I encourage you to write your own chapters of you time at MLTC. You can add pictures, memorabilia, video, audio. I am toying with ideas about what to call this project. My two favourites to date are: MLTC, the true story or MLTC, our story. If you think of anything catchier, please comment.
There are so many possibilities of where we can go with this. Sybe suggested an eBook, with audio and video embedded. We can leave it as an interactive website. We can send out newsletters or even have a grand reunion of old students. It is in your hands.
We are extremely flexible as to where this project goes and when you join us, it becomes your project too and you own it. If you send us pictures and text, we will display them (as long as they are G rated). You can also post here in the comments section.
The wonderful thing as we head towards 70 and beyond is that the majority of people are retired and can have a lot of fun with this. It is a great time for reflection and looking back to the pure young person you were, with the whole of your life ahead of you. It is great to share memories and stories of the fun we had.
I think the staff also had a lot of fun, as they were allowed to branch out and be creative with us. I think it is also extremely interesting to look at Bob Peter and see where he got his ideas from (a tad tedious perhaps). Take a look at: https://australiansatwarfilmarchive.unsw.edu.au/archive/1472-robert-peter Be aware that some of the transcript is incorrect.
Commencement in teaching in 1980, the year of my graduation at Mt.Lawley was incrediblysatisfying. Upon completing that year at Heathridge Primary School and being under-transfer in 1981 to Kojonup District High School, ten of my Year 5 students asked if they could write. In then doing so, they visited for a weekend (complete with sets of parents and caravan). This set the stage for a close rapport with students in the next 37 years.
As Agricultural teacher then primary-teacher (in order to gain permanancy), I then transferred to Karratha SHS as the Youth Education Officer.
The first year there (1984) changed much of my life’s direction regarding extra-curricular team events. Lesmurdie SHS followed as Youth Education Officer then again, Primary teaching at Falls Road Primary School. The final 25 years was then spent as the Primary Agricultural Awareness Coordinator at Kelmscott SHS, a position which in its flexibility, gave opportunity to 3 Canadian Conference, 4 eastern-states conference, 3 major Olympic and Commonwealth Games Torch and Baton Relays (100,50 and 70 days respectively), 2 eastern states/snowfields excursions for primary and secondary students and a myriad of other activities involving students and ex-students.
Commencement in teaching in 1980, the year of my Graduation, was incredibly satisfying with an excellent class of 35 children. Upon completing that year and transferring to Kojonup District High School as Agricultural Teacher (secondary), 10 of my Year 5 former students visited for a weekend. This set the stage for close links with students and ex-students for the next 37 years.
Moving into primary teacher also at Kojonup (due to permanancy needs), I had Year 3 in the morning and Years 9-10 Agricultural Studies in the afternoon.
Transferring after 3 years, to Karratha SHS as the Youth Education Officer, this was the most enlightening time thus far, with a radio program,intense team events and many informal events. for the next 3 years. Karratha changed my life’s extra-curricular direction.
Then, the next transfer was Lesmurdie SHS as Youth Education Officer, followed by Primary teaching at Falls Road Primary School in Lesmurdie.
My last transfer was to Kelmscott SHS as the Primary Agricultural Awareness Coordinator with over 3000 visiting children to our school farm annually,for 25 years.
This role enabled flexibility in my activities, with 3 Canadian conferences, 4 eastern-state conferences, 2 snowfield excursion, a temporary management position both at Point Peron Camp School and Merredin Residential College.
I was able to have time-out, driving for the 2000 Olympic Torch Relay (100 days),the 2006 Melbourne Queens Baton (50 days) and the 2018 Gold Coast Queens Baton Relay (70 days)- in 2000, I had the honor of being a torch-bearer, as also was the case in 2018 with the Queens Baton, in recognition for continued community service. (This service included a gardening service for 8 years, a Red Cross Soup van stint monthly for 9 years, and a food pickup weekly (from Bakers Delight) for 8 years).
