By Olivia Condous
More than 200 Victorian teachers were recognised on the weekend for their significant service to public education, including several from schools in Melton and Moorabool.
Victorian education minister James Merlino presented teachers with awards for service at a ceremony at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne on Sunday June 19.
Bacchus Marsh education staff Margaret Love and Helen Kelly were among those recognised, as Ms Love marked 60 years in education this year and Ms Kelly was recognised for 40 years.
Melton school employees Elizabeth Collins, Joyleen Carter and Kerry Howard were recognised for 45 years of teaching, while David Veale and Christine Butcher were acknowledged for 40 years.
Ms Butcher, who has taught at Kurunjang Primary School for the last 23 years, said the recognition was not the most important thing to her.
“I like to teach and I like my job, I like to see the joy on the kids’ faces when they succeed,” she said.
“It is rewarding, the reward is seeing kids progress and seeing kids enjoy learning, that’s what keeps you going.”
Ms Howard, who recently retired from teaching at Kurunjang Secondary College, said the recognition from the state government caused her to reflect on her teaching journey over the last 45 years.
“It’s worthwhile, it’s good to reflect on just how many things you work on over the years.
“Teaching is a really rewarding occupation and one of the things about teaching is you never really do the same thing from one year to the next, it never gets boring,” Ms Howard said.
Staughton College teacher Judith Meikle was recognised at the ceremony for 50 years of teaching and said the ceremony experience was “lovely”.
“It was nice to be recognised for the time that you put in, working with children.”
