When the school bell rings to end term one, it will also bring Lesley Mathison’s 46-year teaching career at Winchelsea Primary School to an end.
After joining the school fresh out of her studies in 1976, Ms Mathison has taught hundreds of pupils throughout her time in Winchelsea.
“This is the one and only school I’ve been at,” she said.
“I was born and bred in Melbourne and went to Toorak Teachers College [but] I just wanted to try the country lifestyle.
“I loved the beach so I applied for the Geelong region, which was all the way from the Geelong to Warrnambool and I ended up with Winchelsea.
“So I came here as a very naïve 20-year-old … and I got involved in the community, mainly with sport, and met my husband, so there were plenty of reasons to stay.”
When she first joined the school, it was a higher elementary school that catered to students up to year 10, but became the Winchelsea Primary School in the 1980s.
“It’s a great little school and a great little community,” Ms Mathison said.
“I’ve loved my time here – I counted it the other day and there had been 10 different principals in that time.
“I’ve taught every grade at some point and five years ago I decided to ease myself out of it and go part-time, and since then I’ve been the Indonesian teacher.
“I just love it. I love teaching. I love the kids.
“But I decided, you know, it’s time to pull the pin and maybe do some other things – play a bit more of golf, I just having golf lessons.
“I’m also looking forward to playing more tennis … and a bit of travel now that we’re allowed to after the last couple of years.”
She said the biggest change she had seen in her time was a greater focus on data in teaching.
“Nowadays there’s a lot more data collected and the curriculum is a lot more crowded,” she said.
“Especially with the younger grades, like the preps, that can be a bit tough because that doesn’t leave much time for all the fun stuff and the extra-curricular activities.
“But the students haven’t changed much during that time, they still surprise me with how clever they are and what things they already know about now.
“It’s been a fantastic time and I’ll miss seeing the students and the staff every day I’m here … but if the last couple of years have taught us anything, it’s that you have to enjoy life while you can.”
