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At both Country Week 2004 and 2005, NSW regional public school teachers spoke about their communities and schools.
Experiences ranged from tiny one teacher schools where each student has a computer through to smaller country communities such as Cowra with its links to Japan flowing from shared war experiences to major cities such as Dubbo offering a major range of educational choices.
The unifying element in all cases was enthusiasm.
Scott Sanford has been teaching in a variety of roles for the past eight and a half years. A country boy from a small country town, he had always wanted to teach in the country.
In his words, "living and teaching in a country community is a unique experience, and one that I can thoroughly recommend. In small country towns the school is often the focus of the community and you grow to appreciate the role that the school plays."
Scott is now Acting Principal of the Tibooburra School of the Air based in Broken Hill. Scott's students come from isolated properties where education is, literally, by air. His role is to ensure that those students get a good education via distance education utilising radio communication combined with material supplied by post.
Despite distance, students see themselves as school members. This is reinforced by gatherings from time to time when parents bring children from isolated propeties sometimes many hundred of miles away so that they can meet and interact with other students.
While this is a major effort it needs to be put in perspective. Many metro parents spend an equivalent time each week simply driving their children to school and school activities.
From Scott's professional perspective, his isolated location does not mean loss of professional opportunities. In fact the opposite. In his words: "During my time in the country I have been exposed to many professional opportunities that I probably would not have had as a city teacher."
Amanda Hawes came to Pooncarie Public School as Principal in 2003 after more than 10 years teaching in locations such as Port Macquarie and Sydney. Like Scott, Amanda had always wanted to teach in the country for part of her teaching career. After teaching for 8 years in city-type areas she decided it was now or never.
"The country has an amazing feel to it", according to Amanda. "You're not just a school teacher but really part of a community.
"Teaching in a small country school has a family feel about it. Sitting with my 19 students at the lunch table feels like a family meal at home."
"You get to know who the children are, where they come from, their families, and the community which helped to raise them."
Jacqui Longworth this year started her teaching career at Condobolin High School as a PD/H/PE teacher (personal development, health and physical education.
Jacqui, originally from Middle Cove 500km away in Sydney, has lived in the big smoke (Australian for capital city) most of her life and completed her teaching degree at the University of Technology, Sydney.
Last year as one of the year's outstanding education graduates, Jacqui gained a permanent appointment under the NSW Department of Education and Training's Graduate Recruitment Program.
When the offer came to teach at Condobolin High, she jumped at the chance and has not looked back since.
"Almost from the day I received my appointment, people in Condobolin have been very welcoming and supportive", said Jacqui. "They have gone out of their way to make me feel part of the community."
Even before she arrived, Jacqui had been contacted by members of both the school and the community calling to offer her an early welcome and to provide information about living in Condobolin.
Finding accommodation was an easy task, as the Department, through the Teacher Housing Authority (THA), arranged for her to move into a rent-subsidised THA unit.
Life in a rural setting, according to Jacqui, is full of social activities, so there is no question of missing the "buzzing" city social life. There's always something happening here in Condobolin, whether it's a swim meet, a game of rugby or cricket, a picnic race, or a barbie.
And as for the people of Condobolin themselves, Jacqui can't find enough words to describe their warmth and friendliness. Even just walking down the street, everyone says hello.
As a beginning teacher in a rural school, Jacqui has been able to enjoy opportunities she may not otherwise have had in a large metropolitan school.
For instance, she has been given the role of sports coordinator. She has also had the experience of teaching some elective subjects in senior classes, once again an unusual opportunity for a beginning teacher.
In Jacqui's words, "as a teacher in a rural location like Condobolin High, I get a lot of opportunities that you I would not necessarily have as a first-year teacher elsewhere."
Her enthusiasm is understandandabl