray every night and in the morning for all the children and all the people in the world. God, health, love, happiness, honesty, work and golf. That’s what’s most important.’
