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By Michael Esposito

23rd February 2010 11:05:49 AM

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Time on her hands … Joan Hamilton is making the most of her retirement. 42994 Picture: EMILY LANE

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JOAN Hamilton still hasn’t quite gotten used to her new life.

Since retiring from her job of 27 years at Kilmore Primary School, she has an unprecedented amount of time on her hands.

“I haven’t quite settled in to retirement yet,” she said. “I can’t get used to making appointments in the middle of the day.”

The stalwart of Kilmore Primary School said she loved her job as an education support officer, but it was the right decision to retire.

“I’m sad in a way, I’ve made so many good friends,” she said. “But it was time to go.”

Joan, who has held the same role but with different titles (teacher aide, integration aide, student support officer), said the greatest reward was seeing “special needs” children develop socially and intellectually under her guidance.

One of the big success stories at the school was former student Lesley Champion, who Star featured recently when she received a university enter score of 98.15 while dealing with the day-to-day challenges of having cerebral palsy.

Joan played a major part in Lesley’s development.

“I worked with Lesley for seven years. I think we prepared her well,” Joan said.

“The success with children that I worked with has been really rewarding. Some children’s needs are physical, some need support in the classroom, and parents need support as well.”

Joan has seen many changes since she began at the school in 1983, including three building relocations.

A former Kilmore Primary School student herself, Joan said that working with grandchildren of her former school friends suggested retirement was imminent.

“I’ve worked with children, seen them grow up and now I work with their children,” she said.

Now that she has plenty of free time, Joan plans to spend more time with family, tend to the garden, travel, and maybe go on a few motorbike rallies with her husband Bruce.

“I mustn’t waste a moment,” she said.

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