Sunshine Coast schools farewell teachers after years of commitment to students

Classrooms across the Sunshine Coast are bidding farewell to a mass of teaching talent this year with several top educators putting down the chalk and entering retirement.

There’s always that one teacher you look back on fondly and remember how instrumental they were to your education.

Some of the Sunshine Coast’s best teachers are leaving the classrooms for good once the school year finishes this month after contributing years to the teaching industry.

Here are just some of the teachers that students and staff are saying goodbye to after many years:

Maroochydore State High School teacher Murray Stanton is one of the many teachers on the Sunshine Coast retiring this year. Picture: Patrick Woods

Matthew Flinders Anglican College

Annette Colwell

Secondary teacher Annette Colwell retired after more than 35 years of teaching, with the 29 latter years dedicated to Matthew Flinders Anglican College on the Sunshine Coast.

Flinders head of secondary Gerry Price said Ms Colwell was instrumental in promoting an academic culture of excellence through the teaching of mathematics.

“Annette’s passion, contribution and presence will be missed around campus, however, we wish her happiness and good health in retirement,” Mr Price said.

Retiring Matthew Flinders Anglican College teacher Annette Colwell.

Ms Colwell was the college’s first head of mathematics in 1992, where she implemented a mathematics course that provided Flinders with the groundwork to build a reputation for excellence.

“Complementing her high standard in the classroom was her commitment and love of the Flinders outdoor education program where she was able to further develop and mentor students to be better people in a challenging world,” Flinders head of maths Steve Bishop said.

Upon her retirement, Ms Colwell said she would miss the students and the friends she had met during her teaching career.

“I’ll miss the camaraderie and the community,” she said.

“I’ll miss the laughs in the Flinders maths staffroom.

“However, I must admit, I won’t miss marking assignments and I won’t miss any meetings.”

Maroochydore State High School

Murray Stanton

Mr Stanton has championed sport and physical education at Maroochydore State High School for 28 years.

As a sports teacher for 38 years, having taught also in Mt Isa and Caboolture, he’s played a big role in inter-school sport, especially rugby league, having been involved in the Queensland secondary school state championships for many years.

He was also instrumental in starting the girls competition in 2017.

Teacher Murray Stanton is retiring from Maroochydore State High School after 28 years of teaching. Picture: Patrick Woods

Principal David Samaha said Mr Stanton was integral in ensuring students were given a real chance to get involved in sport.

“He has a real passion for sport and kids playing sport in general, and he’s been heavily involved in arranging inter-school sport for nearly 30 years,” Mr Samaha said.

“He’s one of those reliable, dependable, go-to more experienced staff members who will always help out and do the best thing for kids.

“There’s a lot of things he does that builds that team in the PE department and that’ll be sorely missed.”

Mr Stanton said he’d always believed children needed physical activity to get the best start in life.

“Some of those kids who may be a little difficult in the classroom, once you get them out on a sporting field become different people,” he said.

“It’s a great outlet and development for you as a teacher.”

Kawana Waters State College

Head of secondary campus Elena Gerbo said the five retiring staff members had played a valuable part in the college’s history, and would be missed by everyone.

“Thanks to the five retiring teachers for their outstanding contribution to education at our college for many years,” Ms Gerbo said.

“We wish them all the best.”

Five long-serving members of Kawana Waters State College staff - Jim Bailey, Jeff Day, Judy Brown, Graham Magill and Frank Rakic - who have recently retired or will retire later this year.

Jeff Day

Mr Day commenced work at Kawana Waters State College as head of department – the arts in 1991.

He began his teaching career in 1980 in the small remote community of Bamagah, before moving to Caloundra State High School.

The school credits Mr Day for being instrumental in setting up the program of excellence in the arts.

Judy Brown

Ms Brown is a passionate educator who dedicated 35 years to learning improvement for people of all ages, from her early days as a primary teacher at schools across the Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast areas to her more recent roles as a deputy principal and educational coach in secondary campuses.

Kawana Waters State College retiring teacher Judy Brown.

“Ms Brown has assisted thousands of children and families through her generosity and meticulous love for helping others to understand and use their gifts and talents,” Ms Gerbo said.

Frank Rakic

Mr Rakic started teaching in 1983 and taught in a range of schools before settling into Kawana Waters in 2002 as a senior experienced ancient history and English teacher.

For most of his career Mr Rakic has been a Queensland Teachers’ Union Representative in schools supporting teachers’ work conditions.

Jim Bailey

Starting his teaching career in 1977 in Miles, Mr Bailey has spent most of the past 44 years teaching on the Sunshine Coast, having moved to Caloundra State High School in 1981.

He was appointed subject master at Maleny State High School in 1989 before moving to Kawana Waters State College two years later.

Kawana Waters State College students Rick Helberg, Neah Newbury, Wahida Kelm and Annabelle Pancer-Lee learn new science skills from retiring teacher Jim Bailey. Picture: Patrick Woods

Ms Gerbo said Mr Bailey’s passion and love for chemistry and biology was evident in everything he did.

“This drive led to the development of the Academic Curriculum Extension program for highly able and gifted students,” she said.

“It was the establishment of a formal partnership agreement with the Queensland Academies that was the cherry on the cake.

“As the only school in the North Coast Region to have this link it meant our gifted and highly able students were connected with like-minded students and our staff would gain invaluable professional development.”

Graham Magill

Mr Magill started teaching in 1984 in Murgon which eventually led him to continue his career at Kawana Waters State College in 1995.

Ms Gerbo said Mr Magill is an exceptional Health and Physical Education teacher that helped develop the Aquatics Program of Excellence.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast schools farewell teachers after years of commitment to students