Glenda Bridgman with Hamish

From an early age all Glenda ever wanted to do was become a teacher.  Luckily, she was able to achieve this ambition and became a Primary School Teacher.  Glenda has a love of teaching, especially working with the students and watching them grow as individuals, not just academically, but also socially and emotionally.  She was always open to new methods or ideas that would benefit the students. After attending a lecture where the speaker spoke about having a dog in the school to help with students she approached her Principal and asked if she could bring her dog into the classroom for one session each week. He agreed and Hamish commenced his visits. She watched the students become attached to him but also the way they shared experiences more freely and became more united as a group.

 

Glenda retired from teaching and saw an article in the local paper about a volunteer and her dog going into nursing homes.  She kept the article and several months later phoned Vanda Iwanowski the coordinator of Delta Geelong- Bellarine Pet Partners to ask how to become involved. During this conversation Glenda explained to Vanda that she was a retired teacher that had taken her dog into the classroom. It was during this conversation that Glenda realised she had found someone with whom could share this dream and perhaps together could turn it into a reality.

 

Well the dream did become a reality, Hamish; a black, four year old Cocker Spaniel managed to pass the accreditation and was welcomed back into Glenda’s old school, Roslyn PS, as Delta Purina Pet Partners. Glenda worked alongside Vanda to establish Classroom Canines™ which now has 12 schools in the Geelong region, one in Melbourne and 3 in Newcastle. Without her energy, knowledge of teaching and the education department the program may have struggled and I think she would agree that the program has exceeded all expectations.

 

Hamish was pure black when the program began and along with the rest of us has now developed distinguishing grey hair and looks like an aging professor, he has pride of place in the program as the founding dog – he is intelligent – calm - handsome and loves to pose for the cameras and never misses a photo opportunity – he loves the Press. 

 

For Glenda this has been a wonderful opportunity for her to continue a love of being involved with children in a way that is beneficial to them and also a way of sharing her special dog with others.