VOLUME XXX No 10 26th July, 2013
EULOGY – MRS MARY HAMER Mary Hamer (Rayias) was born in the Village Ashia, Cyprus on the 30th August 1951. When she was 3 months old her father left for Australia to prepare a new life for his family leaving behind his wife and two young children. He worked hard to save a passage for his family and in 1955 they were again reunited and in the following year and soon after Mary’s younger brother Michael was born. As with most migrant families of that period times were not easy, Mary’s father worked hard and long shifts at the Steelworks in Port Kembla to provide for his family. After a few years they were able to purchase their first house at Fairy Meadow.
He sustained a number of serious injuries working at the blast furnaces but in the end suffered from leukaemia and passed away at the age of 48 leaving behind a young family when Mary was only 15 years old. Mary’s mother struggled to raise the family with limited English and resources. But she always ensures that the children’s and education and welfare came first. Mary attended Fairy Meadow Demonstration Primary School and then Smiths Hill girl’s school. Being a large multi-stream school the principal was surprised that a young Greek girl topped English for the whole grade. Mary’s ambition had always been to become a teacher and work with children, to this end she graduated from Wollongong Teachers College with excellent grades. In those days teachers were bonded to pay for their College education. After completing her studies she was sent out to Mount Druitt as her first bonded school. Even at that time this was a difficult assignment. After a number of teaching positions she accepted a teaching position at the Catholic school of St Charles in Ryde and then moved across the road to Holy Cross College. She taught senior classes and worked as an English co-ordinator and then ran the school “English as a Second language” program. Mary was instrumental in writing the State Multicultural program and school syllabus and to this day a young Mary Hamer can be seen helping migrant children on a number of the teaching program pages. In 1981 at Holy Cross College, Mary met a difficult graduate colleague, refusing to ever follow her instructions and at that time much to her dislike. This was the start of a new beginning with her Husband to be Peter Hamer. Peter continued to put a smile on her face with his humility and humour being mentored under her authority which continues to this day. Together they worked alongside each other to make a difference in many student’s lives.
1