A YEAR 4 teacher at St Mary’s School, Beaudesert has been awarded a community merit medal in the 2004 National Excellence in Teaching Awards (NEiTA) for her contribution to the school and community.
Bianca Murphy was among 88 winners throughout Australia – including 13 in Queensland – from 2900 nominations for the community merit awards that promote excellence in teaching and recognise top teachers.
Mrs Murphy received the medal for ‘innovations beneficial to the school and the town’.
She incorporated into the school curriculum some of her research projects into the history of Beaudesert, developed the school arts festival and created a butterfly habitat at the school.
Principal Frank Rhodes said Mrs Murphy is one of those teachers who makes a difference to a child’s life in a positive way.
Presenting the medal at a special school assembly on March 23, outgoing Beaudesert Mayor Ron Munn said the children, their parents and the community were proud of her efforts.
Mrs Murphy joined St Mary’s three years ago from Australian Catholic University in Brisbane.
