Jessie was asked by the University to speak about scholarships at the Uni Open Day a couple of weeks ago. The following publication also came out for Open Day:
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/pr/publications/pdfs/ug_schol.pdf
Her article/photo is on page 8 of the publication. It can take a while to load the file, so be patient.
This week she finally got around to seeing someone about her permanent doctor's certificate, so now has a few concessions with regard to exams and extensions if needed, which is a relief. The woman she saw was very understanding of her plight.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Rain
This afternoon the most amazing thing happened - it rained! We haven't seen rain for such a long time and in just one shower we had 8mm!!!! That's more than we've had for the pst few weeks in total.
Why the excitement you may well ask?
This morning I was watering the garden, and even when the light misty rain started just before lunch it didn't look promising.
As usual, our gutters and roof can't take the water, so we had our usual flood on the patio. It doesn't take much. Rick was up on the ladder in the rain, but by the time he'd cleaned the gutters the rain had stopped and our furniture was all but floating away.
Rainfall records have been kept officially in South Australia since 1839 apparently - and this is the driest winter on record.
Barry Jones said on The Einstein factor tonight that water would be Australia's greatest problem in the next 50 years or so - after terrorism - I fear he may be right.
All those who think Australia can play host to unlimited immigrants need to remember that we live on the driest continent - after Antarctica! Over two thirds of our country is desert, devoid of water - it's a very precious resource.
Why the excitement you may well ask?
This morning I was watering the garden, and even when the light misty rain started just before lunch it didn't look promising.
As usual, our gutters and roof can't take the water, so we had our usual flood on the patio. It doesn't take much. Rick was up on the ladder in the rain, but by the time he'd cleaned the gutters the rain had stopped and our furniture was all but floating away.
Rainfall records have been kept officially in South Australia since 1839 apparently - and this is the driest winter on record.
Barry Jones said on The Einstein factor tonight that water would be Australia's greatest problem in the next 50 years or so - after terrorism - I fear he may be right.
All those who think Australia can play host to unlimited immigrants need to remember that we live on the driest continent - after Antarctica! Over two thirds of our country is desert, devoid of water - it's a very precious resource.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Art Teaching
Teaching Art is an exciting challenge for me. This painting was completed as part of the World's Largest Dot Painting - hopefully we will see the painting added to a collection which is to tour the State later in the year.
The theme for the painting was to be Respect yourself, Respect your Culture - the following explanation accompanied the painting.
Our school of 21 Reception - Year 6 students is situated on the shores of the beautiful Coorong in the South East of South Australia.
Inspiration for our dot painting came from our environment and we acknowledge the Narrindjeri as the traditional owners of the land.
In the background is the land bordering the Coorong and the Southern Ocean. Walking towards the water are our children, admiring, respecting and sharing the natural environment - kangaroos, wombats, emus, pelicans (our school emblem), starfish and turtles.
The circles represent the circle of life, our souls and the souls of our ancestors.
We hope that tourists continue to come to our region and that they too will treasure and respect the land as much as we locals do.
Our aboriginal ancestors, the Narrindjeri, respected the land and we hope to continue that tradition so that our children and our grandchildren will respect us for those decisions.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
National Tree Day 2006
Apparently looking over the top of my glasses is my trademark! Not a good look I must admit. But I was really pleased the students enjoyed themselves so much.
I try to organise the school's involvement in the event each year to coincide with National Tree Day. To date we (Tree Planters and community members) have planted in excess of 8 000 trees around the town over the past 7-8 years. Now retired from the Council, a chap propagates
the seedlings from seed in his backyard for townspeople and public areas.
National Tree Day 2006
National Tree Day class photo - we planted almost 300 trees in a windswept coastal area - very exposed, but the trees behind are about 7 years old and faring well, despite the rough weather.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Craft 'n Wood
Unfortunately I have not been able to download a copy of my Craft business brochure that I've just updated. Not sure why it won't work on here - maybe there are too many graphics.
Anyway, the gist of my (very small) home based business is that I supply classes and retail craft items in a variety of crafts - jewellery, card making, embossing, scrapbooking, candles, parchment craft, stencilling, soapmaking, raffia hats, folk art, decoupage, stamp art - mostly self taught, so there's nothing revolutionary about my work.
