Many of you have had a smooth ride through SKC and don't even know why. Well I will tell you - reports,admissions,roll, timetables,absences,courses, correspondence,software etc etc all these things just happened. Its because of the lady who worked in the office in the library. Mrs Rae enabled all the things that flow underneath our school to work.
Mrs Rae joined the College Family in April 1989, 25 years ago, as a support staff member in the days of Brother Joe Lauren. As her children went off to school, she was coaxed back into the workforce at a time when technology was undergoing rapid and exciting change. The College needed someone to help with the myriad of changes that this brave new world would bring…
Helping in the library, reliving technology classes, moving from manual typewriters to electronic and then to the many word processors of the computer age. She was learning about Operating Systems MS Dos, Windows, WordPerfect and Microsoft Office when many were throwing up their arms in despair. They were all her domain. She was the Queen of Keyboard and the more recently our Network Manager and MUSAC database administrator. She kept up to date with the trends and had the happy knack of being able to reinvent herself as the circumstances changed. Always keen to learn, she had a quick wit and was as sharp as a tack.
Mr Olsen worked with her when he was DP here at SKC and being a self-confessed technology geek it made for a good start. They had plenty of good debates on the direction we should take to keep up with emerging trends. She made sure the College was always at the forefront of technological innovation. She even said to Mr Olsen and to me more recently “Well! Do you want to keep up with things or not! You’ll just have to get the gorse out of your pockets!”
She was never one to shy away from a challenge… and it has kept us in good stead. Not that we always saw eye to eye on every occasion but as you will know, Mrs Rae was of a “determined disposition” and most of you at one time or another will have seen the wisdom of seeing it her way early in proceedings.
Being the Network Manager meant that she had an office in the library. It was not everyone who had the gumption to tackle a first fifteen lock or prop when they were off task in the Library, but it was not a worry for our Mrs Rae. As Deputy Principal there were a number of times that I walked into a packed library that you knew was unnaturally quiet… only to get a report from Mrs Rae with her stern face: “Those lads were being clowns so I’ve just given them a sort out… and they wouldn’t be coming back for seconds if they know what’s good for them”
Many of you may not know but Mrs Rae was no stranger to the classroom and did her fair share of relief work. She enjoyed working in the class and helping students to get to grips with the emerging technology. Her classroom control was a given and her IT skills were second to none. While she was the first to admit she was not a teacher, you could tell that she was quietly pleased with her achievements and proud of the student and staff that she tutored and mentored.
Teacher qualified she may not have been, but coach she certainly was. Sports in general were her passion and netball was top of the list. Mrs Rae coached the A Netball team to success and was formidable in tactics and skills development. Her work on the courts and supporting her grandchildren at rugby, has built an enduring legacy for sport in the College. Her analysis of the weekends sporting roundup and her support for the underdog will be sorely missed.
We talk about our Special Character at the College and sum it up in our FIRE Values – Family, Integrity, Respect and Excellence.
…. you embodied these values and gave it all you had. You continued in service to the College over the last months, above and beyond anything that could be expected in the circumstances, even coming to school in your wheelchair. It sums up your commitment to a place you loved.
I am drawn to the words of The Irish Blessing:
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine upon your face
The rains fall soft upon your fields
And, until we meet again,
May god hold you in the palm of his hand
Mrs Rae /Denece: You are a Kevinian at heart and you are truly one of our “Special Characters”. You will be missed and most definitely not forgotten.
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