ARCHIVES

Farewell and thank you

This year, Haileybury says a sad but fond farewell to some of the longest serving members of our school community…

Stewart Bell, Director of Performing Arts

When Stewart Bell joined Haileybury in 1982, he never imagined he’d stay for 40 years. Stewart first arrived at Haileybury in 1981 to do teaching rounds for his Drama and English university studies. He was then offered two jobs—teaching English and Drama at Sunshine Tech or at Haileybury.

Stewart chose Haileybury and has never regretted his decision. It was the start of a long and happy working life.

“When I began teaching, I thought that one day I might go into acting. But once I got the job at Haileybury, acting wasn’t my bag anymore. I was doing shows, working with the kids and I felt I was giving something back. I was happy,” says Stewart.

In 1988, he became one of the youngest teachers to be appointed Head of House and the following year he became Head of Department. Stewart has grown the School’s Performing Arts profile and estimates he’s directed more than 70 musicals and Haileybury Tattoos.

He’s worked with students who’ve succeeded in the Arts, such as Academy Award winner Adam Elliot and director Jamie Blanks, and the School had a major influence on Stewart’s personal life—it’s where he met his wife, Philippa.

“Haileybury has been an enormous part of my life. This place evolved and I evolved with it,” he says.

Stewart is looking forward to ‘pottering’, enjoying his garden and travelling.

“People keep asking me what I’m going to do—I’m simply going to ‘be’,” he says.

“But at some point, I do want to sit in a villa somewhere on the Spanish coast.”

Helen Angus, Preschool Teacher

Helen Angus has spent 45 years of her working life as a teacher, with the past 21 of those spent at Edrington ELC and Newlands. When she began at Edrington, the campus was small and Helen enjoyed getting to know students across all year levels—from the youngest to the Year 12s.

“One of the things I really enjoyed was seeing the children whom I first taught and then seeing them graduating in Year 12. It was a wonderful thing to follow their progress and there were a lot of children who went all the way through,” says Helen.

“I also enjoyed the functions and fairs where you could connect with families. They never forgot you and you never forgot them and so I really felt part of the School.”

New staff, new experiences, new children and new ways of teaching kept Helen in her role until this year.

“The whole time I was teaching, I always felt there was still something to learn,” she says. “Seeing the way children responded and how they got such an appetite for learning new things was very enjoyable. Every day has been different.”

Morris Brown, Sport Teacher

In 1943, Morris Brown joined the kindergarten at Haileybury—the start of an enduring relationship. In his later years at the School, Morris became a successful cricketer, footballer and athlete and a year after he left Haileybury, he was offered a student teacher position. In 1957, he began teaching Physical Education and Sport at the Brighton campus.

“I hadn’t made up my mind what I wanted to do after school but, of the blue, then Principal, David Bradshaw, said there was an opportunity for me to teach Phys Ed and Sport with the primary years. I received four pounds a month,” he recalls.

In 1974, Morris moved to Keysborough when newly appointed Principal Michael Aikman made him Sports Master. He stayed until 1989, returning again in 2004 until today to support Haileybury’s sporting achievements.

“When Michael offered me Sports Master he added ‘whatever that means’ but I told him what I thought it meant!” says Morris. He wanted to lift the calibre of sport to ensure Haileybury became more competitive.

“That year, Haileybury came 11th out of 11 in football,” says Morris.

“Michael Aikman said ‘how long do you think it will take us to get to the top?’ and I said six years. But we did it in four with a Premiership.”