Hello, I’m Michele Stewart, and I worked at SPCC Gosford for 21 years in the office.  My son, Cameron, started school in Kindy in January 1999 when the school was still Gosford Christian School and, after praying for work and having no family around me to help out, and neither was there an OOSH in those days, I realized that it had to be THAT school where I needed an opportunity.  Never in my wildest dreams did I envisage staying that long in ANY job, which shows the time spent here was good, and the staff felt like family!

God opened a door for me to start work at the school in May 1999, first as a relief Receptionist for 1 day (I was so nervous!), and then soon after that I was asked to revamp the office’s filing system, followed by cataloguing the archives.  At that time, the archived paperwork was stored in a self-storage unit off site.  I spent 3 days in there, with the garage door almost shut but just letting enough light in, as it was pouring rain outside!  Then an opportunity opened to also start learning the Kalamazoo system in the accounts department and count mountains of cash (how times change!).

Many and varied roles were required over the time, but the last 10 years settled into Accounts Payable and Payroll.  I would also organize the floats for our Spring Fair stalls, sewed up their aprons, and had lovely assistants helping with cash collections.

I really enjoyed our whole staff devotion times and staff conferences, as we really got to know and appreciate one another amongst the 80+ staff.  This is important for a team to work well together.

Some of my greatest memories from my time at GCS/SPCC were our student entries into the music Eisteddfods, our musical and theatrical productions in the Hall accompanied with catering by the Hospitality students, the Year 12 graduations and their pranks, and the combined campus SPCC conferences.  We always looked forward to the return of the normally formally attired and composed Mr Eyb from the school camps – we knew he had a good time if he returned in muddy clothes and unshaven and such a look of happiness on his face!  And when Mr Chandler gave rather loud instructions up in Senior School one day, and every student way down below on the oval immediately sat down in response!!  And then there was “Captain Underpants”!

I had a career change during covid times, went to TAFE for 8 months, and these days I am a personal care and support worker for older folk in their own homes, assisting them with their daily activities.  What really motivates me is how I can be a blessing to someone else, and often I’m the only person they will speak to that day.

My time spent working at the school had a big influence on my life.  Not just turning up to perform my job, but a lot of personal growth for me during my time here – spiritually, personally and learning new skills.

During my time here, the thing I’m most proud of would be my son Cameron, who was School Captain and dux in 2011.  For me, it would be the lifelong friends I now have.  Perhaps the one thing I could say I was “famous” for was getting my motorbike license at 60 and riding it into the front car park some days!

One last thing I would say is:

Always keep your communication open with the Lord, and . . . follow your passions – God put them in you for a reason!