Last year I went to an evening at Mount Isa’s Country University Centre celebrating the first students to graduate from the fledgling centre. Abbie Chandler stood up and spoke and I fell in love with her.
She is like a ray of sunshine coming into your life and highlights what Mount Isa gives you when fully embraced. Heading here for placement during her degree she was made aware of a permission to teach position and applied.
“I came for a visit and just loved it.”
As you sit with Abbie you can feel the energy inside her just waiting below the surface for a chance to jump out. It comes as no surprise she loves musical theatre and dance.
She has performed in the chorus at QPAC in productions of Wizard of Oz and Grease and when Rock, Pop, Mime is mentioned her eyes light up.
“I love dancing.” She confirmed before adding, “I’ll be there line dancing at the rodeo.”
Beginning with Jazz and Hip-hop when she attended Wavel High in Brisbane she was exposed to Drama when a teacher recognised her natural ability and flair.
“They said, ‘You’re naturally good at this, you’re a dramatic person why don’t you do drama?’”
When that teacher said she was a dramatic person they didn’t mean drama queen, they meant the way she expresses herself and embraces life. She is a social person, and it is no surprise she has friends from all points of the compass.
Naturally mum was worried about her little girl heading so far from home but when they arrived for her 21st last year her concerns abated.
“How have you made this many friends?” She queried, not realising Abbie invited everyone she had met. Unsurprisingly they are all still friends and her parents are always asking after them.
“What event are you up to this weekend?” Is the question they ask each week, knowing her calendar is always full.
“When you come out here you need to be a social person.”
Though she was never a country girl she loves country music and enjoyed the rodeo and other events she went to last year. She has a swag she hasn’t used yet but is hoping to do so this year due to completing her studies.
“I was doing uni at the time so it was harder to do because I had study and assignments last year.”
While those outside the system would think it would be hard to teach without having completed their degree Abbie has found it helpful.
“The idea of studying and doing first year of teaching appealed and did actually help.”
While this year has proven harder for her due to having to adjust to the needs of her students, she is aware of what she needs to improve on. The problem of not having another teacher to lean on due to St Kieran’s being a single stream school are balanced by the positives.
“I can take greater control of what I teach.” Abbie explained but you just know that her exuberance and creativity will burst out at times. A believer in play-based learning she admitted when she created a pirate activity when exploring creative story writing by having them running around the oval things became interesting.
“It got a little crazy,” she admitted with a grin, “there was a lot of fighting over the treasure.”
Abbie is looking to expand her knowledge by studying a Science of Learning Graduate Certificate before completing her masters. While many may balk at further study and others have no idea what they want to do when they leave school that was never an issue for her.
“I always loved my teachers and loved going home to teach my stuffed animals.”
When she arrived as a 20 year-old with still a year to go in her degree she admits she suffered from ‘impostor syndrome’ but her fears were quickly allayed. The staff embraced her the way they were embraced as young teachers and it touched a chord.
“I found a community.” She said. “I felt seen.”
Many young ladies and gents come to Mount Isa from ‘far off places’, form bonds and look after each other. The absence of family and friends opens possibilities, and it was a visit by her parents that did so for Abbie.
“Their was another teacher there and her mum was leaving and my mum was leaving and we were both sobbing.”
The pair had dinner soon after and this is a common theme. While it is good to go back to Brisbane and see everyone she feels living here makes her a bit more open to saying yes.
“I find people are more spontaneous. Yesterday a friend said this events on, ‘want to come.”
Her sister came for last year’s Rodeo and saw herself moving here with Abbie encouraging the thought. She is also working on a childhood friend who she reconnected with at university when they found themselves doing the same degree.
She does not miss the traffic in Brisbane but does miss the freedom of shopping at the various outlets in the city. While she is in a two-bedroom unit she feels she needs more room for her dresses.
“I love getting dressed up,” she almost drools. “And there is always something to do here.”
When she arrived she felt that ‘this feels like the real Australia.’
Life is better with good people in it and if Abbie Chandler is in yours, life is good. No matter how grey the day she will be a ray of sunshine making the world a better place to be.
