Early Last Sunday Jan Heaslip, a devoted champion of NT Education, sadly passed away. Jan was an Honorary Fellow of AISNT, a patron of ICPA NT, the first Life Governor of St Philips College (1994), a recipient of the Order of Australia Medal amongst many other community honours. Jan was chair of St Philips College at the time St Philips moved from being a Residential College of the Uniting Church to opening as a Day/Boarding School at a similar time to AISNT starting. Obviously, she was well engaged with AISNT. These early years were very “heady” ones for Independent schooling in the NT.

She wrote: “My vision for providing children in the Bush with an appropriate education has really been the passion of my life.”

She had four children of her own and wholly understood the implications of this statement. Her engagement with St. Philips College started in 1974 when she was invited to sit on the Church’s boarding school advisory council as a representative for station people. She was also chair of the parents’ group representing Alice Springs School Of the Air. Jan was devoted to the Isolated Childrens’ Parents Association, of which she was a founder, became its first President in 1982 and became a member of the Federal Council. Later she became its patron.”

The citation she received for being Life Governor of St Philips sums up Jan well.

“She has shown us that without vision little is achieved, but if a vision is to be realised it must be coupled with hours of hard work, great determination, an unfaltering belief in what has to be achieved and a single - minded quest for success.”

Jan’s association with education in the Bush stretches back a long way. She grew up in Orroroo and went to a small school at the Southern end of the Flinders Ranges. It had classes only up to year 10 as it was a Higher Primary school. Interestingly Years 8, 9 and 10 were taught in one small classroom by one teacher.

At the age of 18 she accepted a position as a Governess on a remote station out of Alice Springs. However, later she met and married the owner of Bond Springs Cattle station, Grant Heaslip, which became her home. All her volunteer work with education was in addition to a busy life helping manage cattle stations. Their four children did their primary schooling on School of the Air before undertaking their secondary years at boarding school. So Jan really knew about education in the Bush, achievement and homesickness as a boarder.

Time moved on and in addition to her other busy pursuits Jan decided to set up a tourist venture at Bond Springs, which included delightful accommodation and exploring the station. It was a real station experience. One of her prize exhibits was the station School Room which she renovated very skillfully and was always proud to show visitors how children tackled School of the Air on a station. Yes, getting people from elsewhere to understanding education in the Bush was always her mission.

Jan was extremely enthusiastic about moving St Philips from being a residential College to a Day/Boarding School. However, her commitment to Bush Kids wanting to pursue their education in Alice but not at the new school should not be forgotten. So the College continued its charter to provide students with this accommodation. They simply became boarders like those attending St Philips as a school. Jan was always wanting to do the best by Bush Kids.

Jan was a true Territorian. She was known by everyone, knew all the Politicians including ministers and Chief Ministers and she used this knowledge and influence to advance Education particularly for Bush Kids and Children in Alice Springs. I attended many meetings she had with these influential people and was always impressed with her capacity to get good support. Jan was also a member of the Uniting Church and worked with the various leaders to ensure their support. Over the years she worked with the members of the Australian Inland Mission which after the Uniting Church came into being in 1977 became Frontier Services. When I started there was always a place for the national leader of Frontier Services on the St Philips Council. Of course, she also had a friendship with the former leaders of the church such as the Reverend Dr Fred Mckay AC.

Jan retired from the College Council in 1994 and from her position as Chair. She was appointed, as mentioned, the first Life Governor of the College, a position she took very seriously. Throughout her next years she worked tirelessly to support the College. I remember going with her to Darwin to seek support from the Chief Minister for the new school hall. The meeting was a success, and one million dollars was promised. The condition of the funding was that the College had to also raise one million. Some months later the Minnamurra Hall was completed and the Chief Minister was to open it. At the opening he made the observation that he was comfortable with the offer of the donation, because he firmly believed the College would never raise a million dollars. But we did and Jan was a vital part of this.

Her support and help were unwavering as were her duties as a life governor, faithfully attending all College functions. In my last couple of years, we built the Cafe, Home Eco, Science building on the edge of the oval. The tower in which the lift was built looked amazing and Jan and her husband Grant saw that it needed a clock to really finish it; so they donated it.

Jan also became interested in the Alice Springs Steiner School. Her grandchildren went there and her daughter taught there. Though different in philosophy to what she was used to she embraced it with enthusiasm.

As age began to catch up and she had to rely on support and a walker, she still kept a faithful engagement with St Philips, the school she pioneered. This wonderful, highly respected Territorian, known for her dedication, strong wise leadership, kindness and generosity, is now at peace but the memory of her as a true compassionate pioneer will remain forever.

Written by Chris Tudor