By Mikayla van Loon
Teachers from across the state have been recognised for their dedicated service to the industry over multiple decades, including Lilydale High School teacher Tracey Hope.
Beginning her career 40 years ago in Geelong, Ms Hope moved from school to school but settled at Lilydale where she has worked for 20 years.
Although not always wanting to be a teacher, having thought she would go into nursing originally, Ms Hope said there are similarities between the two career paths.
“Helping people is similar between nursing and teaching. I thought it might be a challenge to go into teaching,” she said.
“I loved the idea of nursing but probably because I didn’t get into the hospital I wanted to go to at the time I think that’s what made me think again and go for teaching.”
Grateful for her ability to help young people find their feet in the world and decipher where they want to go, Ms Hope said that is her favourite part of the job.
“Helping kids grow and get to where they want to be in life and being a part of getting them there, to becoming adults and enjoying what they want to do as adults.
“It’s really nice to see what direction they take and to help them to get there.”
Over the years Ms Hope has taught various subjects, initially graduating with the ability to teach history, legal studies and secretarial studies but has since expanded into business management, geography and English.
As part of her role also, Ms Hope helps Grade 6 students make the transition to high school, something she has been doing for 13 years.
“I just love the idea of going into primary schools, seeing what they’re doing and again, I guess helping kids just make that transition from primary school to high school.
“If there’s a position of responsibility that I can choose, that would be the one I would always choose again, because I’ve really enjoyed that.”
At the other end of the scale, Ms Hope loves teaching her Year 12 students, many of whom she helped transition into Year 7.
“There’s a lot of work in different ways. With the senior kids there’s a lot of academic work and marking, whereas with junior kids there’s more modelling behaviour,as well as educating them.
“So there’s a few differences and they’re each challenging in their own way but I do like the beginning and the ending.”
In a group of 219 teachers and staff recognised for 40 years of service by the Victorian government, Ms Hope said it was unexpected to receive the honour.
“You just don’t expect things like that. You just do your job…So it was quite nice to be recognised.”
At the award ceremony, 104 staff were recognised for 45 years of service, 50 staff for 50 years of service, six staff for 55 years of service and five staff for 60 years of service.
Education minister James Merlino said with 2022 marking 150 years of public education in Victoria, all those recognised should feel proud about their contribution.
“Whether they work in the classroom or in an office supporting schools, everyone receiving recognition for their service to public education in our state has helped deliver a great education to generations of Victorian families,” he said.
While Ms Hope has loved her career as a teacher, she is looking forward to seeing what comes next in the future as she begins to slow down from the four decade long commitment to young people.
