Photojournalist Paula Heelan has shone the light on the people who teach in rural and outback communities across Australia.
Her new book, Outback Governesses, was released in bookstores on Monday.
“Outback Governesses is it’s umbrella title,” Paula said.
“It’s home tutors, parents and governesses who educate kids in rural and remote places.
“There are stories of teachers who have worked and are still working in remote communities such as Brett and Ceridwen Cameron.
“Brett worked in the Kimberley region in Western Australia, teaching in a fairly volatile community and teaching children that speak English as second or third language.
“He is in a spectacular landscape and while he was teaching them he was learning as well. He was embraced by the community and it was a whole new experience.”
Having taught her two children via distance education, Paula was keen to write the stories of the “rewards and challenges” of teaching in remote areas.
She didn’t have far to look for potential candidates for the book but said she was conscious that they represented a good geographic spread along with different types of teachers – governesses, parents and classroom teachers in small outback and indigenous communities.
“Some of the governesses have come from Tasmania to go the Northern Territory to teach on massive cattle stations,” Paula said.
“I heard about the culture change that they experienced and what a shock it was for them when they first arrived but how much they have embraced it and loved it and stayed on because they enjoyed it so much.”
Then there are the mothers who home school their children.
“There are so many mums who do that every single day, year after year, people like Ainsley McArthur who is still teaching the youngest of her six children,” Paula said.
“It’s a bit like a military operation but a very joyous one and a happy place to be.”
Paula said each and every one of the stories showed the diversity of teaching in remote communities but she particularly enjoyed telling the story of Jaye Hall and her governess Jessica Dodwell, Bibil Station, Muttaburra.
“They have gone through the last two years of shocking drought in western Queensland and yet despite the shocking conditions they maintain a sense of humour and positivity,”Paula said.
“It’s hard enough when the conditions are good let along to be battling through drought conditions.”
Paula’s next book will be about people who work on the ocean.
Outback Governesses is available from all good book stores.
