Going into 'temporary retirement'

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 3, 16 June 1987, Page 2

Going into 'temporary retirement'

Ruapehu College's Home Economics Department head, Sue Allomes, is taking a well earned break from teaching, in order to pursue other interests. Mrs Allomes had a love of teaching and has been teaching at the Coliege for the past five years. She was instrumental in introducing the present health programme into the college's curriculum, being involved at a national level before moving to Ohakune six years ago. Don and Sue Allomes moved to the Waimarino from Epsom in Auckland where Mrs Allomes taught at Kelston Girls' High School which had a roll of 1000 pupils. Transferring to a rural

secondary school with a roll of about 350 was something of a culture shock, according to Sue. She took over the position of Home Economics teacher from a string of relievers and immediately began pushing for the outdated facilities to be replaced by modern appliances and put the teaching level of Home Economics on a professional footing. When she arrived, the Home Economics department was equipped with a coal-range stove and four treadle sewing machines. Mrs Allomes said it took two and a half years to refurbish the complex which now has microwave ovens, a dryer and an automatic washing machine which has replaced the

concrete tub and wringer. The whole building is, in fact, completely new. She said she found it impossible to teach a new concept of education under the early conditions. She was also responsible for initiating the concept of school balls and staged the first such occasion in 1985, which was a tremendous success. Mrs Allomes has been involved in the production of school musicals, the most recent being 'Starblaze', which she said was the highlight of the year. She maintains teaching is noisy and stressful, but says she thrives on stress and loves her work. During her time at Ruapehu Coliege, Mrs Allomes was head of the Home

Economics department and was Senior Mistress for one and a half terms in 1986. She was actively involved with the ski programme at the coliege and was Chief of the racing committee for two years. She is leaving the school after mid-term break in July, but says she will continue to co-ordinate this year. She will continue to teach at the coliege in a relieving capacity also. She has been actively involved in running assertiveness training courses in the community and has run courses on management training for women in education in both Wanganui and Auckland. Cont'd p. 11