Educator an encourager

Alumna’s commitment to service and study transforms lives

It’s an experience Glenda Roberts treasures: the graduation ceremonies for 350 newly-certified primary teachers in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Glenda and husband Peter delivered this Special Teacher Training Program for Fulton Adventist University College over a decade (2007-2017) in retirement. They received a Medallion of Merit from the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific for doing so. “I have always encouraged my students to aim for the sky—that they may know with God’s help and their hard work, they, too, can excel.”

Students at Adventist schools in the Solomons, Papua New Guinea and New South Wales have learned this and other lessons from Glenda. Lessons such as the importance of service—Glenda co-led three fly’n’builds to Betikama Adventist College with Peter and students from Tweed Valley—and of study.

Glenda learnt about service at Avondale, “particularly in the mission field, and I was determined to become involved should the opportunity arrive.” It did after graduation—as teacher and Assistant Dean of Girls at Betikama—then again after marrying Peter in 1973. The two met at Avondale, Glenda as a teacher at the primary school on campus and Peter as a practice teacher in her classroom. They would begin their first posting together—as teachers and librarians—at Kambubu Adventist Secondary School before calls to Sonoma, Tweed Valley and Macquarie colleges. They continue to serve at the Morisset ADRA Op Shop.

Study has also been a significant part of Glenda’s life, beginning with an Associate in Music, Australia. A Diploma of Primary Teaching at Avondale followed in 1968. “I made lasting friendships and matured as a young Christian.” Degrees in education at bachelor and master’s levels came later.

The link to Avondale is strong and three generations long. Glenda’s mother and aunt attended in the 1940s and “spoke passionately about their experience.” Daughter Lynnette is a senior lecturer and son Darin an alumnus.

Avondale Alumni honours Glenda Roberts for a commitment to mission service and the ministry of teaching that transforms lives.