With the advent of litigation and high public liability premiums, craft fairs and specialty craft shops (where I previously placed items on consignment) have almost become a thing of the past, so I rely on word of mouth and local custom in between my other commitments.
Whereas once I used to spend the winter months preparing for craft fairs I have now reduced that to making things for friends, gifts and by order.
Holiday classes for children and classes for adults by appoinment work in around other things, too.
Anyway, the gist of my (very small) home based business is that I supply classes and retail craft items in a variety of crafts - jewellery, card making, embossing, scrapbooking, candles, parchment craft, stencilling, soapmaking, raffia hats, folk art, decoupage, stamp art - mostly self taught, so there's nothing revolutionary about my work.
With the advent of litigation and high public liability premiums, craft fairs and specialty craft shops (where I previously placed items on consignment) have almost become a thing of the past, so I rely on word of mouth and local custom in between my other commitments.
Whereas once I used to spend the winter months preparing for craft fairs I have now reduced that to making things for friends, gifts and by order.
Holiday classes for children and classes for adults by appoinment work in around other things, too.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Poppa on the web!
The largest tomato - read all about it at
http://www.abc.net.au/riverland/stories
The photo says it all.
You could also try ABC radio Adelaide in the gardening section, then type in
tomato record +max scholz
if you have trouble locating the story!
http://www.abc.net.au/riverland/stories
The photo says it all.
You could also try ABC radio Adelaide in the gardening section, then type in
tomato record +max scholz
if you have trouble locating the story!
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Gratification
I am now tutoring 3 students outside school hours - they are delightful, responsive and enthusiastic to learn - so at least some people appreciate learning.
All of 0.5mm of rain fell in the last day - we are desperate for rain, as are so many Australia-wide. Gale force winds today will be the end of many crops already struggling for moisture - fortunately most farmers around here are graziers, rather than croppers.
All of 0.5mm of rain fell in the last day - we are desperate for rain, as are so many Australia-wide. Gale force winds today will be the end of many crops already struggling for moisture - fortunately most farmers around here are graziers, rather than croppers.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Job satisfaction
Well, there must be an easier way to earn money or to get job satisfaction than relying on other people's absences for whatever reason (sickness, bereavement, training and development), often at very short notice.
It's a matter of constantly waiting for the phone to ring. Some weeks are better than others - one week it could mean four or five days of work; the next, one or worse none.
Yesterday I heard that four letter word at least five times (some directed at me), then was told that everyone hates me (that's "smart" speak for some people not wanting to follow instructions), a yabbie was thrust in my face, and that's just a start!
This morning, when I went to get organised (for another fun day at the office) I found a yabbie in my handbag! Yes, it was still only just alive, having survived a very long time out of water. There are some very immature, disturbed kids around, with a warped sense of humour.
Five minutes ago, rocks landed on our roof. That's not unusual - several local teachers have been targetted in the last few weeks - and we haven't had any for a while now, so I guess we had it coming.
A couple of years ago we had a bottle smashed on our roof - we must've looked pretty silly (we live on one of the main streets of the town) up there in the clear light of day, vacuuming the tiles so that our rainwater wouldn't get the thousands of shards of glass washing into it.
We've had our car urinated on (Jessie saw the boys, but they both totally deny it and they told another person they'd done it but still they deny it), chocolate milk poured all over our car, petrol siphoned out of it overnight, aerials broken..... The joys of small town living.
Today started off well, but deteriorated rapidly in the afternoon - particularly when a number of students (not even in my class at the time) decided it was time for more extremely rude and loud verbal harrassment (towards me) over the yabbie incidents.
They had had their fun yesterday when I got a huge shock when the first yabbie was thrust in my face, but now they are carrying the joke way beyond being reasonable. Even I saw the funny side of it yesterday to a certain extent.
Mind you, noone knows who the culprits are, the yabbies apparently escaped their tank before crawling down the corridor from a locked area! The great Aussie trait of not "dobbing" on your mates is well and truly alive.
Then there was the 9 year old who climbed over a desk, refused to stop bouncing a ball on the desk while I was talking, who refused to follow instructions, who finally left the room and began banging on the window, who yelled at close range in another student's ear, and so his list of misdemeanors goes on. He was removed once I phoned for help, thankfully for the sake of the rest of the class.
