Joan Brewer Award Winners

This award was named in honour of Joan Brewer AM, a former principal lecturer librarian at the Adelaide College of Advanced Education and an advocate for the profession.

Joan was born in Adelaide and completed her initial teacher training at Adelaide Teacher's College and The University of Adelaide. After teaching at Naracoorte High School, she became a Librarian, firstly with the Barr Smith Library at The University of Adelaide, and later in London. In 1957 Joan returned to Adelaide and to the newly established Wattle Park Teacher's College, as Lecturer Librarian. In 1964, with her dual qualifications, Joan was invited to, and accepted, the challenge of establishing the first full time course for Teachers to become Teacher Librarians at the newly established Western Teacher's College. 1970 saw Joan appointed as Senior Lecturer Librarian of the Department of School Librarianship at Adelaide College of Advanced Education. Joan retired from her position as Principal Lecturer in 1984 and was awarded an AM in January 1985.

2010 - Jeanette Ramsey and Pauline Annear

Jeanette Ramsey and Pauline Annear, 2010

Jeanette has been an active SLASA member and passionate advocate of the teacher librarian profession for many years.

She retires from St Dominic's Priory College, where she was the Library Coordinator for 14 years and the driving force in the teaching of information literacy skills including mapping the skills taught across the secondary school, which is a terrific feat. She was a foundation and leading member of the IT committee and helped set up St Dominic's intranet. Beyond her teacher librarian role, Jeanette started the Press Club, was involved in the History and Politics Club, was a Year 12 class teacher and was involved in the trial of the Research Project this year.

In the 1990s Jeanette was one of the founding members of the Catholic Secondary Teacher Librarian (CASTL) network, which provides opportunities for professional development and influences practice in Catholic school libraries and was a member of the CASTL PD day organising committee for eight years. She was also a member of the subcommittee that developed 'A Statement on Information Literacy' for The Catholic Education Handbook, which also included a 'Role Statement for Teacher Librarians in Catholic Schools'. This document was later modified to become the SLASA 'Teacher Librarian Role Statement'.

As a member of the SLASA Committee since 2001, Jeanette demonstrated her leadership skills as both Vice President in 2004 and 2005 and President from 2006 to 2008. During her time on the committee, she was a member of the Publications, Communications and Professional Development subcommittees and a willing contributor to both the SLASA newsletter and Access, which she did exceedingly well. She has also offered her school library, in whose refurbished design and set up she was instrumental, as a venue for SLASA meetings as well as for library tours.

Jeanette's professionalism, enthusiasm and willingness to help will be greatly missed by the many friends she has made in the profession. We thank her for her enduring contribution and wish her well in retirement and congratulate her on winning this Award.

Pauline has been a teacher librarian for many years and has greatly contributed to the profession as an active member of the SLASA committee and advocate for school libraries.

Pauline's Principal, Leesa Shepherd, states that Pauline develops an interesting, challenging, supportive and inclusive environment, has an excellent understanding of Inquiry and Resource Based Learning and is a leader in this area at her school. She has been selected to assess students' work in the National Curriculum tests, in English, and her ICT skills have been an asset in her work with students and the school's web site.

Pauline is part of many professional teams such as Readers Cup, Tournament of Minds, Premier's Reading Challenge (for which she has also selected books) and the Hills Hub Group where a member quotes that Pauline 'has been a rock' welcoming new members and encouraging them to network and participate in the Hills Readers Cup.

In 1998 Pauline joined the SASLA Committee and was part of the Professional Development (PD) Group and also the Postcards Project. In 2000-2001 Pauline worked as the Treasurer's Assistant, was an ASLA Councillor and on the Training & Development and Publicity Committees. She assisted with the ASLA Web page and had input into the EdNA workshops and the Video group. In 2002 Pauline was the SASLA President and an ASLA Councillor and in 2003, the first year of SLASA, Pauline became Treasurer. That year she was also involved in the PD group, the Sales group, the WebPages group and the Sponsorship and Communications group. Pauline worked on the Conference Committee in 2006 and the Subscriptions and Sales group and the Art works group over these years.

