Sue was surprised by Emma Watkins to celebrate her nomination. For 10 years, Sue has taught music at Southport Special School: a state school with 225 students who have intellectual and physical disabilities, complex health needs and behavioural challenges. Her music program is designed and adjusted to the unique needs, skills and abilities of each individual student, ensuring the benefits of music education are accessible to all.
Sue’s music program has a significant positive impact on her students, their families and the wider community. It has been shown to improve engagement, self-esteem, confidence, sense of belonging and social-connectedness – and most notably – it shatters the glass ceiling of expectations experienced by many people living with disabilities.
Dami Im attended Upper Coomera State College to tell Hank Lewerissa of his nomination. Hank has taught music in the Gold Coast region for over 40 years, inspiring generations of students. Hank’s career as a music teacher is so extensive, he now teaches some of his original students’ grandchildren.
The school’s choral program is one of Hanks’ biggest achievements and consists of senior choir, junior choir, and a vocal ensemble. The vocal groups regularly perform at eisteddfodau, showcase evenings, Anzac Day ceremonies, and musicals. Hank is a big believer in music being accessible to all, regardless of their abilities and circumstances. The music program is designed to unify his students, despite their backgrounds.
Hank has received many accolades in his time, including an Australia Day Award for Services to Education in 2000, a Gold Coast Honours Silver Award for Education and a Department of Education award for 40 years of service.
Jess was met by Kate Miller-Heidke to celebrate her nomination. Over the last eight years as music teacher at Ainslie School, Jess’ program has changed the perception of music education’s value in the community, fostering a life-long love of music and creativity where students thrive. Jess is an incredible leader and advocate for music education, impacting her students directly and building the knowledge and capacity of teachers for even greater, ongoing influence.
Jess developed a school partnership with the Canberra Symphony Orchestra to bring their professional musicians to work with students and teachers as part of their own professional development. She is also a committee member of the ACT Music Educators Network, where she collaborates with the University of Canberra on numerous projects to benefit students in the area, including the introduction of robot technology and developing an app that explores the connections between music and mathematics.
George Sheppard met Peter Earl aka ‘The Music Guy’ to present him with his nomination. Peter is the founder of The Music Guy: an organisation that provides fun, inclusive concert band programs for primary school students in the Blue Mountains and Western Sydney region, as well as music education resources for teachers and students. Through his organisation Peter has impacted hundreds of students and continues to provide opportunities for students who have limited access to music education.
The Music Guy began when Peter, formerly an assistant principal at a local primary school, realised that very few schools in the area had any kind of band program largely due to the unavailability of tutors, resources and funding. After establishing a successful band program at the school, he then went on to provide concert bands in nine primary schools. The band program has been carefully designed to motivate and engage young minds with the use of body percussion, theatrics, games and more.
