22 Fitzgerald Street WINDSOR • 4577 2003 www . Orchid22 . com . au
LOCAL LIFE
ONE OF THE HAWKESBURY ’ S FINEST ...
Vaux with family and Susan Templeman MP at her 100th birthday celebration .
by Greg Martin
I ’ m certain I ’ m hitting the target , but I firmly believe I am the only high school student in the history of NSW Education Department to fail the School Certificate woodwork examination .
Yep , those woodwork and metalwork subjects were regarded as “ gimmies ”; but to yours truly , they could well have been brain surgery or Latin !
However , if I had had Marjorie Douglass - known as Vaux ( pronouned as Vo ) as my teacher , I reckon I ’ d have been regarded as highly as a Lego inventor , Ole Kirk Christiansen , or the Patron Saint of Carpenters , Saint Joseph .
Such were her remarkable skills as a teacher , seven former devoted pupils who were among the 60 or so attendees on hand when Vaux celebrated her 100th birthday at Pitt Town Sports Club on December 7 .
“ It was a wonderful celebration – the food and service were of hree Hat standard and most importantly , mum was over the moon by the reception accorded her by family , friends ,” said her son , Gordon .
“ Mum was really chuffed in having those former pupils in attendance and became joyously emotional when one of them , Anna Namuren , regaled us with her speech in which she was prolific in her praise of mum ’ s teaching skills .
Anna was one of the three former Canley Vale High students who were ,
well , thrilled , to help their former mentor celebrate her centenary in this place .
“ If I think back to our school days , we are fortunate indeed if we were taught by at least one teacher who had a profound impact on our future lives ,” Anna said .
“ And for me , that teacher was Mrs Douglass , who , like many great teachers , opened our minds to the knowledge and rich cultures of the world , encouraged us to be curious , and was able to spot a , umm , bullshitter at 10 paces .
“ As well as leaving a spiritual legacy , Mrs Douglass has also left a physical legacy in the form of the ceramic-tiled MV Douglass Mosaic which is proudly displayed in the entrance to Canley Vale High School .”
The 2mx3m mosaic mural , which took Vaux and four keen-as-mustard students 1700 painstaking yet joyful hours to complete , showcases the people , buildings and events in the development of education and history of Liverpool district . It was officially unveiled in 1979 by former Prime Minister , Gough Whitlam .
Marjorie Yvonne Vaux Douglass – she ’ s insisted on being called Vaux “ because it is a name that can ’ t be shortened ” – journey into teaching began when the mother of five children had just turned 35 years of age .
“ I enrolled in Sydney ’ s National Arts School to do a pottery course , attending two nights a week between 7pm-9m and completing the pottery and stoneware courses over a four-year period ,” Vaux said .
“ I then took a year completing a class
Orchid
22
Chinese Restaurant
KURMOND
Your Local Independent BP
GREAT HOME-STYLE ASIAN CUISINE
Lunch Special from $ 13.80
Lunch 11:30am to 2:30pm Dinner from 5pm till late Closed on Monday
AUTHENTIC CHINESE CUISINE
CATERING ALL FUNCTIONS
TAKEAWAY & DINNER
LICENSED & BYO
( BOTTLE WINE ONLY )
YOUR HOST & HOSTESS : MICHAEL AND SUSIE
22 Fitzgerald Street WINDSOR • 4577 2003 www . Orchid22 . com . au
Full Convenience Store OPEN 24 HOURS
EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR
Not just a place for great coffee but also great service !
DELICIOUS FRESHLY
HOT ROASTED CHICKEN !
PLUS .... Gourmet Pies , Sausage Rolls & Great Coffee
Independently owned & supporting the local community for over 35 years 501 Bells Line of Road 4573 1324
6 ISSUE 177 // FEBRUARY 2025 HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR ! theindependentmagazine . com . au THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT