Passion and innovation in teaching were recognised at the annual Memorial Awards held by The Australian College of Educators (ACE) and The Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL) at the Armidale Ex-Services Club on October 28, coinciding with World Teachers’ Day across Australia.
ACE member and organiser of the awards Dr David Paterson believes teaching within the region is very strong.
“We are in a wonderful position, we have such strength in different sectors,” said Dr Paterson.
“We have the Catholic Schools sector, the Independent Schools sector, State Schools sector, TAFE sector and wonderful early childhood educators, but we have the University here which is a premier teaching institution and I think collaborations between these sectors and the university is really important.
“There are three different categories of awards.
“Firstly there are awards for teachers in the first five years of their service, specifically focusing on the contributions they make to their school as well as students’ learning outcomes.
“There are awards for teachers that have made a contribution for an extended period of time, going beyond just what they are paid for.
“And finally there are awards for an educational program that identifies something that they really need and have gone out in creative ways to do something that has been sustained, something that has had an impact over a period of time.”
Two young teachers, Fiona Taber from The Armidale School and Jennie Waters from Minimbah School, were this year’s recipients of the Alan Kerr Memorial Awards for excellence in classroom teaching within the first five years.
“I absolutely love my job and am delighted to have received this award,” said Fiona Taber.
“I have been running environmental programs at the school and am in charge of a group that is called the E-Team, which is a student run group.
“I have also been involved in NAIDOC Week celebrations.
“I have been at TAS for three years and find it to be a very genuine community, with hardworking colleagues that are out there to do the very best for the kids.”
The winner of the the JA Sutherland Memorial Award was local New England Institute of TAFE teacher Wes Davis.
“I came in 1980 to the New England Institute of TAFE in Armidale to teach Bio Medical Sciences, which has gone by the by,” said Wes Davis.
“In the mid-90s I became involved in strategic planning and later came back to Armidale to teach Health Science.
“Lyn Rickard very kindly nominated me for the award for my work in developing new courses,” said Mr Davis.
“I like to inspire people to want to learn.
“To be a successful teacher you have to be serious about what you are doing, it is a bit more that a job, more like a calling.”
The Catholic Schools Office in Armidale was the recipient of The HTB Harris Memorial Award, with its program “Let’s Talk Dhawunda”.
Pictured right: Recipient of the Alan Kerr Memorial Award Fiona Taber from The Armidale School, with her award.
Story: Jo Harrison
