Families come in a number of forms, and we are reminded of this as we farewell Ms Jo Moloney in her retirement from Emmanuel College. As Ms Moloney leaves to explore other projects, (she is most excited about her new role as a grandma!) she will continue to hold her Emmanuel family close to her heart.

Ms Moloney started at Emmanuel in it’s very first year, 1991, as a temporary replacement for Mrs Anne Wines as an Art Teacher. Temporary quickly became permanent, when a role in her study major of woodwork came about, and so the beginning of her career as a teacher.

Given the success and growth of textiles at Emmanuel driven by Ms Moloney, it may be unknown to many that the first decade of her career focused on teaching woodwork. An early passion of hers, it lead her to study a Bachelor of Education – Art & Craft at the University of Melbourne, where she majored in both Wood and Textiles. “In those days it wasn’t very common to have that combination. That was at a time when there was really no women in that area at all.” She highlights.

Like so many things in Ms Moloney’s life, she links her interest in woodwork and textiles to her family and their influence. “I was always handy. I lived on a farm. We used to have to make our own fun, so I would always be building something. Dad was a very handy man, and Mum was very crafty. So I think I was just surrounded by creative and practical people.”

While other staff will recall the challenges surrounding Emmanuel’s early years post amalgamation, Ms Moloney simply recalls it as her ‘first job’ and a place she was always made to feel welcome and supported. She recalls, “I was the youngest on staff for quite some time. The likes of Mary Delaney, Mary McNeil, and Judy McKenzie . . . I had a lot of work-mums. I started in ’91, and in ’92 my Mum died, just really suddenly. So I was surrounded by those lovely connections, and they all looked after me.”

Within the classroom, Ms Moloney remembers some of the strict expectations made of students in the early days of Emmanuel. “When we [the teachers] would walk into a room, the students would stand. You’d say ‘Good Morning’, and they would all repeat ‘Good Morning’, then they’d sit down. Before you left, you would stand, they would stand, and then you would toddle out. And it was all ‘Sir’, ‘Yes, Miss’, ‘Yes Sir’.”

In 2005, following some time away for family, Ms Moloney returned to Emmanuel, this time as a textiles’ teacher.

“When I started there was maybe one senior student doing textiles. There was the one room in J1, and there were possibly 4 or 5 different types of sewing machines, and they were old, so it was very lackluster.”

While the room and the equipment was less than inspiring, Ms Moloney turned her attention to what she could change, and began reviewing what was made in class. Projects were developed to ensure that students were learning the skills they needed, along with creating something they could use and be proud of.

“I’ve tried to make what they’re doing relevant. If you can tailor projects to what is on-trend, you will get them involved. We would never do the same thing, just because.”

Projects over the years ranged from grocery bags, to Gorman inspired rain jackets, to evening gowns, to simply rehashing classic designs with the latest fabrics. However, Ms Moloney identifies her favourite of all the projects as the quilts made by the Year 8s.

“They’re a real keepsake that I’ve been proud of. We’ve had students give them to their grandma for Christmas, or their Aunty who has had a baby. They make them really personalised and special.”

The idea for the quilts came about following Ms Moloney’s personal experience of having a child in hospital at the Royal Children’s. The gift of a similar-styled quilt at the time, comforted the family on a number of levels. “That whole concept, I wanted to then pass on to the kids. A memory quilt, we called it. The passion and the love that went into it, is really evident. The Year 8s have been doing it ever since.”

Another interesting project within the textiles program, that was started by Mrs Mem Taberner, but has been enthusiastically continued by both Ms Moloney and Mrs Linda Azzopardi was the value of recycling and repurposing garments.

Even prior to the days of vintage fashion, students were taken op-shopping and set the challenge of developing their purchases into a new garment. “When I would say to Year 9s, we’re going op-shopping, a lot of them would be like ‘Ew’. They didn’t want to touch the stuff in the shops, so it took a lot of convincing.” Ms Moloney explains.

Students were then encouraged to model their creations at the Recycled Fashion Parade and the work would speak for itself. “They would get so much great feedback from all of their peers. It also made them realise that they could alter this, or make that bigger, or change whatever. It all became achievable.”

Student numbers within our textiles program have significantly grown over the years, and with Ms Moloney’s influence the space to accommodate the students grew with it. She recalls Mrs Sue Sherwood, who at one time was the Timetabler and struggling to fit all the textiles classes in on the timetable, exclaiming “Just don’t make it so popular!”

A highlight throughout the years, Ms Moloney identifies was the Spotlight Fashion Parades. Through the many trips to Spotlight that Ms Moloney would make throughout the year, an employee had begun to take great interest in what the students were making at school. This eventually led to a competition for local students to enter and get feedback from people in the industry. “We often would win, or runner-up in the creative section. Technically we may not have been spot on, but the creative side is where our students really shone.”

“I also rate the Evening of Inspiration Fashion parades as a highlight as well. They were magnificent for the kids, you could see the joy and pleasure in them wearing what they made.” Ms Moloney adds.

“I’ve been fortunate enough, that I’ve never taught anything that I don’t love. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time.”