As we rapidly approach the date when we will be leaving Seymour, we would like to reflect on this major part of our lives and the people we have come to know.
After a year in Iowa in the United States as an International Teaching Fellow, John came to Seymour on December 31, 1980 to take over his position as principal of Seymour Primary School No 547.
His official appointment was from January 1, 1980 and the incumbent principal, Paul Bartels, remained in the position for an extra year.
Virginia (Ginny) and our two girls, Debra and Kim, followed soon after, and so began our almost 45 years involvement in the Seymour community.
At first, we lived in the principal’s residence in Railway St, and the girls attended Seymour Primary School in Grant St and later went to Seymour Technical High School.
Ginny returned to teaching at Seymour East Primary School in Delatite Rd in 1984 and after four years she transferred to Grant St.
We would like to thank the many friends, colleagues and acquaintances we have made over the years here and want to acknowledge the huge part they played in making Seymour such a wonderful home for us.
We would like to especially thank our close group of six couples, the staff, children and parents of both schools, and the members of the Seymour and District Historical Society Inc, where we have served on the committee for many years, with John being secretary for 21 years and then president for a further two years.
There have been many other organisations to which we have belonged, including the Seymour Development Committee, the Oasis Club, the Auxiliary of the Seymour Hospital, the Friends of the Bridge, the Rafting Festival Committee, Tidy Towns, the Australian Light Horse Park Committee, Seymour Probus Club, the Committee of the Old Seymour Court House, Seymour U3A, Seymour Golf Club and Seymour Bowls Club.
A lasting memory was when John was fortunate enough to carry the Olympic Torch in Seymour in 2000, and the wonderful community evening that followed at Kings Park.
John has also been honoured as Mitchell Shire Citizen of the Year, and he has received an OAM for services to the community.
We have both been made life members of the Seymour Historical Society and John is also a life member of the Light Horse Park and School Sport Victoria.
Because of our love of history, we have written several books about the history of Seymour, something that has fascinated us over the years.
People make a town, and we will certainly miss the people of Seymour when we move into a retirement village in Seaford, close to our daughter, and close to the places where we both grew up.
Thank you, Seymour.
We will miss you.
– John and Ginny Jennings
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