By Tanya Steele
A beloved crossing guard will be hanging up the high vis in Croydon North after 44 years of service at Yarra Road Primary School.
Carmel Black has devoted a lifetime to her community and has decided to retire at the end of the school term.
“It’s time to pack up the uniform, fold up the flags and pass the stop sign over to someone new and retire,” she said.
Originally Ms Black began as a crossing guard at the primary school when she saw an advertisement that hadn’t been filled by what was then the Croydon City Council.
She asked if she could help out and she got training. Initially, Ms Black said she was only going to do it until they found someone permanent.
“I stayed because I love the job and adore the children, they have shared so much with me and they are like an extended family,” she said.
Ms Black said she could write a book about what the children have told her over the years, with at least two generations of families passing by her stop sign.
“It’s just been a pleasure,” she said.
Ms Black is an avid reader and plans to sink into a few books or have a few leisurely lunches in her free time.
“I won’t have to watch the clock and I can enjoy some other things like the movies,” she said.
Ms Black also had a farewell luncheon after a crossing guard meeting on May 29 hosted by the Maroondah City Council along with some of her family in attendance.
“It was really beautiful, I thoroughly enjoyed that,” she said.
Ms Black said her own children who attended Yarra Road enjoyed going to school early with her and playing at the playground after school finished for the day.
The area itself has changed a lot. Ms Black said that the school is much bigger and the area a lot busier.
“We’ve got over 300 students now and originally there were only around 100,” she said.
The school was originally surrounded by orchards, with many large Italian families attending – the crossing itself was a real asset to the people in the area.
“We’re surrounded by estates now and there is not one orchard left,” she said.
She plans to stay engaged with the school and will continue to do reading with the Preps and attend some of the school performances.
“I especially liked going to the grade six graduation,” she said.
Rain, hail or shine Ms Black has served her community faithfully and takes a lot of satisfaction in her role as crossing guard.
“Knowing they get to school and home safely makes you feel good,” she said.
“I’ll miss their happy, smiley faces, it’s been a good job and I’ve enjoyed it.”
