Chris Hunter OAM has spent most of her 50-year career teaching kids in south-east NSW. Photo: Chris Hunter.
For 50 years, teacher and principal Chris Hunter has been a familiar face for generations of NSW schoolchildren.
“My mother always said that there were two occupations that a woman should undertake in those days — remembering it was back in the ’70s … they were nursing and teaching,” she said.
“I attracted a scholarship, and coming from a not-so-wealthy farming family, the scholarship was a great way for me to get my education at uni.”
Ms Hunter went on to train at the Mitchell College of Advanced Education in the NSW Central West town of Bathurst.
She started her career in Sydney schools in 1973, before spending most of her career in the state’s south-east — working at Queanbeyan South Public School, Gundaroo Public and Jerrabomberra Public.
In that time, she said, many things had changed, from teaching approaches to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and, most recently, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). But other things have stayed the same.
“One thing that I think will never go away is that you do need that human being — that caring human — at the front of the class, teaching and reacting to children,” she said.
“That can never be replaced by AI or technology … They can’t make adaptations and changes for the needs of the students.”
Ms Hunter believes a desire to be involved in the community is key to connecting not only with schoolchildren, but the wider community.
“A lot of the activities are based locally, and also there are a lot of teachers who are local residents … You do get a lot more community involvement and community participation in events and in planning.”
While Jerrabomberra Public is among the larger schools in Queanbeyan — and about to become bigger, with construction work underway on an expansion that will double its capacity — Ms Hunter said she led with the same focus on visibility.
“I’m not the sort of principal who sits in my chair all day, every day, in front of the computer,” she said. ”I try not to do that.
“I like to be out in the playground with the children … I like to be out in the mornings and to greet each child who comes past.
“If you can smile at the child and say, ‘Good morning’, you can make their day. Somebody who might be coming in a bit grumpy or unsettled will suddenly brighten up.”
In 2023, she won the NSW P&C Federation’s inaugural Principal of the Year Award for her time as the founding principal.
Ms Hunter said a measure of her impact, alongside that of teachers and other school staff, was felt in seeing former students return (be they staff, trainee teachers on placement or graduates stopping by for a visit).
“Often it’s their parents who come back and keep us up-to-date on how their children are progressing in the world!”
Ms Hunter also helped to develop the Defence School Mentor Program for children of ADF members, and has long volunteered with the local Rotary club.
“It’s that visibility within your community, knowing that the school and the community are working together for all of the local kids,” she said of her motivation to volunteer.
She said that while 50 years of work in public education had been an honour, it was time to re-evaluate what the future might look like.
“It’s getting time to think about handing the reins over. It’s a long time to spend caring for other people’s children.
“It’s not definite yet, but I’m definitely thinking about slowing down and giving myself and my family a bit more time while I can.”
