Bev Smith has been doing new things all her life. She’s one of a handful of IEU members who has received their 30-year membership badge aged in their 80s.
Bev has been a member of the IEU since 1980, even though she actually retired from teaching in the late 80s.
“Receiving the IEU publications on a regular basis helps me stay in touch with the profession. I have two grandsons in Catholic schools and there have been so many changes in methodologies over the years.”
Bev started out as a library assistant at Marist North Shore High School around 1969. She gives great credit to the Brothers who encouraged her to take a teaching degree.
“I didn’t think I could do it because I had three young children, but they supported me,” Bev said.
“But I surprised them because they thought I’d want to teach kindergarten, and I opted for science. I had always wanted to do medicine.”
Bev became a science and religion teacher and embarked on a lifelong learning process.
She was one of a few women working in an all boys school at that time, and her approach was different to most of her colleagues.
“They used the cane, women did not use the cane.
“I had to find my own way of working with the boys. I used to keep them in at lunchtime and they used to confide in me. I felt I needed to know the students to teach them, but a lot of the others would say ‘don’t tell me that, I can’t teach them if I know about that’.”
When caning was abolished around 1977, Bev had an advantage as she had already worked out techniques to control the boys without it.
Bev continued to study and gained numerous qualifications, including a Masters of Theological Studies. She was appointed at the Broken Bay Diocese to look after secondary religious education, pastoral care and sexual abuse across the Diocese.
She received training in dealing with sexual abuse from psychologist and future NSW Governor Marie Bashir.
“In those days children were not believed when they reported on sexual abuse, we were breaking new ground.”
Bev then became involved in a program under the auspices of the Sisters of St Joseph called Seasons for Growth, a loss and grief program. The program is not religious and gives school students coping skills.
Parents requested the program be extended to adults, possibly dealing with bereavement or marital breakdown, and Bev was involved.
She eventually retired from teaching and worked with the adult version of Seasons for Growth around Australia, and of late with female inmates at Silverwater Correctional Complex.
She is still involved with female inmates at the jail today.
“It is a humbling experience for me to be at the jail. The program really works.” she said.
Bev said she was surprised and thrilled that the IEU would pay her a visit to present her 30-year badge.
