‘At the end of 1998 I was successful in my application for the principal of Tullamore Central School,’ Ros said.

‘After having been in Peak Hill for so long it was a difficult break to make, especially leaving the staff who had also taught there for many years forming a strong and effective team and the students either whom I had taught, or whom I had close associations with through the band.

‘But after one day at Tullamore Central School I knew I was going to enjoy my time as principal and in particular, at Tullamore.

‘I have had the strong support of parents both educationally and in more tangible terms.

recent achievements

‘During the past 10 years parents have worked hard to raise money to enable a large COLA to be built. Parents have also worked hard to ensure that applications for grants have been successful. These have put in place a second computer lab for the school (one that is primarily for primary student use), water tanks and a new irrigation system for part of the grounds and new tennis/netball courts which were badly needed.

‘Tullamore Central School is part of a great community, and a very important part at that.

‘There are many hard working people in the Tullamore district who despite the difficulties of the last few years with the drought, do their best to be resilient and keep a brave face to others.

‘The school needs to continue to be a focus in the community.

‘It is there so that the young people not only receive the best of education, but they learn in an atmosphere that is a microcosm of society - something that provides them with the skills needed to maintain our great Australian egalitarian society.’

a lifetime of memories

Ros said she has many great memories...

‘There’s the great academic successes eg the above 90s UAI, Higher School Certificate results, students who have completed Year 12 with an HSC even though they have struggled throughout school, through to the first time Kindergarten students have come to me to show me what they can read.

‘Memories of a school where a school concert means that every student takes part and loves it, and then the community turns up to enjoy it with them!

‘There’s the teamwork of the staff which has been so productive.

‘Working in a place where birds are relaxed visitors to the school playground – including watching the progress of a pair of blue bonnet parrots raise young in the pepper tree just outside my office!

‘The great local principal colleagues with whom I’ve worked – especially Denise King from Tottenham, Rupert Grech from Trundle and Paul Farquhar in Peak Hill. Our schools have worked closely together on many projects over the past few years – one example is the Big Gig where we’ve performed with Trundle and Peak Hill and Yeoval have joined us as well.’

SInging strong

Ros said one of the highlights of her long career was starting up a choir while at Peak Hill.

‘During the 80s Janette Warren (the assistant principal at the time) and myself started a choir which ran for several years and which we took to the Sydney Combined Choral Festivals.

‘When Rhonda Brain started at Peak Hill we continued the choral tradition which included being successful with the performance of an individual item at one of the Festivals in Sydney.

‘I also took up the management of the school band after Terry Metcalf who started the band, left the school. That was probably in the late 80s.

‘I was heavily involved with the band for the remainder of my time at Peak Hill. I had much encouragement during this time from Susan Fishpool when she and I took combined bands to Tasmania and Europe as well as numerous smaller tours.’

Ros was also coordinator of the newly formed Western Access Program in 1990, which provided the opportunity for students to finish up to Year 12 while still living at home.

‘This program joined Year 11 and 12 students together from six central schools together with the students at Peak Hill to form a single senior ‘class’.

‘The other schools in the program, Yeoval, Trangie, Tottenham, Trundle, Tullamore and Tullibigeal had secondary sections of their schools which only went to Year 10 up to that time.

‘The years as coordinator of the Western Access Program were very fulfilling. I came close to staff in seven schools and had the opportunity to watch the success of many students - between 80 to 100 students were enrolled in the program each year.’