Alice Springs has shown itself to be a place of creativity and innovation. People who stay and make it home absorb its beauty, treasure its community, and learn to live with and appreciate the environment which is indeed the heart of Australia. The Alice Springs people are indeed thinkers and it was from this that a small group wanting another Primary School option in the town applied to establish an Independent School which was different to the others. This school’s application was initially not approved, but in 1994 a group decided that this should be done.

Keen to make it work, the group began meeting in late 1994 to consider different philosophies.They would meet once a week at a house and discuss education. Key in this were Rod and Ali Moss, Chris and Lene Shilton, Bill and Jenny Peachy, Dave and Kaye Richards, Christopher and Sally Brocklebank. These people were principally from Eastside a particularly fertile part of Alice Springs for the generation of ideas. This group in the end became known as the Alice Springs Steiner Association.

The Association understood that people chose Steiner education for their children because they wanted a different educational experience from the mainstream. To them the philosophy of the founder Rudolf Steiner made sense.

Rudolf Steiner was a remarkable man, an original thinker who believed change was needed in education to cause change in society. He was a multitalented man with broard interests, was considered a social reformer, interested in science, architecture, agriculture, nutrition and medicine. In addition, he was deeply concerned about the environment.

Born in Austria in 1861, he was educated at the Vienna University of Technology and then studied at the third oldest University in Germany, the University of Rostock. In 1894 he wrote his notable book, “The Philosophy of Freedom.” Steiner formulated his philosophy of education in opposition to conventional German education practices of the early 20th Century. These focussed on Basic Literacy, Maths, German History and Religion. The system only allowed a small number of students to progress beyond eight years of elementary school. Contrastingly, Steiner’s schools were based on 12 years of education.

Initially the Alice Springs Steiner Association had been impressed with Montessori teaching and in fact they started an independent, private, Montessori Play Group for their children. However their study lead them to the philosophies of Waldorf Steiner, the German philosopher and educator. So, they applied to register a school, beginning a journey of faith and determination, knowing that registration would only come if they could attract a minimum of 50 students.

In mid 1996 the group opened a kindergarten on a site in the old Araluen Youth Building and in Mid 1997 the Alice Springs Steiner School commenced with grade 1.

Thus began a project of great educational pioneering, requiring families who were risk takers, believers and very hard workers, with little money, determined to provide an education for their children in which they truly believed. The school became known for its adherence to its philosophy but adapting it to the Alice Springs environment. Massive working Bs - many of them - took place. In fact, they continued for years providing a truly unique environment in which their children could learn. Money was very short, those that could afford it paid fees in advance, but the parents did have their labour, which cost no money but provided plenty of sweat. So, not only was the area landscaped, vegetable gardens tilled, plumbing installed but all the school furniture was built and school necessities like playground equipment - all by that willing, pioneering, group of parents determined to produce a creative non- institutional environment with lots of character. The early teachers were paid minimally, and they had to be real pioneers. But there was to be no rest as the school added a year level each year.

It is wise for me to pause for a moment. I was in Alice through this dedicated development of a school, and admired the Steiner Group’s determination, persistence, their courage, and sheer hard work which to me was beyond belief.

The Northern Territory Government supported the establishment of the school which appreciated the help and encouragement from the Non-Government Schools’ Policy Officer Mr Brian Chase.

The site at Araluen was only temporary, so the School looked for somewhere permanent. A site was considered on Kurrajong Drive, but this was not possible. The group at this stage felt quite dispirited but eventually a site of 5 acres was found out at Raginassi Road. Mal Crowley was wonderful in helping obtain this site. The school was now going to move forward. Nothing was to be wasted so the Araluen School Room, a demountable, was trucked out to this new site of 5 acres.

The school faced on going challenges. As with all Alice Schools Staff were hard to employ, particularly those who had a Steiner understanding. Money continued to be a challenge, and not all found the concept of a College of Teachers, a Steiner traditional approach to school leadership, manageable.

To provide funds for the school the leading group decided to open an alternative /health food shop and so “Afghan Traders” was born. This successfully provided much needed money for resources for years. What a wonderful, enterprising initiative once again relying on “Steiner goodwill.”

The process of ongoing development was exhausting. Chris Shilton held the dual roles of Council Chair and CEO for 4 years which kept the ship on a steady course. However, the meeting of government requirements, including those of incorporation, was not always easy particularly using the full consensus model of Steiner decision making.

But pivotal in the development was to ensure the school remained true to its Identity. The main point of consideration was whether the school was a Steiner School of Alice Springs and its environment or was it a school in Alice Springs which was based solely on Steiner’s Teaching. It seemed that the former was a better fit.

The children of those early pioneers have moved on. However, the hard, relentless, punishing, and labour of true dedication and love, was so necessary in making the school a reality. The enormous risks were not without their personal costs, but those pioneers can truly say “we did it!”

The school reached a stage where a modern form of governance was necessary. Under the leadership of parent Libby Prell such board was established which was acceptable to government in these changing times. This form of governance continues today.

Schools are exciting but challenging, they can be all consuming, but they truly provide opportunity for the new generation. Alice Steiner students have made good use of these opportunities. Enriched by their Steiner start they have gone on to tackle an exciting variety of careers, have reintroduced the sound of strings music into Alice, have produced good academics, school captains at Alice schools, sportspeople, artists and craftspeople and people who are considerate and compassionate.

Today the School offers a high standard of kindergarten and primary education. In 2019 the school commenced secondary education. “Each class and classroom is unique, colourful and decorated with nature and the students’ works of art and craft. Class sizes are small and the children are cared for and nurtured as individuals.” At present the school has reached year 9 and intends going further.

“The philosophy at the Alice Springs Steiner School is to educate the whole person intellectually, artistically, socially and morally, so as to develop each students’ innate self-discipline and strength of body and will.”

“The school nurtures a rich and welcoming community life which includes the annual Autumn Fair, seasonal festivals, craft groups, specialist committees, playgroups, lectures, workshops and other activities suitable for all members of school families.”

In 2020 Dina Feik was appointed Principal. Dina was an ideal person to move the school forward as a Steiner School. She had spent her teaching career in Steiner schools in Australia and overseas. Furthermore her own parents were involved in Steiner Education as well. Having an excellent person at the helm, steeped in the Steiner tradition as a leader is a rarity, and more so being in an isolated town like Alice Springs. The school is undertaking a new building project. It is always interesting to see such planning in progress particularly when it aims to keep faith with the Steiner philosophy which Dina is very particular about.

To me a districts Independent School offering is not complete without a Steiner School. The three towns I relate to, Alice Springs, Darwin and the much smaller town of Mansfield in the Victorian High Country all have Steiner Schools, all doing different but interesting projects. To get the best out of Steiner it is important that the leaders really believe in the Steiner Philosophy. I admit that having seen the Alice Springs Steiner year 6 class graduate to using fountain pens fired up my own enthusiasm to resurrect my old school fountain pen from the 1960s and what delightful satisfaction this produced. At St Philips we enrolled many students who had graduated from their Primary Years at Alice Springs Steiner to embark on a successful secondary career at St Philips.

In conclusion it is interesting to read what the Steiner Association writes: “Steiner education is known for providing a sound and practical basis for working with children, enabling them to find their creativity and become free individuals who can think for themselves, make their own judgements and find their own purpose and direction in life.”

After 5 years at the helm Dina as decided to move on. She threw her heart and soul into the school and made a vast difference to this special Alice educational community.

Written by Chris Tudor