Vale Ed Marshall

  – Words by Chris Tutor 

Ed Marshall Served AISNT in the 1990s as the Executive Officer. He was a true gentleman, a sensitive, softly, spoken Canadian who migrated and made Australia his home. He worked at Billanook in Mooroolbark under Dr Peter Harris as Principal who was a founder of AISNT as well and who engaged Ed to be the Executive Officer before a permanent long term NT appointment could be made. Ed remained resident in Melbourne and would fly up to undertake his AISNT Duties. The years were 1994,1995 and 1997.

At Billanook, Ed had been a Special Ed teacher. As a gentle, thorough, sensitive but highly principled teacher; Ed made a difference to many students as he did as the AISNT Executive Officer. I attended national meetings of NCISA which was the name of the national organization known today as ISA with Ed. It was a pleasure to work with Ed, who was always well prepared and contributed thoughtfully and appropriately to discussions on various issues.

Ed also had the task of being our bookkeeper and, even though this was back in the 1990s, I can still see his immaculate small figures, always diligently and accurately done. As time went on Kath Phelan came on deck and the two of them shared the position until Kath eventually took over full time and became executive director.

Ed’s time at AISNT was so important as he kept the organisation on a fine administrative footing. He believed in the organisation and fully understood the challenge in being engaged in something new. I became a good friend of Ed’s and over the years enjoyed my occasional meetings and phone calls with him.

 He was indeed a true AISNT pioneer and champion.