Original Daramalan teachers return for Chevalier Day
Jean Reid (seated), Mary Barton and Dale Seaman
As part of Chevalier Day celebrations, Daramalan’s two original female teachers came back to revisit and reconnect with the school after fifty-six years.
Mrs Jean Reid (seated) – who will be 103 next month – returned to be part of Chevalier Day along with Mrs Mary Barton, both of whom commenced work at Daramalan on 2 February 1962 the opening day of the College.
At the time they were the only women on staff as the remainder of Daramalan teachers were all men, mainly MSC priests and brothers.
Both women went on to develop a dedicated Learning Support unit at Daramalan, which at the time, was quite revolutionary for the less enlightened 60s.
Jean and Mary are pictured here with the current head of Inclusive Education at Daramalan, Ms Dale Seaman.
Between the three of them they represent an unbroken line of assisted education support at Daramalan College since 1962.
- Story supplied by Daramalan College
As their students are aware, what made these women even more remarkable was not their pioneering, longevity, or special needs work but rather their extraordinary skills just as ordinary teachers!