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Recipients
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ASG Community
Merit Awards 2005
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New South Wales:
Ms
Karren Amadio |
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 Tabulam
& District Community Preschool,
Tabulam
for linking
the Preschool to the local community.
The Preschool team is a working example of reconciliation in the community. English, Aboriginal
English and some Bundjulung language is used, while Bunjdulung philosophy forms the centre’s ideals with a
gradual introduction of western education. Both teachers drive the preschool bus to collect children, who without
this service wouldn’t be able to attend. According to the nominators, the teachers have created an environment
where all members of the community feel welcome and are given the opportunity to attend the centre.
Team Member: Angelina Collins.
Nominator: Tabulam & District Community Preschool Organisation
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Mrs
Vicki Babicci
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Dubbo
Public School, Dubbo
for involving
students and the school in activities that support the wider
community and foster real-life learning opportunities.
Mrs Babicci has initiated and organised many projects that are of benefit to the school and local community. She
established a paper recycling program at school, co-ordinated the production of a Stormwater Education
calendar using students’ art work that was distributed to all Dubbo ratepayers, held tree planting with Greencorps
volunteers, and organised links with the Macquarie Regional Conservatorium for music lessons in the school.
Mrs Babicci’s commitment to supporting the school and wider community also extends to training teachers in
establishing a resource base for science teaching.
Nominator: Dubbo Public School parents
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Mrs
Deborah Bailey
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Shoalhaven
High School, Nowra
East
for leadership
in linking students to the wider community through
participation in the performing arts.
Mrs Bailey has involved the community in the school’s performing arts program through inviting them to Gala
Nights, performing arts assemblies, information evenings and major school music and drama production. She was
instrumental in establishing the High School’s Performing Ensemble, which toured local primary schools performing
a series of concerts and involving students in all aspects of music, drama and dance, as well as in the technical
aspects of production, presenting and packing up a show. Mrs Bailey also led a team that gained the status of
Centre of Excellence in Creative Arts for their school, and is Vice-President of the local amateur theatre group, The
Nowra Players, reflecting her enthusiasm for the performing arts in her community.
Nominator: Shoalhaven High School P&C Association
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Mrs
Debbie Booth
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 Tea
Gardens Public School, Tea
Gardens
for leadership
in enriching students’ learning through implementing a
variety of programs.
Mrs Booth has introduced programs to improve skills and knowledge across a range of areas and subjects, from
literacy to digital photography. She has also introduced activities that involve the school with the local community,
including contributing a weekly article to the local newspaper promoting events and achievements at the
school. Mrs Booth is Director of the school community band which participates at many local events, she
organises and plans music for the school’s band camp, has developed a Gifted and Talented Students Digital
Photography program, and coordinates students to perform in local drama productions.
Nominator: Tea Gardens Public School P&C Association
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Mrs
Joan Bryant
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 St
Joseph's Primary School, Merriwa
for commitment
to the whole school community.
Mrs Bryant is instrumental in organising athletics and swimming carnivals as well as cross-country and netball
tournaments. Each year she writes two plays based around the Merriwa community for students to perform at
the local RSL, and these are well received by the school and wider community. Parents nominated Mrs Bryant for
her knack of inspiring students to strive for their best and for her deep concern for students as growing, learning
people.
Nominator: St Joseph’s Primary School parents
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Mrs
Angelina Collins
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Tabulam
& District Community Preschool, Tabulam
for
linking the Preschool to the local community.
The Preschool team is a working example of reconciliation in the community. English, Aboriginal
English and some Bundjulung language is used, while Bunjdulung philosophy forms the centre’s ideals with a
gradual introduction of western education. Both teachers drive the preschool bus to collect children, who without
this service wouldn’t be able to attend. According to the nominators, the teachers have created an environment
where all members of the community feel welcome and are given the opportunity to attend the centre.
Team Member: Karren Amadio
Nominator: Tabulam & Dist Community Preschool Organisation
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Mrs
Judith Edwards
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Homebush
Boys High School, Homebush
for leadership
in special education teaching methods.
Mrs Edwards is a dedicated special education teacher and places an emphasis on literacy. As the only special
education teacher at her school, Mrs Edwards trained a team of peer tutors, community volunteers and fellow
teachers in literacy methods that are being implemented in before- and after-school literacy groups. Because of
her knowledge in the field, Mrs Edwards was approached to liaise with and train other teachers in the community at
an intensive English high school for the Macquarie Universtity in Word Attack, Sight Words and Teaching
Auditory Analysis Skills programs. Homebush Boys High School Parents & Citizens association nominated Mrs
Edwards for never giving up on students and helping them to reach high standards.
