Friday marked World Teacher's Day! This is one of the few photos of Central Australia's first Aboriginal school teacher Rona Glynn (the tallest student in the back row). Born at Woodgreen Station in 1936, Rona grew up at The Bungalow, a home for Aboriginal kids at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station. By the time she was 16 she had a reputation as an excellent student and began teaching. After some further study she became the Grade 2 teacher at the old Hartley Street School. In the fifties, Rona retrained as a nurse and midwife, delivering around 2000 babies in Alice Springs, but in a dark twist of fate, died giving birth to her own child at just 28. She's remembered for her cheeky sense of humour and kindness, and an Alice preschool is named after her.

Image: Alice Springs Collection, Northern Territory Library

Published: 28 October 2018