Gail Blumsom is proof that it's never too late to follow your dreams and pursue your passions.
As a high school student, Gail seemed destined to pursue a teaching career, but she didn't step foot into a classroom to teach until 40 years later.
"I was awarded a teaching scholarship by the old Queensland Education Department after Year 10 exams, known as Junior in those days, which was pretty rare. My parents couldn't afford for me to keep doing it, so I had to give it up after one year," Gail recalls.
Teaching would have to wait several decades. Secretarial work, owning a motorcycle dealership in Beenleigh, breeding quarter-horses in Boonah, and running a saddlery business filled the intervening years.
Technology was advancing and word processors were introduced to workplaces. Having "never even switched a computer on", Gail changed direction in the 1990s. She undertook a computing course at TAFE to upgrade her skills, which was part of a 12-month tertiary preparation course.
After topping her graduating class at TAFE, Gail was encouraged to attend university. After some hesitation the then 52-year-old enrolled at the University of Queensland, St Lucia in Arts and Education.
Gail, who now lives at the Carinity Elim Estate retirement village, flourished in and loved the academic environment. She was awarded the Charles Robertson Memorial Prize in 1999 - for "showing the greatest proficiency in history subjects" in her first year.
She also received a commendation for high achievement every semester of her degree. She graduated with a double degree in 2002.
"I was 56 when I walked into a classroom at secondary school. I completed, in my 50s, what I really wanted to do when I was 17," Gail said.
Gail taught at Laidley State High School for 12 years - teaching subjects including English and history - and her impact there was immeasurable.
"It was a gruelling initially but I eventually got into a good rhythm with my workload ad classroom management. I found my happy place and became a teacher who could contribute valuable practice to the school as a whole," she said.
Gail loved teaching male students at the school "even though some of the boys could be very naughty at times".
"I had a natural rapport with most of them. I will always remember two Year 9 boys in particular. They used to come in to class with screwdrivers and when my back was turned, they'd have taken the tops off the desks," Gail recalls.
"When they realised I had once owned a motorbike shop, I had a great way with these kids because I could talk bikes. Suddenly they thought this old teacher was cool!"
Gail enjoyed guiding graduate teachers when they came to the school to undertake practical work experience, noting "it was my way of giving back to education." She also oversaw the student council and ran fundraising events over the years.
She was also committed to improving the school experience for Indigenous students and their families. Gail headed a special unit to better support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. She introduced NAIDOC Week activities at the school, including collaborations with other schools.
"The 12 years that I had at Laidley were fascinating. It was very rewarding: a lot of laughs and a lot of tears. I was very sad the day I left," Gail said.
"I have a lot of wonderful memories of great students and colleagues. It's nice to know, through my grapevine, that the students I taught over the years have all turned out well and have good lives.
"It always proved to me that the work we did to instil values and self-pride, and the efforts to assist them to achieve their goals was worth it."
In recognition of her contributions to Laidley State High School, an award for high-achieving history students is named in Gail's honour.
