He’s worked at St Stephen’s School in every decade since its inception, but at the end of this term Phil Timms is ruling a line under his time with us, taking with him some fond memories having made a difference in the lives of hundreds of students.
Phil was a young, grad when he joined us back in 1986, initially teaching Phys Ed and Science and then going on to teach Music as well as Faith and Values.
He has some strong memories of his early days at the Duncraig campus.
“During my first Year 8 Orientation camp on my very first day as a teacher a small girl (Jane Warrilow – later a gymnast at the Olympics) turned to me and asked if I was in Year 9!! I figured I was never going to get any respect!” says Phil.
“In the first few years Hamer Oval was just scrub as was the hockey oval, and the only oval we had was where the Primary School is now. If we wanted to play football, I would run my class over what is now the freeway to the park on the other side to play.”
Pictured right: Founding staff member Nicki Gibson with the first Dean of Alethea, Peter Prout, Debbie Sayce and Phil.
Music has always been a core part of Phil’s identity and contribution to our school, so it was no surprise when he chose to pursue studies in music.
“I took a year off in 1990 to attend the Jazz course at WAAPA playing guitar,” he says.
“Then at the end of 1992 I left to study Theology, and went back to WAAPA to continue my studies, and then qualified to teach Music. I went on from there to become the Director of the Music program at Eden Hill before being appointed as the Director of Sport at Lake Joondalup Baptist College.”
We’re glad that we were able to lure Phil back to St Stephen’s School in 2003, though.
“An ex-student Scott Ballem from the Class of 1989, rang me up and invited me to come and have a drink with the first Dean of Timae, Brian Plowman,” explains Phil.
“When we caught up, Brian told me he had decided to move to the Carramar campus and suggested I apply for his job as Dean of Timae. Later that week he rang me because he thought I hadn’t taken his suggestion seriously (he was right) and that’s when I started thinking about applying for the role.”
And, as they say, the rest is history. For all Deans, the role is a challenging, but also very rewarding one.
“One of the most enjoyable things for me has been the family feel of Timae. There are such great staff, the students seem to love being in Timae and the sense of working together for common goals and having fun doing it, is so great. In fact, just thinking about walking through the assembly area in Timae and experiencing the vibe and the fun banter with so many kids and staff is making me emotional,” says Phil.
“Without a doubt my favourite thing is when I have a huge “D & M” with a student, parent or staff member. When someone invites you into their most private thoughts – especially when they are really hurting – has always felt like sacred ground to me and I have never got tired of those moments. I had a couple of those yesterday – it is both draining and very energising and motivating at the same time, as you just want to do your bit to make things better for them.”
It’s clear that pastoral care has been important to Phil as an educator right from his earliest days in the classroom.
“I remember on my final teaching prac, not at St Stephen’s, having a student come into class, her Mum had beaten her that morning. In that school there was nothing I could do. Teachers and students were very “us and them” in that place,” he says.
“It was such a relief and an encouragement to start at St Stephen’s and see a new way of being modelled for me, where students were respected, encouraged and celebrated as much as possible. I’m so grateful for the opportunities I was given as a young teacher under the great John Allen Williams and then to become a Dean and follow the legacy of Brian Plowman. Not every day was wonderful but collectively it has been a truly wonderful journey.”
It is this deep, sincere care for everyone around him that will be Phil’s legacy at St Stephen’s School.
“I’m not exactly sure what I’ll do in the future, I have learned a lot doing this job and I would like to pass some of that on to other pastoral care people in schools if I can find a way to do that,” says Phil.
“I’ve found this job quite busy and haven’t found the time to dream up what is next, but I’ll have the summer to start. Anything that includes helping, music, educating or assisting people to become more reflective sounds interesting to me.”
Phil will be greatly missed, but we wish him well for this exciting new phase in his life and career.