A beloved Drysdale school canteen manager has received a kind farewell as students lined the halls to show gratitude.
Sandra Woodall was recognised for her 27 years of service at Saint Ignatius College Geelong with a student lap of honour on December 7 before her last day on Friday, December 15.
Ms Woodall said last week’s event was “very emotional” and that it felt “unreal” to retire after seeing the school grow and develop.
“It was so good because the students have always been the most important thing to me, and it was so nice to be acknowledged by them,” she said.
“I had some beautiful handwritten cards that they were giving me. I read them when I got home and started crying again.
“Back when I started, there was only 100 primary school kids, 44 secondary and for the first few years you knew everybody here, but now it’s got to 1400 and something.”
Ms Woodall said her favourite part about working in the canteen was chatting with the kids and ensuring they were fed.
“A lot of them (students) chat to you where they won’t chat to a teacher,” she said.
“I always say there’s good in everybody and sometimes you have to dig a bit deeper to find the good, but once you’ve got the good you get a rapport with the kid.”
Ms Woodall said she had nothing planned for her retirement other than spending time with family, turning 70 in May and celebrating 50 years of marriage with her husband on June 1.