Pauline has been an excellent Treasurer for SLASA since 2003.Until recently the job entailed her collecting payments f and receipting all subscriptions, PD sessions and conferences. Luckily, SLASA now employs a clerical assistant who has taken over many of the tasks and with whom Pauline meets regularly. Pauline has taught herself MYOB and liaised with the auditor each year - this can be quite stressful as the figures must be absolutely correct. Not many wish to undertake the Treasurer's job and everyone breathes a sigh of relief each year when Pauline is nominated and accepts the position. Looking at the detailed finance statement that Pauline has presented for 2010, everyone will agree she has exceptional skills in this area. At a recent Committee meeting Pauline volunteered to mentor to teach someone else the skills she has developed. Pauline has done this cheerfully and tirelessly over roughly a decade which is a huge contribution to the SLASA Committee.

Congratulations on a well-deserved Joan Brewer Award.

2009 - Thelma Harvey and Nola Uzzell

This year two teacher librarians were chosen as recipients of the Award, Thelma Harvey and Nola Uzzell.

Thelma Harvey has worked as a Teacher Librarian since 1982, mainly at St Joseph's School in Port Lincoln, until her retirement at the end of 2008. From 2003 to 2005 she worked at St Paul's College in Adelaide.

With so many years of service in the field of teacher librarian ship Thelma's achievements are many:

• She instigated and helped develop local hub groups
• She embraced new approaches to the teaching of information and organised professional development opportunities for others
• She organised combined Lower Eyre Peninsula area events such as author visits and celebrations for Book Week
• She revelled in the challenges of the emerging technologies, developing Intranet and most recently using an Interactive Whiteboard as part of her teaching program.
• Under her leadership the library was an interactive learning centre.
• During her brief time in Adelaide Thelma accepted the role of SLASA President for 2004 and 2005 and she was a national Councillor of the Australian School Library Association.

The list goes on.

In the testimonials submitted for the Award, Thelma the person was also lauded one stating that 'Underlying Thelma's quiet efficient manner was an Amazon in miniature, capable of taking on anything and always willing to stand up for issues such as equity, women's rights and human rights'. Others spoke of her care for others, her sensitivity, her love of learning, her recognition of individual differences, her great capacity for fun and her personal professional commitment.

Thelma the person and Thelma the professional have indeed enriched the Teacher Librarianship profession.

Nola Uzzell has given service as a Teacher Librarian for many years and in that time has also been a Library Advisor, a District Resource Centre Manager and Principal. Nola worked at Settler's Farm Campus for eight years and this year has begun a new challenge at Marryatville Primary School as the Literacy and Resource Based Learning Coordinator.

Nola is a very dedicated Teacher Librarian who works enthusiastically with teachers, students, student teachers, school leaders and parents. She is always ready to share her knowledge and has inspired, assisted and mentored many of the people with whom she has worked. She models and promotes lifelong learning and, as stated in a testimonial, she 'thinks deeply about what she does and why, engages in professional dialogue to critique options and explore alternatives…[and] inspires students and colleagues to be thoughtful, analytical and creative in their learning with a focus on the outcomes at all times'. Nola has vast knowledge of the curriculum. This enables her to meet the needs of students of all levels and from varying socio-cultural backgrounds as well as supporting those who teach them.

Nola is well known for competently refurbishing the library when Settler's Farm Resource Centre was razed in a fire. She not only restored the collection but organised ways for staff and students to borrow from elsewhere so they were not disadvantaged. Her experiences of this event were shared in the Access journal.

Nola dedicates much of her time to SLASA matters, particularly those in the area of advocacy, and is one of its Vice presidents and an ASLA Councillor.

Nola is a creative, warm, accessible and 'big picture' Teacher Librarian. Her high standard of work is acknowledged with this Award.

