Barbara Murphy and Jennifer Wilkins have been around Mossfiel Primary School longer than the furniture – and, for that matter, some of the buildings.
Business manager Barbara and teacher Jennifer, both of Hoppers Crossing, have each notched up 40 years with the Education Department this year.
Ms Murphy’s association with the school began when her three children started there.
When a job came up at the school’s front office, she put up her hand … and the rest is history.
Four decades on, daughter Shelley now works in the office alongside her mum and two of Ms Murphy’s grandchildren have also gone to the school.
“My job has changed a lot,” she said. “When I started, I had to write all the finance details in the ledger. There were no computers then and there were only two buildings; since that time we’ve had two buildings and a gymnasium added.”
Ms Murphy will retire in July.
Ms Wilkins started her career in a bank before becoming a teacher, working at Woodville Primary School and the former Glen Devon Primary School before starting at Mossfiel more than 20 years ago.
Her three children were also Mossfiel students.
She said support for new teachers had improved since she started.
“Back then, you got in your classroom and off you went … now there’s more curriculum support and technology has changed,” she said.
“The school has evolved, you learn new things and you change with the times. I’m forever learning new things, and that’s the best way to be as a teacher.”
