Shirley Armstrong – Charleville BOTA & Charleville Branch Life Member
Shirley Armstrong’s contribution to ICPA and Distance Education spanned many years and encompassed service at Branch, State and community level. Her commitment began through the Charleville School of the Air, where she was an inaugural member of the Charleville SOTA Parents & Citizens Association in 1966, serving on the committee and becoming President in 1979. Alongside this involvement, Shirley taught correspondence lessons to each of her seven children during their primary school years.
In 1976, Shirley was one of the founding members of the Charleville School of the Air ICPA Branch, later known as the Charleville Branch of the Air (BOTA). She represented the Branch as both a State and Federal Conference delegate in 1979 and 1980 and became Secretary/Treasurer in 1980, continuing in the role until the end of 1983. During these years, Shirley produced countless newsletters and reports and worked with fellow members to prepare submissions advocating for the needs of geographically isolated families.
One of Shirley’s significant initiatives was the Student Teacher Program, which she established in 1981. She travelled to other districts gathering information and compiling resources for Home Tutors on the many aspects of teaching correspondence. The program became a successful and worthwhile initiative, providing trainee teachers with practical experience in western Queensland schools.
Shirley’s advocacy also extended to ICPA Qld State Council, where she served as an Executive member from 1980 to 1984. In 1984, while in office, she compiled State Council’s major submission on Distance Education to the Ministerial Advisory Committee. The original Life Membership citation noted the submission’s contribution to the establishment of Queensland’s Area Schools of Distance Education. In recognition of her loyalty, knowledge and dedication to the education of isolated children, Shirley was awarded Life Membership of the Charleville Branch of the Air in 1986.
Shirley’s service did not end there. Following the amalgamation of the Charleville BOTA with the Charleville Branch, she continued her involvement as a committee member and later served as Assistant Secretary for one year. Her experience and knowledge remained invaluable to the wider Branch.
Shirley also continued her involvement in education and training. After her time on State Council, she held portfolios including Distance Education, Small Remote Schools, Teacher Training, Governess Training and Tertiary Education. She served on the Regional Advisory Council representing Home Tutors for two years, contributed to submissions concerning tertiary education opportunities for Queensland students, and was involved in advisory work relating to teacher training in remote school areas. From 1992 to 1994, she was Coordinator for the Charleville area for Volunteers for Isolated Students (VISE) and also served on its National Management Committee.
In recognition of this continued service, Shirley was awarded Life Membership of the Charleville Branch in 1994, eight years after receiving Life Membership of the Charleville BOTA. Together, these two Life Memberships recognise an exceptional period of service to ICPA—from the early days of School of the Air and Branch of the Air through to the broader Charleville Branch—and Shirley’s enduring commitment to improving educational opportunities for isolated children and their families.
