1939-2022
Roma Greene is remembered as a wonderfully committed past staff member of the College, who supported all with professionalism and efficiency.
Roma was the key administration assistant at CBC from 1984, where she worked alongside Mrs Maureen Kavanagh, Sandy Eccles and Annette Lougheed. Together they were a great team who loved the school, and made significant improvements to the administrative systems in place.
Continuing with the administration team post amalgamation, Roma remained in her role until retirement. Through her effective and organised approach to her work, she was known for achieving a great deal each school day. She was also known for her dry, wicked sense of humour and a no fuss approach. If Roma was busy, you could expect a polite and earnest ‘no’ in response.
Outside of work, she was a staunch supporter of the Essendon Football Club, and would regularly make the bus trip to Melbourne to watch her beloved Bombers. She was also an avid knitter and enjoyed embroidery.
1980 – 2022
On the 30th of May 2022 the Emmanuel College community lost an esteemed colleague, a wonderful teacher and a dear friend.
Michelle Jennifer Joseph (Ansell) grew up in Warrnambool and graduated from Brauer College in 1998. In 1997, while still in high school, Michelle went to Warrnambool’s sister city, Miura, to take part in a student exchange. In 1999, after graduating from high school, Michelle went back to Miura for another exchange and lived with the Arai family with whom she created a lifelong relationship. When she returned to Australia in 2000, Michelle studied Arts, Languages and Teaching at the University of Melbourne, finished her degree and came back to Warrnambool to start her teaching career at Emmanuel. Michelle returned to Miura in 2005 to teach English and, whilst in Japan, she met her future husband, George. Together they travelled and lived overseas for a few years, including Greece and Italy.
Over the years, Michelle taught a range of subjects including Humanities, English and Japanese at Emmanuel College. Her passion for languages led her to take over the Languages Coordinator role which she held until the end of 2021. As a coordinator, Michelle worked tirelessly to develop a strong languages program that has seen numbers grow steadily over the years. She was passionate about curriculum development and was always working hard to promote languages. Michelle was the driving force behind developing strong relationships between sister schools in Japan and France. In particular, Michelle established exchange programs that saw many students take up the opportunity to travel abroad, learn Japanese or French and experience the different cultures.
As a colleague, Michelle was supportive, encouraging and attentive but most of all an inspiration to all. She always offered support and help when needed. She was often around the staffroom having a chat, enquiring about people’s lives, always showing genuine interest. The support she offered was not limited to Emmanuel College; in fact, she was involved in helping develop the Japanese programs and supporting teachers in primary schools within the Diocese of Ballarat. Michelle loved a challenge and this was evident when she offered to fill in to teach year 8 French for a term or take a group of 21 year 10 and 11 students around Montmartre in Paris when an emergency saw the French teacher staying in hospital with one of the students. Nothing was ever too hard for Michelle, especially when it came to helping her colleagues.
As a teacher, Michelle was well loved and her untimely passing deeply shocked many. She was a dedicated teacher and went above and beyond to pass on her passion for languages and especially Japanese. Michelle was able to connect with her students and those who have been lucky enough to have been taught by her hold fond memories of their time in her classes. She was always trying to find ways to make her teaching meaningful and to give the students as many opportunities as she could. As a result, Michelle was often sought out by her students to help them gain scholarships and sponsorships for work and studies and it was never too much effort for her.
Michelle’s passion for learning and thirst for knowledge was evident in her studying a Masters while working full time, continuing while pregnant with her first child and finishing it with a toddler in tow. Not only did she finish it but she did so with High Distinctions. Last year, Michelle started studying for her Graduate Certificate in Catholic Studies through ACU Melbourne and was just about to finish. The university is going to recognise Michelle’s work and intellect by conferring her graduation certificate posthumously. Michelle was coming back to Emmanuel at the beginning of semester 2 in a new role as VCE coordinator, after six months of maternity leave. This was a role about which she was extremely excited and one she was very much looking forward to starting.
Michelle’s greatest achievement however was the family she created with her husband George. In 2020, they welcomed their first child, Noah, and earlier this year, they welcomed their second child, Xavier. We keep them and all her family and friends in our thoughts and prayers as they learn to live without Michelle in their lives. A life taken far too soon, one that was lived with passion and meaning and that will be sorely missed.
