The South Pacific Division (SPD) Education Medallion of Merit Awards has been presented to a husband and wife, reportedly for the first time.
Peter and Glenda Roberts were recognised on May 3 for their coordination of the untrained teachers’ program in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu for a decade while in retirement.
The award presentation took place at the ADRA Op Shop in Morisset (NSW), where the couple volunteers regularly. Introductory remarks were made by Tony Hay, who was Fulton College principal in 2006 when the idea of certifying hundreds of untrained teachers in both the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu was first raised to address pressing needs.
“Peter and Glenda relished the challenge of creating a basic curriculum to provide certification and then delivered it over the next decade,” said SPD education director Dr David McClintock.
He explains the couple dedicated one decade of their retirement to the project during which they took 19 trips to the Solomon Islands and 13 trips to Vanuatu, certifying 350 teachers in that period.
“A month-long intensive each year for three years provided the training to receive this certificate coordinated by Peter and Glenda—along with a group of dedicated volunteers including their daughter Lynnette Lounsbury, Veronika Chester and others,” said Dr McClintock.
“It is so nice to see this affirmation for the hard work that Peter and Glenda have done in the Pacific,” said Pastor Eric Winter who attends Sabbath School class with Mr and Mrs Roberts.