Highlights within the 38 years were the 30+ leadership camps, many gruelling team events in the Pilbara (Black Rock Stakes: 17 teams over 25 years,most involving 5 days away and bus-travel of 4000 kms), Kalgoorlie and South-west areas, as well as long-distance Drug-Free Lifestyle Runs (coordinating these 670/553/398 km runs).
I have found much satisfaction, in linking many of these events with students and ex-students, seeing the lasting rapport and the maturing development of these individuals.
Certainly, my teaching roles were paramount, and I am very appreciative of the start of this adventure, upon graduating from Mount Lawley College of Advanced Education.
This wonderful story was sent in by Peter Blake MLTC 1974-76
After the Vietnam War the Military was having difficulty recruiting, especially professionals (doctors, lawyers, dentists and teachers). Apparently, Navy Office thought it would be a good idea to train sailors they already had and so a new branch was created – “Academic Instructor’ as distinct from “Instructor Officer”.
Originally conducted at Frankston Teachers College in Victoria for the 2yr Trained Primary Teachers Certificate the scheme relocated to Mount Lawley Teachers College for the 3yr Diploma of Teaching in 1971.
The MLTC co-ordinator and mentor at the time was Dick Lamb, who was himself an ex-sailor.It was anticipated AI’s would teach Junior Recruits at HMAS Leeuwin in Fremantle. Most of us were Vietnam Veterans and of various seniority which provided an example to the young men at Leeuwin.
The first intake of AI’s was in 1972 (?) and then the program continued until 1979 (?) with four sailors each intake. Entry to the scheme required four Yr 12 subjects (which I undertook via night school 1972-73 in Frankston whilst posted to HMAS Cerberus) for those who hadn’t achieved Yr 12 on initial recruitment into the Navy.
AI’s attended MLTC full time but on campus holidays taught at Leeuwin. As Leading Seamen and Petty Officers (depending on rank at transfer) we were employed for usual Naval duties (the attached shows me as a senior Petty Officer as part of a Royal Guard of Junior Recruits on parade at Perth Airport to farewell the Governor General, Sir John Kerr, on route to his new appointment in Paris).
As time passed and our numbers increased AI’s were posted to other training establishments around Australia – I was posted to the Royal Australian Navy School of Training Technology (RANSTT) as an instructor on the Instructor Training Course. Some AI’s completed their BEd. and went on to become Instructor Officers and extended their careers in the Navy. Others “paid off” to pursue teaching or other careers in civilian life. After discharge I combined my trade background (I originally joined as an apprentice) and teaching qualification to eventually become HOD of Manual Arts at Guildford Grammar School.
Whilst at MLTC we participated in many facets of College life (I played volleyball under Phys Ed. lecturer Rod Ellis at Inter Collegiate Games and with the WA Volleyball Assoc. We were not the run-of-the- mill mature age students with our short hair and I am not aware of any of us who regretted our MLTC experience. Many of us were of similar age to many of the lecturers but out of respect I always called them Mr, Mrs or Miss.
I have attached a pic of a group of us at HMAS Leeuwin (1976) – sadly some in that photo have now passed away.
I hope this gives some insight into what was an interesting albeit short lived scheme that offered those so inclined an opportunity to gain a valuable qualification and life experience – I wouldn’t have missed it for quids!
MLTC trained Academic Instructors at HMAS Leeuwin (Junior Recruit Training Establishment) 1976
L-R back row: Mick Gallagher, John Huelin, Peter Sinfield, Tom Morris, Fred Greedy, Lock Graham, Bill Krause, Peter Blake
L-R front row: ( ) Ralph Burge, Mick Gilshenen, OIC Education Capt Comfort, 2IC Lt Cmdr ( ) Fred Symes, Dave Evans
The following was sent into us by Ruth Shean 1971-1973
We were all corralled at Claremont Teacher’s College. It was explained to us — outside because we were a large group — that there would be two year training intakes and three year training intakes. I thought carefully about this and decided if I was ever going to upgrade to something else, it made sense to do the longer course. Whole groups of us were then directed to MLTC and off we set, in a range of available cars. In the first few days, we were sorted into class groups, ours being primarily students who had matriculated in maths and science. I think that the intent behind this was to offer us a place at STC/UWA to convert to high school maths and science teachers. I recall that at least one of our classmates did this — Clive Choate. I was happy to keep going on the MLTC pathway. I was really enjoying the course, and liked the fact that I could work flat out while I was there but do my extra curricular activity such as music and yachting during other times. Looking back, I think we were well taught for a whole range of classes and circumstances, down to Jean Farrant who taught us how to conduct a choir with either a tennis ball or darts action! This came in handy when I later became a music teacher.
