Dear Parents and Carers,

Yesterday, the rain stopped falling and the St Mary’s school community celebrated in style! After 43 years of teaching at St Mary’s, Mrs Marg Croese, our very own star, was given the most wonderful farewell. Father George and Father Anthony celebrated a special Mass to honour Mrs Croese and her dedication to St Mary’s. Our students sang their little hearts out for Mrs Croese, showing her just how much we love her and appreciate all that she does for the families of St Mary’s.

At the completion of Mass, the students and staff formed a Guard of Honour and sang the African Blessing for Mrs Croese. Many families, ex-students and former colleagues of Marg joined us for the special celebration.

A very special thank you to Mrs Schofield for organising a truly beautiful Mass. To Mrs White and her drumming, Mrs Devonald and the school choir for their beautiful singing and to the staff who prepared the Hall or helped out in other ways, thank you all so much. 

Mrs O'Neill's Speech
Today, we gather as a school community to celebrate and honour Mrs Marg Croese also known as Mrs C, Margy or Croesey. In the history of every school, there are some very special people, who when they leave, are never forgotten. Mrs Croese is ours!

Mrs Croese began her teaching career here at St Mary's 43 years ago. She worked alongside the Sisters of the Good Samaritan and other lay staff to provide the best education possible to the children in Moruya.

If I was to ask everyone here today to stand up if they had been taught by Mrs Croese, I'm sure there would be very few people left seated. All of our current and ex students and many of their parents, uncles and aunts have had the privilege of being in one of Mrs Croese’s classes, sacramental classes or school choirs.

As a classroom teacher, longstanding REC and AP at St Mary’s, Mrs Croese has made an incredible impact on the lives of thousands of children and their families. She has dedicated her life to Catholic education and the faith journey of so many students, staff and families. Mrs Croese lives out her deep Catholic faith everyday and we all aspire to be like her. 

During the last few weeks, I have been talking with the children about their memories of Mrs Croese. When asked what makes her so special, I heard that she is funny, she sings with a very nice voice, she always holds our hands, she teaches us guitar, she is patient, she is very silly, she does little dances, she likes to dress up and most of all she loves us.

Marg’s colleagues agree and would like to add that she is always thinking of others, she is compassionate, she will do anything for anyone, she is always punctual and reliable, but she can be cheeky, she sometimes sneaks off when no-one is watching and she can even be quite stubborn. For those last few traits, I’m sure Marg would blame her Irish heritage.

Dressing up in costumes that are far too big for her and celebrating Book Week and Mission Day are some of Mrs Croese's favourite school events. Her energy and excitement adds so much to our wonderful school Spirit of St Marys. 

In case you weren't aware, at St Mary’s we have an unofficial Rite Of Passage for our students. I do not know its origin. Apparently, it's very important to the students  that they grow taller than Mrs Croese before leaving primary school. A couple of your colleagues, Marg, have recently pointed out that in reality, most children can now pass this milestone by the end of Year 2! 

I also heard that Mrs Croese doesn't have a particularly good sense of smell. It was suggested by some staff that this could be the reason as to why she made such a great Kindergarten teacher and never complained. Anyone who has taught a large number of five year olds inside all day long would understand. 

Recently, a parent told me that the first time they met Mrs Croese, she was having a jolly old time, singing with the new Kinders on Orientation Day. Perhaps her song of choice ‘What will we do with a drunken sailor? by the Irish Rovers may not have been the most appropriate one in the circumstances, but I’m sure it got the kids singing along..….   Oh Marg!

In all seriousness, Mrs Croese you are a very special lady. On behalf of all of the children you have ever taught to love, to pray, to learn, to sing and play the guitar, to smile and to laugh, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for your selfless dedication, and may the years ahead bring you the fulfilment and happiness you so richly deserve. 

We are not farewelling you today Mrs Croese. You are still very much a part of us, just as we are a part of you.  

Wishing you a rainbow, 

For sunlight after showers

Miles and miles of Irish smiles

For golden happy hours

Shamrocks at your doorway

For luck and laughter too,

And a host of friends that never ends 

Each day your whole life through!

Bless your little Irish heart Mrs Croese….. 

Mrs Croese's Speech
Good afternoon everyone. Today for me, is one of thanks. Thank you to all of you for letting me be a part of your life. For enabling me to teach you/ to teach your children/to work with you and to learn from you. 

