Department

Students were tested on their mathematical ability. If they had not done maths at Leaving level, they were put into a remedial group to build their skills. An excellent text book was provided to allow students to work through the syllabus by themselves, with help provided if necessary from the staff.

Science was another area, which was streamed according to ability. Like maths, failure to complete this at Leaving level resulted in students being assigned to a remedial group. In this group, they were assigned activities to improve their standards.

In addition to teaching maths, the Maths Department, were responsible for the way in which student marks were structured. They provided arguments in favour of the validity of frequency distributions and the suggestions for cut-off points.

Each department produced lists of all students taking particular subjects, set out in rank order from the best to the worst, with an evaluation mark with each name. The Senior Lecturer gained the agreement of staff concerning the cut-off point between satisfactory and unsatisfactory and drew a line through the list at the point.

It was agreed that overall, there might be a failure rate of 10% +x (plus or minus +) and a distinction rate of about 15% +x: also that the Satisfactory group (Group C) should be distinctly larger than the Creditable group (Group B).

When marks were set out in the rank order, there were a number of students on each mark. Very large numbers appeared against the marks in the Satisfactory and Creditable sections – bulking around the mean. The Unsatisfactory and Distinction groups were easily distinguishable above and below, with either few or no names against each mark. Often the numbers against marks to a clear group at each extreme. Very occasionally, no tail end appeared, with quite large numbers of students on the lowest range of marks. With such results, the Department could claim no failures.

The Science staff were responsible for working with students to plant trees, shrubs and other plants as well as to supervise the weeding of the quadrangles. They were also well-represented in running science camps and in the Mentor Cup boat race.

Programs

  • Science
  • Maths background and method
  • Geology
  • Computing

Research and Publications

Staff

Len McKenna (HOD)

Prior to teaching at MLTC, Len was an early specialist in introducing natural science on Channel 7 children’s TV. He appeared in his segment of the Children’s Session in the first week of television. It became a weekly session and continued for ten years until the last week of the children’s session in Oct. 1969.

He was the president of the WA Naturalist club in 1966 and is shown here hunting for tree frogs.

Len was keen on students doing gardening. Graylands, and later MLTC students improved the grounds, while the nursery organised by Len McKenna, was opened on Arbor Day to provide the shrubs and plants needed for the grounds.

Len McKenna is now over 100 years old and is still very interested in painting and geology, amongst other things.

Jack Bana

Jack Bana has been a member of the MAWA Committee every year since 1978. In most of that time he has coordinated the MAWA student activities. He is a past president of MAWA and an honorary life member, as well as being a Fellow of the Australian College of Education. His full-time profession was as a senior lecturer and also Director of the Mathematics, Science and Technology Education Centre at Edith Cowan University. He has presented at State, national and international conferences; as well as being the co-author of many mathematics textbooks for both students and teachers.

In 2024 he received an OAM for service to tertiary education.

Jack Bana – interview with Sybe Jongeling

Dick Lamb



Vale Dick Lamb 11/1/932 – 8/3/2019. Dick died peacefully at home with his family after a battle with ill health.

Dick achieved a Bachelor of Science (Physics), a Master of Education (Statistics), and a Diploma of Education at the University of Western Australia, as well as his Teacher’s Certificate from Claremont Teacher’s College.

Dick’s academic qualifications first took him onto the career path of a secondary Mathematics Teacher then as a tertiary educator and leader.

He spent 10 years as Head of Mathematics, Science and Computing and 2 years as Assistant Director at Mt. Lawley College of Advanced Education ( now Edith Cowan University).

Dick Lamb – interview with Sybe Jongeling

Dick Lamb – Obituary from Capel District Cemeteries Project

Tony Knight

Ken Retallack

Retallack Ken 16.9.1942 – 28.7.2019

Kerry Clarke

Pat Garnett

Pat Garnett has teaching and research interests in chemistry and science education and is author of over 100 publications in chemistry and science education. He has secondary curriculum and examination experience in chemistry and science.

