Our School > Message from the Principal > Principal's Induction Address
Monday 7 February 2011
Mother Eunice and the Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Advent, Bishop Jonathan Holland, Chair of the SSA Schools Proprietary Limited and Bishop of the Northern Region, Mr Joe Gibson, Chair of School Council, Members of School Council, Members of the Sisters' Trust, The Honourable Tim Nicholls MP, State Member for Clayfield, Reverend Paul Bland, representing the Anglican Schools Commission, Mr David Robertson, representing Independent Schools Queensland, Principals of Anglican Schools and the Alliance of Girls' Schools, Mrs Margot de Groot, Chair of the St Margaret's Foundation, Mrs Jackie Garnsworthy, President of the Old Girls Association, Mrs Catherine Cussen, President of the P and F, St Margaret's Patrons, Invited Guests, Staff, Students, Families and Friends it is with great pleasure today that I welcome you all to St Margaret's.
In determining the nature of my induction address today, I had to make a number of choices:
Would I look forward, talk about future endeavours, my educational vision, my leadership?
Or, would I look back, reflect on what has happened in my past which has led me to be in this role today, addressing you at this ceremony?
As a History teacher I very much enjoy the past and readily chose the second alternative. I believe that it is useful at certain points in one's life to reflect upon the nature of the journey which has preceded a particular destination, in this case, the Principal, Deputy Principal and Student Leader Induction Ceremony 2011.
With that decision, I realised that I had stumbled across my first point for my address. It's all about the choices we make and how they determine the nature of the journey and how they impact on the people travelling with you.
For example, my other choice was about the length of my speech. I could speak for 5 minutes or for 10 minutes. Some may be disappointed to hear that I have chosen to speak for 10.
Also, I could talk to the adults in the audience or I could offer advice to the students. I have chosen students as my audience, but hope that there is some appeal to the adults here today.
Choices are only possible when one is prepared to see and seize the opportunities which are available. As a beginning teacher, I put my hand up to be involved in every staff committee possible - staff association, timetable committee, extra-curricular committees and I became active in the Queensland History Teachers' Association. Through those choices, I had valuable experiences outside the classroom. I was asked to share what I was doing in the classroom and I presented papers at both state and national bodies. I was asked to contribute to textbooks so I had the opportunity to publish and by virtue of the broader experience, I was asked to be on committees which were responsible for producing syllabuses and documents which would impact on curriculum development across the state. It is not special or unusual that I did this, but the lesson is that this active involvement was preparing me for the next step in my professional journey and allowing me to have more choices.
At the time however, I was just getting involved and I was very much enjoying the company of people who were committed to their profession, active and knowledgeable. And I was learning from them. So as I reflect on my past I realise this is my second point, the importance of active participation.
Where and how did I learn that participation in areas outside your immediate sphere of influence is good? I'm not certain, perhaps my parents instilled that in me from an early age, it went hand in hand with values my parents were teaching me, things like:
- it's good to work hard,
- if you are going to do a job, do it well and to the best of your ability,
- don't give up easily,
- be reliable.
Perhaps it is driven by a blend of ego and hubris, but I really value hard work if it is contributing to something worthwhile; I also like the feeling I have when I can rise to a challenge, I also like being knowledgeable and learning.
Contributing to something worthwhile has a huge variety of rewards and teaching, as a profession, can be very satisfying.
Many successful people can point to a single teacher whose talent and dedication made a crucial difference in their lives.
Sometimes former students clearly recall a teacher's casual yet insightful remark that set a student on a path to their life's work; sometimes they are affected by a teacher's passionate devotion to professional duty.
I studied Ancient History at University which ultimately led to my teaching career, only because a love of that subject was inspired by an excellent teacher.
One of the best and more local examples of a teacher who made a difference is Rosemary Bishop when she was a Year 7 teacher at Murgon State School. She worked hard to secure a Boarding scholarship for one of her students, a young Waverley Stanley, who you will remember spoke at the Speech Night last year. Waverley appreciated his education and has gone on to establish, with his wife, Yalari, an organisation committed to assisting other young indigenous people to access Boarding school education. Today, 167 indigenous young people are studying in 34 schools across Australia and will have the same opportunity that Waverley did.
Waverley made his own choices, but instrumental in his success was the devotion of his teacher.
There are many teachers in the audience who will have their own stories to tell. Some may not be as far reaching as those of Rosemary Bishop, however I am sure that most of them have been driven, like me, by the possibility of making a difference. And this is what I still hope to do as Principal of St Margaret's. I still hope to have an impact on the life of a future contributor and leader, perhaps something I will say or do, or an opportunity or activity will touch them and lead them to a path, which impacts positively, not only on themselves, but also on others. That is my third point, to commend to all students to find the space and time in your life either through your work or your interests to contribute to something worthwhile.
I think we all know that a degree of serendipity can play a role in everyone's life circumstances but that so called serendipitous success or lucky break usually occurs after a long period of preparation. Overnight sensations can be working at it for at least 10 years before they have success. People can be in the right place at the right time, but does anyone consider how they got to be in the right place?
An important aspect of this preparation concerns the people you meet along the way. It is not only our family that moulds and shapes us, it is the people we journey with - our friends and colleagues. I believe I have benefitted greatly from the generosity of a number of school leaders and colleagues and I have been fortunate to have received more than my fair share of leadership mentoring.
Four of my Principals from past schools in which I have worked, spanning a 25 year period are here today and I am grateful for their support and their leadership example. This leads me to my fourth and final point; companions on the journey can alert you to opportunities and broaden horizons. Seek the counsel of others and engage in deep conversation with a large number of people, there is a lot to be learned through the filter of other people's perspectives. No one journeys alone and your companions will make a difference.
So based on my experiences, I offer our students four pieces of advice:
- Seize opportunities and make wise choices. Some of my choices were very good, others less so, but in this instance, it is important to take responsibility and learn from any errors made.
- Get involved and participate widely.
- Aim to make a difference and contribute.
- And, enjoy the company of a diverse group of people.
How I will go on as a leader will very much reflect where I have been. I think the same approach will serve me well as long as I am prepared to continue to learn on the journey. My journey thus far tells me to keep doing what I have done before. I will participate, choosing to be very involved and seize opportunities; I will contribute to the wider St Margaret's community and be driven by what can make a difference; and I will aim to enjoy, be inspired by and learn from the large number of people I meet along the way.
I have no idea what the next phase of the journey will be like but the future is exciting and I am inspired by these words penned by an anonymous author:
Ros Curtis
Principal