Sr Valerie Huston

Valerie Huston studied piano as a child, always loving music. She became a teacher and in the 1970s attended the week-long in-service for teachers provided by the Education Department. She attended one on music education led by Myrle Ludgatter and Val Layne which led teachers through the Music syllabus of the time. This was before Kodaly music education was available in Queensland. It lit a spark in her and she started to teach music to every grade in the school. Valerie became a music specialist in various Catholic schools in Brisbane and then attended Judy Johnson’s evening courses at Clayfield College.

Her next step was Queensland’s North West, travelling to Mt Isa, Cloncurry, Julia Creek and Winton teaching music to each grade and taking sessions with each teacher taking them through the material and “why” of each activity giving them follow-up activities for that material to be delivered during the weeks in between visits.

In 1989 Valerie travelled to Holy Names in California to complete the Masters. She recalls that the Masters in Music Education Kodaly Approach at Holy Names was the most demanding, exhausting and worthwhile study she had ever done. Upon returning she became a Music Education Consultant in Townsville (with Cath Ed) and her aim was to make good quality music education a reality and joy for the children and teachers.

During this time in Townsville Sister Val was part of starting the Townsville Chapter of KMEIA. This required changes to the Constitution as it was the first Chapter of any branch in Australia. The Townsville Chapter continues strongly today and owes much to the strong start made by Sister Val.

Honorary Life Members

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