By Catherine Sanchez, Publications Officer
Reception was housed in Block D (now Building 9 and home to The Factory and BAASC). This was where the Headmaster’s secretary, the Bursar, staff and the Property Manager worked, all sharing a single room, while several demountable classrooms provided additional space. Beyond the buildings were a dam, rows of blackberry bushes and some rather mischievous wildlife that kept staff and students on their toes.
The dam was home to some cute, fluffy ducks “until the eels began dragging them underwater for their dinner, much to the delight of the students”, according to Mrs Turnbull. “Goose droppings meant students had to remove their shoes before entering the classroom, only for the neighbourhood dog to wander onto the grounds and steal them. Recess and lunchtime consequently became an entertaining game of ‘hunt the shoe’! Then there were the cows grazing on the oval with Mr Philip Bryson, the College’s founding Headmaster, chasing them away with a very large rake as the students cheered him on”, she said with a laugh.
It was certainly an unconventional beginning, but one Mrs Turnbull remembers fondly. Families had placed their faith in a newly established school in what was then a largely rural area, and staff and parents/carers worked together with a shared vision. In fact, at one working bee, 180 families turned up, demonstrating the extraordinary commitment behind the fledgling College.
From those early days, Mrs Turnbull remembers feeling warmly welcomed by colleagues and families alike. “There was a strong sense of everyone having a part to play,” she recalls, “and that shared purpose remains one of the things I value most about my time here”.
Much has changed since then. The student population has grown to more than 2050 students, the Primary School has been established, and the demountables and the dam have given way to new buildings and facilities, with newly opened Bryson Building honouring the legacy of our founding Headmaster. Yet, despite the considerable growth, Mrs Turnbull continues to see the same willingness among colleagues to lend a hand and work together for the good of students. It is a spirit she has experienced throughout her career, even as the College has grown into a much larger organisation.
Beginning as a Receptionist, with responsibility for a “modest sick bay consisting of one fold-up bed behind a screen, a packet of Panadol and a box of Band-Aids”, Mrs Turnbull has gone on to serve in a notable variety of administrative roles. She has supported the Headmaster, the Deans of Middle and Senior School, the Director of Studies, Director of Pastoral Care and Director of Student Learning, as well as teams across Curriculum and Diverse Learning.
A conversation at a professional event once gave this dedicated staff member a particularly memorable description of her work. When asked about her role, she modestly replied, “Oh…just an Admin Assistant”. The response was immediate: “Aaaah…Administration, the very backbone of every organisation”. She has since embraced that sentiment as an apt depiction of the contribution made by support staff, stating that “we are pretty amazing”!
For Mrs Turnbull, that contribution is grounded in relationships and a genuine desire to serve. She enjoys coming to work each day, values the support of her colleagues and appreciates being part of a Christian environment where people share a common goal.
Some of her most significant memories reflect the care that extends well beyond everyday responsibilities. She recalls the extraordinary response from staff, families, local churches and the wider community following the tragic deaths of two students on a Duke of Edinburgh Camp in 2001. Counsellors and church youth leaders were on hand to support those returning from camp, while families brought food for those staying late. The letters of support that followed were a powerful reminder of the compassion that can emerge when people come together in difficult times.
There have been joyful moments too! At a Year 10 social, a student gave a classical piano performance that Mrs Turnbull feared might struggle to hold the audience’s attention. Instead, every student rose to their feet in a standing ovation. She remembers thinking, “this is what we are about…we are there for each other to support and encourage each other”. It was a moment that captured the spirit of encouragement she has seen throughout her time at the College.
Book Week has also provided some unforgettable entertainment, especially while reading Trev’s Really Big Tinny to a Primary class one year. The story, which centres on Mother Nature and a big flood, soon prompted the children to draw parallels with Noah’s Ark. When one child asked who Mother Nature was, another confidently replied, “She’s Jesus’ wife!”. “It was an unexpected moment of childhood theology that has stayed with me since,” Mrs Turnbull said.
Perhaps one of the greatest rewards has been encountering former students years after they leave the College and hearing them speak fondly of their teachers and school days. Even those who struggled to settle at school have shown gratitude for the people who cared for them. “Seeing those young people develop into fine young adults has been one of the great rewards of my time at the College,” she said.
Mrs Turnbull is equally grateful for those who have encouraged her along the way, including Mrs Yvonne Crowe, Mr Bryson’s former secretary. “She is a wonderful Christian woman who mentored and guided me, recognised my potential and believed in me,” she quietly stated. Their relationship has endured over the years, a testament to the lasting impact one person’s encouragement can have.
After 35 years, Mrs Turnbull has seen the campus grow and change in ways few could have imagined in those early days, yet the spirit of support, shared purpose and care for others has remained constant. From missing shoes and cows on the oval to the many moments of extraordinary kindness and encouragement, her memories capture the character of William Clarke College and the values that continue to shape it today. Across a remarkable variety of roles, she has played her part in that story, supporting generations of staff, students and families and building relationships that have made her years at the College so rewarding.
