Christine Sloss – North Burnett Branch Life Member
Christine Sloss has been a dedicated and highly valued member of the North Burnett Branch of ICPA, formerly the Eidsvold–Cracow Branch, for more than 20 years. Together with her husband Allan, Christine has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to supporting geographically isolated families and ensuring rural children have access to equitable educational opportunities.
Throughout her involvement, Christine provided 19 consecutive years of service in Branch executive positions, demonstrating exceptional dedication and leadership. She served as Vice President from 1995 to 1999, Publicity Officer from 1997 to 2000, and subsequently held the demanding role of Secretary/Treasurer until 2015. Her willingness to undertake these responsibilities over such an extended period provided valuable stability and continuity for the Branch.
Christine's passion for Distance Education was shaped by her own family's experiences. She was Home Tutor to her three daughters, who completed most of their schooling through the Rockhampton Campus of Capricornia School of Distance Education, before attending Rockhampton Grammar School as boarders from Year 11. These experiences gave Christine a firsthand understanding of the challenges faced by rural families in educating their children and the importance of maintaining accessible Distance Education services.
One of Christine's most significant contributions came in 2005, when she represented the North Burnett Branch at the ICPA Queensland State Conference in St George. As one of two Branch delegates, Christine helped present a motion calling on ICPA Queensland to lobby the Department of Education to reconsider its decision to close the Rockhampton Campus of Capricornia School of Distance Education. Through the determined advocacy of ICPA and its members, the campus remained open, ensuring North Burnett families continued to have access to their nearest Distance Education campus.
Christine also represented the Branch at several other ICPA Queensland State Conferences, including Chinchilla in 2001 and Mitchell in 2008. Her involvement helped ensure that the concerns of North Burnett families were heard and considered within the wider organisation.
Perhaps one of Christine's greatest contributions was her determination to keep the North Burnett Branch active during periods of declining membership. Together with Allan, Denise Hartwig and Denise's late husband Robert, Christine continued serving on the Branch executive long after her own children had completed their education. Their collective commitment was instrumental in preventing the Branch from closing and ensuring it remained a strong voice for rural families.
Beyond her executive responsibilities, Christine was a tireless supporter of Branch fundraising activities. She willingly contributed her time to catering, raffles, managing gates at community events and other fundraising initiatives. These efforts helped establish a sound financial position for the Branch, providing ongoing stability and supporting its continued advocacy.
Christine's dedication extended far beyond holding executive positions. Her reliability, willingness to contribute and commitment to supporting fellow members helped ensure the Branch remained active and financially secure, even during challenging times.
In recognition of her more than 20 years of dedicated membership, 19 consecutive years of executive service, significant advocacy for Distance Education, extensive fundraising and determination to ensure the survival of the North Burnett Branch, Christine Sloss was nominated for Life Membership of the North Burnett Branch. Her nomination acknowledged an outstanding contribution to ICPA and the lasting impact of her leadership, loyalty and commitment to rural and remote families.
