Family link with school

The late Edith (Edie) Baldwin walked six kilometres through bush each day to attend Shady Creek Primary School.

She was forced to undertake grade seven studies at the primary school with no bus available to Warragul High School.

Despite these early challenges, Ms Baldwin went on to become a high school teacher, work in curriculum development with the Victorian Education Department and was appointed superintendent of education in Western Australia.

She also travelled to the United States to further her studies and achieved a PHD in Education (Curriculum) in 1985.

Now Ms Baldwin is opening doors for Warragul Regional College students with the John and Mary Baldwin Citizenship and Scholarship Foundation Awards.

In a letter explaining the foundation, Ms Baldwin said it was named for her parents, John and Mary Baldwin.

The family farm was located about 16 kilometres north-east of Warragul and Shady Creek Primary School catered for no more than six pupils at times when she attended.

The community was eventually successful in having the bus re-routed in 1947 for Ms Baldwin to travel 48 kilometres each way to Warragul High School.

“It was a privilege for me as the first of our family to go beyond primary school education,” reads the letter. “I have very fond memories of ‘The School on the Hill’”.

John and Mary Baldwin Citizenship and Scholarship Foundation Awards will see $12,000 awarded to one male and one female student each year on an ongoing basis.

The students must be attending The University of Melbourne, LaTrobe University or Monash University.

High examination scores and contributions to community life within and/or beyond the school are required.