After almost three decades as school cleaner at Bilambil Public School, you’d think that cleaning would be the last thing Maisie Burger would want to do, but that’s not the case
“I’ve been cleaning out my cupboards,” the affable 70-year-old said with a giggle when asked what she’s been doing since she retired.
“I’ve got plenty of time to scrub them all out now. No really, I’m having the time of my life.”
Maisie was one of the school’s longest-serving employees before she hung up her wash cloth and vacuum on September 23 but, judging by the farewell the P&C, staff and students threw her earlier this week – she was also one of the most loved.
Called in to the school on Monday (and suspecting something was afoot but not knowing quite what to expect) Maisie was presented with two travel cases and a book of pictures and then treated to a BBQ breakfast.
“It was lovely, we had bacon and egg sandwiches,” she said.
“I knew they were going to have a presentation for me but I didn’t know what I was going to get. They (the P&C) must think I’m going to travel, because I got two travelling cases, a big one and a small one inside.
“And I got a book full of beautiful pictures that the kids did of me.”
She admits to being touched by the picture book and she already has plans to use those cases – visiting her sister in Queensland later this year.
The 70-year-old has watched generations of children pass through the school during her three decades as the school’s cleaner, including her own three children Jill, Glenn and Shane.
The youngest of 11 children, with her twin brother, Maisie grew up in the Tweed area, having attended schools at Crystal Creek and Reserve Creek. She moved to Bilambil in 1964 and, according to the school, took up the cleaning job at the local school in 1975.
“I think they got a bit carried away with that,” she laughed.
“They can’t find the sign-in book from that time. I think it’s closer to 29-and-a-half years, I know I started in March.”
Even so, back when Maisie started, the tiny rural school only had one building – this now serves as the pre-school.
Today Bilambil Public School has 300 children, three blocks of modern, air-conditioned classrooms all with interactive whiteboards, a school hall, specialised computer room and beautiful library as well as staff and administration rooms.
And Maisie still has a special place in the hearts of the students – past and present.
“Last week I was walking past and one of the young boys said ‘I haven’t seen you for a while’,” she said.
“I explained I’d retired and I didn’t have to come to school anymore – he nearly started to cry.
“I’m going to miss the kids, although I still come down and see them. I’m a diabetic – I used to spend eight hours a day walking around for my job and I have to keep walking, otherwise it effects my sugar levels. So I walk down here every day, twice a day. I just don’t have to get up at 5am anymore and walk to the school in the dark.”
