Born in 1911, Cecil Alan Sonsee lived at Springmount near Creswick, and taught natural history at the Ballarat Teachers' College for 30 years. His teaching career stretched over a 48 year period. He spent six years as a student teacher before reaching the position of first class teacher. He had the distinction of never attending a teachers' college, but spending half his teaching career training students to become teachers. At the time of his retirement Mr Sonsee said during his years at the college, "the training had changed from a one year course to a two year course, followed by a three year course, and now a four year course was offered." He recalled "in the early days all country schools had eight grades and a child finished with a merit certificate. Today [1976], children went to high schools from sixth grade and most of the country schools had disappeared.' Alan Sonsee spent 10 years on a television program on BTV6 answering questions sent by viewers regarding aspects of plant and animal live. Mr Sonsee was a life member of both Creswick and Ballarat Field naturalists Clubs. Alan Sonsee died in 1985.1) Foolscap Department of Victoria Ballarat newsletter titled Education 'Regional Views'. The newsletter depicts an image of Alan Sonsee and outlines his career at the time of his retirement on 20 July 1976. The author of the newsletter is unknown. .2) newspaper article on the retirement of Alan Sonsee dated 25 August 1976 (probably from the Ballarat Courier).1) Mr "Nature Man" Retires After a quiet celebration, Mr C.A. Sonsee, a well-known staff member at Ballarat State College, retired from the Victorian Education Department on 20th July, 1976. Alan was the longest serving primary teacher seconded to the State College (Formerly the Ballarat teachers' College), probably the best known and certainly one of the most highly respected educationalists in this region. Leaving Ballarat high School in 1927, he spent the following years teaching at Smeaton, Willowvale, Lawrence (originally called Jerusalem) and Kooroocheang primary schools. However, during the last twenty-nine years, his fame and his influence spread further and further afield. From 1947 to 1976, under a number of principals, Alan endeared himself to thousands of students undergoing their tertiary preparation for teaching. And thousands is the word! Hundreds and hundreds of practising teachers of all ages came to this great teacher again and again for assistance in understanding natural phenomena, a broad field in which he is an acknowledged expert. What undoubtedly made him so accessible to the young and the no-so-young alike was his ready willingness to share with them is rich experience. The warmth of his nature, his kindliness, his dry humour enriched and enlivened the gifts he lavished liberally on all who needed help. Nor did he spare himself in the process. During his ling period of service to teachers, students and some two generations or so of school children, Field Naturalists also, within and well beyond Ballarat, profited from his participation and guidance. A car trip from Ballarat to Lancefield was made unforgettable by Alan's running and lively commentary; the time spent with him viewing and fossicking in an aboriginal flint area is still vivid, thouhg many moons have waxed and waned since then. And who can ever forget his palcid, home;y handling of "Mr nature Man" programmes on BTV 6 for over ten years? his name became a hose-hold word over an existence viewing area in Western Victoria - as his mail bag showed. Mr T. Turner was closely associated with C.A.S. for some twenty-three years as colleague and college principal. Recently tome said, "Alan was highly esteemed by staff and students, When I saw him lecturing I would be struck by the depth and breadth of his knowledge, and by the smooth, almost deceptively simple way he shared what he knew with others. I remember, too, his consideration for the views and the feelings of others; for the tolerance and range of his understanding of human nature. But, above all else, I remember him as a friend." All who know him in any way at all will want to say, "Thanks you, Alan, for everything you did for us. Thank you, Alan for what you are."alan sonsee, ballarat teachers' college, ballarat state college, education, teaching, ballarat field naturalists, creswick field naturalists, aborigines, lancefield flint, smeaton primary school, willowvale primary school, lawrence primary school, jerusalum primary school, kooroocheang primary school, nature studies, mr nature man

A newspaper cutting titled 'Video-taping the BTC students...' It has a photo of Bendigo Teachers' College lecturer Mr. Brian Geary video-taping student teacher John Bakker with Lisa Pearson in a classroom teaching situation. Bendigo Advertiser August 17th, 1972.bendigo, education, bendigo teachers' college, la trobe university bendigo collection, collection, bendigo, education, bendigo teachers' college staff, bendigo teachers' college students, teaching, video-tape recording, video-tape equipment, technology, mr. brian geary, mr. john bakker, lisa pearson, teaching methods, photograph, photo, photographs, photography, teacher training, tertiary education

