Marg Amos celebrates 50 years as a registered teacher

Last week, Margaret Amos, better known through the community as Mrs Amos, celebrated 50 years of teaching.

In 1976, Mrs Amos began her career when she started a position at Curlewis Primary School.

Mrs Amos was drawn to teaching, siting her grandmother and friends, along with her love for working with children, as the inspiration behind her wanting to become a teacher.

“Back in my day, you either went into teaching, nursing, or secretary work,” Mrs Amos said.

“And all you know is what your experience from school has been and I had a good one, and my grandmother was a teacher, and a lot of my friends were going into teaching, so I just led in that way.

“Originally, I was trained as a geography teacher, my degree was geography but my DBE, which we did then, was for primary teaching.

“When I came to Curlewis, they had a band, and that was part of why I got that position, because of my musical level of attainment with piano.

“I worked with the band there and taught K1-2 with 33 children, which was a lot in those days,” Mrs Amos said.

After three successful years at Curlewis, Mrs Amos went on to Barraba Central School, teaching music there for a year before moving back to Gunnedah after her marriage.

From there, Mrs Amos began teaching at Gunnedah Public School, beginning in 1981. Mrs Amos taught music as well as teaching the school’s choir and band for 30 years.

In 1997, Mrs Amos took the Gunnedah Public School Choir to Sydney to participate in that year’s Sydney Eisteddfod.

Gunnedah Public School took home that year’s trophy, a career highlight for Mrs Amos.

“Our choir went to the Sydney Eisteddfod about four times, but that particular year we were the champion choir,” Mrs Amos said.

“When you get down there, I mean, there are choirs of a hundred kids in private school, we only had 24 and we won.

“What I’m finding with the kids who had that experience, they remember and it’s quite lovely, some of the comments that people are coming back and saying.

“They’re the memories that you hang on to, you’ll have forever.”

Along side her work teaching at Gunnedah Public School, Mrs Amos taught for 20 years teaching music to the students at GS Kidd School.

In 2017, Mrs Amos continued to teach all over the Gunnedah district in a casual capacity.

Music has always been a big part of Mrs Amos’ life.

Growing up, her family was very musical, with her mother encouraging her to take piano lessons.

Passing on music was important for Mrs Amos, being able to see children find their way but also have doors open up for them, has been one of the more rewarding parts of the job.

“Music is a creative discipline, but it also gives you skills of movement and organisation … to practise, and perhaps realise that achievement doesn’t happen overnight,” Mrs Amos said.

“You have to work towards a goal, and reward comes from hard work, and you never know where opportunities can take you.

“And that’s been the case with lots of young people who have had that opportunity of performing, they’ve gone on to bigger and brighter things.

“Interestingly there are about three music teachers, who grew up in Gunnedah and went to the schools here, and they’re now music teachers in our district.

“So, they’re in their 30s and 40s … that warms the heart as well.”

In 2001, Mrs Amos joined the Gunnedah Eisteddfod taking on the role as music convenor.

Over her time as music convenor, Mrs Amos has worked hard to continue the Gunnedah District Schools massed choir.

Singing is a big part of Mrs Amos’ life, as she also leads the Gunnedah Conservatorium singalong group.

Through her career, Mrs Amos has taught many kids, leaving an impact that has reached down to a new generation.

“There was a girl who grew up in Gunnedah that I taught and she lives overseas now, and she was a lovely pianist, but she reached out after hearing about my retirement,” Mrs Amos said.

“And that’s what’s surprising, they’re not just saying congratulations on 50 years of teaching, which is lovely, they’re relaying stories … their memories, and now she plays the music that she was taught to her daughter.

“Teachers do make a difference, even when you think you’re just there.

“If you show genuine concern and interest, it can make a difference.”