Post All-Class Reunion: Returning to Kimball from down under

After 30 years, more than 10,000 miles and 36 hours, 1985 graduate Steve Mackenzie made it back to Kimball – his second home.

Originally from Rotorua, New Zealand, Mackenzie, a foreign exchange student, now lives with his family in Perth, Australia.

In 1985, Mackenzie stated that life in Kimball disproved the American stereotypes he had believed to be true.

Kimball's All-Class Reunion was a great occasion to revisit the community, his classmates and his host parents, Don and Alice Evertson.

"I was fortunate, reliving those memories. This was my second home even though it was only 12 months; it was 12 informative months," Mackenzie said. "It really does make an impact on a young person. Also, being able to touch base with my old school mates was really cool."

Mackenzie, who enjoyed sports while he was here in high school, said he had a great time catching up with everyone, including local sports aficionado and writer Tom Southard.

"Tom famously called me a bull in the China shop when I played basketball," he quipped.

Mackenzie said he that though he has been able to stay in touch via Facebook, nothing beats being able to give someone a hug or shake their hand.

He spent the night with a classmate from Kimball who was unable to make it back tot he reunion, and while he was here, he spent some time poring over his senior yearbook.

Mackenzie and his high school buddies marveled at all the groups and teams he joined.

"All the guys, still today, were giving me (a hard time) about how many page numbers I had after my name compared to them," Mackenzie said. "For me it was quite unique moving to a small community like this, where everybody knew everybody. School was great, it integrates one quite nicely from a sporting point of view, which is quite important in a community like this."

Kimball holds a special place in Mackenzie's heart and he said his second hometown still has that something special.

"Just coming back to Kimball, things have changed a little, but fundamentally, it is still the same town," Mackenzie said. "It still feels the same, it is fantastic."