When educational regions were established in Queensland in 1949, one of the responsibilities of Regional Directors was to maintain staffing levels in schools according to a set formula. This required the transfer of teachers from school to school within the region. Inter-regional transfers were negotiated between regions or organised through head office, as was the appointment of graduates.
Regional Directors also appointed teachers to administer schools with an enrolment below 21. This first appointment as Principal represented a first step for many who later became outstanding practitioners as Principals of large schools. Staff teachers expected an appointment after a few years of teaching experience and willingly put their foot on the first step of the professional ladder.
E.F. [Joe] Gutekunst was Regional Director for Central Region for many years until retirement in 1974. A popular administrator, he was the subject of Ray’s pen at a gathering in Rockhampton. It gave Ray a chance to describe the vagaries of transfers.
WE’D GO ANYWHERE
[Tune : "I'd Do Anything" from "Oliver"]
We’d go anywhere
For you, Joe, anywhere,
Yes, we’d go anywhere
For you. [We swear that..]
We’d go anywhere
For we know anywhere
Where we go, you are there -
There too.
HOW WOULD DUCHESS DO ?
-Anywhere !
AND BETOOTA, TOO ?
-Anywhere !
MAYBE CACTUS VIEW ?
-Anywhere !
EVEN YALBOROO ?
Yes, anywhere !
We’d go anywhere
As you are well aware,
We’ll even tell you where
You can go, Joe, too !
[A teacher on the staff at Boulia applied for the Principalship of one of these small schools. He was appointed by Phil Cullen, then Regional Director, North West, to Kajabbi, 100 km. north from Cloncurry, and has since told the story that, when asked to express a preference for such a career change, he had asked for a position closer to the coast, but did not mention which coast.]
