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Barb Foster retires after 33 years of early learning with Corangamite Shire
Freya Lucas
Aug 14, 2024
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Early childhood teacher Barb Foster ended her 33 year early learning career with Victoria’s Corangamite Shire at the end of Term 2, being sent on her way with kind words from Manager Community Services Katy Hearn, who described her as “invaluable.”
“There is little doubt Barb has had a profound impact on so many little lives, families and communities and we are deeply grateful for her length of service and incredible commitment,” Ms Hearn said.Mrs Foster trained as a teacher before she got married, and worked for seven years at Saint Brendan’s Coragulac.
After her marriage, and when her children were growing up, she would help at their schools, and was eventually asked to fill in as a casual employee at the kindergarten, which is how her employment with the Shire started.
“I did mobile childcare then I worked at every centre apart from Derrinallum,” she said.
“Eventually Jane Bennett went on maternity leave and they offered me a job at Simpson.”
“I did that for 12 months and that led to getting a job at Timboon. I was there for 20-odd years. Sometimes I did one group, sometimes I did two groups… It varied depending on the number of children enrolled that year.”
Along the way, Mrs Foster formed wonderful friendships with those she worked with, and taught ‘hundreds’ of children from the community, who she “keeps tabs on" as they grow up.
“I’ve had some quite clever children in my care and they’ve gone on to university and done Doctorates of this and that, and Masters of other things,” she said.
“Some of them are big-time cricketers playing for Victoria and one is over in Malaysia playing cricket. Recently there’s been a group of boys that were in the national titles for rowing and I said all that singing of ‘Row, Row, Row Your Boat’ must have helped get them into the rhythm of it.”
While some things - like upgrading Child Safe Standards, the introduction of electronic record keeping, changes in legislation, and the introduction of the National Quality Standards - have changed, the fundamental aspects of early learning, such as acquiring new skills through play, have stayed the same.
“I’ve been fortunate that I've learnt lots,” Mrs Foster said. “I’ve been given opportunities for exciting professional development.”
Her advice for anyone seeking to follow in her footsteps is “you do have to love children.”
“I always wanted to be a teacher and I had nine children of my own in that time,” she explained.
“I’ve always had a love for children and families and getting to know people. I always like to help families wherever necessary. It’s been very gratifying and humbling to have such contacts with lots of different people.”
The Sector wishes Mrs Foster a healthy and happy retirement. Learn more about early learning in the Corangamite Shire here.
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