When you talk about Community Education there is one thing for certain - there is never enough money to do all the necessary things.

Fair enough, most people would say the same but I think the area of Community Education wins hands down. Anyway, here's the story - I'll leave it up to you to be the judge

Carringbush Adult Education has been delivering classes to people in the Richmond and Collingwood area for the last fifteen years. The program is funded by Adult Community and Further Education and is housed in the Richmond branch of the Yarra Melbourne Regional Library service.

Now this is a very good place for it to be. You may think this is because students can easily access the Libraries facilities: However, there is an even better reason. You see, many of our students have cable TV and the most popular program was and is...

        Prisoner

Looking at the grey brick walls, the dark blue doors with chocolate trim, you could easily be forgiven for thinking you were on the set of that favourite 1970's "lock 'em up" show.

"...It's very dark. It's not very nice when you come here first is it?..."

This was all about to change...

When Lyn Ann from General Electric came to visit we didn't quite believe it. I mean, we were used to making do with cast offs. From the tables through to the chairs, you name it, everything was somebody else's discard. (I forgot to tell you Community Education people are also expert scroungers)

Anyway as Lyn Ann enthusiastically proposed one miracle after another we were overwhelmed. It was silly really, as she would say "then we'll put carpet through here and then we'll..." well, for the first time, we were flabbergasted, and I mean really flabbered and gasted!

Getting ready

I should also tell you that we like to be inclusive so it was time to introduce the idea (and General Electric) to the students.

"... I could have heard of them, just to say in a stage but it goes out of my mind..."

I keep thinking of things I should have mentioned when I told you about Community Education. Did I tell you that when things have to be moved it's down to us and us alone?

For several days the answering machine went on and at few of us packed up the whole show, I mean we literally piled up the sum total of Carringbush Adult Education and put it in the back room.

"... It's probably easier if you carry all of those books out at once rather than one at a time..."

We couldn't find anything, couldn't do anything, At this rate even the most obtuse person will suspect something is going on.

"... Where's the room gone?..."

We were ready. Everybody had been briefed. So just before it was all about to happen - Are there any questions?

"... Who are the people coming to do the painting mate, it goes out of my mind..."

The Big Day

"...It was funny mate they all had white paper overalls on..."

Jan and I arrived early. Everything was ready: Which is another way of saying that the whole place had been turned upside down.

"... I met them all when I arrived. I remember David and Chris. They were all eating and working..."

By this stage some students had arrived. They had organised morning and afternoon tea for the painters but it seemed like they were feeding us.

"... I took the photos. It was good. I showed them to people on the computer...."

"... I think one of them barracked for St. Kilda if I'm right just to say. They're not a very good team just to admit to you but I don't mind them really mate because they're the Myrtleford colours, which is my country's team..."

It was the eye of the hurricane really. I just hid out the back. There wasn't any room left out there for me anyway. Now the first coat was on I couldn't cope with the brightness.

"Jan was braver, she kept venturing out to check the transformation in progress.

"... Jan went to see Isy (a teacher doing the class upstairs) She came back with paint on her face..."

%quot;I thought Jan looked very smart with her new paint job, she was going to match the new environment beautifully."

Out on the work site, paint and backs were being slapped about in an enthusiastic fashion.

The Afternoon Shift

"... the people were very friendly, they made the place light and bright..."

More food, more paint. It was time for the second coat and a new group of painters were on the job.

"... There was women painting in the afternoon if I'm right mate..."

As the afternoon continued the paint job started to show how it was going to look. Perhaps one of our students put it best.

"...it looks nice doesn't it? It's light and it looks clean..."

After everybody had left we ventured out to check the scene. I plugged in the phone, it seemed like the first step towards normality. We removed the Financial Review. It was a value judgement but we didn't think it belonged to any of the students.

It had been a big day - lucky we didn't realise what was in store next Monday.

The Big Day (Again)

"...I'm George, what the..."

As we sat and looked at the bright new walls we were at least comfortable in knowing we had a whole day to get ready for the carpet layers.

"... G'day mate we're here to lay the carpet..."

Have I told you that flexibility is one of the main virtues of Adult Education?

Have I also told you that a world record for moving ten computers, two printers and assorted hardware was set at 415 Church Street on that Monday?

Well I believe both these points to be true and would need pretty strong proof otherwise to change my mind.

Anyway, after that initial burst of manic frenzy it all progressed quite smoothly.

The end result is fantastic.

Where once there was dark there now is light (and that's without turning on the lights)

"... It's clean looking isn't it? It's nice to come in to..."

Since then we have talked about it, students have written stories about it and labelled photos taken before and on the day. Some people needed a bit of reminding.

"... I think I know what you mean mate but it's very hard for me to remember the names mate..."

But, after a few classes, connections get made.

"... I think I know what you're saying, if I'm right. Was there a man who barracked for St Kilda just to say..."

Have I told you that Adult Education can often be about going in circles?

"... They were very nice. They laughed a lot and had a good time I think. It was nice of them to paint our rooms for us..."

"... It feels nice to walk on the new carpet..."

"... Is beyouteeful !! ..."

Have I told you Adult Education is a nice place to be in?

It's about definitions.

As we gathered all this together we occasionally had to explain the events but it is always more meaningful when students can work it out for themselves.

Student 1:
"I thought they did very well, because they weren't painters."

Student 2:
"Really mate? I thought they were painters. What were they?"

Student 1:
"They were executives"

Student 2:
"What's an executive mate?"

Student 3:
"They're people who work on their bums."

As I sit here writing this I feel like, umm, you know, a bit of an executive!

We would like to thank:

Chris
David
Dianne
Jacqui
Karen
Lynn Ann
Mark
Melissa
Neil
Peter
Steve
Utilio
Yazmin