I wanted to be a teacher — not forever, but to start my career. I had found matriculation stressful — we sat leaving exams AND matriculation. I was encouraged to study law or journalism, but I felt that the employment opportunities for teaching were far and wide and — as my mother said — it was a sensible thing to do until I was married! The bonding arrangements suited me, because I felt that I would need to teach for at least three years to earn some money and gain experience. And I loved kids, and believe in the teaching profession. I had some excellent teachers of my own at primary and high school. These teachers were great role models for this profession and my own teaching career.
I have mentioned that we were generally a diligent group. When we did sewing, we were all required to prepare samples of knitting, crochet and embroidery. Most of us had done sufficient of this at school to be proficient, but set about dutifully working on our samples, often during other lessons. It is not difficult to sew, knit or crochet while listening. This became very popular, until large groups of students would happily proceed with their stitching work during all sorts of lectures. After a while, there was a polite request that we desist from such behaviour. I believe that some lecturers felt that we were not giving their topic our full attention.
There was a group of us girls who hung our together — Heidi Gfeller, Cathy Abe, Jo Nieuwkerk. I was of the view that if we worked as hard during the day as we possibly could, we would have more time to do the things that we wanted to do after hours. So we were frequently found working together, during lunch times and other breaks. We were a collaborative team who worked really well together on grouped class assignments. We would divide up the research, go off and do our own pieces of work, bring it back together and work out how best to join it up, then someone would write it up in a single hand. I don’t think that I ever had to do the handwriting, because I was as bad at writing as I was good at grammar. It was round about this time that I realised my study would be well served by my learning to type. By the time I left MLTC, I was a proficient if unorthodox typist. To this day, my typing is still unorthodox, but fast and reasonably accurate.
We all did different majors so in our third year we didn’t share all of our class time together, but still hung out with each other for the most part. Add to that, we were all away the full term of long-term prac at the start of third year [1973 for us] so all the friendship groups broke up a little. I did music and photography. I was already a pianist, but enjoyed recorder work and joined a recorder consort — for a brief period. I was not a talented recorder player because I never managed a mellow tone. [I am now learning bagpipes which is more suited to my style!]
While we weren’t pub attendees at lunch time, we did enjoy the greater freedoms which went with post-school studies. Some lecturers regarded us as school kids — which we pretty much were — but others were very encouraging of our transition to a tertiary environment. I have very fond memories of many lecturers, chief among which was Sybe Jongeling. Mr Jongeling was a superb lecturer, with a dry sense of humour and an enduring belief in our capacity. Others for whom I had tremendous admiration included Lew Eborall, Len McKenna and Addy Hayes — later Addy Carroll. Addy was a compassionate phys ed lecturer for us, and especially welcomed by me for whom my academic strengths did not include phys ed. I remember Addie teaching us the song Bingo and despairing — with good humour — at the folk dancing capability of us all, but especially one classmate who could not skip! Most of all, I remember swimming lessons with Addy at the Inglewood pool. We had to do various strokes and other things to pass swimming. The only one that filled me with utter terror was the diving board dive. A dive for me — a good Aussie kid — was to jump in the water holding my nose. The compromise — jumping from the 3m diving board holding my nose. I am eternally grateful to Addy for this gesture. She remains a friend to this day.
