Big Day In and Out

After leaving 3 weeks ago I've been back to Swinnie twice this week. Susan, Emma and I gave a 'Tribute to Lilydale' presentation at the annual Big Day In for cross-campus library staff. We got a very warm reception although we boasted our heads off about all the great stuff we'd done in information literacy.

We reflected on the 2000 merger with Eastern TAFE and the chilly 'welcome' we got from our new colleagues when we moved into their space. My reputation as a know-it-all had preceded me and I got a particularly frosty reception.

The TAFE teachers were even more negative, anticipating (rightly) that we would put a stop to the flagrant copyright breaches, the sweetheart agreements and the amateurish manual processes they were accustomed to. For a couple of years many TAFE teachers would come into the library and walk straight out again if they couldn't see one of the old brigade on duty.

It took a long time but now both TAFE library and teaching staff are among my BFFs.

Eight of the 15 departing library staff were awarded our set of coveted and cherished Swinburne spoons to more thunderous applause. It was emotional but good.

The second event was the campus breakfast which was fine while I was there but I felt unsettled for the rest of  the day. So I've withdrawn from the Christmas party at the winery but am steeling myself to the farewell for my 4 library colleagues next week. The number of attendees dwindles at each event and this is going to continue until July. The Staff Association president who organises all these events is finding it very dispiriting. So are we all.

Last Frontier?

The gals turned on a lavish and very successful farewell morning tea for me this morning. Lots of people, gifts, cards and so many lovely things said about me. I tried to lap up all the feteing and you-are-greating. It's a bit overwhelming though.

 

Things I'm gonna miss #5

My academics

I can’t say too much as several have agreed to be a referee for me.

Most are fabulous and so grateful for everything I do for them. There’s been a couple of difficult ones but only one absolute horror.

My favourite is Macho Man – so non-politically correct – how does he get away with it?

My students

Over the years so many. Hundreds, maybe thousands. The last one was, predictably, my most recent high maintenance OUA marketing student. 

My library colleagues

Staff at other campuses but mostly those at Lilydale whom I have worked closely with for so long. It’s hard to believe I won’t see them every working day.

I had an early birthday celebration last week and a farewell lunch at Mitchell’s View Restaurant today.  It was the usual absolute debacle and it’s one place I certainly will not miss.

Tomorrow’s my last day and a farewell morning tea. I am certainly getting a good send-off.

 

The final countdown

This is my last full week at Swinburne and tomorrow, Melbourne Cup Day, will be my last public holiday - ever.

I've been to numerous farewells over the last few weeks and now my own are looming. It's going to be weird but I'm beginning to think it's probably good that I'm not staying until Christmas. The gloom and doom around here is not helping. My manager had a heart attack on Saturday. I hope my histrionics were not a contributing factor and I certainly don't want to be next.

I started throwing things out weeks ago but there's still no visible sign of improvement re the clutter on my desk. Gotta get on with it!

I'm tipping Red Cadeaux, the pommy horse with the froggy name, for the Cup. Here he is coming second last year. Go one better tomorrow, Red

Things I'm gonna miss #4

The Bookshop

This family business has given me brilliant service over the last 16 years. Family members came and went but all were fabulous. Publishing is traditionally such a conservative business and lead times are usually ridiculouly long. But if anyone could make it happen the Lilydale bookshop did.

The last in a long line of clan members is Jane, enduring some lonely days as the campus dies around her. But still smiling.

Things I'm gonna miss #3

The mags

There aren't many lurks and perks in being a librarian but one is being first to get your hands on the new periodicals. In these days of electronic delivery this is not such a big deal anymore but there are still a few print magazines I love:

1. 'Retail World'
This glorious, glossy trade mag never fails to delight. Every issue is crammed with new products - not big stuff like classy cars or expensive perfumes but supermarket line extensions - new varieties, flavours or packaging innovations. I never buy any of the processed  foods advertised but I do enjoy reading about the revolutionary easy crush water bottle from Mount Franklin or the Heat 'n Serve duck dinner from Luv-a-Duck.

There are articles and category reviews too which provide an industry overview of bread, or toilet cleaners or salad dressings. Did you know for example that the growth in the pet food industry is being driven by snacking? Or that ice cream is the fourth most promoted category behind toilet paper, nappies and chips?

2. & 3. 'Good Health' and 'Men's Health'

Filled with bizarre and often hilarious findings from uncited research studies the women's version is all about diet and exercise as a way to lose weight. The men's version, slightly more credible, is about diet and exercise as a way to gain muscle and attract chicks. Both are great for a superior scoff.

There's others of course - 'Gourmet traveller', some of the child care stuff, 'Choice' can be useful, the literary and marketing journals too. Librarians don't buy magazines, they acquire them and have ways and means of keeping their favourites for unusually long periods.

And I haven't even mentioned the books... or movies

Things I'm gonna miss #2

The Hub Cafe

Where elso but at Lilydale Campus would you get service like this? Just hand over your mug or keep-cup. They know what you have and how you like it. For the princely sum of $2.50.

Wonderful Bo and zany Bec - baristas extraordinaire. Sam and Charmaine - such platters of goodies at all our functions.

Maybe a specially decorated confection on your birthday.

Bo

Bec

Inky Pinky Parlez Vous!

Mere won the Gold Inky for her young adult novel, "Shift" last night. What a thrill to win an award shortlisted by experts then voted on by the readers themselves! The prize is a weighty trophy and prize money of $2000.

As she is in Germany Mere accepted by videolink. She mentioned that her last trophy win was for "Most improved 12-and-under freestyler" awarded by the Payneham Swimming Club in Adelaide when she was 8 in 1979.

Most improved freestyler - 1979

Gold Inky - 2012

Last night her award was accepted on her behalf by her editor at Hardie Grant Egmont, Hil Rogers to loud applause.

Congratulations Mere! So richly deserved.

Inky-awards-announcement

Things I’m gonna miss #1

When I am no longer driving 43 kms to work every morning I will miss the radio traffic report.

I will have no reason to fear the gale force winds on the Westgate, the upturned truck on the Tulla or the hoon racer on the ring road. I won’t care if it’s chockers on the Chandler, there’s a bingle on Burke in Balwyn and the usual mess at the South Gippy merge.

Boomgates at level crossings all over the city may refuse to budge but what’ll that be to me?

On the way home I will miss listening to The Ox on SEN, particularly that wacky segment, 'The Name Game' but also Leigh Paatsch’s film reviews, Julie Hancock’s astonishingly educational 'Beer O’Clock', the absurd 'Turfy’s Betting Exchange', and that marketing communications expert who advises footy players on how to extract themselves from their latest alcohol induced public act of idiocy.

I’d never bother to switch on this blokey banality if I weren’t confined to a car. Still, I am going to miss you Oxy.

Restricted free agent

This year’s AFL trade week hasn’t been as unsavoury as usual. I think the introduction of free agency has diminished the meat market atmosphere.  

I am on the market too.  I'm taking a VSP from Swinburne which means I have to wear the red vest for two years. No more library, no more sessional teaching. But, at last, after 3 months of sooking, sulking and looking astonished when people congratulate me on my redundancy package, I’m ready to look for a new club.

But first here are some pictures to showcase what I’ll be leaving behind.  This is my work.

 

 




My lunchtime walk




My favourite Lilydale picture





My lake





My beach



My rustic bridge





My boss



My colleagues





The two Julies



Ms New Zealand & Ms India



My girls' weekend at Colleen's





Kath & Kim at the library



Away day



"Lovely Lilydale Library Ladies"