General News
12 June, 2026
Foran calls time on teaching
St Augustine’s Primary School’s Trish Foran has retired from teaching after four decades at the local school.
The eureka moment when a child learns something new is something St Augustine’s Primary School’s Trish Foran will treasure in her retirement.
Ms Foran started at the local primary school as her first job out of university.
Although she didn’t know where Maryborough was, and planned on leaving in 12 months, she spent her 41 year career at the school.
“Teaching is what I always wanted to do. There wasn’t another option for me and thank goodness I was lucky enough to land a role here,” she said.
“It’s quite ironic all these years later I’m still here and made some lifelong friends.
“This is home. It’s a great little place to live.”
Ms Foran taught in all areas of the curriculum starting in foundation through to Grade six — her favourites being the transitional years.
She said Grade six stands out because it’s about preparing them for highschool while foundation is where kids start their journey.
“That’s such an important time to get it right because ... it can make a big impact on a little person’s life,” she said.
Ms Foran said the significance of that has been with her since the beginning thanks to her own foundation teacher.
“That teacher that I had gave me a love of learning right through school and inspired me to teach. I think it is really important and I want to pass that on to the children I worked with,” she said.
Across her long career Ms Foran has seen her students grow up, have kids of their own, who she then taught.
She said some of her students even became colleagues as adults.
“To come back and actually see them doing those jobs, which they said when they were smaller that’s what they wanted to do, is just wonderful,” she said.
However, despite Ms Foran’s love of her work, she said it’s time to enjoy more of life.
“It just felt right,” she said.
Already she is catching up with family and friends across the state and planning future adventures.
“There’s still so much to explore,” she said.
Whatever her next chapter holds, it’s unlikely she’ll forget the highlights of her time teaching local kids.
“Just to see those little moments when the kids’ eyes light up … that’s a real joy,” she said.