By Tate Papworth
What’s your connection to Brimbank?
I lived a large part of my life in Albion and now I live in Derrimut. I’ve also worked at St Peter’s Catholic Primary School for over three decades.
What’s kept you in the area that long?
The sense of community. We’ve always been involved in sports and the local sporting clubs in Brimbank are wonderful. It’s also really close to everything, with the city not far at all.
I hear you’ve worked at St Peter’s Catholic Primary School for 38 of its 40 years.
I have. I’ve been very lucky. I can’t say much more other than it’s a lovely little school.
You would have seen it evolve a lot.
It certainly has. When I first started, it was mainly service families because you had the army and navy nearby. When they closed, enrolments dropped a bit, but over time they’ve come back up. The buildings are also a lot different. The facilities have evolved.
So after 38 years you’re calling time. How are the emotions?
It’s bittersweet. I’ve enjoyed every moment here. As I said, it’s a lovely little school. I’m going to miss the children and that interaction. They’ve always been such chirpy, happy kids, so I’ll miss coming in every day.
What’s been the highlight?
Definitely the children. I’ve loved watching them grow up into wonderful people. It’s amazing to see some of the earlier ones come back with their own children. Some of them think I’ve been around forever.
