Sylvania resident Muriel Clarke has been praised for her work as volunteer teacher of English to migrants for the past 25 years.
Muriel, 87, started teaching English at Sylvania Anglican Church in 1993 as a volunteer.
For recently retired Muriel, the start of the teaching term at the local church that year was an opportunity that became a passion that would last 25 years.
“Being English and a migrant myself, I had a heart for people who were new to this country,” she said.
“When we are born in a place, we have deep roots there. A part of us will always be of that country. When we move to another place, for a time our roots are exposed and raw as we settle into a new environment. That’s when we need a friend.”
Muriel arrived in Australia from Suffolk, England, in 1957. Her husband of six months was offered a job in Australia and she accompanied him. She spent her working life as an administrative assistant in different companies before retiring. They bought a place in Sylvania in 1960 and stayed.
“There is always issues when you are first settling into a new country. Homesickness is something I can relate to,” she said.
“When I retired, the minister’s wife at our local church asked if I’d be interested in teaching English to new migrants. I am so pleased I said yes, because I have been blessed more doing this work than I have been a blessing.”
Muriel’s first student was someone who had just moved to Australia. She was illiterate in her own language, let alone English. She was desperate to invite her neighbour over to her home, but was unable to do so because of the language barrier.
Muriel soon found that she was doing more than teaching the basics of reading, writing and speaking English.
“I found I was meeting a social need and a need of the heart,” she said.
“The more I taught the more I realised this was something the Lord had put on my heart to care for others in this way. He has used me to this day. It wasn’t just another language group, but a way for people to care for each other holistically.”
Muriel was celebrated for her 25 year service to the community on Thursday, January 19 at Anglicare’s English as a Second Language (ESL) training day in Glenwood.
Times for ESL classes at Sylvania Anglican Church. Thursday 10am - 12:30pm during school terms.
Phone the church office on 95447186 for more information.
