Helen Campbell began her teaching career at Deniliquin Preschool in 1984.
As a busy mother of three with a primary school teaching qualification, she began at the preschool as an assistant, and the concept of learning through play resonated with her.
At that point, Helen decided to complete her early childhood teaching qualification and became the teacher in 1989.
It’s a role she has continued, full-time, until today.
After around 40 years as an educator, she retired from River Region Early Education - which incorporates Deniliquin Preschool.
When Helen started at the preschool, it was a one unit or class preschool.
A few years later, it became a two unit preschool, and Helen its teaching director.
She served as the director for 22 years from 1989 until 2011.
Helen reflects that her favourite role was a teacher working with and within a team with groups of children and their families.
Helen estimates she has taught more than 1600 children during her career, many of whom are now parents and even grandparents of children now in her classes.
She has had a special impact on each of their lives.
The children Helen has taught will remember her love of music and movement.
They can all sing songs in different languages - including Heads and Shoulders in Wamba Wamba language.
Helen was the original ‘Sustainability Warrior’ - nothing was wasted and very little thrown out!
She even enlisted her husband Kevin’s help in making and repairing many resources for the preschool - clapping sticks from pieces of dowel, and repurposing a broken piece of furniture into something for the cubby.
The craft tray was always filled with recycled objects, drawing paper was recycled, and children were taught to put the lids back on the textas so as not to waste them.
A cardboard box could be a rocket or a cubby, or both - Helen always encouraged children to use their imagination and creativity to decide which.
Helen’s love of books will also be remembered by the children she has taught.
She would spend a whole term immersing children in the books of favourite children’s authors such as Pamela Allen, introducing them to literacy concepts of rhyme, repetition and alliteration and particularly a love of reading.
Helen is most at home in nature.
Children are taught to respect and admire the family of magpies who live in the preschool yard.
During nesting season ‘Mrs Magpie’, as Helen calls her, would bring her baby to the verandah demanding food, sometimes hopping inside the door if it wasn’t forthcoming.
Helen always had a bird watching station with binoculars and a book of birds set up on the verandah for children to learn to observe, and identify the birds in their environment.
The class pets such as guinea pigs, rabbits and chooks would go home with Helen during the holidays.
Helen taught children to admire nature like she did - to find joy in nature, but also to respect it.
Helen taught children with respect.
She always spoke to children as equals, answering their questions and encouraging their curiosity.
During the daily playdough making, children were encouraged to follow the recipe, choose the colour and predict what would happen if the colours were mixed.
Helen listened to children and would take on their ideas, make a list and get them to vote.
In her 40 years as an educator, Helen has seen many changes at Deniliquin Preschool.
At the start of her career there was one room with a teacher and two assistants, and children only attended for half days.
Parent helpers came into the service to cut up fruit for morning and afternoon tea.
The parent committee did everything - from mowing the lawns, to fundraising, and making decisions for funding and regulatory bodies.
Over time, it pivoted to six hour days of preschool, and then to longer 7.5 hour days, with after preschool care and travel via the school bus an option.
Helen feels that while things have new names, the main ideas have stayed the same.
She still bases the program around the childrens’ interests and events or celebrations in their community.
Working in a team has been a highlight for Helen.
“I have loved learning from other educators sharing their ideas, concerns, moments of joy and sadness to work on solutions together,’ she said.
“I have been so lucky to have worked with and learned from so many amazing people.”
On leaving her role as a teacher, Helen said there’s one thing she will miss most.
“I will miss the ‘Land of Children’ - the laughter, the innocence, the joy in simple things, their ability to play and play and play. Their open mindedness. Watching them grow.”
Helen’s impact is not just felt by the children she teaches.
She has also mentored countless educators and aspiring teachers.
In recognition of her ongoing contribution to early childhood education, the River Region Early Education board are proud to announce that an annual scholarship for aspiring early childhood teachers will be offered in her name annually to its employees.
Recipients of ‘The Helen Campbell Teaching Scholarship’ will be added to a plaque in the foyer so that Helen’s contribution to early childhood education and the Deniliquin Preschool in particular can be recognised into the future.