For almost 50 years school crossing supervisor Glenys Smith has been helping students safely cross South Valley Road in Highton as they make their way to Bellaire Primary School.
Glenys Smith remembers clearly when she started: it was St Patrick’s Day in 1975 and she was among some of the first school crossing supervisors employed in the region.
There are now around 180 school crossing supervisors in the region helping pedestrians every morning and afternoon.
Recently celebrating her 80th birthday, students surprised Glenys with decorations and treats at her regular post on South Valley Road, with Glenys admitting it was “a real surprise”.
[It was great] to see all of their happy faces. One of the older kids had a sign that was asking cars to beep their horns and even the adults were laughing and smiling and it was something nice to take their minds off everything.
What made you want to become a school crossing supervisor?
Glenys: When I started there my daughter had left Bellaire Primary School to go to high school and my son was in Grade 5. At that stage you could pick where you wanted to go and because there weren’t many crossings left, I said ‘I’ll go at South Valley Road’. They said ‘alright’ and I’ve been there ever since.
What’s the most rewarding part of your role?
I think it’s sort of making friends with all the people that live all around and getting to know the kids. You see some of them from babies and kinder right through to Year 12 or when they’re going to university – so you sort of see them all their school life.
Every now and then they’ll come by and say, ‘Are you still here!?’. I did have a couple of families that were second generation using the crossing.
With decades of experience, Glenys’ biggest tips for motorists is to be aware of the school zones, obey the 40km/h signs and pay close attention to instructions by crossing supervisors.