He has been the Chair of the Edith Cowan College Board and retired as Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Edith Cowan University at the end of 2007, following 34 years at the university. Since retirement he has undertaken consultancies with several universities including reviews of course and teaching programs, research centres and institutes, schools and faculties, offshore teaching, governance arrangements and quality reviews. He also chaired the Western Australian Curriculum and Standards Authority Board 2011-2021.

Bill Laidman

Graham Pike

Robert McLaughlin

Pender Pendlar

Ken Tobin

In 1964, Kenneth Tobin began teaching high school science and mathematics in rural Western Australia. He continued as teacher and curriculum developer for a decade, after which he became a teacher educator at Graylands Teachers College, and MLTC. The emphasis at Mount Lawley College was on the preparation of elementary teachers. During his time at the college, rapid advances in higher education heralded the college being able to offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees.  Mount Lawley Teachers College led the way in Western Australia in the development of computer education courses for practicing and prospective teachers.

He has also worked at the Western Australian Institute of Technology (now Curtin University) and has been an adjunct professor at Queensland University of Technology, and Murdoch University. Tobin came to the United States in 1987 and was a tenured professor at Florida State University (10 years), University of Pennsylvania (6 years), and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (15 years), where he is presently Presidential Professor of Urban Education.

Ken Tobin’s autobiography

Tony Watson

Tony was a former Deputy Vice-Chancellor; Executive Dean Computing, Health & Science; Head of School and foundational Professor of Computing & Information Sciences at Edith Cowan University. Over 40 years Tony helped found that institution and develop it into a successful University which has serviced hundreds of thousands of students. He was deeply invested in the power of Higher Education and technology to change lives for the better.

Tony was a leading Cybersecurity researcher, Government advisor, ICT, international education & commercialisation pioneer, WA Chair of the ACS Foundation, a life member of the ACS (Australian Computer Society), an Advisory Board Member at Practera, Lead Facilitator for the CSIRO Innovate to Grow program, and Academic Board Member of the Australian Data and Cyber Institute.

“I have known Tony from the the establishment of WA College of Advanced Education and later at ECU. He was a friend and work colleague initially under the leadership of John Renner and Pat Garnett and later as Dean of the Faculty. Like his predecessors he was a super leader encouraging both myself and others to be innovative, problem solvers as well as empowering us to be leaders. in particular from my perspective as Associate Dean International he encouraged the development of key international relations to the benefit of the ECU and students both locally and overseas. He will sadly be missed.”
Jim Cross, 17 March, 2025

“Vale Professor Tony Watson. Sad news about Tony’s passing. He was responsible for giving my start at ECU. He was always very supportive and even after retiring was working hard for ACS and promoting Computing and IT sector. He will be sadly missed. A champion for computer science in WA and left an endelable mark on so many of us. Condolences to his family and colleagues.”
Leisa Armstrong, 17 March, 2025

Geoff Ring

Geoff Ring 8/12/1947 – 28/10/2023.

Geoff worked in Applied Sciences, at Mt Lawley 1979 – 1983 and later moved into computing and multi-media.

He established the Computer Education Department Group and became Head of the Department of Multimedia Learning Technologies.

In 2000 he left the university scene to assist in the setting up of an eLearning company in Singapore but had to return home to Perth 3 years later after being diagnosed with a rare terminal blood cancer.

Bill Parnaby

Came from Scotland

Greg Dear

Dr Greg Dear has 35 years’ experience as a clinical and forensic psychologist, including 22 years in academia where he supervised honours, masters, and PhD research, and conducted research in mental health, psychological assessment, suicide prevention, and program evaluation.

He has published over 100 papers in scientific journals and international conferences, was a member of the WHO expert committee on preventing suicide in prisons, edited a book on suicide prevention with contributing authors from 11 different countries, and was a member of a research round table for the Royal Commission into Institutional Sexual Abuse.

In his spare time, he plays in a band called the Holy Rollers and Beautiful Losers.

Leslie Hill

Trevor Lacy

John Rice

Is he a student from first intake?