Reflections of a retiree

Over my 37 years of teaching at Pymble Ladies’ College, I have worked for four principals; Miss Jeanette Buckham, Mrs Gillian Moore, Mrs Vicki Waters and Dr Kate Hadwen. What an incredible journey that has been and I am blessed to have been given so many amazing opportunities and experiences, both professional and personal, by these significant women.

I have led 14 overseas Music Performance Tours to Europe, Scandinavia, UK, USA, Japan and China, performing with the girls in significant venues around the world, worked with world acclaimed musicians, artists and performers, directed and produced countless musical productions, shows and concerts but most importantly facilitated hundreds of students to explore, experience and develop their own musical journey.

I started as a Kindergarten to Year 11 classroom music teacher in 1990, then shifted focus to the Junior School for a while until Miss Buckham finally agreed to introduce music as an elective subject into Year 9, inviting me back to the College to teach it. I returned again in 1973 at Rosalie Ramsay’s request to bring singing to life in the Junior School, accepted the position of Director of Music K-12 offered to me by Gillian Moore in 1999, and last but not least created the role of Director of Co-curricular Performing Arts. Over all these years, I have witnessed extraordinary growth and development, progressive and adventurous change and had the rewarding pleasure of teaching hundreds of girls over several generations.

The privilege and responsibility of having such an influence and impact on the lives of so many, introducing them to music and its boundless pleasures, or witnessing a young student find her singing voice for the first time, eyes wide with wonder as she experiences that joy of lifting her voice either solo or joined with many others in a choir is truly humbling and very rewarding. Music particularly, but all the arts have been guiding passion and it is this that I have always tried to transfer to the girls.

So what has kept me at Pymble?

The physical beauty of our Campus, the beautiful gardens and grounds and the stature of the architecture have been my “haven in the trees” (Luke Byrne Aurora 2016) for so many years, and the history, foundations and spirit of the College have sustained me.

But a haven needs people and they are the lifeblood of such a place. The staff, so professional, collegial but also many over the years who have become true and steadfast friends, the students, the parents and the whole Pymble community are what truly makes Pymble such a special place and one in which I have thrived.

The culture, the pursuit of doing your best, knowing that in the end you have given it your very best shot – even if you haven’t ‘won’ – that you can learn from your mistakes, re-evaluate, take on feedback and have another go, and the defining core values that underpin all that we do, allow the freedom and courage to dream big, act big and achieve big.

This past month or so has been so re-affirming but also very humbling from the mountains of emails, cards and good wishes I have received from current and past students and parents. For those who have done so, my heartfelt thanks for your good wishes and kind and generous words. I am truly grateful. Maybe I have made a difference and left a legacy that has served the girls and the College well. I hope so. In the words of Pericles “What you leave behind is not what is engraved on stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others”.

So now that I have turned the page and am about to embark on a new chapter in my life – one which contains more time with my family and grandchildren, expanding my marriage celebrancy work, more time for concert and theatre going, golf, gardening, travelling and doing all those things I’ve never had time for – I look to the future with excitement and anticipation of what lies ahead, but also look back with gratitude and humble thanks for all Pymble has given me in my life.

Written by Mrs Sabina Turner (Scales, 1975)