Student Questionnaire

1. How did you come to study at Mt Lawley Teachers College?

Answers
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I was employed at MLCAE as a gardener in 1976, and the Admissions Officer (a keen gardener) asked if I had ever considered being a teacher (knowing of my current youth activities). I stated, "What ? Me-a Year 10 graduate from the "University of Meekatharra lol". I sat for the following mature-age entrance test and surprisingly, passed and was offered a 1977-1979 student position.
I think many of us drifted into the idea of teachers' college as an affordable way into further education and because our friends were choosing it. Our little gang of friends from high school, for some reason I can't recall, did not want to be in the first intake for the new college. I think everyone felt the same because 'volunteers' were going to be chosen at random. We made a pact that if one of us got chosen for Mount Lawley we would all go and so we did!
Marjorie Bly At the first day, a group of us from the same high school stayed together during the proceedings. Not many people were choosing MLTC as an option. Soon students were being assigned to MLTC to overcome the reluctance and as soon as one person from our group was chosen the rest followed. Mt Lawley chose us!
From Leaving results….

2. How many years did you study there?

Answers
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Three years
Three
1970-1971 and 1972 so three years in all
3 years full time for Diploma of teaching 2 years part time for bachelor of education 2 years part time in inaugural grad dip in computer education

3. Did you only go to Mt Lawley or did you swap to Secondary Teachers’ College? If so what did you study?

Answers
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Only at Mt. Lawley, studying for the "Diploma of Teaching"
Yes
MLTC only
Only mlc……..but masters level degrees at Curtin uni

4. What are your memories of the early days of Mt Lawley Teachers’ College?

Answers
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It was a close and friendly campus, far different from the complex now in existence. Being a member of the Student Council (1st year Rep,2nd Year Vice-President,3rd Year College Board Representative), I was kept informed and involved with the social and campus activities. .
It was fun after all being the first and there was a spirit of starting something new, even in temporary accommodation in Subiaco. In some ways it was sad to leave the first place. Looking back I realise the staff were ahead of their time, promoting a different agenda. For example, public and school celebration of Anzac Day harked back to World War One, ignoring the fact that Australian soldiers were being killed in Vietnam at that very moment. At college the students were able to hold a peace service instead. Generally my mind was broadened with the variety of subjects and arts. We also had a chance to learn the other side of Australia's recent history, perhaps only in a small way, but I have never forgotten the visit and talk by an Aboriginal lady; it was the first time I heard of children being taken away from their Aboriginal families. As an English migrant who had only lived in Perth I knew little about the original people.
Existing, quite well I might add, on the education allowance Continuous assessment – so welcome after the stress of the previous year’s angst over the Leaving and Matriculation exams During the months at Subiaco – not the classrooms but the little church hall with the most amazing atmosphere, down the loooong path. And the lovely lush council gardens surrounding the school. Shopping in Rokeby Rd during lunch times, when it was a fascinating street full of interesting boutiques and shops. Early winter morning starts at Rosalie park for PT / sport Trying to learn the recorder with no musical talent. I usually ended up with the triangle during group music sessions. Becoming a labourer and helping to fill the garden beds with compost and plants under Len McKenna’s watchful eye. The college was the quintessential building site during those early years. *Watching drivers sliding around the driver training course at the rear of the campus
Fun and great relationships

5. What were your favourite subjects?

English - 13.64%

Oral English and Drama - 9.09%

Maths - 4.55%

Science - 9.09%

Junior Primary - 4.55%

Physical and Health Education - 4.55%

Social Science - 9.09%

Psychology - 18.18%

Music - 4.55%

Education - 4.55%

Art - 4.55%

Literature - 13.64%

Answer	Answers
English	3
Oral English and Drama	2
Maths	1
Science	2
Junior Primary	1
Physical and Health Education	1
Social Science	2
Psychology	4
Music	1
Education	1
Art	1
Literature	3

6. What changes were enacted during your time there?

Answers
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The major of Special Education was introduced, which was much of my focus in the 2nd and 3rd years.
I am not sure, perhaps we were already doing new things and more changes came later.
My MLTC years formed a substantial part of that bridge between being a child and becoming a grown up. The new style of teacher education, a new building, new colleagues all played a role in how I matured. The times were reflective of that transformational change; the Vietnam War, social change was all around us – the Pill, equal pay for equal work, universal health care, free university education, then the ending of the Vietnam War and of conscription, to name a few. Teacher education continued to change during those early years, expanding to include aboriginal programs, early childhood learning and of course computerisation and technological advances were beginning to be incorporated into the course structure. It was an exciting time to be involved. I really value the life experience I gained during that part of my life.
Became mount lawley college and the part ofwacae

