By Parkes High School work experience student Laura Burkitt
A major milestone has been achieved, not once, but twice for two Parkes East Public School teachers.
Both Mrs Sue Gersbach and Miss Rhonda Harpley have served 40 years at the school and have given us a glimpse into their passion for teaching.
Miss Harpley originally started teaching at a small school in a place called Schofields, near Blacktown, where she taught for three years.
"It was a little tiny country school (at the time) and I grew up in Eugowra so when I went to Schofields I thought 'Oh wow, this is just like Eugowra'," she said.
Latest Stories
"I went back to Schofields about five years ago and now it's huge."
Miss Harpley then taught in Bass Hill, near Bankstown, for another three years.
She applied for a transfer to come back to the country, and after initially being denied, they called her and told her she had a transfer to Parkes East Public to start the next day.
“I’ve just been here ever since," she said.
"I thought I would come for five years, and I stayed for 40.”
When asked what she enjoyed most about teaching, Miss Harpley said; “I just love the kids, the sense of achievement that you get watching them learn, that's the reason that you keep coming back”.
Miss Harpley detailed the changes over the past 40 years, from buildings to technology.
“Technology is the big change, the really big change," she said.
"The kids are different these days, they're more knowing than they used to be but technology is that big change that really gets an old teacher."
She also described how the school has grown over the years with the addition of the hall, library, computer room, and demountable classrooms.
She said she had too many good memories, but did share one about Mrs Dunford, the current assistant principal at Parkes East.
Miss Harpley taught her when she was in kindergarten, and remembers watching Mrs Dunford bring her own daughter across the playground when she was starting kindergarten.
“That sticks in my mind all the time - teaching the children of children that I’ve already taught,” she said.
When asked what’s the importance of a good teacher, Miss Harpley said; “Wanting the kids to learn is a major thing, wanting to see them achieve, having that drive that you want the kids to perform".
Miss Harpley said a male teacher she had in Year 3, 4, and 5 inspired her to become a teacher, just because of how much she loved him.
“I knew way back in primary school I wanted to be a teacher, and it never changed.”
Over her teaching career, she’s most proud of the programs they’ve implemented throughout the years, proud of seeing kids once they leave school and what they become, and proud she stuck it out for this long.
"I'm proud of all that I've watched the kids achieve when they leave here and think I had a little bit to do with the start of that," she said.
“My friends who have all retired ask 'why are you still working?', because I still love it - while I still love it and while ever they need casual teachers and I can still do it, I'll do it."
Mrs Gersbach found her love for teaching when she was a Sunday school teacher.
After receiving a good score on her School Certificate, she went to college and later secured a job at Wellington for one year.
She had a year with West Dubbo to eventually receive her permanent job in 1984 as a travelling relief teacher based at Parkes East.
She did this for two or three years until she was offered a permanent class at Parkes East and has been there ever since.
“I like children. I enjoy sharing knowledge with them and knowing that I’ll have an influence with their learning," Mrs Gersbach said when asked what she enjoyed most about teaching.
Mrs Gersbach described some changes in teaching over the past 40 years, like going from the chalkboard to the interactive white board and class sizes going from nearly 50 kids down to 20-30 kids per class.
She also remembered when the school finally got running hot water.
A memory that stands out during Mrs Gersbach’s time at Parkes East is when a kid sang a swear word at the talent quest.
“I nearly fainted," she recalled, since the school is very careful about approving the lyrics of songs.
When asked what’s the importance of being a good teacher, Mrs Gersbach explained how it’s important to have an in-depth knowledge of all the kids in the classroom.
“A teacher should be able to tell us what they’re like, what they can do, what they’re good at," she said.
Mrs Gersbach said she’s proud she’s been able to share all her knowledge with children and is proud to see the children grow from little kids to adults.
“I feel proud of kids when I see them out in the community, and they tell me what they’re up to."
She wished to see more parents involved in schools and teachers more respected in the community.
She concluded with how much she’s enjoyed her job: “I love it, I love it”.
