By Casey Neill
“You get a cucumber sandwich, a cup of tea and a framed certificate that says 95 years.”
And Kevin and Jenny Mackay couldn’t have been more thrilled.
Education Minister James Merlino recognised the Dandenong North Primary School husband and wife team for their combined service to education on Thursday 20 July.
Mr Mackay has been a fixture at the Cleeland Street school since 1983 and principal since 1986, while Mrs Mackay joined him 17 years ago.
Mr Mackay “vividly” remembers the moment they first met, at Clayton Primary School.
“We were both brand new to that school on that day,” he said.
“You don’t know anyone so you’re always looking for someone to talk to and make a connection with.
“It happened to be Jenny.
“She was moving into a classroom and I was there as assistant principal.”
He offered to help. They married in 1983.
It was a combined effort that earnt them the minister’s recognition, in more ways than one.
Mr Mackay said education department service awards hadn’t previously stretched to 55 years.
He wrote to the minister about it and received a congratulatory letter back.
When Jenny received notice she’d be recognised for 45 years, she chased up the 55-year nod for her husband.
“She said ‘it’s a bit of a shame, between the two of us we’ve got 95 years’ service’ and that piqued their interest and got them going,” Mr Mackay said.
They both agreed that teaching was the best job in the world.
“I think probably the greatest joy I get is going home every day knowing I’ve made a difference in people’s lives,” Mrs Mackay said.
“I just really love this community.
“We can contribute to making so many families feel welcome in their new country.
“We give them hope for their future.
“They’ve given up everything for their children.
“If we don’t do our job properly, it’s all for nothing.”
Four teachers at the school spent their primary school years in its classrooms, as did two education support staff.
“I taught two of them myself,” Mrs Mackay said.
The parent of a former student painted Mr Mackay for this year’s Archibald Prize portrait contest.
“This family came with no English, nothing,” Mrs Mackay said.
“The father was really well-known as an artist and a writer in China.
“He’s had to take up jobs he’s overqualified for to support his family.”
His child, Billy, got a 99.8 ATAR score and went on to university.
“Now his child’s got through school, he wanted to get back into the artistic field,” she said.
“Billy asked ‘would Dad be able to paint you?’.”
Mrs Mackay recalled another girl who returned to see her with a box of flowers.
She’d hated school, but Mrs Mackay turned that around and she’d been accepted into medicine.
“And now she’s Kevin’s doctor!”