Nominator: Homebush Boys High School P&C Association
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Mrs
Mandy Edwards
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 Gordon
East Public School, Gordon
for
engaging students through encouraging participation in the
local community.
Mrs Edwards has been responsible for organising her school’s contribution to the World’s Longest Painting, a
project that formed part of the celebrations for the Yaamma Festival. This Indigenous celebration of youth
helped raise student awareness of aboriginal perspectives within their culturally diverse community. Mrs
Edwards was also involved with the visual art group for gifted students, whose art works have helped promote
the school through students being selected as finalists and winners in district art competitions.
Nominator: Gordon East Public School parents
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Mrs
Tracey Hartgers
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St
Philip's Christian College, Salamander
Bay
for commitment
and concern for students and the wider local community.
Mrs Hartgers’ caring nature is reflected in many of the activities she initiates. Craft nights are intended to reach
out to the community, and each term she organises a social outing for the class parents and families. Mrs
Hartgers supported the Shave For A Cure cause by shaving her long hair and raising $1500, and has initiated
the student run Café for Cancer, where students apply for positions such as waitress, cashier, cook, and raise
money by serving meals to the paying parent customers. Her initiated Playground Assisted Learning Scheme
supports students in the playground with poor social skills, and has engaged them with structured breaks and
games to play.
Nominator: St Philip’s Christian College parents
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Ms
Kylie Hedger
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 Airds
High School, Campbelltown
for commitment
to improving student learning using community resources.
Ms Hedger has developed a variety of programs and activities in support of her students' education, including
establishing a homework centre for disadvantaged students, conducting community literacy forums, and an
organised debating program. To boost lack of self-confidence in students’ writing and speech, Ms
Hedger implemented an Oracy program, involving a local youth worker and community organisations to train
students. The program has resulted in a continuing improvement in students’ abilities.
Nominator: Airds High School parents
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Mrs
Nerida Hoy
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Nowendoc
Public School, Nowendoc
for leadership
in strengthening ties between the school and the local
community.
As the only teacher at Nowendoc Primary School, Mrs Hoy is responsible for a classroom of twenty-three
children ranging from Kindergarten to Grade six. She has initiated various projects to improve the school, and is
involved in community activities. Students conduct annual ANZAC services for the community, provide
entertainment for the Community Christmas Night, and along with community members, remove weeds and
replant the playground with koala friendly eucalypts and other native plants to promote environmental awareness.
Being an isolated area, the school’s technology facilities are shared with the community, which also fosters the
community’s links with the primary school.
Nominator: Nowendoc Public School P&C Association
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Mrs
Letitia Jones
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Tenterfield
High School, Tenterfield
for leadership
in the school community and for encouraging student
participation in the wider community.
Mrs Jones helped to gather local business support and receive a significant $160,000 grant to establish a Skills
Centre, which is central to the school’s Vocational Education and Training (VET) program. The Skills Centre
has provided space for an automotive workshop for both school and TAFE courses, welding bays, equipment for
construction and metal courses, and office space for business services. These facilities are used and enjoyed
by both the school and local community. Mrs Jones has implemented mentoring programs for Aboriginal
students, has encouraged students to participate in sport and local fashion competitions and her hospitality
students have catered for the Red Cross, Salvation Army and for ANZAC Day celebrations.
Nominator: Tenterfield High School Council
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Mrs
Joy MacRae
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 Engadine
Public School, Engadine
for inspiring
teaching methods in special education and engaging students
through community interaction.
Mrs MacRae has been successful in helping her intellectually disabled students reach the regional and
NSW state drama finals four times, competing successfully against non-disabled students. This
accomplishment was supported by community members and groups, including local MPs and the Engadine Lions,
and was even tabled in the NSW Parliament. The drama club generated a high profile for the school, and public
success and admiration for the intellectually disabled actors, challenging the broader community stereotypes of
the capabilities of the intellectually disabled and enabling the children to visibly participate in the community’s
cultural life.
Nominator: Engadine Public School Council
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Mrs
Pauline Martin
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Port
Macquarie Primary School, Port
Macquarie
for developing
school community links of benefit to students and the
community.
Mrs Martin has been involved in committees on various projects and has helped to promote the sense of
community in the school and town. Through her role as choir teacher, Mrs Martin has encouraged students’
participation in many musical activities from carols and Christmas concerts, to Grandparents’ Day celebrations
and music Eisteddfods. Mrs Martin has also helped organise school social evenings and discos for students,
and excellence and achievement assemblies. She also writes an article every week for the school newsletter to
keep parents informed of events and to encourage their participation in their child’s education.
Nominator: Port Macquarie Primary School parents
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Mrs
Susan Moore
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 Gosford
Public School, Gosford
for inspiring
students and encouraging participation in the school community.
