When she first received her posting from the NSW Department of Education 40 years ago, Bernie Jones was filled with dread.
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Having grown up in Lithgow, she was about to step out into the complete unknown moving first to Cowra, and then to Wagga. But it was a step toward such fulfilment she could never have envisioned.
"In 1979 they sent me to Cowra Central School," the 62-year-old said.
"I ended up meeting my husband [in Cowra], we married in 1981."
Mrs Jones had every intention of carrying out her career at a primary school, but following what she expected to be a short foray, she ended remaining a high school teacher for the duration of her time in Wagga.,
"I had a friend who was going on her honeymoon and said, 'I need someone to take over for me at Mount Austin'," Mrs Jones recalls.
"I was scared stiff. I didn't know how to talk to high school students."
A year after relocating to Wagga for the job at Mount Austin High School, Mrs Jones found her feet at Wagga High School, and eventually followed the then-principal Bob Blacklow to his new posting at Kooringal High School.
She would end up spending up to 31 years of her career there.
"He said, 'come with me', I said 'no way'! But he coaxed me over by telling me he would look after me," Mrs Jones said.
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At Kooringal High School, Mrs Jones has taught almost every subject - from languages to art, to textiles and metalwork.
It often required she stay back long hours after school to learn the skills she would need to teach.
"At Kooringal I've had the opportunity to teach French, design and tech, learning support classes, EAL/D [English as a second language], wood, metal, everything," she said.
"It's amazing, I've been able to teach all the things I wasn't even offered when I was at school."
Even on her most stressful day, Mrs Jones admits there was never a time when she ever considered doing anything but teaching.
Seeing it as her dream career, the desire to pursue teaching was sown inside her when she was still a teenager living near the Blue Mountains.
"I have a sister who is 13 years younger than me, she made me want to be a teacher," Mrs Jones said.
"I just wanted to make a difference in people's lives."
As her time at school concludes, Mrs Jones is confident she has made a viable difference in many lives across the Riverina.
"The other day I was at a Christmas party and these students I'd taught about seven years ago were [at the restaurant]," she said.
"They called out to me, 'Jonesy', I always told them, 'call me Bernie', but they wouldn't. They said, 'Jonesy, give us a cuddle', and they stood there [reminiscing] telling [my husband] Bill all the silly things I used to do with them."
To mark her final day at Kooringal High this week, her English as a second language students each brought in a dish of their home cuisine to share with their favourite teacher.
"They made a sign that says, 'we love you', I just balled my eyes out," Mrs Jones said.
She was also showered with parting gifts from fellow staff and students, including up to $75 worth of coffee vouchers.
"I love coffee, they know me so well," she said.