Last Meeting #39 Thursday 28/03/13

Meryl Shares her Story

Last Thursday morning we ventured out into the “deep dog darkness” (as grandson Billy coined it. Don’t you just love their words?) to our pre – Easter breakfast meeting at Peppas. Hosted by Rotarian Bob Butterfield and wife Carolyn, this was our last breakfast meeting in this year.
Sergeant Bryce kept up the rattling pace to get us through the necessities to allow plenty of time to hear two inspirational guest speakers – our own new members Meryl James and Esther Waters.
Meryl identified herself as a  true Baby Boomer, and opened with a greeting in her beloved French language. (I had forgotten hereuse (?) along with all but “un petit peu de Francais”) Meryl described her peripatetic childhood around Victoria, her teaching studentships (remember these?), her love of languages and teaching and her appointments to several schools, culminating in her arrival in Maryborough in 1981, with her four sons.
Lacking a full time teaching position, Meryl opened a gift shop until a low-key application (complete with floral decoration!) snared an appointment at Highview under principal (and eventual husband) Geoff James.
Some of the French language students certainly had interesting trips to New Caledonia and Paris, (and they say teaching is hard work!). Meryl contributed to the Highview arts scene, collaborating in nine musicals produced there, and became Deputy principal, totalling 20 years of service to the college. More recently her “bowls addiction” and switch from band groupie and roadie to band member will provide plenty of competition for her Rotary involvement, especially with Geoff’s elevation to District Governor Nominee.