Teaching across generations
Many Horsham students and teachers past and present would no doubt remember learning a thing or two from Anna Robertson.
Mrs Robertson, who worked in various teaching positions at Ss Michael and John’s Primary School, has retired after more than 40 years.
Throughout her long-term career, Mrs Robertson has seen her past year-one and two students grow up and put their own children through the same school.
She has also supported her own children and some of her grandchildren through their time at the school.
Colleagues say her kindness and passion to ensure students are ‘given the best chance’ define her as a teacher.
Mrs Robertson said she had gained a great sense of fulfilment watching her students develop over the years.
“I have always loved being with children and working with them,” she said.
“I love seeing them grow and blossom, especially the children you have to reach out to a little bit more – it’s lovely to see them grow.”
In the 1980s, Mrs Robertson completed a teaching degree at Ballarat Teachers’ College.
When she saw a primary education position open at the Horsham school, she decided it might be the right move for her.
And now, 40 years on, her time at the school is drawing to a close.
“Horsham has been a wonderful place for us to bring up our children. We have made many friends and the parish has been a big part of my life too,” Mrs Robertson said.
“I think I’ve had grandchildren of children I’ve taught come through. It’s been a long journey. I’ve formed great companionships, the staff have always been wonderful and very supportive, and the children are beautiful – most of the time,” she laughed.
Former student Eilish Chesterfield, now 22, fondly remembers her yeartwo experience with Mrs Robertson.
“The most memorable things from that year were Mrs Robertson’s kindness, laugh and her perfume,” she said.
“Fifteen years later and I sometimes smell it on a stranger and find myself transported back to being eight years old in the classroom.”
Ms Chesterfield said Mrs Robertson was an approachable teacher who cared about all of her students.
“Mrs Robertson taught all of her students the value of being patient, caring and kind,” she said.
“She managed the classroom with calm and compassion and rarely raised her voice.
“It was also in Mrs Robertson’s classroom that I learned there might be other ways to start a narrative than just ‘once upon a time’.”
Mrs Robertson stepped down from a full-time teaching role last year but stayed in a part-time position as an intervention teacher until she retired this month.
Principal Andrea Cox said Mrs Robertson’s teaching would be missed.
“The knowledge she has taken with her is irreplaceable,” she said.
“Anna is one of the most compassionate and caring teachers I’ve ever come across. She always tries to do her very best for every child.”
Mrs Cox said in Mrs Robertson’s last year, even while in a part-time position, she continued to provide invaluable support for many children.
“In the past few years working with us, she’s done intervention with students who really do struggle to learn and the impact she has had on their learning, and ultimately their life, is more than you can imagine,” she said.
Mrs Robertson plans to ‘take it easy’ in her retirement and will continue supporting the school where possible.