White, black and red soft covered book, the Ballarat Teachers' College magazine 'Extra Muros' for 1964. ballarat teachers college, monica miller, tom turner, garry dark, arch cuthbertson, john gilbert, peter sargeant, peter fryar, mary egan, mavis canty, alan sonsee, jon russell, kent moyle, norman broad, beaufort house, john caine, mary osullivan, sue volk, peter skilbeck, genevieve duffy, james gunn, tom gordon, gillies street, ballarat paper mills

A black and white photograph of Mr. Keith Scarrott the Principal of Bendigo Teachers' College from 1970 to 1977.bendigo, education, bendigo teachers' college staff, la trobe university bendigo collection, collection, bendigo teachers' college, bendigo, education, mr. keith scarrott, male, person, bendigo teachers' college staff, photo, photograph, photographs, photography, tertiary education, teacher training

A black and white photograph of Mr. L.J. Pryor Principal of Bendigo Teachers' College from 1951 to 1958.bendigo, education, bendigo teachers' college staff, la trobe university bendigo collection, collection, bendigo, education, bendigo teachers' college, bendigo teachers' college staff, mr. l. j. pryor, tertiary education, teacher training, photo, photograph, photographs, photography

A black and white photograph of Bendigo Teachers' College staff in the 1940's/1950's. Names unknown.bendigo, education, bendigo teachers' college staff, la trobe university bendigo collection, bendigo, collection, education, tertiary education, bendigo teachers' college, bendigo teachers' college staff, teacher training, photograph, photographs, photography

A black and white photograph of Mr. George Mills Principal of Bendigo Teachers' College from 1945 to 1950.bendigo, education, bendigo teachers' college staff, la trobe university bendigo collection, collection, bendigo, tertiary education, education, mr. george mills, male, individual, bendigo teachers' college, teacher training

St Paul's Sunday School 'Absentee Form' (for teacher to fill in 'if scholar is absent for two consecutive Sundays').organization, church, st. paul's

A small black and white photograph of the Bendigo Teachers' College staff taken in 1967 in front of the Administration Block.bendigo, education, bendigo teachers' college staff, la trobe university bendigo collection, collection, bendigo, education, tertiary education, staff, photo, photograph, bendigo teachers' college staff, history

Teacher's notes on the teaching of the Arabana language, provides instructions for use with the CD ROM, language lists and activities.Colour illustrations, computer guide to CD-ROM, word listsarabana, arabunna

Black and white photo of Grades 1 and 2 of Vermont State School with teacher Miss Julia Flynnflynn, julia, vermont state school, no. 1022

Black and white photo of Vermont state School, Classes 3-6 with Head Teacher, Mr. Watchhorn.watchhorn, mr., vermont state school, no. 1022, primary schools

Colour photograph of pupils seated at desks, being instructed by teacher, in the school room of the Common School Museum.rutherglen primary school, school pupils, reenactment, rutherglen common school

Colour photograph of pupils seated at desks, being instructed by teacher, in the school room of the Common School Museum.rutherglen primary school, school pupils, reenactment, rutherglen common school

Black and white photograph of a kindergarten teacher (left) playing a game with six small children sitting on the carpet.kindergartens, lucknow street child care centre, mitcham

Date made 13 May 1960Black and white photograph of teacher Julian Casey McMahon and students of Wairewa State School,Wairewa Victoriaschools

Raymond Island school was opened 14 February 1902, and closed permanently 1934.Black and white photograph of students, teacher and parents at Raymond Island State School no. 3384. Paynesville Victoriaschools

Names of children on paper in file.Colour photograph of group of thirteen school children and teacher Graeme Castles of primary school Johnsonville Victoria.

Colour photograph of group of fifteen school children and teacher Graeme Castles of primary school Johnsonville Victoria.schools