Josie Long’s affiliation with Emmanuel College spans decades, since a young Josie first stepped onto the grounds at St Ann’s College as a Prep student in 1968. As a self-confessed uncooperative student, Ms Long’s choice to become a school teacher was initially an unconventional one, but allowed her to share her skills in the kitchen and her compassion with students from many corners of the globe.
“I didn’t really enjoy school. It’s a surprise that I become a teacher, but I think in some ways I think that’s helped me become a good teacher. I think I understand the kids that don’t want to sit still, or don’t want to learn by traditional methods.”
Ms Long’s time as a student at St Ann’s College made her privy to a number of significant changes in the school’s history, including the closure of the St Ann’s Primary School, the growth in lay teaching staff, the use of the satellite campus at Woodford, and the end of student boarding options.
“When I was in Grade 5, the Primary School closed and so I had to go to St Joseph’s Primary for Grade 6. It was scary because we were in our own little cocoon there (at St Ann’s).” Ms Long recalls.
“It was a very old-fashioned school when I was at Primary School. And I was a pretty naughty young student. I often had to have my desk on the platform facing the blackboard. I probably grew up a lot between then and Form 3 (Year 9). Poor Del Clapp made me grow up a lot. It felt like strictness at the start, but it was more about seeing people’s potential, I think. She probably noticed that there was more to me than a naughty girl.” Ms Long admits.
Another influence during Ms Long’s Year 9 was the study of Home Economics, which was only available to students in years 9 and 10. The skills being taught came easily to her compared with the other subjects, giving her confidence at school. “I did like Home Economics. We had Jan Bray. I think I probably liked it because I cooked a lot at home and made family meals,” she explains.
Coming from a large family that placed a strong value on education, Ms Long turned down a job as a chef at the hospital to pursue some further study. “I did a Bachelor of Education in Home Economics and Health. My other method was Science. So I thought at the time that I might go into research or something like that,” she says.
I didn’t really enjoy school. It’s a surprise that I become a teacher, but I think in some ways I think that’s helped me become a good teacher. I think I understand the kids that don’t want to sit still, or don’t want to learn by traditional methods.
Ms Long very much enjoyed her time in Melbourne at university, and so felt drawn to explore further afield, opting to find work away from her hometown. Initially teaching at Numurkah High School, then quickly followed by St Francis Xavier College in Beaconsfield. However, a desire to share her skills and see more of the world, led her and her husband, Grant, to a posting in Vanuatu with the Australian Volunteers.
Ms Long reflects that while it took some getting used to, “it was wonderfully different.”
She describes that the students were very attentive, “There wasn’t any behavioural issues as not every kid gets to attend secondary school because it was all based on testing.”
Outside of the classroom, Ms Long valued learning how to make an underground oven, but mostly enjoyed learning about the cultural differences. She highlights, “They would all get together and cook. A lot of their socialising was cooking the dinner, but they didn’t socialise to eat the dinner. When we had big celebrations for the traditional days, we spent all day together, or two days together preparing, and then they’d gather up their meal and go hide in the corner or take it home to eat it. The whole sharing and experience was in the preparation and in the getting ready.”
When Ms Long and her young family returned to Australia, she was quickly approached by Mr Daryl Mahoney to join us here at Emmanuel. She reflects, “I love working with kids, and I think I really loved that I could teach food studies. Food studies classes don’t generally include a big project, so I loved that in each class the kids could have success. Particularly kids that may not have had success in other classes. It really allows them to shine.”
Ms Long is also proud of the link she helped establish between Emmanuel College and the Ruben Centre in Kenya. The Ruben Centre, established by her brother, and Christian Brother, Frank O’Shea, operates programs providing health, education and social development services for the people of the Mukuru slum. The relationship provides students with a real-life insight into poverty and social justice issues, and is often the focus of student fundraising efforts.
“I think it’s been really important for the kids to appreciate how other people live. They really lead such a privileged life, and it teaches them what hardships someone else their age is enduring. I wouldn’t have appreciated it when I was 14 or 15.” Ms Long comments.
“When I had leave in 2014, I spent about 10 weeks volunteering (at Ruben). They were setting up a community kitchen. So I helped set it up. The idea was that people in the slums could come in and use the kitchen and make something that they could go and sell and get some money. We tried to get some classes happening, but only the girls wanted to come. I’ve got some pictures where they’ve got this plastic bowl and there’s eight students making this mixture, whereas in every class our kids at Emmanuel get to make a whole batch for themselves. They’ve also got all their own utensils and equipment to use each. We’re very lucky.”
After 20 plus years as a teacher at Emmanuel, Ms Josie Long retired at the conclusion of 2021, and in her usual style looks to the future with an open mind and an open heart. We wish you all the best.
