A Chance Encounter

Encounter By Kerri-Anne Hall A Chance

(Russell, Class of 1979)

In my role as Quality & Customer Experience Coordinator at Corowa Court, I recently visited one of our residents, Marion Hawker (Ormsby, Class of 1945). I noticed a number of black and white photographs and a sketch of a familiar-looking building mounted on her bedroom wall and enquired as to the significance of them. Marion replied “They are photos of the school I went to.. I went to Korowa”. I told Marion “That’s where I went to school!”. Then we started sharing our school memories. Marion was born in 1929 and she and her sister Joan Stiansen (Ormsby, Class of 1948) were some of the first students to commence at “Little Korowa”. Marion commenced in 1934 at a Kindergarten located in a house down the road from the current school site. She obtained her ‘Leaving Certificate’ in 1945 at age 16 years and was a School Probationer in 1945. Her love of children contributed to Marion commencing work as a Childcare Assistant for disabled students at a Kindergarten in East Burwood for four years, followed by a few years working in the office of “Patons & Baldwins Woollen Mills”.. Marion then commenced study at “Burnley School of Horticulture” and was subsequently employed in various nurseries. In 1954 she married Robin (Bob) Hawker and had two children – John and Janet, they lived in Glen Iris. Her favourite teachers included Miss Cerutty (Geography), Miss Orton (Commercial Studies), Miss Bassett (English) and Miss Dickson (Headmistress). I was able to share with Marion my own connections to Korowa. My great-aunt, Irene Lavinia Widdicombe born in 1875 become a Governess who taught English, Art and Music to the children of the Hon William Knox, MHR who owned the home ‘Ranfurlie’ (subsequently Knox House), which is now the site in which the school is located. Many of my cousins and their children as well as my own family, all attended Korowa over the years: myself (Class of 1979), my three sisters - Melinda Russell (Class of 1981), Lisa Gregor (Russell, Class of 1985) and Jodi Russell (Class of 1989). Jodi’s daughters – Chloe-Madeleine Jessop (Year 5) and Amelie-Rose Jessop (Year 7) are currently studying at Korowa – so the tradition of Korowa continues! Marion and I both shared our memories of the straw hats in summer (uncomfortable) and the felt hats in winter (cosy) and gloves we had to wear and the fact that we were never permitted to brush our hair or eat in public. Marion donated her blazer pocket to the Korowa Archives and our memories of Korowa have provided us with a wonderful opportunity to reminisce about our school years.