General News
28 March, 2024
Dot to farewell beloved college
GOODBYES are always difficult, especially when you have spent the last 24 years helping your beloved school grow from strength to strength.
Mortlake College business manager Dot Jenkins will step in to retirement at the end of this week.
The move is not without trepidation after decades of taking pride in quietly safeguarding the financial stability of the school, and watching students strive to reach their potential as a result.
“I really love the job, and I love the community,” Ms Jenkins said.
“I grew up (in Mortlake) and started working at St Colman’s Primary School in 1998.
“I worked between St Colman’s and St Thomas’ Primary School until the role as business manager at Mortlake College came up, and I thought I might have a go.
“I’ve been really fortunate to work with principals who taught me lots, so it’s been really good.”
Ms Jenkins said her fondest memories always fell back on the most important aspect of any school – the students.
“If I had a bad day, it made all the difference if one of the kids walked past and said g’day,” she said.
“My job revolved around the money, but seeing how the money could help the students was a highlight.
“I would look out at the grounds and see some of the projects we’ve done in the last five years, which took a lot of saving to get funds together.
“My joy is when I would see the results of our good budgeting and good management coming to fruition with the grounds, the buildings and the results of the students.”
Ms Jenkins said her role had evolved significantly over the years, along with the school itself, from Mortlake College becoming a P-12 school, to the use of computers and technology, a more singular focus on school financials, and a push within the school to create a culture dependent on working as a team throughout all departments.
The strength of the efforts, altering with departures and new additions over the years, has left Ms Jenkins feeling confident she now leaves the college better than she found it.
“To see the development has been fabulous,” she said.
“As we have had new principals, they all bring different changes to the school – and that is so good.
“The COVID-19 pandemic certainly was big, but most of my memories have been really good.”
Ms Jenkins said she was looking forward to spending more time with her five “gorgeous” grandchildren in retirement.
“I want to be able to do more things, a little bit of travel, and my sisters and I have a plan to go to Ireland,” she said.
“I’d be lying to say I’m not a little apprehensive; I’ve got up and gone to work every day, so it will be a change not having that structure and not having to be somewhere.
“But it’s time.”