2008 - Alle Goldsworthy

Judy Woods and Alle Goldsworthy, 2008

Alle Goldsworthy has been heavily associated with and involved in various South Australian school library associations and networks since the early 1990s.

Alle has been heavily associated with and involved in various South Australian school library associations and networks since the early 1990s. This was firstly with the Resource Centre Teachers' Association, where she held various executive positions, including President, through to the Council of School Library Associations and finally SLASA, where she was its inaugural President in 2003 and where she has been one of its Vice Presidents since 2004.

However, Alle has been much more than a committee member over the years and has achieved much in her role as teacher librarian and for the profession. Her greatest area of influence has been in her advocacy for teacher librarians, which has been done in numerous ways.

Alle has always had a great commitment to the work that is carried out in hub groups. She has not only always shared her knowledge with other members of hub groups but has also been a professional development provider and kept others up to date with SLASA news and activities.

Her promotion of the important role teacher librarians play in their schools led to her involvement in the development of the role statement for teacher librarians and in being part of a delegation seeking to have teacher librarian qualifications recognized in the DECS staffing policy. With the demise of teacher librarianship courses available in South Australia Alle has been very involved with personnel at UniSA in assuring that the new undergraduate courses provide in specific ways training for those who wish to be teacher librarians.

In her role as library contact person in DECS, Alle continues to advocate for Teacher Librarians. This, coupled with her coordination of the Premier's Reading Challenge, has given her a high profile across the education sector and, most certainly, within the ranks of teacher librarians.

2007 - Margaret Nunn

Margaret has had diverse experience as a teacher librarian. She currently works at Stradbroke Primary School , which offers the Middle Years and Primary Years Programs. Margaret has been a long time member of SLASA and has been an active committee member and ASLA councillor. She is also a member of various hub groups, ALEA, the CBC, the May Gibbs Foundation, as well as a Friend of the Art Gallery and the Botanic Gardens.

Margaret's referees show that in her role as teacher librarian she:

• works broadly across the school;
• embraces challenges and change;
• is prepared to take risks;
• does much research into finding resources which will engage the students;
• keeps up to date with the latest pedagogy; and
• incorporates the transdisciplanary skills of the IB program with the traditional cycle of information literacy and e-learning while still keeping to the specifics of the school.

In addition, Margaret has won the respect of those who work with her through her collaborative style, her respect of students and parents and her approachable, nurturing and gentle manner.

2006 - Helen Richter

Helen is highly respected among the staff at Barmera Primary School, not only for the good teaching practice she models but also for the high profile she brings to her position. Her influence has reached beyond her school to encompass the wider area of the Riverland region of South Australia.

Helen has always been willing to share her expertise with other teacher librarians, particularly those who have found themselves in the difficult situation of filling the role without qualifications. She has been able to provide guidance and leadership in the areas of pedagogy, resource based learning, literacy, the use of information and communication technologies as well as practical issues that provide the means for day-to-day operation.

A teacher librarian for 30 years, Helen began her career in Renmark North Primary School where she set up and operated the toy library. In 1979 she was split between Renmark and Monash junior primary schools and in 1985 was appointed as teacher librarian at Barmera Primary School. Always open to new ideas Helen is a keen supporter of the Premier's Reading Challenge and uses her knowledge of SHIP (students with high intellectual potential) principles to extend and challenge students in many aspects of their learning.

As a long time SLASA member, Helen not only regularly participates in SLASA professional development events and conferences but also encourages others to attend and become members of the association. Helen was co-founder of the Riverland Teacher Librarian Hub group and has continued as coordinator for 20 years. Through her endeavours during this long period, the group has remained strong, vibrant and proactive. Helen has contributed to and strengthened the great cameraderie that is enjoyed by the Riverland contingent.

Thelma Harvey, SLASA President, Jill Day,
Joan Brewer and Rose Mawby

2005 - Rose Mawby and Jill Day

Jill Day and Rose Mawby were joint winners of the Award in 2005 and together represent more than 60 years of excellence in Teacher Librarianship. Both recipients were students of Joan Brewer.