Thellie was a highly valued member of Rugby’s school family for over forty years and our little school’s students and staff loved her very much.

Thellie drove the school bus for many years and was a supportive parent for the time her children attended Rugby Public before she became the school SAM and worked in the office.

She loved her “little job” as she called it. 

Thellie was a master at keeping everyone organised and ticking over at the school, always with a wonderful sense of humour.

She relished the achievements of the children and had endless patience in listening to their reading and taking the time to talk with them about their lives.  

As a present Year 2 student, Carlos Martin, recalled, “Thellie was the best person, Thellie always helped you and she would always make you smile!”

A tree was planted in the Rugby Recreational Area by the staff of the school, current students and Thellie’s eldest son, Tom.

A granite rock holds a plaque with a dedication message and some of Thellie’s favourite daffodils surround the tree.

Tom and his wife, Desma were welcomed warmly as our special guests for Education Week celebrations, and visitors joined us at the school for the day.

A BBQ lunch raised money for the Cancer Council and everyone stayed for a more school formal school assembly to celebrate Education Week for 2016.

The students displayed and read some of their work, a play “ All Gone” by Julia Donaldson was performed, and special visitors and families were treated to guided tours of coding projects and displays in the classroom.

Rugby students and staff were very proud to showcase their school and their activities, and thank everyone who visited for the dedication in memory of Thellie.

We are quite certain that her tree will grow to be a beautiful feature of the village.

National Education Week ran in schools from August 1 till August 5, 2016.