NAOMI ARNOLD-RESHKE
nee Schmidt
1949 -
By Judy Gillett – Ferguson
Naomi Veronica Arnold was born to Vida and Harold Schmidt on 11th October 1949 at the Hutchinson Hospital, Gawler. Her parents were landowners and cropping farmers at Roseworthy.
Sadly, when Naomi was only six months old her father was accidentally drowned while fishing in the River Murray with one of her uncles and a friend. They were in a leaky wooden boat that sank. Two of the party drowned and her uncle, who could swim, tried unsuccessfully to save them. He was later awarded the bronze medal by the Royal Humane Society for Bravery in his attempt to rescue Harold and Mervyn from drowning at Mannum on March 4th 1950.
Naomi’s mother then moved back to Oakbank to live with her parents and Naomi’s formative years were spent with grandparents and cousins on the family farm.
Then in 1953 Naomi’s mother married John Bergen who was a stock carrier and well known in the sheep markets for his ability as a stockman and shearer. He was renowned for his physical strength and his knowledge and skill as a pigeon flyer was well recognized.
The family moved to a home opposite the Evanston Railway Station in an old homestead set in 12 acres. They kept milking cows, pigs and sheep which they sold at the market. In the early days Naomi’s mother separated the milk for cream and made her own butter and bread.
Naomi remembers often walking through the paddocks barefoot and getting prickles in her feet as the properties were surrounded by thorn bushes which were prevalent throughout the area.
Her greatest dream was to own a horse and when she became employed she purchased her first horse which unbeknown to her was in foal. Her love of horses has remained and she still owns two very spoilt animals along with a flat coat retriever and two fox terriers.
As she was an only child she was grateful to have cousins living nearby. It had been a difficult adjustment for her to make as she now had to live away from her grandparents and in a new home with a new father. Life was sometimes difficult and required many adjustments on her part.
Naomi attended Gawler Blocks Primary School (now Evanston Gardens School) and it was about a 2 kilometre walk from her home. The school averaged about 50 students in total while she was there. She had several teachers of whom she remembers Mr and Mrs Webb, Mrs Penrose and then Mr. Wilson.
Naomi managed to be Dux of the School for her 7 years at the school and received awards at the end of year concert night from the secretary of the school council, who often happened to be her mother.
She remembers sometimes being sent for the School’s mail from the little Post Office that was almost next door to the school. It was the front room of a private home and she recalls collecting it and being able to smell burnt toast coming from the back of the house as the post mistress managed to sort the mail and organize her children for school.
A Sports Day was held each year at the Sandy Creek Oval where families gathered for a homemade lunch in the hall made up of pasties and jelly cakes and the students participated in sprints, relays races and ball games.
When she was in Year 2 she ran home from school. She was to take turns to read to the Principal and came upon the word ‘answered’ and didn’t know what it was and was sent outside to learn it but instead got on her bicycle and rode home! Her mother brought her straight back and she hadn’t even been missed!
At school Naomi remembers that girls did sewing and boys did woodwork and they all assembled each morning to salute the flag and make the oath of allegiance.
During her final year at school Naomi recalls a visit from the school inspector, a Miss Finch who observed the class reciting poetry, taking drawing lessons with pastels and answering questions in relation to general knowledge. Naomi recalls being impressed by Miss Finch and deciding that she would have a position of this kind in her adult life.
In 1963 Naomi went to Gawler High School where Mr Alfred Higgins was the Principal. Naomi had Mrs Cunningham for Home Economics, Mr Baker for Chemistry, Grantley Oates for Maths, Mrs Dippy, who she really liked, for Physics – and so she was especially attentive in that class! She was also very fond of Art.
After she had completed the Intermediate Certificate (Year 10) and had turned 16 she left school because her stepfather didn’t think girls needed further education. She got a job as a telephonist in the Telephone Exchange in Murray Street (where the clock tower is).
It was a 3 party system which meant that the operator could hear the conversation between the other two parties. She disliked the position and after 5 months gave it up.
She saved what she’d earned and decided to go back to school and complete Leaving (Year 11). She was then 17. She completed the year and then went to Western Teachers College to undertake a 2 year Infant Teaching Certificate. When she had completed this she was 19 and married Colin Arnold and had her daughter Phillipa (‘Pippa’).
