Noble Park North resident Ida Poster has retired from her crossing lady post at Dandenong West Primary School.
By Shaun Inguanzo
NOBLE Park North resident and school crossing lady Ida Poster has handed in her lollypop and reflective jacket.
But not without an unprecedented send off from her Dandenong West school community.
Ms Poster, who wouldn’t reveal her age, has retired as crossing lady at Benga Avenue.
Ms Poster helped children get to and from school safely every morning and afternoon for seven years.
But she said it was time to call it a day, as she had reached her own crossroad of retirement.
Ms Poster said that Benga Avenue’s crossing had become her turf during the seven year period.
During her lollypop reign she laid down the law by telling off speeding drivers and ensuring mums rushing to drop off their children didn’t double park near the crossing – all to ensure students arrived safely to school.
It is the social aspect Ms Poster said she would miss the most.
“I will miss the job very much,” Ms Poster said.
“But the time has come to retire and I thought I would travel a little bit and go back to Europe to see my original home in Prague, in the Czech Republic.”
Ms Poster first applied for the job after trying to retire a first time.
“When I stopped working in an office, I was home for a few years and thought that I actually could still do something,” she said.
“I saw an ad for a crossing lady in the local paper and thought I’d try it out.”
And there was no turning back.
When she retired on Friday 8 June, the school held a large send off party.
“It is something I will never ever forget,” Ms Poster said.
“There was a big poster on the fence that said Goodbye Ida, We Will Miss You.
“Then I was called to assembly that morning with all the kids from school, and all teachers.
“The principal was giving a speech about me to the children, thanking me for my work.
“A few kids had presents for me, and flowers, and little letters, and in the afternoon again they were all thanking me.
“They gave me a beautiful send off.”
Ms Poster might be ready for retirement, but the devoted crossing lady admitted to feeling sad about leaving her post.
“I will miss the friendliness of the mums, and the kids were lovely,” she said.
She also praised Dandenong West Primary School and the City of Greater Dandenong – her employer – for her time as crossing lady.
Finally, Ms Poster did not entirely rule out a return to her crossing post.
“I don’t think I will return, but you never know,” she said. “Right now though, I think I might stay at home and see how I go.”
