I have met many people who have influenced my life, but two stand out in changing my attitude to other people as well as getting to know myself. They reside in a different country from each other, and I am sure they do not realise how they helped me by my using the ‘tools’ that they suggested.
The first person was Charles Wilkins. I worked with Charles at the then Dandenong College of TAFE. Firstly, he was Vice Principal, taking on the Principal’s role after the heart attack of the previous incumbent. I was not in a good place emotionally during this time, but he persevered with me working with him. One of the first things he said to me was that it is our role to work together, not for me to work for him. He was a hard taskmaster, but he was fair. I watched the College develop under his leadership, the change in the teaching regime and attitude of the staff. He worked very effectively to ensure that very inspiring staff took the place of the who left or retired. As I was a member of the PACT (General/Administration) Staff Committee, I was part of the Interview panel for prospective applicants, both teaching and PACT, learning so much about how to approach people to get the best out of them during this trying time for them. Charles was very good at setting up meeting rooms, seating people together or apart to get them to participate more at these activities. If he became aware that there were ‘rumblings’ in the College, he would make sure the people involved did not sit near each other. He was very much into “Colour co-ordination for Success”. I knew what type of meeting Charles was hoping for by the colour paper he used for resources, what colour suit he was wearing (with the appropriate matching tie, of course) and his general demeanour at the time.
Charles also gave me the opportunity of developing professionally when he offered me the job of Head of School – Business Studies, which I held for 5 years. He never gave written references to leaving staff during the 14 years I was at the College, only phone references which were honestly given; however, I received a two page written reference when I left, which I am very proud of.
Dr. Sharon Lord was the first three star General to work at the Pentagon and was eventually the Governor of Virginia. Sharon was responsible for bringing in the first work-for-the-dole scheme in America, her attitude being if people wanted money, they should work for it and gain some pride in themselves personally as well as their work. This scheme was in place in Virginia for many years, until a change of Government. Charles knew Sharon and when she came to Australia on a speaking tour, Charles organised for me to attend one of her sessions. The College then paid for me to attend her only weekend Conference in Sydney, one of ten lucky people. Sharon was diminutive, very attractive and full of self-confidence, though during the weekend we found out she never started her public life that way. Sharon showed us that each of us is very important in this world. We all had skills that we never knew or used. We all had personalities that we never improved on or were proud of. She made me feel important and useful for the first time. She taught me to face up and how to act in situations that I ran away from. Not let anyone overpower me. If someone was overbearing, if they were a large, tall person looking down on me, take my shoes off and stand on the nearest table or chair, look down on them and ask them how that feels. It does work. I have done it a few times.
It has also come in handy in my personal life. When having a ‘deep and meaningful’ with my three teenage sons, I used to sit them on the lounge, side by side and I would sit on the arm of the chair, looking down on them. In response to their concerns or their wants, whatever it was at the time, I would start my discussion with them at the opposite end of their concern/want and with discussion gradually work our way to where I thought they should be – in other word we would meet in the middle – and all would be happy.
I feel I was very lucky to have these two people in my life as they both helped open the world to me both personally and professionally.
Heather Wallace
February 2024
The first person was Charles Wilkins. I worked with Charles at the then Dandenong College of TAFE. Firstly, he was Vice Principal, taking on the Principal’s role after the heart attack of the previous incumbent. I was not in a good place emotionally during this time, but he persevered with me working with him. One of the first things he said to me was that it is our role to work together, not for me to work for him. He was a hard taskmaster, but he was fair. I watched the College develop under his leadership, the change in the teaching regime and attitude of the staff. He worked very effectively to ensure that very inspiring staff took the place of the who left or retired. As I was a member of the PACT (General/Administration) Staff Committee, I was part of the Interview panel for prospective applicants, both teaching and PACT, learning so much about how to approach people to get the best out of them during this trying time for them. Charles was very good at setting up meeting rooms, seating people together or apart to get them to participate more at these activities. If he became aware that there were ‘rumblings’ in the College, he would make sure the people involved did not sit near each other. He was very much into “Colour co-ordination for Success”. I knew what type of meeting Charles was hoping for by the colour paper he used for resources, what colour suit he was wearing (with the appropriate matching tie, of course) and his general demeanour at the time.
Charles also gave me the opportunity of developing professionally when he offered me the job of Head of School – Business Studies, which I held for 5 years. He never gave written references to leaving staff during the 14 years I was at the College, only phone references which were honestly given; however, I received a two page written reference when I left, which I am very proud of.
Dr. Sharon Lord was the first three star General to work at the Pentagon and was eventually the Governor of Virginia. Sharon was responsible for bringing in the first work-for-the-dole scheme in America, her attitude being if people wanted money, they should work for it and gain some pride in themselves personally as well as their work. This scheme was in place in Virginia for many years, until a change of Government. Charles knew Sharon and when she came to Australia on a speaking tour, Charles organised for me to attend one of her sessions. The College then paid for me to attend her only weekend Conference in Sydney, one of ten lucky people. Sharon was diminutive, very attractive and full of self-confidence, though during the weekend we found out she never started her public life that way. Sharon showed us that each of us is very important in this world. We all had skills that we never knew or used. We all had personalities that we never improved on or were proud of. She made me feel important and useful for the first time. She taught me to face up and how to act in situations that I ran away from. Not let anyone overpower me. If someone was overbearing, if they were a large, tall person looking down on me, take my shoes off and stand on the nearest table or chair, look down on them and ask them how that feels. It does work. I have done it a few times.
It has also come in handy in my personal life. When having a ‘deep and meaningful’ with my three teenage sons, I used to sit them on the lounge, side by side and I would sit on the arm of the chair, looking down on them. In response to their concerns or their wants, whatever it was at the time, I would start my discussion with them at the opposite end of their concern/want and with discussion gradually work our way to where I thought they should be – in other word we would meet in the middle – and all would be happy.
I feel I was very lucky to have these two people in my life as they both helped open the world to me both personally and professionally.
Heather Wallace
February 2024
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