Naomi began teaching at Payneham Junior Primary School and was then transferred to Evanston Primary School and the family moved to Evanston. She remained at this school for 5 years and then at the age of 26 was appointed Principal of Smithfield Plains Junior Primary School. This was a school of 350 children many of whom came from RAAF families. She was there for 6 years.
In 1980 she divorced Colin and moved into her house on Two Wells Road, Gawler.
She then went as Principal to Elizabeth Park Primary school, then Elizabeth Field Primary School for a short time before becoming a Principle Education Officer in the Northern Area with a focus on the early years of schooling.
Throughout this time Naomi completed various degrees in education including a Bachelor and Masters of Education as well as Diplomas in teaching and administration.
Her love of learning has never ceased and her current interest is in neuroscience where she is studying for a graduate Certificate in the area of learning.
She went on to take up various administrative roles for the Education Department up to her retirement including the much changed role of school inspector which became known as Superintendent of Schools.
A later appointment was as Director of the Barossa which included a visit to the Evanston Gardens primary school where she began her schooling as well as schools and pre schools as far north as Robertstown, Eudunda and Kapunda , including Barossa, Adelaide Hills, Two Wells and Gawler and schools in the Murray lands.
Many years were spent as an educator in the Elizabeth, Munno Para area and Naomi has fond memories of the dedicated teachers and principals in schools and preschools and the students and families that she met. One of the highlights of Naomi’s career was as a Superintendent in the Education Review Unit where she visited many schools from junior primary to secondary throughout the state recognizing the many positive attributes of the schools in rural and metropolitan communities.
A visit to the schools and pre schools in the Pitjantjatjara and Yankuntjatjara lands was a privilege and an experience which Naomi will always value as she gained some insight into the valuable knowledge and skill of the Anangu people in the northern part of South Australia.
Her last appointment as Director Early Childhood Development supported the implementation of the Early Childhood Development and Parenting Centres for children between birth and age eight and their families.
When Naomi had been principal of Smithfield Plains JP School she met Trevor Reschke her co-principal in the Primary School and thus began a lasting friendship. They later married and are now looking to a busy and productive retirement with a blended family of 4 children and their partners and 9 grandchildren.
Naomi is very proud of her daughter Phillipa’s achievements as she has just completed a Bachelor in Nursing and a Bachelor in Health and is about to commence a Bachelor in Medicine and Surgery.
In 1981 Naomi joined the Zonta Club of Para Districts and later the Zonta Club of Gawler, both chartered clubs of Zonta International with a focus on advancing the status of women worldwide. Zonta gave Naomi the opportunity to serve her community at the local and national level as well as contributing at a global level.
Working within the structure of the organization Naomi was elected as Club President and then followed on with the role of Area 2 Director supporting clubs in South Australia and the Northern Territory. Her election as District 23 Governor gave her the opportunity to broaden the work across clubs in WA, Victoria and Tasmania.
As District 23 Governor Naomi advocated for issues related to women across all levels of government with a focus on eradicating violence against women particularly in relation to trafficking of women, health issues such as breast cancer and supporting opportunities for women in education and economic independence.
Naomi has attended numerous international conventions and had the privilege of chairing the international convention in Melbourne in 2006, leading a group of dynamic women from all states in Australia. There were 2,000 delegates from 67 countries and the convention lasted for 3 weeks during which time there were workshops, seminars and plenary sessions with a wide variety of organizations advocating for women’s rights and needs.
Naomi was elected and has served on the international board of Zonta and chaired an international committee to support young women in public affairs including the young woman from Lyndoch who won the Zonta International Award.
She was recently chairman for the international nominating committee and is committed to contributing to the well being of women and children on a worldwide basis.
Zonta has given Naomi the impetus to travel extensively throughout the world. Naomi and Trevor have travelled to over 50 countries with many more planned in the future.
Throughout her life Naomi has pursued many creative endeavors including taking up painting classes with a focus on oils on canvas and exhibiting many pieces of work in South Australia.
Her interest in gardening led to the garden at Peppertree House being part of the Australian Open Garden scheme and her focus is now on developing a sustainable garden more attuned to the local climate.
Naomi believes that:
“Creativity plunges us right into the thick of life to a place where everything becomes interesting” David Baird “A thousand paths to creativity”.
And she will continue to learn and enjoy and create.
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