Raymond Ringer Scholarship 2018

The 'Raymond Ringer Scholarship 2018' was awarded to Belle York (current Year 10 student) on behalf of his family who wished to endow this scholarship in his memory. Raymond Ringer was a former Assistant Principal and Acting Principal (1977-1986) who "believed in affordable education for all and that girls should be encouraged to continue their education in the Mathematics and Science area". Belle is a most worthy recipient of this award and hopes to pursue further study in biomedicine at University leading into a career within the medical field.

On behalf of his family we would like to share a little info about Ray and his time at Mount Eliza High School. Ray was appointed Deputy Principal at MEHS in 1977 and shortly after he arrived Mrs Daphne Sherringham retired as the first Principal and he was appointed Acting Principal until Mrs Margaret Major was appointed. He was also Acting Principal during Mrs Major's Long Service Leave and after her retirement until our third Principal (Mr Rod Ogilvie) was appointed.

At first he was responsible not only for the day-to-day running of the school but for the timetable and teaching Year 11 Maths. He carried out the above duties to a high standard and also took it on himself to plant over two hundred native trees, over many weekends and holidays, as the grounds were rather bare when he arrived (the school opened in 1975). Many of these trees are still standing today. He also involved himself in all aspects of the school from showing a rather 'tired' cleaner in the Domestic Science wing how to clean and polish the floors to helping organise fetes and an active involvement in the Parents Association.

Ray was known to be fair but firm, which students appreciated as they knew where they stood with him. After retiring in 1986 following a long and successful teaching career Ray would often bump into former students who remembered him fondly - from the neighbour speaking to him over the fence to thank him for his method of teaching maths which enabled him to become an Air Pilot, to the 'villains' who met him in the Village and remembered their times with him watering the grounds (with buckets due to a drought at the time) as atonement for their bad deeds, to the Immigration Official who recognised him from his previous school Corryong High.

Both Ray and his wife Anne (also a former teacher at MEHS), together with their children who attended MEHS, have a great connection to the College. We thank them most sincerely for sharing this small part of their history here with us. We are sure that Belle York, and future girls pursuing the Maths and Science fields at the College, will do so most proudly through this scholarship.