In January this year, Boorowa Central School bid farewell to one of its longest serving and most respected teachers, Mrs. Debra Eustace, who retired after an impressive 44 year career in education. A dedicated teacher within the NSW Department of Education, Debra spent the majority of her career at Boorowa Central School, where she held a variety of roles, ultimately finishing as the Teacher Librarian.
Debra began her teaching journey in Sydney, working at schools such as Sydney Girls’ High, Ryde High, and Matraville High between 1980 and April 1984. Seeking a change, she and her husband William moved to the country in 1985, purchasing a small property in Rye Park. There, they built a home while living in a horse float and developed their love for horses.
Around this time, William worked with the Navy and commuted to Canberra, while Debra began her teaching career at Boorowa Central School.
When Debra started at Boorowa Central, the region was experiencing a 10 year drought. She recalls that when rain finally arrived, the dust turned to mud, and teachers had to wear gumboots to navigate their way to classrooms, some of which, including hers, were demountable buildings.
Soon after, Debra was assigned a small, isolated wooden classroom near the principal’s house, where she taught secondary history lessons. She fondly remembers this space as one of her favourites and enjoyed bringing history to life with her students.
Throughout her time at Boorowa Central School, Debra primarily taught English and History. Many of her students achieved excellent results in the Higher School Certificate, particularly in Ancient History. The school’s K-12 co-educational structure, which was new to Debra after her time in city schools, fascinated her. She went on to complete a University course in Gifted and Talented Education, which led to her creating a regional Public Speaking Competition in Boorowa.
The competition, which ran for 21 years, attracted schools from a wide area, including Goulburn, Queanbeyan, Yass, Gundagai, and beyond. It was supported by organisations like 2LF Radio, Boorowa Rotary, the Country Women’s Association, and Apex Boorowa.
Debra’s exceptional contributions to education earned her recognition in 1997 when she won a National Excellence in Teaching Award for her work with the public speaking competition. She took the opportunity to explain the unique benefits of the K-12 school model, emphasising how it allowed educators to have a lasting influence on students’ learning from age 5 to 18.
Another of Debra’s proudest achievements was leading the school’s debating teams for over a decade. Many of her debaters went on to excel in their HSC English, Ancient, and Modern History exams, applying the skills they developed in their time with the debating team.
In 2006, Debra was supported by the Department of Education and Boorowa Central School to return to university and earn a degree in Teacher Librarianship. This allowed her to work with students from Kindergarten to Year 12, fostering their literacy skills, research abilities, and imagination, particularly in History.
Debra’s dedication to public speaking was further recognised in 2011 when she was awarded the Pride of Australia Award. Under her guidance, Boorowa Central School’s teams excelled in eisteddfods, with some even winning at national levels.
Another notable memory from her time at the school was her involvement in the Model United Nations regional competitions, where students represented countries and debated resolutions in old Parliament House in Canberra. This opportunity led to several students meeting ambassadors and even traveling internationally, including one student who appeared on Korean television.
Looking back on her career, Debra is immensely proud of her students’ achievements and continues to cherish the lasting relationships she formed with them. She fondly recalls an encounter with an ex-student at the War Memorial in Canberra, who had become a public prosecutor and credited Debra with helping her become a great public speaker.
As Debra enters retirement, we all wish her the very best and thank her for her years of dedication to Boorowa Central School and the broader community. Her impact on the students, colleagues, and community will not be forgotten.
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