Of the standout events at MLTC, I am almost ashamed to say that the one thing that sprang to mind was the establishment of the coffee shop! When we came back from long-term prac in 1973, there was a coffee shop on campus. We all quickly became coffee junkies. Because we were all doing different things course-wise, we would meet in the coffee shop daily and exchange news. But there were other similarly important developments. The new lecture theatre was a huge attribute to the college although by the time that was built we were mainly into small group lectures and learning. I certainly appreciated it when studying for my BEd. When we started at MLTC, the Bradford Street building was by no means complete. Indeed, the only playing fields were in the park over the road. I remember us all planting trees early on. I am delighted to see that these are still standing — around the car park off Bradford Street.
But chief among the stand-outs, MLTC prepared me for everything — tiny tots, primary kids and even older students — high school and university. I graduated feeling confident, and enjoyed my teaching years enormously. When I went back to ML to complete my degree, I felt comfortable in the environment. I still believe that this was a key factor in my later successful studies. I am very grateful to all for the opportunity to study in this way — my school teachers, the ML lecturers, my parents and the governments of the day. It was a terrific start to tertiary education. I am especially grateful to those lecturers such as Sybe Jongeling who told me to have faith in my own capacity.
MLTC 1971-1973
I chose Mt Lawley Teachers’ College as it was close to my childhood home in Yokine, plus it had continuous assessment & no exams… fantastic!
Highlights of my time there were:
• I met & married the father of my two daughters, before our first teaching post in Pemberton.
• Was the President of Societies.
• Helped plant the initial trees on the site.
• Undertook Music studies with the very dedicated Jean Farrant who organised & inspired our intimate Recorder Ensemble.
• Due to Jean’s positivity & role modelling, I later became a Primary Music Specialist & excelled with my Recorder Bands, Ensembles & Consorts in many of the schools throughout my teaching career.
• Had the privilege of performing in our Recorder Ensemble at Colin Kenworthy’s wedding.
• Fractured my finger playing footy during Physed lessons.
• Really appreciated the depth of knowledge & practical instruction I received in my Junior Primary Method course, run by Jean Connolly. She gave me a solid foundation upon which I then built upon & extended my teaching skills over the next 40 wonderful years.
Bobbie Kidd (nee Smith)
Mount Lawley Teachers College 1971-1973
* Why MLTC? well the 2 year course was going to finish and we sat on the lawn at Claremont and [were put?] into groups … I’m not sure whether they told us that M.L.T.C. hadn’t been fully built at that stage …
*I listened to an address at Applecross Senior High School in 5th year where they said they wanted a very large number [ 2/3 or 70%?] of the successful Leaving candidates to become teachers. It didn’t change my mind as I had planned to become a teachers since I was 10 years of age!
* We didn’t know that M.L.T.C. was different from other teacher’s colleges as it was the only one we knew. Having been in contact with this project team I can now appreciate that it was different. More than just air conditioning, continuous assessment and a new building!
* A farce on the official opening was written by me [and Bill Reid?] but one of our English Lecturers [David Hough] said there was too much toilet humour and it didn’t go ahead. {Notes; Dettman was “Deadman”, Director of Teacher Training; “truck” Traylen?, Hugh Morrison (Student Council President) was addressed/summoned with, “You, Morrison!”.}
* Before a big open day showcasing Technology in Education Bob Peters foolishly asked if there were any questions and I stood up and said I thought it was not right to promote the technology of M.L.T.C. when many students couldn’t operate a strip film, a slide projector or an overhead projector – let alone a video camera! Uh Oh! Did that mean P.D. for everyone? No; we just manned the machines we knew.
* The Mentor Cup was a fun day at Garret Road Bridge and I recall the Science Department had many ‘secret weapons’ to ensure they won! Mud squirted through bicycle pumps & pack-of-cards sail.
* I was on the cover of “Seedtime” as was Kingsley Idden, Ruth Shean and another girl.
* I recall being told off by the deputy principal [“Women’s Warden”; Ms AN Aldrige] for wearing a tie-died singlet, jeans and thongs to classes.