And the other two cohorts who screamed, yes screamed at me when asked to go elsewhere to focus on their behaviour.
There can be no other job where employees face such abuse. It's a pity relieving can be so frustrating and so unfulfilling at times. Fortunately there are many, many good kids who make up for those who make life difficult for themselves and those around them. What must some of their home lives be like? In my position it always means someone else having to chase up the problems because I won't necessarily be back - at least when you have a permanent position you can do that yourself and build up a rapport and a degree of credibility.
I am watching the Department's job advertisements closely at the moment and am keen to secure some kind of contract, so that I have more direction and stability. Relieving means constantly having to "prove" yourself, in order to get that credibility.
But we live in a quite isolated place so job opportunities are few and far between. Other than teaching there are very few jobs in the offing, so I'll have to stick with what I know and ultimately like. A few larrikins won't deter me - well not for long. They do succeed in making you feel totally inadequate very well - at least they're good at something!
And tomorrow is another day and another school.
It's a matter of constantly waiting for the phone to ring. Some weeks are better than others - one week it could mean four or five days of work; the next, one or worse none.
Yesterday I heard that four letter word at least five times (some directed at me), then was told that everyone hates me (that's "smart" speak for some people not wanting to follow instructions), a yabbie was thrust in my face, and that's just a start!
This morning, when I went to get organised (for another fun day at the office) I found a yabbie in my handbag! Yes, it was still only just alive, having survived a very long time out of water. There are some very immature, disturbed kids around, with a warped sense of humour.
Five minutes ago, rocks landed on our roof. That's not unusual - several local teachers have been targetted in the last few weeks - and we haven't had any for a while now, so I guess we had it coming.
A couple of years ago we had a bottle smashed on our roof - we must've looked pretty silly (we live on one of the main streets of the town) up there in the clear light of day, vacuuming the tiles so that our rainwater wouldn't get the thousands of shards of glass washing into it.
We've had our car urinated on (Jessie saw the boys, but they both totally deny it and they told another person they'd done it but still they deny it), chocolate milk poured all over our car, petrol siphoned out of it overnight, aerials broken..... The joys of small town living.
Today started off well, but deteriorated rapidly in the afternoon - particularly when a number of students (not even in my class at the time) decided it was time for more extremely rude and loud verbal harrassment (towards me) over the yabbie incidents.
They had had their fun yesterday when I got a huge shock when the first yabbie was thrust in my face, but now they are carrying the joke way beyond being reasonable. Even I saw the funny side of it yesterday to a certain extent.
Mind you, noone knows who the culprits are, the yabbies apparently escaped their tank before crawling down the corridor from a locked area! The great Aussie trait of not "dobbing" on your mates is well and truly alive.
Then there was the 9 year old who climbed over a desk, refused to stop bouncing a ball on the desk while I was talking, who refused to follow instructions, who finally left the room and began banging on the window, who yelled at close range in another student's ear, and so his list of misdemeanors goes on. He was removed once I phoned for help, thankfully for the sake of the rest of the class.
And the other two cohorts who screamed, yes screamed at me when asked to go elsewhere to focus on their behaviour.
There can be no other job where employees face such abuse. It's a pity relieving can be so frustrating and so unfulfilling at times. Fortunately there are many, many good kids who make up for those who make life difficult for themselves and those around them. What must some of their home lives be like? In my position it always means someone else having to chase up the problems because I won't necessarily be back - at least when you have a permanent position you can do that yourself and build up a rapport and a degree of credibility.
I am watching the Department's job advertisements closely at the moment and am keen to secure some kind of contract, so that I have more direction and stability. Relieving means constantly having to "prove" yourself, in order to get that credibility.
But we live in a quite isolated place so job opportunities are few and far between. Other than teaching there are very few jobs in the offing, so I'll have to stick with what I know and ultimately like. A few larrikins won't deter me - well not for long. They do succeed in making you feel totally inadequate very well - at least they're good at something!
And tomorrow is another day and another school.
Water
Well - it's the first time in the 24 years we've been in Kingston that I have even had to consider watering the garden in winter. Since we basically live on a sand dune - being so close to the coast - the soil does dry out very quickly. But this year has been exceptional. Not since early April have we experienced soaking rain, so there is no sub-soil moisture at all.
