‘A teacher and lifelong friend’
EX-STUDENTS of a beloved Hobart music teacher who tutored many in a 30-plus-year career have told of the “unconditional love” and support shown them by the woman, who died on July 9 aged 54.
Carolyn Cross, who taught at Bellerive Primary School for the past decade and also previously taught at Ulverstone High School and lectured at the University of Tasmania, passed away after a battle with cancer.
Her death led to an outpouring of tributes from the community including her husband, Adrian Loone, and principal Steven Hay. Now, former students of Ms Cross have shared their recollections of what it was like to be one of her flock.
University of New South Wales academic facilitator Dr Holi Birman, who attended Ulverstone from 1998–2001, told the Mercury she was a “shy 13-year-old … uncertain of my place in the world” when Ms Cross began teaching her clarinet.
“We met for my first clarinet lesson in Carolyn’s warm, vibrant shoebox office, where they continued for all my high school years and beyond,” Dr Birman said.
“As a teenager, I loved these oneon-one times with Carolyn.
“She made me feel like I mattered, embraced my mistakes with humour and encouragement, celebrated my achievements, however small, made me laugh uncontrollably and allowed me to cry – all without intervening or needing to fix me.
“The safety and relief I felt in her presence were underpinned by her unconditional love and wholehearted belief in me.
“She had that rare ability to bring out qualities I didn’t know I had, and which have formed the foundation of my adult life: courage, to ‘play loud!’ (to speak up), to remember to breathe (pause), and truly listen.
“Carolyn didn’t just teach music – she embodied it every moment of her life.”
Laura Hall (nee Bailey), who was at Ulverstone from 1997–2000, said Ms Cross “made the music wing our safe space”.
“Occasionally I would ask to stay inside during a cold winter lunch break and she would always say yes, but only if I agreed to pick up a xylophone stick and join in with concert band practice,” Ms Hall said.
“Carolyn expected the best from her students and her enthusiasm and support enabled us to achieve more than we realised we were capable of.
“Once a student of Carolyn’s, always a student.
“After leaving high school I would visit occasionally when I found myself back in my home town. Carolyn always made time for her students and cared about their lives.
“Carolyn was more than a teacher, she was a friend. Her positivity, energy and passion are unmatched.”
Samantha Griffiths, meanwhile, a member of the Latrobe Federal Junior Band in 2007, said Ms Cross was “not just a teacher of music, (she’s) the best I’ve ever had to this day”.
“(You are) the woman who nurtured and guided me, no matter how hard it got in those band rooms and backstage some days.
“Not only guiding me through sheet after sheet of music but … helping me grasp life with a bit more ease also.”
Carolyn Cross’s funeral is at 12.20pm on Tuesday and can be livestreamed here. Email/ event ID is loonea@southcom.com.au, password 5LB9J2.
Having recently tested positive for Covid-19, I was very thankful for being a retiree where a seven-day quarantine presented nothing more than an inconvenience.
Had I been in an employment situation where I had no sick leave, I would have been extremely reluctant to have taken a rapid antigen test, let alone notify the authorities that I had Covid-19.
It is imperative that the government continues to offer financial assistance to people affected by this pandemic.
Failure to do so will only put extra pressure on a health system that is already overwhelmed.
Ed Sianski West Moonah