| Summary |
From beyond the black stump to the Australian Alps; in schools on stations, missions, mines and over the air, it takes a special kind of person to be an outback teacher. Back then, not only did we have to teach the three Rs but also sewing, arts and craft, music, physical education, you name it. Plus there were the duties of gardener, cleaner, nurse, registrar, office administrator, free milk dispenser, librarian and, on occasions, school bus driver. Oh, and in one school I was even responsible for 'mother craft'. And being male and just 19, as I was at the time, you might imagine my surprise when a young girl asked me, 'Sir, what's the best milk for babies?' |
