BEHIND THE SCENES AT MCKINNON SC
KAREN ROMARI: THE WOMAN IN THE WHITE COAT
I believe we all have a unique story to tell about our lives.
My newsletter articles are intended for staff and students to get to know and understand each other more. I'm only after a snapshot of their lives but understandably when I first meet with staff members it is a common reaction for them to become quite coy, often making the assumption that their story wouldn't make for headline reading and apologising. Wrong! As we chat their unique stories unfold.
Karen was no exception - she was so easy to talk to; uncomplicated, pragmatic, caring, dedicated to her profession and has an infectious laugh.
Foreword:
We meet in reception, the science teacher wearing a white lab coat wheeling a trolley containing a big box of test tubes. When pressed about her grip on the equipment she explains "It's magnesium ribbon cut up into little squares and 1M hydrochloric acid - you add the two together and it bubbles and fizzes. It also produces Hydrogen gas so if you test it with a match it should go POP". Eventually I'm at ease with this mobile (imaginary) lethal concoction, but secretly I hope she doesn't offer me anything to drink.
The story begins...
In the late '70's there's a shortage of secondary teachers in Australia. A 22 year old girl from Ohio is studying a Double Degree at Miami University. A friend strongly recommends that she attends the job interview with him. On a whim she agrees. What does she have to lose?
The day after Karen finishes University she jumps on a plane headed for a place called Melbourne, somewhere in Australia. She's as smart as a whip but knows nothing about the country that's offered her a guaranteed contract to teach for the next 18 months. "I only knew two other people but they didn't come to Melbourne. Americans knew very little about Australia in those days...still don't!" she admits.
She reflects now that the home-sickness she suffered was horrendous especially at Thanksgiving and Christmas, those times specifically focussed on celebration with family. (Many years after Karen settled here and her parents had passed away her sister confided that their Mom and Dad had suffered considerable distress over her relocation to Melbourne)
Scenery...
Upon arrival in Melbourne, Karen was assigned to Camberwell High School for six months where she was billeted with Margaret Ralph, an elderly single lady originally from England. Margaret took Karen 'under her wing'. Together they attended book club meetings and ballroom dancing where Karen met her future husband! The ladies remained good friends even when Margaret returned to England.
Although Karen loves living the Aussie life, she is adamant that she's "still a Yank at heart". To Karen her family is all important - her husband, two sons, daughter and four grandchildren. She's a real home body, very content just to 'potter around'; tending her chooks, gardening, growing her own veggies, cooking up a storm, looking after her two dogs and two cats. She enjoys watching cricket and AFL football.
Reading is very important to Karen for both knowledge and relaxation. No prize for guessing that her favourite genre is Science! She recommends a good read called "The Dark Remedy". She also enjoyed the Harry Potter books, the Twilight series and The Hobbit.
Over the years she has shared a love of bird watching with her brother and during his last visit from the United States they took a field trip together enjoying the Australian bird life.
The story continues...
Karen first started teaching at McKinnon Secondary College in 1984. She's had many roles including Year 11/12 Coordinator, Science Coordinator and currently she's the Lab Technician. One of 25 Science teachers on staff, Karen has taught all year levels and believes she has made a difference to her pupils. She's even dabbled at being an author, contributing chapters for two Junior Science books and proof reading Senior Biology titles.
She attributes the success of her school to the commitment and collegiality of the staff and leaders. The Principal's mantra that teachers make the difference resonates with Karen. She's aware that students are more reluctant to choose science at the senior level, because it's perceived to be a harder subject, so she investigates plenty of interesting challenges in order to engage her students.
Costumes:
The lab coat must be worn in the science room at all times to protect clothes from acid spills. The choice is between white or navy blue. A quick peep reveals all coats on the hangers are in mint condition!
And now for a twist to the plot...Karen's son-in-law won a grant to the University in Boston for three years so next month her own daughter is moving to live in the United States taking their brand new baby with them. Karen is trying not to think about that too much - the tables have turned on her!
Drum roll and credits:
* Karen's University friend cajoled her to go for the interview. She got the job but he didn't.
* She had never travelled out of her home state until she boarded that plane for Oz.
*Most mornings Karen is at school in her lab by 7:00am preparing for lessons and tending to her swarm of stick insects, lizard and Mitchell Hopping mice.
*She has a great relationship with a local Aquarium. She swaps her stick insects in return for their crickets for her frilled lizard to eat.
*Karen sang in her high school choir and was involved in drama and musical productions. She still likes to sing but now it's confined to driving in her car where she can belt out a tune at full volume!
*She played senior women's baseball in Moorabbin for two years.
*She barracks for the AFL team Collingwood.
*Karen's brother is also a Biology teacher in America.
During her Senior High school years she was influenced by a number of teachers however it was her Biology teacher that made the biggest impact on Karen.
When she was a youngster Karen aspired to become an underwater photographer just like Jacques Cousteau. Well that was never going to happen...I soon discovered that science is in her DNA"
Lee Collie
Public Relations