People around the world have shared valuable ideas through stories - forever. A good story well-crafted and presented is such a wonderful teaching tool. Stories told in a school can help underpin the School’s culture and illustrate the value of a good school community. Camps provide a great environment for storytelling. Teachers who deviate from their stated lesson and share a good story with students are often appreciated and students learn from the story. If it is good they will remember it, learn lessons from it which last sometimes for years. As Principal you have many opportunities to tell stories to students, staff and indeed parents.

If you are a good storyteller you have an advantage, though you can always refine the craft. If you are not, teach yourself this craft, study it and practice it. Remember not to make it too complicated and settle on making one or two points. If you make too many points all of them will be lost. Send people out with something to think about, preferably one good thing. I always get a thrill when old students quote a story back to me well after they have left the school. Every time you address the school you are on critical show and it is always an opportunity to present yourself well. Principals who don’t present themselves well on these occasions lose credibility.

There is a story in most things and an assembly is a good time to tell it. My office was like a museum filled with lots of interesting things all of which would eventually make their way to an assembly talk. Using something visual provides a memorable foundation on which to rest a point, something for everyone to focus on during the talk. Aim to make the talk at an assembly a suitable length for the age group. Often seven or eight minutes is long enough for secondary kids, shorter for primary. However you will know your school and when the students start to become unreceptive.

I was listening to an analysis of the effectiveness of Winston Churchill as a speaker, as I drove back from the Deep South recently. Some talks can be really entertaining as they are presented, draw laughs and are enjoyed but the points made are not taken away by the audience. By his time as Prime Minister of Great Britain during World War 2, Churchill had mastered the art of communicating with the people so that they remembered and appreciated the points that he made. Some people are able to do this “off the cuff “but Churchill didn’t, he spent hours crafting his speeches, editing them so that every word could be understood by the people. In public speaking, and it is in public, near enough is not good enough. As Principal this is a time to really make a difference.

Recently I was struck by some information which was new to me. Perhaps I should have known it. I was wondering why the Kangaroo and Emu were on the Australian coat of arms. I thought, at my age, I should definitely know the answer and now that I do will certainly make sure all my Grandchildren know it. These two wonderful Australian animals are there because they are definitely ours but also because neither can move backwards, highlighting that Australia should always be moving forwards. Isn’t that an interesting point!

I was on a plane flying to a conference in South Africa, and was suddenly taken by the fact that I didn’t know the national bird of our Northern Territory. Well, how “cool” is it that ours is the Wedge -Tailed Eagle with its 2.5 meter wing span, it is the largest Australian bird of prey. These magnificent birds partner for life! I had Wedge Tailed Eagle Badges made which were symbols of success, given as badges of honour to students who were successful at something.

And what about our NT national animal? It is the largest living marsupial with adults standing 2 meters tall and weighing 75+ kilograms; it is indeed the big Red Kangaroo. I think kangaroos are magnificent animals, wonderful to watch. On my farm I have lots of Greys and I love observing them, watching the joeys and their mums and how they will dive headfirst into their mother’s pouch as she heads off seemingly not hampered by the weight of her joey.

These birds and animals are ideal subjects for short, well - crafted memorable talks of meaning. Of course it will help to have a toy kangaroo on hand even when talking to year twelves.

A talk can be enhanced by doing something very different. I did the following several times. The talk would be about community service. Pause and I would hold up a $5 note (when they were around) and asked for a volunteer. When the volunteer chosen came onto the stage I would give it to them and saying they could keep it on the proviso that they spent it on something to help someone else. It took a few tense minutes for the student to realise that it genuinely was theirs.

It was November 11 and I was giving a talk on what Remembrance Day was. As the talk began to reach its apex, into the hall marched my dog Sketch, walking down the center aisle and up on to the stage and sitting at my feet looking up at me. The topic of the talk quickly shifted to loyalty! Here was a great example of loyalty not to be missed. So if the wind changes be prepared to take opportunity to change your talk, particularly if a golden teachable moment comes floating by!

General Peter Cosgrove visited the College when he was made Australian of the year. Of course a few years later he became Governor General. He began his talk to the assembled school from the stage but then left the stage and conducted a question and answer session, from the floor, in deliberate close proximity to the students. He was brilliant at this but his surprise proximity to the students really helped.

There is nothing like surprise to attract a group’s attention. I was going to address the year 12 parents in the museum of the school’s Fred McKay Centre. A convenient log was at hand so I climbed onto it, began my talk, and then promptly, unwittingly, fell off, sprawling ungainly over the floor. I climbed back onto the log, a little bruised in both pride and body, knowing I had everyone’s full attention!

Getting the attention of the audience quickly is essential for a good talk. Some sort of impact start is always worthwhile. The surprise, whatever it is, quickly focuses the audience. Starting with a dull explanation about something might be logical but it won’t capture the audience away from the myriad of other things that are, at that time, occupying their minds.

So addressing an assembly, a group or a class or parent occasion is such an important opportunity for a Principal to profile themselves positively and to deliver a worthwhile message - these are opportunities to be truly valued and not to be missed. These are times that help to define whom you are.

USEFUL SAYINGS:

“There’s just so many great stories in the past that you can know a little about, but you can’t know it all, and that’s where imagination can work”.

- Geraldine Brooks - Australian Author

“Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” “A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows.”

- Saint Francis of Assisi.

“Live with passion and compassion, proceed with optimism, value disciplined thinking, be open to intimacy and love the mystery.”

- Saint Peter

“Take risks in order to innovate.” Buddha “If you truly loved yourself, you could never hurt another.”

- Anna Bligh - former Queensland Premier

 “One person’s view is not to be sniffed at. Everybody is entitled to have their view……….and they are entitled to express their view.”

- Amanda Vandstone- Former Minister in the Australian Federal Parliament.

“If you get angry, stay silent.”

- Prophet Muhammad

“Don’t underestimate your opponent, but don’t overestimate them, either.” “Be yourself, know your power, have confidence in what you have to contribute.”

- Nancy Pelosi- former Speaker of the United States House of Representative.

Chris Tudor

Principal Liaison & AISNT Historian