Date: 6 June 2008

History of Masterman Bequest by Ardyn Masterman

Thankyou for the opportunity to speak on behalf of my family at this somewhat historic occasion for us. There is a sense of completion for us in handing on the baton of my dads vision to the MCF, and the beginning of their journey of putting into reality intelligent respectful education practice, reform  so desperately needed for indigenous children.

The vision evolved from conversations with my father, to bring the best of the West to the indigenous people, in my view it was Montessori, to build upon and reinforce intelligent learning practices to a culture which originally taught through experimental interaction with the environment. 

The public trustee however deemed that Montessori was a foreign concept, and needed to be analysed and tested by authorities who had no knowledge of it…. to see if it was a good fit. This unlikely mix of educator meets legal scenario took a good 15 years to navigate, a big chunk of our adult lives.

And here I feel perhaps we have reached the harbour, the ship of vision and money arrived fairly intact, now the comes the real work… making it a reality. Now All you brilliant educators have an opportunity to experience the growth and revitalising energy that comes from Change and adaptation,  putting yourselves into another culture and becoming better people in the process. I hope many of you will take it up, life is a great adventure, especially up in the wilds of the north.

Thankyou for the chance to honour the journey we have all been on. It wasn’t an easy path to navigate, new territory all the way. The noble cause left by Bob  was trying to the best of us.  I know I was not the only one who felt overwhelmed,  enduring ongoing sheer frustration, stretching our infinite patience, nagging self doubt, why was I doing this , how could something fairly straightforward possibly take so long to get to a conclusion, how to have a life when endlessly swimming through lawyer treacle.

Im happy to be over generations of court cases, lawyers, feasibility studies, legal terminology, filling filing retrieving cabinets with faded paperwork and the staples rusting by the year.

The joy of putting up the pilot classroom was the highlight and gave it meaning to sustain the long haul. The shining murrie faces as they mastered the materials, bathing in the gentle respect, revelling in their autonomy and self mastery. It was the proof the lawyers needed and finally after several more years of paperwork and mediation they agreed it was a valid scheme.

Too many people to name have helped us to get to this point. It was moving how a higher purpose can inspire people, as Maria reminded us, children renew humanity, they lift us into our higher selves, to service. This is   what sustains us and whilst it seems a fair chunk of our lives was dedicated to our father’s “will”, it has notched good karma for us all and given the family a united cause and ongoing interest.

So thanks to my long suffering family who stood by Bobs vision, even though he was pretty left field for them, trusting that it would be worth all the effort in the end.

Thanks to the Montessori community for keeping inspired, the philosophy and practice alive and growing in Oz.

Thanks to Louisa for taking it on and keeping the class going as long as she did.

I like to think that my withdrawing from the project was the instigation of setting up the MCFoundation. The practice of Montessori requires so much of us, I always felt forever in the second period, never actually reaching a place where I could rest a little on my laurels. I realised I had neglected my own development in my dedication to a cause for so long. I needed to work on my whichever plane of development im on now.

So thanks to Megan for getting the MCF up and running whilst acknowledging my need to withdraw, re-find my inner being and gain my own sense of who I was again.  With Wu Tao dance, Ka Huna and rebirthing training  Im much clearer and a happier human being, feeling perhaps even ready to do more Montessori with the rainforest people.

My message is don’t neglect your inner being, take time for yourself. When things arent right inside find a practice to release your stuff, let your true spirit shine and stay the beacon for the adults and children you are touching in your life. Sing dance laugh go sailing and remember to be still, whatever it takes to be in your true centre and continue self realisation practices so that we can continue to inspire and move through gracefully the increasing stresses and ambiguities which lie ahead.