JOAN Keating says volunteering at Wallington Primary School for the past 10 years has been a labor of love.
\nStudents and staff recently presented Ms Keating with an award of excellence during her 80th birthday celebration at the school, along with a book of homemade cards.
\nUpon accepting the gifts and recognition, Ms Keating was overcome with joy around the celebration.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s a labour of love,\u201d she said.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s an absolute delight to be a part of the school community as a volunteer.\u201d
\nMs Keating has been volunteering with EdConnect Australia for 10 years following a long career in teaching.
\nNow a widow, she said it was part of her life and that she didn\u2019t ever think about not going in.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s a huge help to be a part of something and to interact with children again,\u201d she said.
\nGrade 5-6 teacher Jack Stevens has been on the receiving end of Ms Keating\u2019s service as she supported his class during his first year of teaching.
\nSix years on and she still volunteers in his classroom.
\n\u201cJoan has personally been a great support over the years, she is always enthusiastic and shows a real interest in my professional development in the teaching career,\u201d Mr Stevens said.
\n\u201cJoan has also been a great help with the students as she is a consistent adult who they can rely on.\u201d
\nMs Keating said she loved seeing the students\u2019 progress through school each year, and that she regularly reminisced on the positive growth of students who she had worked with from Pre-primary to Grade 6.
\nA highlight for her this year was being invited to a student\u2019s grade 6 graduation of whom she supported years ago.
\nEdConnect Liaison Officer Sally Edgerton said it was obvious to see the value that Wallington PS placed on Ms Keating\u2019s character and involvement in the school.
\n\u201cIt is also clear to see how much volunteering means to Joan,\u201d she said.
\nEdConnect Australia trains and places volunteers in local schools to support students who need additional support in the school system.
\nFor more information visit EdConnect Australia\u2019s website at edconnectaustralia.org.au.
\nJoan has two words for anyone considering volunteering in schools \u2013 \u201cDo it\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
JOAN Keating says volunteering at Wallington Primary School for the past 10 years has been a labor of love. Students and staff recently presented Ms Keating with an award of excellence during her 80th birthday celebration at the school, along with a book of homemade cards. Upon accepting the gifts and recognition, Ms Keating was […]<\/p>\n