Caring duo make student lives easier

Robyn Rickard and Maria Keegan work hard behind the scenes. Photo / George Novak

They may not be teachers, but the work Robyn Rickard and Maria Keegan do behind the scenes makes students' lives at school much easier.

Mrs Rickard and Mrs Keegan man the desk at Te Puke High School and while their title is receptionist, their job description is so much more.

Mrs Keegan sums it up. "Our primary job is information."

She has been at the school for 11 years.

"I first started as a print administrator and student receptionist but that's evolved.

"I'm still the print administrator, but I'm also the first aid officer, sick bay administrator and head the emergency response team. And I'm a receptionist."

Mrs Rickard started at the school part-time 14 years ago as a cleaner and tea lady, then when a receptionist position came up, she applied for it and 10 years later is still doing the job she loves.

"Everyone who walks in the door, we deal with them and sort out who they want to meet. We receive all the fees, do the accounts and look after the sick bay."

While each of the women have their own responsibilities, they help each other out.

"When I'm not there, Robyn takes over the first aid. We just do what's needed, our titles have merged really," Mrs Keegan said. "When one of us is on a break, the other fills in so we don't really have different roles as such."

For Mrs Rickard, this means she is often called in to help with sick bay issues.

"The sick bay can range from a stubbed toe to needing to call the ambulance. I prefer the mumsie stubbed toe stuff, she [Mrs Keegan] gets the rest."

The sick bay is a major part of their job. Mrs Keegan said in this day and age, students faced a lot of health problems, many of them respiratory. She works side by side with the school's registered nurse.

With front of house positions, Mrs Keegan and Mrs Rickard get to know the students well and see their journeys from newbie Year 9s to mature Year 13s.

"I know most of the kids real well by the end," Mrs Rickard said.

"It's rewarding watching them grow and develop," Mrs Keegan said.

"I couldn't see myself doing anything else really."