Teachers, Staff Recognised at Awards Evening

Educators from Catholic schools around the Far North have been recognised for their hard work at a prestigious awards evening.

The Australian College of Educators’ Noreen Wilcox Excellence in Education Awards and Pam Gray Oration were held at Cairns’ Rydges Esplanade in late October.

Among those nominated by their peers were Kate Atwell from St Mary’s Catholic College, in the Beginning Phase category, Lara Kirk from St Francis Xavier’s School and Gabrielle Doolan from Good Counsel College in the Accomplished Phase category and Glenn Carpenter from St Monica’s College in the Non-Classroom Based category. Glenn was a well-deserving co-winner on the night.

Matthew Brennan, Principal of St Augustine’s Cairns, co-presented the Pam Gray Oration titled ‘Education in a COVID Climate: Opportunities and Challenges’.

The oration discussed the unprecedented educational times of 2020 and how various challenges were addressed to ensure students were able to access the curriculum appropriately and continue their education.

Noreen Wilcox is considered an exemplary model of a teacher. The awards, modelled on her work, began in 1993 and celebrate teachers in both classroom and non-classroom settings and at various stages of their careers.

The Pam Gray Oration was established in recognition of her passion for education, life and teachers, and advocacy for literacy for all students.