* One excuse for my ‘poor choice’ of clothing was the air conditioning. I had not experienced it before. I also hadn’t had Hay Fever before! The rumour was that some ‘janitor’ came to work before sunrise and made adjustments to the temperature based on their own predictions. We arrived at 8:30 am in Summer clothing and literally froze inside!
* Does anyone recall how many windows opened in the MLTC building? I heard that only one lecturer lecturer had a window that would open!
* The site had been a swamp, a rubbish tip and a [Scadden] pine plantation; so many lecturers had interesting collections of artifacts such as ceramic containers, dolls and glass bottles.
* The 1970 intake spent time at the Bagot Rd.
* I was on the student council for the three years I was there. I recall that Hugh Morrison was our president. I think his girlfriend may have been societies president or secretary.
* I helped with the student newspaper “Mentor” which was edited by Les Smith (and Bob Buckey?) in my 1st year, and then I became the editor. This was pre-computers and the stencils were printed on a Gestetenar; I do recall it having a scanner that cut the stencils though!
* A local senior named Mary was our typist at the student newspaper. She lived across the road and seemed to love the job.
* I wanted to print T-Shirts for Mentor and showed the design to {Allan?} Jones of the Art Department. He told me it was too detailed to cut as a silk screen so I thickened the lines and brought it back. He showed me what to do and I did my first silk-screening. I’d love to see a photo of one of those prints.
* Photo-copying was a big expense on our $18/19 dollar/week student allowance! My first school didn’t have one … but we fund-raised for it!
* My ex-wife Bobbie [Roberta Mavis Smith] was Societies President … and there was an issue with Liquor Licensing at one of the social events that was very stressful for both of us. I’m sure the reason we are not in the graduation photo collage is that we were busy behind the scenes.
* Kerry McCarthy and I were annoyed when the teacher’s union would not allow a Teaching Certificate with EXCELLENCE to be considered. Many students came with very low Leaving certificates and I am sad to say that some did not work hard.
* I won a ‘Sociology’ prize for my research on Aborigines in my old home town of Narrogin. I recall being told by my lecturer {Maybe John Sherwood} that had he known I was going to get so involved in it – he would have suggested it became a thesis!
* One day a student had an epileptic fit at the top of the brick entrance steps and those of us who attempted to help were chastised … we students had to be told what to do and not do in future.
* We had a G.L.O. for each ‘class’ – Group Liason Officer. Ours was Margie Tyrer and she was good natured and very reliable.
* My good friend Bill Reid and I would often enliven the tutorials by planning beforehand to take contrary points of view!
* I was overwhelmed by the ratio of girls to boys [7:1?]
* After three hectic years at MLTC we [Bobbie & I] thought a country posting would be a bit more relaxing but we were called upon to run the inaugural Karri Karnival at Pemberton in our first year out!
* There was a fire drill and those in Film & Television were to record it. There were flashing lights and fake smoke. I recall Colin Kenworthy rushing out then going back to his office to rescue his artworks while I was filming!
* Colin Kenworthy also once made us wait for him to appear and then surprised us with a grand entrance as we were considering leaving.
* I made some amazing friendships at MLTC and have a couple of my former peers that I still keep in contact with. I enjoyed the ‘get together’ [organized by the alumini?] over a decade ago where I caught up with Marg Harris [nee Saunders] and some of those who had gone on to alternative career pathways; like Bill McKenzie of Kalgoorlie.
* I often wondered what happened to other students who ‘dropped out’ like Peter Douglas. I now know that some changed to secondary teaching like Leo (Martin) Kenny.
My name was (Robert) Neil KIDD but I go by NeiL these days. I am now retired and I am an Environmental Artist.
I was the photographer to the Learning Resource Centre from about 1973 to 1976 and made films for ATEP and produced all of the advertising and promotional material with Peter Dixon. I worked with Peter, Roger Penney, John Panell etc in our splendidly equipped film production and photography unit. I am trying to find out what happened to all the material we produced.
Nick Clark