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    FROM STUDENT TO TEACHER: Janine Adams has retired from Ararat College following a career spanning 40 years. She first attended the school as a student and then went on to become a laboratory technician, science teacher and assistant principal. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Janine celebrates end of an era

By SARAH MATTHEWS

Janine Adams has long been fascinated by the history of Ararat College – so she became an integral part of it.

A graduate of the class of 1979, Ms Adams returned to the school on February 1, 1981 as a laboratory technician.

On February 1 this year, she retired as assistant principal, having spent her entire career at the college.



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“I worked as a lab tech for at least 24 years,” she said.

“In 2002 I started at Ballarat Uni, but still worked at the college part-time.”

Even before graduating with her Bachelor of Education-Bachelor of Technology, Ms Adams knew where she wanted to end up.

“I never applied for any other school, although I got to the end of my course, because I knew I always wanted to be here,” she said.

“Luckily, I got a position in 2005 starting here as a teacher. Then I became a leading teacher and finally, assistant principal.”

Ms Adams said pursuing a career in her home town was an easy decision.

“I love Ararat,” she said.

“I’ve loved growing up here, I loved going through the school. I always loved the school environment, which is probably why I’ve never left it.”

Ms Adams said she had many fond memories of her time as a student.

She conceded that teaching students she once walked the halls alongside presented its challenges.

“I think it was harder at the start, making the transition from being a student to being employed here,” she said.

“There were a number of teachers on staff – Geoff Parkinson was one of them. I found it very hard to call him Geoff. I was always calling him Mr Parkinson until I realised I could call him Geoff.

“It was a little strange walking into the staff room for the first time. Very quickly that changed and they’ve become lifelong friends.”

Ms Adams said one of her ‘favourite teachers ever’ was Ian McGregor.

“He was a chemistry wizard. He taught me chemistry, he taught a number of students in Ararat chemistry,” she said.

“As a lab tech I used to enjoy standing on the other side of the wall, listening to him teach.

“He was definitely one of the reasons I was inspired to actually go to university and become a science teacher.”

Forging connections

Ms Adams said one of the college’s best assets was the ‘depth of teaching’.

She said throughout her time in various roles, she had seen many staff ‘put in the time’ to forge connections with students, whether that be through school camps, excursions, plays or Rock Eisteddfods.

“That connection with kids is so important,” she said.

“As much as schools are about what happens in the classroom, they’re also about the extra activities that are run.”

Ms Adams said one of the things she appreciated most throughout her time at the school was the teachers who had come to Ararat and stayed.

“It stopped a massive turnover,” she said.

“That stability has definitely been a massive asset to the school, particularly the number of maths and science teachers who wanted to stay. Because now, it’s very hard to find maths and science teachers.

“When I went through school it was a straight high school. It was an unusual time, looking back. We had a lot of overseas teachers – a lot of American teachers came to the school. It wasn’t unusual at the end of the year for 15 teachers to go and then we’d get 15 more.”

Rich history

During Ms Adams’ time as a student, the college was known as Ararat High School.

“I’ve always loved the history of this school, because it started off in 1913 as Ararat High, it then in 1963 became Ararat High and Tech, and then in 1969 the tech component became a separate identity and they built their new school and shifted,” she said.

“In 1990 when we amalgamated, I thought historically, it was the school coming back together.

“I think that’s one of the reasons our amalgamation was so successful, really – the goodwill of everyone involved and the fact we had a history of being the one school.”

Ms Adams plans to spend her retirement travelling and concentrating on further study.

“I’ve joined the University of the Third Age and I’m going to several classes there,” she said.

“I’m hoping to start a class called, ‘Science for grandparents’, so that should be good.”

 

The entire April 14, 2021 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!