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Welcome to the BKTC Graduates & Friends Website. Please click on the links below to find out more about the BKTC.
BKTC Upcoming Event
Jean Ferguson OAM Memorial Lecture - click here for invitation
Date: Tuesday, 29 July 2008
Venue: Owen J Wordsworth Room S Block Level 12 GP (map)
Time: 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Cost: $30 members, $40 non-members
RSVP: by Tuesday, 22 July please use RSVP form
BKTC Graduates & Friends - a Chapter of QUT Alumni
The BKTC Newsletter brings into contact, graduates and friends of BKTC who have joined the Association because they continue to value teaching approaches that were actively promoted within BKTC from 1911-1981. The Chapter aims to highlight the ways in which BKTC graduates have contributed to the health, education and well-being of so many Queensland families.
Extracts from 2008 Chapter Newsletter Issue 1
Read below news items from the current newsletter. For the complete stories, please read the current newsletter.
EVENTS FOR YOUR DIARY IN 2008
Saturday 25 October: Graduates & Friends Social Get Together, C&K Building Newmarket. Convenor Chris Denning.
Saturday 8 November: QUT Golden Graduates Morning Tea, Brisbane Convention Centre
BKTC G&F EXECUTIVE MATTERS
The AGM was conducted successfully using electronic means to ensure everyone could participate wherever their residence. Incoming committee members are:
President Judy Eveans (Pfeffer)
Vice-President Gail Halliwell
Secretary Cathy O’Connor
Treasurer Margaret Moss
Committee members: Jennette Lavis, Bill Deans, Edna Irwin, Chris Denning, Robyn Davey
QUT Alumni Trustee representative: Julie Mannion participates in all meetings.
A word from our incoming President - by Judy Eveans
Upon joining the BKTC Alumni in 2005, I enjoyed meeting 'old' friends and acquaintances, talking about the 'good old days' at BKTC and the early days of teaching. As we organised our 30 year Reunion of 1976 Graduates, as well as reminiscing, we were excited about the changes happening within the field that so many of us are still so passionately involved with. In particular we were happy that 'Learning through play' has been highlighted recently with the introduction of the Prep Year in Qld and the focus on young children and their care in the recent Federal Election.
With this increased public interest in the quality of early childhood services, and in order to build a strong membership base for a celebration of one hundred years since the BKTC first enrolled students, we are developing a promotional flier. Look for it at the Jean Ferguson Memorial Lecture in July. I am enjoying being part of this active Alumni Chapter and urge all to join us in our ongoing activities and preparations for celebration in 2011 of the BKTC, the second oldest predecessor institution in which QUT has its roots.
And - thanks to Bill our outgoing President - by Cathy O’Connor
Going back at least eight years or more, Bill Deans has made many long treks from Goondiwindi to Brisbane to give his time to BKTC G & F. Even before this he supported the Graduate’s afternoon tea and often visited with senior colleagues in his own time.
Bill’s leadership as our President has seen our group grow and has promoted a range of achievements: some very modest and some more important. In that we have a BKTC G&F at all is a feat in itself. Bill gave us the order that we needed to proceed to become an organisation that had a clear purpose and that strives to meet the needs of its members. Without him we would not have had our Inaugural AGM in 2002.
It was a tenuous time when we joined with QUT Alumni to become a chapter but Bill guided us through. We now have a home within QUT Alumni where we are understood and supported. Many of our members enjoy participating in the functions and opportunities that are provided by QUT. Bill ensured that we are valued contributors and commentators in our own right. Always working on our behalf Bill put in the groundwork that allows us to continue to day. He was the first president of our group and a very effective one. He continues to be a part of our executive committee. Thank you Bill for your care, generosity and guidance.
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PAST EVENTS IN 2007
The SIXTH annual Jean Ferguson OAM Memorial Lecture - July
Annual Graduates & Friends Get Together - October
QUT Golden Graduates Morning Tea - November
The SIXTH annual Jean Ferguson OAM Memorial Lecture
“Early Childhood Education and Care in Australia: challenges, directions & opportunities in light of the OECD Review 2006 Starting Strong” was presented by Professor Collette Tayler
This event was held on the 31 July 2007 at QUT. Organisers, Jennette Lavis and Rosalie Raciti, report that there were approximately 70 in the audience and they were particularly pleased to note that the Commission for Children and Young People was strongly represented. Pictured here with
Professor Ann Farrell, Head, School of Early Childhood QUT are Commissioner, Elizabeth Fraser, Deputy Commissioner, Barry Salmon, and another member of staff. |
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Professor Wendy Patton, Dean of Education QUT introduced our guest speaker Professor Collette Tayler who raised issues in providing quality early care and education that will result in young Australians ‘starting strong’ on their journey towards adulthood. Aboriginal Elder Auntie Valda Coolwell, opened proceedings with a welcome to country. Audrey Wise, BKTC graduate of 1956, offered the following tribute to the person that this lecture series commemorates. |
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I have many good memories of Jean Ferguson. My main contacts with her were in 1955 as a second year student at Lady Gowrie Child Centre and as a full time lecturer at the BKTC mid 1962 to mid 1964, fifty plus plus years ago! So forgive me if my memories are somewhat cloudy.
I remember Jean welcoming all the students in her Director’s office at Gowrie, showing us around and giving us an overview of the Centre. In those days we all expected authority and we didn’t question, but Jean “ Miss Ferguson” as she was to all students and young teachers, put us at ease and was always approachable.
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Annual Graduates & Friends Get Together
Saturday 27 October, 2-4 p.m. at the C&K Building, 14 Edmondstone St, Newmarket. In the tradition of earlier Graduates’ October get-togethers, we all brought a small plate of food for afternoon tea. 1973 graduates Judy Forster and Fran Fitch came along sporting Tshirts they had printed with a BKTC logo familiar to grads of the 1970s.
Every year around two
on October’s last Saturday,
The girls - old and new
gather to chat and chew
The afternoon away. |
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There's Edna and Jennette
chatting with Cathy, I bet
"Have you seen....or heard..
Or what about... and how absurd
And so the afternoon unfolds
With memories past and present told. |
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Until the clock chimes 4
Time to clear away and
Out the door.
Bye for now and
See you when
October comes around again.
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QUT Golden Graduates Morning Tea
Every year BKTC graduates make their presence felt at this gathering held in November.
Frances Clark, pictured below, was a BKTC graduate who, in 2007, qualified for ‘golden grad’ status. She brought along her graduation ball photo.
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Graduation Ball 1957
Back row: Merle Jenkins (Hammond), Frances Denmead (Clark), Shirley Lomass, Merle Hastings (Reinhold) Middle row: Moirin Ryan (Forrest), Glendon Morrissey (Bender), Barbara Freeman, Alla Samoiloff (Malikoff)
In the front: Margaret Payne (Heidrich), Gloria (Cathy) Cougan |
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HONOURING BKTC GRADUATES
Althea Pearson [nee Quinn] graduate of ’46 By Althea Pearson
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As our stories from graduates of the 1940s are beginning to show, government interest in bringing kindergarten philosophies and practices into school systems waxed and waned, but BKTC graduates became ambassadors for good practices with young children in the many rural centres where they resided and raised their own children. Three current members of the BKTC G&F are 1940s graduates. Ruth Lightbody featured in the last Newsletter and this time we feature Althea Pearson. Althea prepared this story from the transcript of our interview. I hope that you enjoy reading it. Please click here to read story (scroll down to bottom of the page). |
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