Fortunately we have a bore - there's plenty of good quality underground water quite close to the surface here - but that supply is going to be ultimately affected by the lack of rains around the country. South Australia is close to being drought declared - I think it's the driest year in 93 years - along with many other parts of Australia.
The cities' water supplies are all in diabolical trouble - populations are placing unprecedented pressure on water, so there will have to be further water restrictions come into effect in the very near future - no watering between 10am and 6pm and no washing cars etc etc.
Fortunately we have a bore - there's plenty of good quality underground water quite close to the surface here - but that supply is going to be ultimately affected by the lack of rains around the country. South Australia is close to being drought declared - I think it's the driest year in 93 years - along with many other parts of Australia.
The cities' water supplies are all in diabolical trouble - populations are placing unprecedented pressure on water, so there will have to be further water restrictions come into effect in the very near future - no watering between 10am and 6pm and no washing cars etc etc.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Sue's 60th
On Sunday 6th August we atended Sue Millar's 6oth birthday luncheon at the Adelaide Sailing Club - what a place - it sits on the coast, overlooking the sailing and clear blue ocean. It was a perfect (a bit too perfect for this time of year) sunny day to boot.
We wondered who would be there, not realising Sue had invited half of Kangaroo Island! It was more like a KI reunion than a birthday in many ways - a great way to catch up with people, some of whom we hadnt' seen for nigh on thirty years. Now we are talking old!!!
Other than reminiscing we enjoyed fabulous food and conversation. Many of us needed to be re-introduced (same bodies, same faces, but memories of names escaped us momentarily) - once that was over we caught up on the whereabouts and family tales of all we conversed with.
We had left Jessie and Kerran both feeling unwell in the morning. Kerran was injured at footy - again- on Saturday - he subsequently vomitted on the field but played out the game. He returned home early from work that night after dry retching at work! Hopefully there's nothing ruptured internally.
Jessie missed Elyssa's induction at church on Sunday morning because she too was vomitting, but I fear her's is related to the Crohn's, which I hope she'll get on top of sooner rather than later. She was really disappointed at not seeing Elyssa and Jordan.
The trip home was a bit slower than usual - through quite dense fog for a large part of the drive. We even came across a car without its headlights on - we were having trouble finding our way through the fog WITH our lights on!!!!
We wondered who would be there, not realising Sue had invited half of Kangaroo Island! It was more like a KI reunion than a birthday in many ways - a great way to catch up with people, some of whom we hadnt' seen for nigh on thirty years. Now we are talking old!!!
Other than reminiscing we enjoyed fabulous food and conversation. Many of us needed to be re-introduced (same bodies, same faces, but memories of names escaped us momentarily) - once that was over we caught up on the whereabouts and family tales of all we conversed with.
We had left Jessie and Kerran both feeling unwell in the morning. Kerran was injured at footy - again- on Saturday - he subsequently vomitted on the field but played out the game. He returned home early from work that night after dry retching at work! Hopefully there's nothing ruptured internally.
Jessie missed Elyssa's induction at church on Sunday morning because she too was vomitting, but I fear her's is related to the Crohn's, which I hope she'll get on top of sooner rather than later. She was really disappointed at not seeing Elyssa and Jordan.
The trip home was a bit slower than usual - through quite dense fog for a large part of the drive. We even came across a car without its headlights on - we were having trouble finding our way through the fog WITH our lights on!!!!
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
It's Official!!!
Officially June - July (normally our two wettest winter months) 2006 has been the driest for 123 years in Kingston!!! We have had less than half our annual rainfall this year so there will need to be some big falls in the future to make it a reasonable season. This is generally a very reliable rainfall area, but not so this year.
In fact, this is the first winter in the 24 years we have been here that I have been able to hang washing outside - and get it dry during winter. It has always had to be put into the dryer or hung by the fire - until now. How about that? Maybe global warming is catching up with us.
In fact, this is the first winter in the 24 years we have been here that I have been able to hang washing outside - and get it dry during winter. It has always had to be put into the dryer or hung by the fire - until now. How about that? Maybe global warming is catching up with us.
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