Robyn O’Leary is retiring after 38 years of teaching at Finley High School.
Photo by
Geoff Adams
After almost 40 years, Robyn O’Leary has reached the final weeks of her career as a teacher at Finley High School.
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She will retire at the end of the school term.
In her time in Finley, Mrs O’Leary has taught many students and has played a major role in the development of her main teaching subject of agriculture - particularly through the high school ag plot and the agriculture show team.
“When I came, I taught agriculture and science. I also taught technology, but mainly agriculture.
“I have also been head teacher of creative and performing arts/technology and applied studies for a bit over 10 years.”
Mrs O’Leary said being able to witness the growth she helped drive in agriculture, and the impact it has had on students, was extremely rewarding.
“It's been good to be able to see the ag program evolve. It's exciting to help make something and develop it.
“The high school has a very well-developed ag plot for just a little comprehensive school in Finley.
“Those developments, as well as seeing the achievements of the students, has been great.
“A number of them have gone onto a wide variety of jobs, some agriculturally related.
“For lots of kids, you play such an important role in their lives. Some of them you stay friends with after they finish high school.
“The main thing is being here for the kids; that’s why you do it.”
“It's been a wonderful journey to see that.”
Robyn O'Leary is presented with her Show Personality Medallion by Kevin Sexton and Matt Mueller earlier this year.
Growing up and studying agriculture in Wagga, Mrs O’Leary was initially headed for Walgett before she was placed in Finley in 1987 - 38 years ago.
In the following year, she met her husband Michael - who began teaching at Finley in 1988 - and they chose to stay.
Mrs O’Leary said a benefit of her longevity has been in helping the growth at the school, especially in agriculture, by creating relationships in the community and allowing people the certainty to help reinvest in the agriculture program.
Across her career, Mrs O’Leary said there were two accolades she said were “pretty special”.
One was being inducted into the Melbourne Royal Show Hall of Fame, and the other was a public education award.
She credits the support she received across her teaching career, thanking her husband for “putting up with the travel and efforts to support the agriculture team” and her parents for their inspiration and involvement.
She also thanks her children for their participation in agricultural duties for the early parts of their lives, colleagues including Gary Webb who she worked most closely with, supportive principals, Gordon Close as the “ag plot man”, and the wider community and community organisations in Finley and beyond.
Ahead of retirement, Mrs O’Leary said she was, “very excited but a bit daunted.”
“It's been a lifetime of coming here seven days a week so it is a bit of change.”
Mrs O’Leary said while finishing teaching, she will still be around Finley and Finley High School.
Mr O’Leary is staying on as head teacher of science.
In her retirement she said she is looking forward to spending more time with her parents, getting the chance to jump in the caravan, catch up with family and friends and just “go a bit slower”.
Finley High School will pay tribute to Mrs O’Leary’s long-standing career and contributions to education with a special event on next Saturday, December 13 from 6pm at Finley RSC.
The entire community, including past students and colleagues, are invited to celebrate.
RSVP to Finley High School at 5883 1344 or via the QR code on the school Facebook page by Thursday, December 11.
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