Lynne McDonald: Everyone’s Favourite AshColl Teacher
Interviewed in May 2019
“Beloved educator, inspirational, one very special lady, so dedicated, a true style icon”. These were just some of the terms people we spoke to used to describe Lynne McDonald.
Initially a reluctant interviewee, Lynne soon warmed to the task. She was an absolute delight to interview, and over the space of a couple of hours, we ranged over many topics.
Lynne was born and raised in North Canterbury during the Baby Boom years. Lynne - an only child - and her parents arrived in Ashburton in 1962. With only one secondary school in Rangiora, when the family arrived in Ashburton, the family had a choice to make – Ashburton Technical College or Ashburton High School. Lynne was a very competent student and was most likely persuaded by her mother to attend the more skills-based ‘Tech’ to do a commercial course, i.e., bookkeeping, shorthand/typing, even though her natural inclination was towards a more academic course of English and the Classics. She has never regretted that early decision and found those subjects and especially the teachers and staff at Tech to be “absolutely wonderful”. Lynne described entering the Library there as like “coming home”; such was her love for books and the written word. Mrs Childs, the Library Assistant, was a kindred spirit and the two became firm friends. In 1963 she became Head Girl in her Year 12 of what was now known as Hakatere College. For Lynne’s Year 13 (7th form) she was “sent up the road” to High School. This was the last year the two schools existed before Ashburton College was ‘born’. She found herself in a class of about 25 pupils, which was considered a large number at the time. How things have changed!
Cliff Bezar, Lynne’s English teacher, was a big influence in her Years 11 and 12 (Forms 5 & 6), and encouraged her to apply for University on a Teacher’s Studentship. This was a scheme whereby most of a pupil’s fees were paid, plus a modest living allowance and, according to Lynne, if one was careful, it was enough to get by on. Raised never to spend extravagantly and without a wildly busy social life, Lynne got by quite nicely. One of her practical ‘sections’ in 1968 happened to be at the newly established Ashburton College (still on two sites), and Lynne enjoyed her section immensely. Lynne left Uni with a BA, and when a permanent position at Ashburton College arose, she was successful in securing the post teaching English and Social Studies and also, quite unexpectedly, Bookkeeping! Principal Owen MacDowell began at the College in 1969, the same year as teacher Lynne, and ‘persuaded’ Lynne into the bookkeeping role as she was the most ‘experienced’ teacher at the time, having been a reasonably competent student! His comment to clinch the deal? “Let this be a challenge to you, Lynne”. Anyway, Lynne took up the challenge and, along with a very good student Shirley (surname unknown) and armed with the textbook, they made a reasonable fist of the job! Lynne is forever grateful to Shirley and if Shirley is still ‘out there’, Lynne would love to reacquaint herself with you and thank you for her assistance!
By 1971, the teachers were working out of three sites – Hakatere College and High School sites plus building on the ‘new’ Walnut Avenue site had begun, and some teaching spaces were available. Understandably, a very difficult arrangement! No wonder teachers were regularly late to start their classes when they had to wait for all their ‘car pool’ teachers to arrive and then make the dash to the other site/s over the railway line, hoping like mad they weren’t held up by a shunting train. Having been a student myself during that period, I was able to assure Lynne that those waiting for their teacher were extremely relaxed about sometimes having to wait 10-15 minutes for the teacher to arrive in class! On one occasion, one hapless teacher driving the less-than-reliable vehicle provided by the Education Board had the steering wheel come away in his hands! Menorlue was also used as a multiple teaching space, which proved totally inadequate because of noise, and Lynne much preferred the pre-fabs even though some had holes in the floors and walls.
Lynne was immensely grateful for the wonderful support of Alex and Daphne Thomson. “Alex and the ever-elegant Daphne made a great team” on the College staff. In class, Lynne would often ‘borrow’ Alex’s wonderful Scottish brogue when it came to reading Robbie Burns’ poetry.
Lynne also mentioned Roderick Lonsdale as being a wonderful English HOD. Before Roderick arrived at the College, Mr Sutherland, who, even though a dedicated HOD, was of the ‘old school’ and would plump for Keats over modern-day poets any day! Roderick breathed new life into the English curriculum and introduced new, up-to-date textbooks, much appreciated by all! Lynne keeps in touch with Roderick, who is still teaching.
The late Anne Stapleton also had a big influence on Lynne. A fellow English teacher and “demon crossword expert”, Anne was very disappointed in herself if she wasn’t able to ‘crack’ the Press cryptic crossword in 10 minutes flat!
In 1975, aged 29, Lynne felt fortunate to be able to take eight months’ leave without pay and headed away on her OE. She purchased the archetypal camper van and set out to discover the delights of the UK single-handedly. After gaining a bit of confidence there, she then felt the draw of the fjords of Norway, where driving “on the wrong side of the road” along narrow roads with large trucks barreling towards her was both “exciting and scary”. Although a “little under-done in driving experience”, the only mishap was losing the van’s wing mirror!
Asked about any nickname she may have had, the only ones she could recall were Miss Mac and Auntie Lynne, the ‘auntie’ moniker probably because she didn’t have children of her own and so seemed to ‘adopt’ many students and take a huge interest in them, which continues to this day.
Being a keen seamstress and regularly sewing all her clothes, Lynne found her niche in the wardrobe department during drama productions. She remembers using “Romeo’s mother’s discarded velvet drapes” to make authentic costuming for Romeo and Juliet. The year was 1982, and Ross Palmer was director, and Michael Morrow played a wonderful Romeo; Robyn Malcolm was a terribly convincing nurse, plus Simon Barnett also featured. Ashburton College has certainly had its fair share of celebrities nurtured by the fantastic staff, hasn’t it!
It was during this time that Lynne suffered her first bout of serious ill health, which was to recur several times before it revealed itself to be ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis), also known as Chronic fatigue syndrome. She recovered twice for lengthy periods, but when it returned with a vengeance during a period of extreme physical and emotional stress, she was so badly affected that she was unable to walk. Lynne eventually had to face her worst nightmare of retiring from her career much earlier than expected at the end of 2000, aged in her early 50’s.
Lynne made the move to Christchurch just two years ago and is supported by her amazing friends and ex-college teachers Ross Palmer and Craig Seagar. A “simply marvellous couple”, they help Lynne with a range of tasks, and she is able to keep well informed of world and local happenings through Facebook etc. She loves to hear how past pupils and staff are doing.
Lynne was thrilled to hear of the plans for the College rebuild, though she is rather incredulous that the ‘new’ College started in 1969 now requires an almost total rebuild. She also feels a sense of indignation on our behalf that the College Library was recently described as “the Pizza Hut”! Although she admits there may be a slight resemblance, she was quick to defend it by saying, “Yes, but it’s our Pizza Hut”, illustrating how very loyal Lynne has remained over the years.