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Published: June 30th 2009
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Nullagine 21-27th June
After a leisurely drive we arrived in Nullagine about lunch time which gave us plenty of time to set up camp at the Nullagine Tourist Park. Although we’d met the managers previously we found them quite abrupt. When we commented about the small size of the caravan site we were told “ If you don’t like it perhaps Mitchell can find you somewhere else!” Mitchell is the new principal at Nullagine Remote Community School.
After lunch we wandered across the road to catch up with Mitchell and found him at the school. He told us Dianne would sort out a timetable for us the next morning at school and left us to check our email.
The following morning we arrived at the school to find the teacher of the Year 3-7 on sick leave so we were placed in this class for the following 2 days. The Principal spoke to us only briefly before he departed the school to attend his mother’s funeral in Carnarvon. When Rags mentioned the state of the computers and network in the school he was quite bluntly told by Mitchell that he had no interest in IT. We were quite
disappointed as we’d left the school last November with all computers operating and information to order laptops for the already installed interactive whiteboards. Instead we found most of the computers not working, the proxy server down and no laptops. Even if we’d been given time to work on fixing this scenario we wouldn’t have known where to start! Judy did make time during our visit to install the latest version of the Curriculum Council’s Interactive Learning Objects and give teachers the link to the catalogues.
Wednesday was Interschool Sports Day between, Nullagine Marble Bar and Warralong at Marble Bar. Rags drove the new 4WD bus that was bought out of funding provided by the Variety Club and Lotterywest. No one batted an eye about driving 120 kms on dirt road to get to a carnival. This is the first carnival they’ve had for 6 years and is testament to the organisation and hard work done by the staff at Marble Bar School to get it organised.
The last 2 days were spent giving teachers much needed DOTT (Duties other than teaching) time as they haven’t had any of their entitlements since their support teacher went on stress leave.
At one stage we took the whole school for a video. (less than 30 kids)
Saturday we washed before leaving for Marble Bar once again. We stopped at the Bane’s to pick up our wine order and for Judy to help Maretta get iTunes installed and working on their new computer. We were also able to install and demonstrate Skype for them so they will be able to talk to their family in far away places. We were invited to stay for a bbq that evening, partly organised to farewell Heather who has been offered and accepted a position in Canada. During the evening David, the Principal offered us an extra 2 days work in Marble Bar as they are short staffed with a teacher on leave until Wednesday and another leaving last week to take up a new position in Pannawonica. This was gratefully accepted. We have enjoyed our time in Marble Bar or Marvellous Bar as it is called by the locals, and almost feel at home here.
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Solly Hawke
non-member comment
Happy Birthday!
Hi Rags and Judy, Happy birthday Rags! We celebrated your birthday with a birth of our own on the 7/7 - Nat's baby daughter - Jade Louise. Cheers, Solly