When I first took up the role of ED for LEQ this year, I thought I had a fair handle on who we are after 20 years service. I had grown to know my fellow principals over the last five years and had certainly heard many stories and visited some schools in this time. However, this often weird and wonderful year has only demonstrated for me the great canyon of knowledge and experience there was still to traverse to truly appreciate the diversity and uniqueness of our schools and the staff and leaders within them.
I am currently sitting in air-conditioned splendour whilst, outside the office, the staff and students of Biloela enjoy the last day of the school year in over 40 degree heat. Driving from Gladstone to Bilo yesterday, I marvelled at how green the countryside is at the moment, knowing that only a very few short years ago they suffered in drought. With hearts as big as the sky, the staff here serve one of most rural communities in Queensland. The conveniences and proximity that we take for granted in the south east of the state, seem very far away. Yet, the thing that binds us is our love of God and our desire to speak the gospel message through our work together in education. We don’t always know who we are, but we never forget whose we are!
The LEQ team, and especially myself, thank you for trust and patience in us as we also grow and learn. None of us have had the year we hoped for or expected. Your courage, tenacity and patience has been witnessed by many, not least your own communities. Thank you for everything that you do, you hold us together one conversation at a time, one decision at a time, one relationship at a time.
I also take the time to acknowledge and thank the many staff who received service awards this year for their ongoing dedication to Lutheran Education. As my staff and I travelled out across the state for farewells and acknowledgements, the depth of the wisdom, experience and support we have been privileged to receive has been significant. At one school alone, three staff had over a hundred years of combined service to Lutheran Education.
I would like to share with you the honour role for this year’s group of living legends who received either a 30 year or 40 year service award, some of whom are retiring.
40 years’ service:
- Christopher Chapman, St Peters Lutheran College
- Margaret Nicholls, Bethania Lutheran Primary School
30 years’ service:
- Daniel Arrow, St Peters Lutheran College
- Leanne Auricht, Immanuel Lutheran College
- Della Carsburg, Peace Lutheran Primary School
- Helen Heim, Bethania Lutheran Primary School
- Bronwyn Jamieson, St Peters Lutheran College
- Judy Newby, Redeemer Lutheran College
Completing service to LEA schools after 20 or more years:
- Rev. Michael Alfson, Trinity Lutheran College
- Kerry Behn, Good News Lutheran School
- Denis Clarke, Faith Lutheran College Redlands
- Chris Chapman, St Peters Lutheran College
- Elisabeth Fenske, Peace Lutheran College
- Sue Gillespie, Trinity Lutheran College
- Helen Heim, Bethania Lutheran Primary School
- Russell Haug, St Peters Lutheran College
- Kevin Lambert, Trinity Lutheran College
- Lyndal Mayer, QLECS, Lutheran Education Queensland
- Judith Niebling, Grace Lutheran College
- Janelle Parviainen, Trinity Lutheran College
- Darren Pope, Concordia Lutheran College
- Rita Rainnie, Immanuel Lutheran College
- Leslie Scheelings, St Peters Lutheran College
- Eunice Stoll, Lutheran Education Queensland
- Debbie West-McInnes, St Peters Lutheran College
- Denise Wight, Trinity Lutheran College
I would also like to acknowledge the LEQ staff who are retiring from services to Lutheran Education, Lyndal Mayer and Eunice Stoll. Each of these ladies have given significant service to Lutheran Education as a whole and on behalf of us all we truly thank them and wish them well. Not retiring but taking up a position in one of our schools, I also wish to acknowledge and thank Stephanie Maher for her seven years of service to LEQ supporting the work of Identity and Formation.
As we head through advent, awaiting the birth of our Saviour, I ask forgiveness for those times I did not meet expectations, did not listen closely enough or caused hurt or harm. May each of us receive the grace of our Lord and Saviour, the rest and repair that will restore our souls and the energy to start anew in 2023.
“This is how the love of God is revealed to us: God has sent his only Son into the world so that we can live through him.” — 1 John 4:9
Have a blessed Christmas and refreshing New Year.
Tanya