Parents nominated Mrs Moore for her dedication to teaching and students’ well-being. She raises students’
awareness and empathy for others less fortunate, encouraging them to participate in fundraising activities,
organises participation in environmental programs and orientation days, operates lunch club, coordinates choir
performances within the local community, and trained the school and other district groups for the Torch Relay
Performance. Mrs Moore’s selection as mentor for first year and training student teachers is a reflection of the
respect she is given within the school.
Nominator: Gosford Public School parents
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Mr
Bob Pastor
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Warilla
High School, Warilla
for initiative
in preparing students for community life and encouraging their
participation in the wider community.
Mr Pastor is tireless in his concern and work for at-risk students, and has introduced a number of innovative
programs to enhance students’ self esteem. Through his Beacon 'No Dole' project, Mr Pastor enlisted the support
of thirty local businesses that provide ongoing job-related training and employment opportunities for students. He
organised a council youth worker to visit the school once a week to help link disengaged students with community
initiatives, has developed formal ties with local youth groups, the Red Cross and Community Justice Centre to
promote community spirit amongst students, and established a Koori Homework and Study Centre.
Nominator: Warilla High School P&C Association
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Mrs
Helen Smith
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 St
Laurence's Catholic School, Forbes
for commitment
to supporting students and linking their learning to the
local community.
Mrs Smith and her students have been involved in the Forbes Heritage Competition for several years. Through
teaching a History of Forbes unit, students’ work is added to the competition display and helps to bring information
of interest to the community, while generating positive recognition for the school. As well as initiating class visits
to a nursing home, Mrs Smith established a mentor program involving older male community members as
role models in working with students on literacy tasks. She has helped establish infrastructure to provide Internet
access to twenty schools in the region, and is a key member of the Forbes Birth to Kinder Committee,
promoting the literacy development of all children in the community.
Nominator: St Laurence's P & F Association
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Miss
Bobbie Smyth
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William
Cowper Anglican Primary School, Tamworth
for commitment
and contributions to students and the school community.
Miss Smyth has only been teaching a short time, but her participation in the school is already apparent. She
organised the inaugural Lock up Your Boss Day and coordinated staff, students and parents to raise money
for Kids Help Line, coaches school sporting teams, assists the school’s agriculture community and was
selected as a judge for the regional Tournament of Minds finals. Miss Smyth is a member of the school’s welfare
committee, helping review needs of students and writing new policies for the school. The school’s Parents &
Friends organisation nominated Miss Smyth for her dedication above and beyond the job of a primary school
teacher.
Nominator: Wm Cowper Anglican School P&F Association
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Mrs
Vicki Treble
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Gordon
East Public School, Gordon
for commitment
to developing school community links of benefit to students and
the community.
As Assistant Principal Mrs Treble initiated a variety of programs, including a Creative Arts project. Students
have formed two bands that consistently achieve gold and silver at local music festivals and perform at many
community functions. Mrs Treble has coordinated parents to work with students on creating murals within the school,
and was successful in obtaining a grant to fund an artist-in-residence to work with children on mosaics.
Parents are encouraged to participate in their child’s learning environment, and the Father’s Day and Mother’s
Day breakfasts Mrs Treble initiated prove very popular.
Nominator: Gordon East Public School parents
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Dr
Stan Warren
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 Austinmer
Public School, Austinmer
for commitment
to supporting and enriching the school and wider
community’s participation in education.
Dr Warren has initiated many successful programs that have fostered educational links between schools and
country areas. He has worked within an Aboriginal community and implemented a program that included
local elders in learning many sociological aspects of their culture, established an annual collaborative program
between schools in different towns where students engage in academic, sporting, creative and social
activities and initiated a choral learning program and music festival. The initiation of a sister-school program
between Japan and Wollongong has led to continuing primary and secondary links involving school excursions
and cultural exchanges between the town and increased interest in the study of Japanese. Dr Warren’s
achievements are many and varied, and parents and the community nominated him for the countless ways he
selflessly contributes to the school and surrounding communities.
Nominator: Austinmer Public School & Community Organisation
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Mr
Matthew Williams
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 Mayfield
Central Community Pre-School, Mayfield
for engaging
students through creative activities and for linking
children’s learning to the wider community.
Mr Williams organises community excursions and visits to the preschool in order to enrich children’s perspectives
of others in the community. He encourages the involvement of the local library, emergency services and
nursing home, and organises the centre as the collection point for donations to local charities. Mr Williams raises
awareness of wider community social issues and has organised fundraising for the Leukemia Foundation,
CanTeen and SIDS for Kids. Parents can feel more involved in their children’s day when each afternoon they
view a slideshow of images Mr Williams has taken throughout the day of children at play and learning.
Nominator: Mayfield Central Preschool
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