Working in a Catholic school is special because we have so many opportunities throughout our day to deepen our faith and become closer to God and to pass that faith onto the children we teach.   

When I first began teaching at St Mary’s I had the privilege of working with the Sisters of the Good Samaritan Order who taught me how to be a better teacher and a better person. Many of these special friends have now gone home to God while others remain my good friends today.  

How does anyone sum up 40 years of teaching in a few minutes. For me, I loved almost every minute of it and everything else usually fell into place. 

For children to succeed at school they must be happy and feel safe. To me that’s the most important part because no child will learn unless they know they belong and that they are cared for. In this mixed-up world today, children have a greater need more than ever to know that they matter and that they are worthwhile. Some children might hear the first kind word of the day from us when they arrive at school. 

Of course, there have been many changes in education over the years and the changes tend to turn full circle in the ways we teach and what we teach. The heart of it all is care and compassion. 

For children to reach their full potential, they need to have a great relationship with their teacher. Children not only need love and care, but they also need boundaries. To me, teaching is not a job, it is a vocation and if it’s not, it becomes too hard. Teaching has been described as “a work of the heart.”  

I have loved every minute of my teaching at St Mary’s, it was my other home and my other family. In fact, my children bought me a dog so that I would come home a bit earlier at night. 

I would spend many long hours preparing lessons and setting up activities, not because I had to but because I loved it, and the children I taught. I wanted to be the best I could be for every child I taught. 

I loved looking out for those children who needed a friend/ those who didn’t want to kick the football at lunchtime but who preferred the quiet. At those times some of those children would come to guitar lessons or choir with Fran and myself. 

When I became the Coordinator of Religious Education at St Mary’s, Fr Greg was our Parish Priest. He was a whirlwind and had me running almost as fast as him and I loved it. The Mass and liturgy is close to my heart and I tried to make it meaningful for the children and reflect on their needs today. 

Father Emil was the next Priest I worked with as the REC. If he had asked me to fly to the moon I would have. He was such a great priest to work with - we became great friends, and we still are. 

I’ve had the privilege of working with Fr Greg, Fr Tom - although he would often lead me down the wrong path, Fr Eden who loves football and all things family and who had such a wonderful impact on our Parish in the time he was with us.  

Fr Anthony who would often disappear to go fishing and shared many happy times with us. Father Emil and Father Eden were not able to come today. 

Finally Fr George who has been a great support and mentor to me and who loves a party. Fr George is working so very hard to build up our parish and welcomes the adults, children to every Mass. I thank each one of these people for the inspiration they have been to me and for the wonderful friends they have become. 

Working in a Catholic school is a wonderful gift. We have the freedom to teach children about the great gift that Jesus has for each one of us when so many in the world don’t have that freedom anymore. 

When I knew I was leaving St Mary’s, I had many sad days, because I was leaving my other family, the staff, parents and children.  

I thank my beautiful family for putting up with me when I always had my head in a book or a computer as well as my friends at St Mary’s, St Bernard’s and Carroll College whom I’ve had the honour of working with. I thank my Parish family and the community for all their wonderful friendship and support. 

When Mrs Heffernan asked me to do some Pastoral work at Carroll College I jumped at it because I’ve been able to meet up with and reconnect with Staff and students. 

Today I especially thank Father George, Father Anthony, Mrs O’Neill, Mrs Schofield and the St Mary’s Staff – thank you for this beautiful Mass today, for your support and for the enormous amount of work you have done to make this day possible. To you the students of St Mary’s, I will miss you, (but don’t worry I’ll be around!!!). 

Mrs Maher and the choir for your wonderful music and all those who have participated and attended this Mass. I am very humbled. 

If I have any message to leave with you, the students of St Mary’s it is this: always be proud of who you are, wear your uniform with pride and don’t be afraid to say, “yes I believe in God.” Remember our school motto IOGD. Be the best you can be always, help others and do all the good you can whenever you can, while ever you can. 

The children in Years 1 to 3 hopefully remember the 4 words of Pope Francis: who can remember?? (Reign remembers) ...we always say Please, Thank you, Pardon and Sorry.  

Remember to always pray for peace in our world when so many do not know a world without war and suffering. 

I’d like to finish with a quote from an educator, Rita Pierson. 

“Every child deserves a champion/an advocate who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best they can possibly be.” 

May God bless us all as we continue to honour and work for the glory of his name.