Thank You James Crawford

A big thank you to James Crawford and Quasar Construction for installing the support beam in the Intermediate Classroom. The beam enables us to support a variety of items to be used and enjoyed by all the students. Brooke gets special pleasure from her personal items that are supported by the beam over her space.

 

 

A Tribute to Peter Hartigan

It is with regret that we let our school community know of the sad passing of Peter Hartigan on Tuesday 7th June 2011. Peter was a tremendous advocate for our school, not only with his involvement in the P&C but also his role as Director of the Sir Eric Woodward Memorial School Association. Sir Eric Woodward Memorial School was represented at Peter’s funeral by Maureen Dagg (School Administrative Assistant) who was a friend of Peter’s throughout his many years supporting our school. It was on behalf of Sir Eric Woodward that Maureen gave the following reading at his funeral.

“My name is Maureen Dagg I am an ex parent of Sir Eric Woodward Memorial School and for the last 12 years have been the School Admin Manager at the school.  Sir Eric Woodward School is a public school with 25 students with severe disabilities both physically and intellectually.

I first met Patricia in 1987 when we were both taking our disabled babies for therapy sessions at John Williams Therapy Centre.  In 1990 I again met Patricia  and Peter when they enrolled their beautiful daughter Perdita at the school and got to know them through different social events and P&C meetings which Peter never missed.  Peter was a quiet spoken man who when he involved himself in something gave 110% – On the P&C Committee he was either President, Secretary or Treasurer.  He was a dynamo for the school always coming up with fund raising ideas, one being  that the school received funds for quite a few years from Peter’s employer Lend Lease to buy much needed equipment for the students

Sadly in 1994 at the age of 8  Perdita passed away and usually parents gradually loose contact with the school but Peter decided to continue is commitment to the school, I think probably in memory of his beautiful daughter Perdita and he with two other amazing  men, took on the roles as Directors of the Sir Eric Woodward Memorial School Association, a charity they managed for  the school.  Through the Association Peter along with Leigh & Michael continued to raise money for the school.  They came up with the idea of building a PreSchool on the vacant land at the school, which to this day earns funds to employ a Music Therapist weekly, put in a Sensory Room, Air conditioned the whole school and has bought various equipment such as Standing Frames, Communication Devices, sensory equipment, solar heating for the pool, really the list is endless.

Peter didn’t just raise money for the school he was so committed to the school even 17 years after losing his beloved Perdita, he still attended our  end of year Presentation Nights, he would phone the school and use his words would ask “Hows everything  faring”.  A remarkable man who even in death doesn’t want flowers, his thoughts are with the children at the school.

Peter will be extremely missed by the parents, staff and children of the Sir Eric Woodward and we  can and will never forget the love, the devotion and the commitment Peter gave them.

God bless you Peter you’ve more than earned your place in Heaven – Until we met again.”