‘On St Patrick’s day 2025 it’ll be 50 years.’
Glenys Smith is the school crossing supervisor on South Valley Road Highton, a post she has held since 1974, watching two whole generations of children safely navigate the streams of traffic on South Valley Road as they make their way to Bellaire School, Highton Primary, or Belmont High, or maybe Christian College, or even Clairvaux Catholic School. Then there are the bus kids, heading out for Iona College at Charlemont, or Kardinia College at Bell Post Hill.
Glenys remembers when Geelong Tech occupied the buildings where Clairvaux is now, and the tech boys and girls also used her crossing.
‘I was President of the Parents Club and the band parents’ group, because my son went to Belmont Tech. It went co-ed while he was a student there, so I had Tech girls crossing here too.’
Glenys remembers when the crossing was very basic, just flags on the red and white posts, no lighted speed limit signs. The traffic was much lighter then, but still not really safe for little kids to manage crossing the road on their own. Enter Glenys.
She had an hour or so’s training with a police officer, learning how to hold the familiar ‘lollipop’ sign, and stride out on to the road, trusting that drivers would stop. The officer assured them they would just need to use their common sense.
‘These days,’ she commented, ‘I believe they have several days’ training, in all sorts of aspects. We are allowed to book drivers for unsafe driving, so it’s important to have training for that. But drivers are pretty good around the kids.’
Over all those years Glenys has learned how to socialise and communicate with anyone who passes by, but especially the children.
‘You learn their names pretty quickly, and in the morning, ask what’s going on today and at the end of the day, ask how their day was. They love to talk and tell me everything that’s important to them. People stop for a chat as they go past, which is nice.’
‘I started being Mrs Smith, but that seemed a bit of a mouthful, so I was just Glenys after that.’
I asked how difficult her job is and she said, ‘You have to keep your wits about you, but there’s only one or two kids who couldn’t manage using the crossing safely. You know, kids are kids all down the years.’
She went on, ‘I wanted to learn all their names, and I still remember so many of them from years ago.’
I asked about her uniform. She laughed and said, ‘At first it was a white coat like a lab coat, with a white cricket player’s hat. Then we changed to a bowls hat, and at last to the ones we have now, that keep the sun off better. And of course over time the hi-vis gear started to be used.’
Glenys remembers the separate shires before the City of Greater Geelong was formed by amalgamating all the councils. ‘Corio Shire led the way in creating school crossings with supervisors on them, and South Barwon Shire quickly followed on.’
I asked Glenys how the neighbourhood had changed. She spoke about the general store in Porter Avenue and the Post Office, and a few other shops as well. ‘I do remember Gary Ablett helping me one day when my car wouldn’t start. He lived nearby, and had one of his boys with him that day.’
Glenys found herself the unwilling centre of attention a couple of years ago, when she tripped and fell while reaching for her Stop sign- her ‘lollipop’. She tumbled backwards and hit her head on the path. In a flash she was surrounded by help, from the passing cars, to a fire engine that stopped for her, to the first aid officer from Bellaire School complete with first aid bag. That little episode required a couple of days off, but thankfully, no lasting damage.
Of course the traffic is much heavier now, and being a school crossing supervisor isn’t the easiest job in the world. Standing out in the weather twice a day with only a hat and coat to protect you requires enormous stamina. A thoughtful neighbour built a new fence near Glenys’s post, and incorporated a seat into the fence design, allowing her to take a little rest when things are quiet.
‘It was weirdly quiet when Covid was on,’ she remarked. ‘Only a few kids were attending school. And so many people were working from home there was hardly any traffic. It was good when things got back to normal.’ We’d all agree with that!
The dedication to the kids that makes you show up for work twice a day with a smile and a keen eye for the little ones’ safety requires a special person- like Glenys. Bellaire School appreciates Glenys very much: she is always a guest at concerts and graduation, watching the kids she has known for seven years move on to secondary school.
When Glenys celebrated her 80th birthday earlier this year her fans decorated her crossing with balloons and steamers, and brought a cake for her. That little seat came in handy on that day.
We owe gratitude to people like Glenys who keep our precious kids safe, and what’s more, keep them happy and confident to face their school days.
And almost 50 years in a job is really something to be celebrated. Good on you, Glenys!
Story and photos: Rae Barclay.
HuG 