Page 65 - 2016 Yearbook

COLLEGE LIFE

Goodbye and Good luck, Peter and Annette

P eter and Annette Barlow retired in September and were Carla spoke of Peter’s wonderful, infectious laugh, his support
when she started teaching in 2004 and wise counsel as she
honoured at ACK for their outstanding service over nearly
35 years to the life and times of the college and its people. grappled with curriculum changes.
Between them, this husband and wife team built up a superb “Pete gently told me he’d seen it all before and to just ride out the
music department with countless students benefitting greatly changes, and before too long it would change all over again. He
from their expert tuition and guidance. was right, about that and so many other things.”
Quite a number of those students progressed to high honours In response, Peter thanked everyone for coming and quipped:
in music. “As I look around the room I’m so glad I never shaved off my
Principal Kate Fogarty oversaw a fitting and well-attended beard. I just knew I’d be cool again someday!”
celebration in the Champagnat Music Centre. He thanked those who had contributed stories to a tribute book

Carla Mahony paid tribute to Peter and Annette who had given and endorsed Carla’s description of the music department as a
their all in their quest to raise the status of music and song – a place of refuge where “you could always call by for a chat, get
task well and truly achieved. away from those who didn’t understand that you were a bit
different, escape for a while from the schoolyard bullies”.
Carla explained that she’d known them for 24 years as an
Assumption student and teacher and described them as Amid some humorous quips (“I only got the job because it was
“influential teachers, colleagues and friends”. She almost became the International Year of the Disabled” and “There is nothing a
their daughter-in-law too after falling “madly in love with their slab of beer can’t fix”) Pete thanked many people: former and
eldest son Tristan”. They remain close friends. current Assumption staff, including Kate Fogarty for her kindness,
and family and friends, among them, Carla for her witty speech
“The Barlows gave me a safe place and refuge in a ‘footy school’ “full of half-truths and outright fiction.”
… You created a space where all the misfits could feel like they
fitted after all. That’s a gift … that has helped so many students Peter and Annette have certainly influenced many young lives
over the decades love their high-school experience.” at Assumption and beyond with their inspirational teaching and
example.
She appreciated their acceptance of her as a muso despite not
being very musical and explained how once Peter (Pistoli) asked Ray Carroll
her to “just mime” because she couldn’t get the note.

61 Assumption College Kilmore 2016 Yearbook