Here is a letter I have delivered to Ainslie Primary School for Julie Mayhew, one of my music teachers during primary school. I’ll let the letter explain the story.
Dear Ms. Julie Mayhew,
I don’t know if you remember me or not, but I was one of your students during my primary school years from 1993 to 1999, and I certainly remember you.
I am writing to you today to congratulate you on the Highly Commended honour you received in the 2007 National Awards for Excellence in School Music Education, it was very pleasing to hear that you are still teaching music, and even more pleasing to find out that you won, or to be more precise, earned an award for doing so.
I was listening to the 6am news on 2CC a couple weeks ago when the news first came through, and I remember thinking when they introduced the story “I wonder if this is a teacher that I know?” When I heard the rest of the story and heard that it was about you, I jumped straight on the phone, and expressed my congratulations to you during 2CC’s breakfast show.
As I think back to the annoying little rascal of a kid I was during primary school, I find it hard to believe that anyone found the patience to teach me…that, coupled with the fact that you were (and obviously still are) a brilliant music teacher, makes me incredibly pleased that you have received this recognition of your work.
I congratulate you on this award, and your magnificent efforts in teaching music, and I wish you all the best for the future.
I’m also privileged to be able to bring to you a report on the party WIN held for Peter following the bulletin, filed a short time ago by former WIN, and now 2GB, reporter James Goodwin, for which I thank him immensely.
At the end of the bulletin, past and present colleagues filled the WIN boardroom to reminiscence and share a drink with Peter. Channel 7’s Samantha Armitage and former weather presenter Tony Lynas were among those who flew in especially for the event.
There were a few brief speeches, New South Wales News Director Stella Lauri thanked Peter for his commitment to WIN, Jessica Good spoke on everyone’s behalf when she said how much she’d miss Peter, and Peter’s long-time on-air partner Phil Small had everyone laughing with his witty speech, peppered with many “in-jokes”.
Peter was overwhelmed by the number of people who came to wish him all the best in his retirement, and spoke with affection about the “terrific people he’s worked with”.
One of the highlights of the night was turning on the television in the boardroom and watching the ABC news and then Stateline. People were speechless when Stateline opened with Peter in the chair and saying “Hello and welcome to Stateline, I’m Peter Leonard”. It was all a friendly joke and a nice tribute to Peter. The laughs continued when Peter threw to a story “about me”.
One of Peter’s farewell gifts was the original WIN Television flag that flew in front of the Kingston studio. By the end of the night the flag was filled with everyone’s signatures and well wishes.
1. John Laws will retire in March 2008
2. John Laws made up a random date to see if Media Watch would jump on the discrepancy
3. The “eight months” figure is an error
I’m tipping the second option, but hoping for the first.
I think you need to have a word to Richard, if you get a chance have a listen to the log from the first few minutes of his show this morning. His daily piece of useless information for today was something you have been talking about for days…namely the percentage of people who look in the medical cabinets of others.
I suppose you are right when you say (in reference to your daily news summary) that you'll hear things on other shows during the day and be able to say "I already know that".
You're probably asleep right now, so I hope that by the time Abe reads this to you, you are refreshed following a good sleep.
Regards, Samuel Gordon-Stewart Canberra
Blog Note: “Who is Richard?” asks Matt by email…why it’s Richard John Sinclair Laws, better known as John Laws of course. End Note
This week the award goes to The Beatles (again), mainly due to the fact that the feature song was used to great effect in the tribute WIN Television put together for Peter Leonard. (And yes, for those of you who are wondering, I do have a bunch of things to post here that I haven’t done over the last few days).
There are places I remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I’ve loved them all
But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I’ll never ever lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I’ll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
Though I know I’ll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I’ll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
In my life I love you more