7. Do you feel that attending Mt Lawley Teachers’ College shaped you in some way and if so, how?

Answers
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Attendance at Mt Lawley gave me the opportunity to work formally with primary-students, to also engage primary and secondary students in extra-curricular activities and to explore wider activities pertinent for the students' social development (leadership,community service etc).
Yes, even though it tuned out I only taught for a year and felt a bit guilty about that, it was the foundation for understanding young children and helped when I worked with young children and brought my own up. I believe the head said on our first day that the new college would be as good as a finishing school and he was right. As an English migrant I had started high school early and started college just before my seventeenth birthday, I really wasn't ready for life or deciding on a career!
See above
Teaching was my life. I have only just retired after 44 years - 25 as a principal Mt Lawley taught me the basics really well

8. Are there any stories you would like to share about your time at Mt Lawley?

Answers
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It was a challenging 3-years, especially as a married person with 2 small children. The camaraderie of my peers was uplifting, and upon entering College, I found myself in a completely different and positive scenario (compared to mining,truck-driving,hotel management,banking,window-cleaning and tobacco-picking). The Orientation Camp was a positive experience at the YAL Araluen and set the stage for a rewarding 3 years..
A lecturer with navy links organised a girls only bus trip - the college bus was a bus and not a comfortable coach! - to Exmouth American naval base. He advised to go with a friend. The chaps on the base were paying for our trip to have some company. So off I went with my good friend. It wasn't till we were on our way that we two realised from what the others were saying that those back at college thought we were practically going up there as prostitutes! I don't know what anybody else got up to but my friend and I had a totally innocent weekend. Most of the chaps we met were lacking in conversation and only when we were shortly to leave did I chat to someone who was interesting and more interested in horses than watching baseball on cable TV. Of course we had never heard of cable TV. The base itself was pretty amazing and I thought the pancakes and syrup for breakfast very exotic.
As a mechanic’s daughter I drove an old Vauxhall Victor that was always breaking down, usually at the most inconvenient moments. There was never a lack of students to ask for a push, though. Friday group lunches at the Knutsford Arms. The legal drinking age dropped from 21 to 18 in 1970, so timely! Alcohol may have been drunk at these lunches and the following lessons may or may not have been enlivened by the predictable results.
Yes

9. Did you work as a teacher or do something else. If so what was it?

Answers
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I worked as a Primary teacher for 8 years, Youth Education Officer for 5 years, secondary Agricultural teacher for 2 years, Camp and Residential Manager for 1 year and Primary Agricultural Awareness Coordinator for 25 years.
One year as a teacher, then all sorts of other jobs including stay home mother.
I never taught formally – I married young and had children early. I did run a pre school at Cocos (Keeling) Islands for a couple of years when my then-husband was posted there in the 1970s. I’ve worked in a variety of jobs, including for Australia Post and the Department of Defence, Army and Navy. I used the skills I learned at MLTC to develop and present a range of public education seminars over the years. I found my real calling when I came to work for the National Archives years later – a perfect melding of my passion for history, archival records and helping people through research and education. I began by teaching Commonwealth Agency staff to create, manage and archive good quality records and then moved into the public access area where I managed a team to provide public and Government Agency access to the Collection. I also managed a successful practicum program for Archives and Information Management students from ECU and other Unis when I became Assistant Director in 2005.
Teacher, education officer in doe silver city deputy principal And finally as principal including foundation principal of Australia’s first school in a shopping centre…..in secret harbour

1. How did you come to study at Mt Lawley Teachers College? *

2. How many years did you study there? *

3. Did you only go to Mt Lawley or did you swap to Secondary Teachers’ College? If so what did you study? *

4. What are your memories of the early days of Mt Lawley Teachers’ College? *

5. What were your favourite subjects? *

6. What changes were enacted during your time there? *

7. Do you feel that attending Mt Lawley Teachers’ College shaped you in some way and if so, how? *

8. Are there any stories you would like to share about your time at Mt Lawley? *

9. Did you work as a teacher or do something else. If so what was it? *