Fellow teachers Andrea Taylor, Bec Burgan and Mel Rochford at the sendoff at the RSL for Chris Wickes, who retired after 25 years at Cowes Primary School.
Cowes Primary staff members at the sendoff (from left): Bree Rutherford, Shelley Wood and Emma Godena.
After a 45 year teaching career at Cowes Primary School, Chris Wickes (second left) was farewelled at a dinner at the Phillip Island RSL. Chris with (from left) Sarah Tyrell – Cowes Primary deputy principal, Loorain Hope and Cowes Primary principal Rodney McKenzie.
Jan Marrum now retired, returned to farewell her fellow prep teacher Chris Wickes last week. Jan (centre) with Kylie Carlson and Karen Treppo the Phillip island Early Learning Centre co-ordinator.
Former Cowes Primary colleagues returned to farewell Chris. From left Lyn Marshall, Jan Cox, Angela Luke, Sue Brown and Pam Gains.
Chris cuts the farewell cake.
Cowes Primary teachers at last Thursday’s farewell at the end of a 45 year career at the school for their colleague Chris Wickes. Back from left: Diddie Cuthbertson, Sam Chiron, Karen Van Dijk, Kristy Spottiswood and Alison Tomkin. Front from left: Jo Robinson, Judy Gallagher and Alice Hurst.
From left Gerry Schepemaker and Justine McLaren (Phillip Island Early Learning Centre) Robyn Dixon (former Cowes Primary teacher) and Sue Becker (former Cowes Primary principal) at the farewell for Chris Wickes.
An amazing 45 years at the one school, which saw Cowes Primary teacher Chris Wickes teaching multi generations of families, was celebrated at a farewell dinner at the Phillip Island RSL last Thursday night.
Former colleagues and friends turned out to pay tribute to a teacher who was acknowledged as one of their most respected colleagues, and to thank her for the tremendous dedication, commitment and service she has given generations of students at Cowes over the past four decades.
Chris commenced at Cowes Primary School in 1978, which at the time had 167 students across six classes. She taught at all year levels across the ensuing years and watched the school’s enrolment increase to nearly 600 as she prepared for retirement.
Cowes principal Rodney McKenzie, in paying tribute to Chris, said her contribution had left an indelible mark on the school. She served 30 years on the school council, during which the school has undergone a number of significant building projects, most notably the one following the fire in 2004.
“Her unwavering commitment to our school has been an inspiration to all of us, and we are grateful for her tireless efforts to make our school a better place.”
Chris, who is now looking forward to having the time to pursue new and old interests, was presented with a beautiful water colour painting by acclaimed Phillip Island artist Tom Tyrell, and a copy of a recently released book on the early days of Phillip Island.
