Roary eclubs

Marilyn Mercer J.P.
Family: married to Dudley. They have 5 children, 12 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren
Academic: Bachelor of Education (Sec. Sc), Diploma in Teaching, Certificate of Religious Education
Vocational classification: Science education.
Marilyn taught in the full variety of schools for 38 years. Her teaching experience included a one
teacher school, Central School, Girls High School and Co-Ed High Schools. These schools were
scattered throughout NSW in city and rural towns. Her students ranged from Year 7 to Year 12 and
included some classes included children with severe hearing impairment and those challenged by
physical and learning development.
The first part of Marilyn’s career began with the NSW Department of Education as a Biology/Maths
teacher. She soon dropped Maths to concentrate on Science. Her further promotion positions
included Supervisor of Girls, Head Teacher Administration and Acting Deputy Principal.
Later she transferred to the Catholic Education system as Head of Science and Agriculture. Soon she
was chosen as the Parramatta Diocese’s Key Learning Resources Officer (KLARO Science) and was a
member of the Diocesan School Assessment Team for Science and Agriculture.
Some of her achievements have been the NSW Science Teachers Award, the inaugural Medibank
Private Teachers Award, the Australian Academy of Science Teachers Award and interestingly, her
teaching at the Australian International Space School resulted in Marilyn being selected as the first
Australian Teacher to teach with N.A.S.A.’s “Future Flight” at the University of Hilo, Hawaii.
Marilyn received the Ben Lexcen Award for encouragement of Science students She has edited
various Science textbooks and written a Biology HSC Textbook.
Rotary story: joined in April 2003 and since then has been Club President (x3), Assistant Governor
and District Governor in 2010-11; District Community Service Chair; coordinator of volunteers for
Rotary Convention Sydney 2014; Deputy Chief Sergeant at Arms RI Convention Toronto and Seoul
plus Sergeant at Arms in Osaka and Salt Lake City; Past director of ShelterBox Australia. Since 2011,
Marilyn has been a member of the Judging panel for the Rotary NSW Police Awards.
Similarly, she has been the elected Rotary Representative on the National Committee of The Science
Experience since 2011. In 2014-15 was awarded the Turnidge Shield for Vocational Excellence. Also,
she has received the Judith Croll Award (x2) from her club
Paul Harris Fellow +5, Bequest Society level 2
Member: of the Rotary E-Club of Greater Sydney