50 Years of Lutheran Education!

In addition to the installation of the Lutheran Primary School teachers on Sunday, two very special awards were presented by Mr Steve Rudolph, Executive Director of Lutheran Education Australia (and the first Principal of Lutheran Primary School Wagga Wagga).

Ken Albinger, Debbie Habel and Steve Rudolf at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Wagga Wagga

Mrs Debbie Habel's 30 years of teaching in Australian Lutheran schools was acknowledged.  Her particular interest has always been in the early learning of the youngest students and in developing their literacy, numeracy and their artistic abilities.  The schools Debbie has been a part of are:

• St John's Lutheran School, Eudunda, SA
• St Mark's Lutheran Kindergarten, Mount Gravatt, QLD
• St Peter's Lutheran School, Dimboola, VIC
• Lutheran Primary School, Wagga Wagga, NSW

Mr Ken Albinger's 50 years of service to Lutheran education in America, Canada and Australia was then acknowledged.  So far, Ken is the only person Lutheran Education Australia knows about who has served 50 years in Lutheran schools, though there may be one or two others who have also reached this milestone.

While Ken's involvement in Lutheran education began in America, his service in Australia only started when he moved here from Wilton, Iowa, in 1973. He served as Principal at the following schools:

• Loxton Lutheran Primary School, SA
• Grace Lutheran Primary School, Redcliffe, QLD
• Light Pass Lutheran School / Redeemer Lutheran School, Barossa Valley, SA
• Lutheran Primary School Wagga Wagga, NSW

In addition to these schools, in 1986 Ken became Director of Lutheran Schools, QLD and in 1999 he answered the call to be a Lecturer and Head of School of Education and Theology at Australian Lutheran College.