Kind teacher Billie remembered
Phyllis Gunning was born and grew up in Shannon as the fourth of eight children. Her father wanted a boy and planned to call him William, so even before she was born in July 1922, she was affectionately known as Billie, and Billie she remained all her life. She attended Shannon Primary School and Palmerston North Girls’ High. Then she went to the Morrinsville home of great family friends Uncle Sid and Aunty Edie Bishop, who had asked if they could “borrow” one of the Gunning daughters to keep them company and help out on the farm. After a happy year away attending Morrinsville High, Billie returned home to complete her schooling at the new Horowhenua College in Levin.
In 1942 Billie entered Wellington Teachers’ Training College, taking extra courses at Victoria University to complement her teaching qualification. At teachers’ college she met lifelong friends Anne Staples (nee Denton), Margaret Atkins, and Jean Ransom, among others. After graduating from teachers college, Billie worked at Russell Street School in Palmerston North, then taught at O¯ taki School for many¯ years. She must have taught half of Otaki to read and write.
Billie met her first husband, Nook Gordon, when he returned to O¯ taki after the World War II. They married in February 1947, and in March 1949 they had their first child, Kerry, then Michael in December 1950, and Jennifer in January 1953.
The post-war baby boom meant the headmaster of O¯ taki School begged her to return to teaching when Jennifer was aged only 4. It was a big no-no for children under 5 to come to school, but the teacher shortage was so dire that he told Billie: “If you don’t mention it, we won’t.”
At one stage, there were more than 90 children in her new entrant class — unbelievable by today’s standards.
Billie loved all of the children she taught, and they loved her. Years later, people would rush up to her in the street and throw their arms around her, hug her and say: “Mrs Gordon, do you remember me? You were my first teacher.”
About 1968 she applied to teach at the new Waitohu School. Arthur
Manz was headmaster. What a wonderful man he was, both as a headmaster and as a friend. When Billie finally mentioned retiring, she had many parents begging her to stay on so their younger children could also have her as their first teacher. Often, the Gordon children would come home to find Billie helping immigrant families with writing letters to government departments, at no charge of course. Nook would help anyone who needed it by repairing homes and glasshouses.
At school, too, immigrant parents would seek Billie out if they had any problems they wished to discuss. They knew they would find a kind and sympathetic ear, someone who took them seriously, treated them with respect, and made every effort to understand their halting English. Many firm family friendships developed as a result. With Nook, and later with her second husband, Bob Tennant, Billie was a member of the Wellington Caravan Club, and enjoyed attending caravan rallies. Billie and Bob (both widowed) married in 1984 and enjoyed a loving marriage of nearly 37 years. Many late nights and early mornings were spent ballroom dancing followed by supper and sing-alongs with Bob playing the electric organ.
Billie enjoyed her retirement travelling around New Zealand, and overseas to Japan with Mike, and to Singapore and Thailand with Bob. Billie and Bob were foundation members of the Levin Probus Club. She was passionate about learning and took every opportunity to learn something new. Soon after their marriage, Billie and Bob moved to Levin, and about 15 years ago to a villa at Summerset Village in Levin.
Family and friendship mattered most of all to Billie. She and Bob enjoyed spending time and keeping in touch with their combined family of six children, 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren (another on the way).
Billie always said she didn’t want to live to 100. But she cut it pretty close, being only three months off 99 when she died on April 8, 2021. The family feel very lucky to have had her for so long — clear thinking and full of love and humour until the end.
Billie always said she didn’t want to live to 100. But she cut it pretty close . . .