Time out reinforced the value of education
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 130 No 1, 14 February 2025, page no 7.
Early in 2024, I was with QTU Vice-President Leah Olsson preparing for a meeting with the Department of Education. During the preparation and collaboration, and some laughs, it became evident that Leah had an unusual lump in her breast.
Thankfully, all checks were clear. But it was a reminder that my screen was past due and that I had forgotten to book in for my check. Fast forward a couple weeks, and I had the regular breast screen. This led to a recall for an irregularity or change from the previous screen. This led to another mammogram, ultrasound, and needle biopsy, which confirmed that I had HER2 positive breast cancer, which accounts for roughly 20 per cent of all breast cancer diagnoses.
My treatment began with chemotherapy in May and continued throughout the rest of 2024, along with successful surgery and radiation therapy. With surgery and radiation on the horizon for Term 4, I took sick leave to continue my treatment.
Obviously, the world is turned upside down when news such as this is received.
Throughout my treatment, the support from colleagues and friends everywhere has been very much appreciated. I am very grateful for the support, flexibility and friendship extended to me by good friends, friends who have become good friends, and acquaintances who I would now consider friends.
I have had the best medical care and am now able to return to work in a supported manner.
The QTU and our members have long been a very important part of my life. Being able to return to work healthy and cancer-free has reinforced my commitment to the long-term goals of the profession in Queensland and Australia.
A massive thanks and acknowledgement to Leah Olsson and QTU Honorary Vice-President Josh Cleary, who acted as President and Vice President in my absence, in partnership with the re-elected secretariat of Kate Ruttiman, Brendan Crotty and Leah Mertens. This is the right leadership team for our Union, the Queensland Teachers’ Union, with its more than 135 years of history. I am proud to represent all members for now and into the future.
Having this time out for a term has reinforced for me the value of education for our community. In particular, the value of public education. That private schools receive 100 per cent of the schooling resource standard from both federal and state governments while our state schools remain at under 90 per cent is a national shame.
My last day of work before surgery was the launch of the Labor government’s Occupational Violence Strategy. We now have an LNP government as our employers, and we will continue to come together on this issue, along with workplace aggression, and win on behalf of our members.
Our roles as teachers, school leaders, classified officers, GOs, sports officers etc are not without their challenges. These include teacher shortages, workload pressures, occupational violence and workplace aggression, and lack of respect for our committed profession.
And in 2025, we have EB negotiations to commence and a federal election.
With this in mind, it is the business of us all that we stand in solidarity. We have such a long and proud history − we may not all agree on everything, but belonging and being a part of the future of the Union is critical.
If you are not a member − we need you. If you are a member, we need you to too.
Engage, attend, recruit − these remain key to our success for today and for the year.
Again, thank you for your support in 2024. And, if you are over 40, please consider making regular mammograms and breast screens a part of your health cycle. You just don’t know when you may need to. In addition, we have such wonderful pre-screening for multiple cancers in Australia −don’t be passive about your health. Early detection works.
Here’s to a productive and busy 2025.
The QTU and our members have long been a very important part of my life. Being able to return to work healthy and cancer-free has reinforced my commitment to the long-term goals of the profession in Queensland and Australia.