Grammar school farewells two of its finest

With more than 30 years between them, it’s safe to say John Royce and Joyce Hamersley may have taught the most students of any teacher in the region.

Though they’ve had generations of Mid West families pass through, the class of 2015 will officially be the pair’s last.

Mr Royce, a teacher, and Mrs Hamersley, an education assistant, are both founding members of the Geraldton Grammar School since its opening in 1996.

Now in 2015, both educators have decided to retire to spend more time with their families.

The pair were honoured in an awards ceremony last week, where Mr Royce took out the school’s prestigious AA Brooker Award.

Mr Royce, who is also a former principal of the school, said he was looking forward to a quieter life but would miss teaching.

“I first started teaching in 1976, and since then I’ve taught in Rockingham and both Geraldton Grammar and the Senior College,” he said.

“It’s been a major part of my life but now I think it’s time to focus on myself and my own family for a little while. I’ll still be a part of the school in the way of a parent now. Both of my kids are students here.”

Mrs Hamersley, originally born in Scotland, made Geraldton her home after years of travel with her Navy-working husband.

Now after decades in the Mid West, Mrs Hamersley will pack up and relocate to Perth to spend time with her children and grandchildren.

Geraldton Grammar School principal Nick Johnstone said both Mr Royce and Mrs Hamersley would be irreplaceable in more ways than one.

“Both Joyce and John were the type of people who understand the school culture and family, a trait I wish more educators would show,” he said.

“They’ve obviously played a major role in the school’s growth but luckily for us they’ll both come back into the school community in their own ways.”