Myra retires after 25 years service
Myra Gilroy has retired after 25 years of service to the community, students and staff of Woy Woy South Public School.
Myra started work at the school in 1974 as a clerical assistant and has seen four principals come and go.
An accomplished bagpiper, Myra arrived in Australia from her native Scotland as a "10 pound migrant" in 1957.
She was sponsored by the Cogee-Randwick Pipe Band.
Myra met her husband Alex in the band.
One day after her Australian arrival she started work at the School of Physics Optometry Department at the University of New South Wales and held the position until the birth of her daughter Fiona, in 1968.
Later, Myra took up the position at Woy Woy South.
Myra had a passion for her bagpipes, evidenced by her lunchtime and after school bagpipe classes for the school's children.
She also formed the Ettalong Beach Memorial Club Pipe Band with her husband, which has won local acclaim since 1966.
Among her other musical achievements, Myra has played for the High Commissioner of Canada at an official reception in Gosford Council Chambers, for the arrival of the first double decker train into Gosford and Woy Woy.
Myra has also performed for the then Prime Minister Gough Whitlam and his wife Margaret at the opening of Old Sydney Town and for Mrs Sonia McMahon when she opened the Sara Lea factory at Lisarow.
Myra's own special memory is playing for an Anzac service at the New Zealand Embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Myra became a naturalised Australian citizen in 1974 and proudly calls herself an Australian.
Many students who attend Woy Woy South are sons and daughters of parents who attended the school in their time and know Myra to be a kind and sympathetic person.
Whether it was stopping a bleeding nose, or putting a bandaid on a scratched leg, nothing was too big a problem.
A large number of former and present staff, along with other well wishers attended a farewell dinner at Woy Woy Bowling Club last month.
In true Scottish style, Myra was piped into dinner by her husband Alex.
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