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Teacher Profile: Mrs Merilyn Westrop
Mrs Nati Merilyn onal award winni Westro ng teacher p
The NEiTA Foundation, through the National Excellence in Teaching Awards, has been acknowledging exceptional teachers across Australia and New Zealand for over 25 years.
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Mrs Merilyn Westrop (Grade 2 Teacher) was one of 450 nominees, who were then shortlisted to 43, and now is one of 12 teachers around Australia who has won the NEiTA Award for Innovation in Online Teaching for 2020. In addition to this award, Merilyn was also awarded the Futurity Parents’ Award.
“Of course, the College as a whole is incredibly proud of Merilyn.” explained FCAC Principal, Mr Joe Wright. “Those who know and work with Merilyn recognise she is an exceptional professional –talented, committed, caring, innovative, passionate and dedicated to her students, our College and the community.”
Why did you become a teacher?
To promote a love of learning in a safe, nurturing and stimulating environment for young children. To make school as fun and memorable as possible! I knew from an early age that I wanted to be a teacher just like my Yr 2 teacher Miss Scarfe - gentle, kind and encouraging who approached everything with a smile and appreciated and accepted you for who you are.
What was school like for you?
Whilst I have many fond memories of Primary School, I do remember it being hard and unenjoyable and unfortunately I had some experiences that I’d rather forget. A great teacher is everything to a student and when this is not the case, then the negative effects of this can be long lasting. It wasn’t until high school that I really enjoyed school and shone! I loved the variety of teachers, many avenues to follow my interests such as music and the larger network of friends.
What do you love about being a teacher?
I find teaching extremely rewarding, especially in the younger years when their growth and development is so prolific. I love the sense of family, fun, giggles, and the warm connection that develops between my students and I. I love seeing those ‘light bulb’ moments, when their smile beams across their face as they realise, they can do something new! The very best part of teaching is knowing that I have played a small part in shaping them as a lifelong learner, equipping them with new skills, increased confidence, selfbelief and empathy towards others.
What do you love about FCAC?
There is so much to love about FCAC! I love its wonderful sense of community, along with our amazingly supportive families, and committed and dedicated staff set amongst kangaroos and the beautiful bush lands. Having a fun and personable Principal, who goes out of his way to authentically connect with each student and to be ever present in our Primary School classrooms, is so unique and special at FCAC. The school motto of Body, Mind & Spirit really highlights that all students are valued for who they are and are encouraged to be the best they can be across all avenues.
You can hear more about Mrs Westrop's award in her interview with ABC Radio. Scan the QR Code below
B U I L D I N G A S C H O O L W I T H H E A R T
FROM THE GROUND UP
A conversation with Mr Grahame Ginn OAM
The school bell rang for the first time at Fraser Coast Anglican College in 1995, signifying not only the start of the new academic year but also the changing face of education on the Fraser Coast.
The students who walked through the gates to the college on 31 January 1995 made history with every step they took around the campus.
Set on 64 acres of bushland, the College would quickly become a pioneer of holistic education in the region. But before students could find their desks on that historic day, a vision first imagined in the early 1990s had to become a reality.
With its roots entrenched in the parishes of Hervey Bay and Maryborough, that vision was for the Anglican Church to establish a school on the Fraser Coast that would contribute to the education and development of young lives in an environment founded and shaped by the Christian faith.
The task of bringing this to life was given to Founding Principal Mr Grahame Ginn OAM.
Mr Ginn, his wife Kathryn and their children Claire and Cameron relocated to Hervey Bay and their involvement in the school’s early years began.
B y S h a u n R y a n ( G o o d N e w s F r a s e r C o a s t )
As one can imagine, a great deal of groundwork had to be done before the college could perform its primary function –educating children.
An office was established in Main Street, Pialba in July 1994 and Mr Ginn started laying the foundation of the college.
Starting a school from scratch was a massive project and one Mr Ginn was eager to get stuck into. “I had to be involved in and lead the design and setup of virtually everything about the school.”
The College was literally built from the ground up and Mr Ginn had to oversee the design and layout of the its facilities and buildings, curriculum and the legal and government requirements.
The first major requirement was to set up the core staff comprising of an Administrative Assistant (Linda Evans), Finance Manager (Anne Patterson) and Works Manager (Russell Green), followed by key teaching staff and further admin staff.
“One of my goals with staff employment was to find a range of experience, from first year out to highly experienced, from different backgrounds and cultures and exhibiting quite a range of talents,” he explained. “This maximized the interaction value of students with staff and helped them understand the wider world.”
Creating a space for a liberal holistic approach to education was a top priority for Mr Ginn. Children would be encouraged to participate in and experience a wide range of activities.
“I wanted all students to experience - beyond the Queensland curriculum - music, arts, drama, sports, outdoor adventure, service to the community, support for each other and an understanding of cultures well beyond the local,” Mr Ginn said.
Interestingly, much effort was also made for the college to reflect its surroundings and for the buildings to be in tune with the environment.
But it was the purchase of the St Mary’s the Virgin Church in Tewantin that gave the College heart.
The church was relocated to the campus in December 1994 and converted into the chapel.
For Mr Ginn, the typical Australian country church building signified the central role of the Church, Anglican tradition, the college being a regional or country school and tying its history to learning for the future. The student body swelled from around 130 on day one to 900 in the first 10 years. The initial plan was to create a P-12 school for 1,000 children in the first 15 years. Mr Ginn left Fraser Coast Anglican College in 2004.
“I was always proud that, by [the staff’s] combined effort, enrolments increased every year for the first 10 years,” Mr Ginn said. He also acknowledged the hard work of people such as Reverend Mike Donaldson, John Milburn from the council and architect Eric Parups
Mr Ginn said other elements of his tenure he was particularly proud of included the egalitarian approach for staff, community centred sports program, the music and cultural program – including the involvement of students in the 2000 Sydney Olympics opening ceremony marching band and annual ANZAC Day events, outdoor education and the establishment of the International Program, among other things.
Mr Ginn and his family left Hervey Bay for Canberra after a decade at the helm of the college.
“My feeling was that I got the school where it needed to be.” The move also allowed Mrs Ginn, who played an integral role in setting up the College library, the opportunity to focus on her career goals. “As they say, tis better to leave at 10 to 12 than 10 past 12.”
With the College recently celebrating its 26th anniversary, Mr Ginn said he had full confidence in its future. He described the College as an asset to the region that encouraged families to remain on the Fraser Coast, school their children locally and keep their talents and economic input in the community.
Above: Mr Ginn and his children Claire and Cameron
