From sparky to bright sparks
31 January 2011
Awarded ... Christopher Anderson at work at Miriam Vale State School.
In the late 1980s, Christopher Andersen’s passion for welfare and the future of children fuelled a career change from electrician to educator.
Twenty years down the track, the manual arts teacher’s work which brings real-life applications of technology skills into classrooms is being recognised with a Department of Education and Training Australia Day Achievement Award.
Mr Andersen joins 16 other department employees receiving the award in 2011. The engraved medallions are awarded each year in recognition of outstanding staff achievements.
One of the many projects undertaken by Mr Andersen and his students at Miriam Vale State School was designing and constructing a school stage in 2009, complete with backstage, lighting and sound features.
‘It’s a new venue to call our own; a place for musicals, music-art-drama (MAD) nights, school assemblies, and converts into an additional classroom complete with data projector,’ he said. ‘It’s great, it really is!’ he said.
‘I’m grateful for the opportunity to accept this award on behalf of the students for the hundreds of hours they have put into the many projects we have embarked upon in our little school.’
Mr Andersen has been teaching in Central Queensland for nearly a decade and was nominated for the award by Miriam Vale State School principal Margie Burrell.
For the full list of Australia Day Achievement Award recipients visit the Department of Education and Training community events website.
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