Are there people you greatly admire and dream of meeting one day?  On Wednesday 9 August, many of the Junior Campus staff and students got a chance to walk, talk and share with some Arden legends - people who have a rich history at our School and contributed so much to the School we all enjoy today.  We had been hoping this visit may have happened during our Centenary year, but waiting a year seemed to have made it even more special!

Who were these Arden legends?  Miss Mavis Hudson, Arden Headmistress 1966-1972 and Council Member 1993-2000; Coral French, Class Teacher and Deputy Principal, 1973-2000; Lorelle Shelley, Class Teacher and Infants Co-ordinator, 1986-2008 and our not so long departed Jenny Rodgers, Class Teacher, 1992-2022.  The experience in this group of wonderful ladies totals close to one hundred years - no wonder they are considered legends!  A characteristic of note with all these special ladies was their humility.  In chatting with them, it is never about what they had done or achieved, rather it all was about what 'we' had done together.

The day started with a mini picnic on Nelson Green, the Lower Primary (Kindergarten – Year 2) playground.  Our Year 1 and 2 students sang a welcome song to Miss Hudson led by Elisabeth James, our Music Coordinator.  While those children went off to their lessons, our Year 6 student leaders joined our legends for morning tea on the green. Our Year 6 leaders asked insightful questions and listened to our guests.  With all four ladies, you could see they still were great teachers as their instant rapport thoroughly engaged the children.  Photos were taken with the students, Mr Beckett and various staff who knew, had worked with or been students during the time the four ladies were at Arden.

Next stop was a trip into Mosley House.  Now the Years 3 and 4 classrooms, this building was constructed during Miss Hudson's time at Arden.  Along the way, our Year 3 teacher Marilyn Cox warmly welcomed Miss Hudson into her Maths lesson.  From here, Miss Hudson came down and enjoyed a Pre-School's Christian Studies lesson. A quick visit was then made to our Kindergarten rooms, as Nelson House was one of the main school buildings in Miss Hudson's time of leadership.  Finally, Miss Hudson was taken up to Cook House to share lunch time with staff and to view some archive material relevant to her time at Arden.

When Miss Hudson departed, there was a real sense of having been part of a very special visit.  It felt like the essence of Arden had been experienced.  These ladies love Arden. These ladies oozed Arden. Miss Hudson continues to pray for our school. Our motto, In God My Joy, was felt and well-known, well cared for and well taught was certainly evident.

Walking, talking and sharing with these Arden legends will not be forgotten by anyone involved.