At 82 years old, Janice Maria Waters, affectionately known as Jan, has lived a life filled with change, grief, enduring love and great joy.
Over the decades, Jan has worn many hats: entrepreneur, secretary, pastoral care worker, dedicated teacher’s aide, loving mother and grandmother, tireless volunteer, and trusted friend.
Jan’s journey in Scone began in 1945 when she moved to the area with her Brazilian father and Italian mother. As a young girl starting kindergarten at St Mary’s Primary School, she was an Italian-speaking daughter of immigrants in a small country town.
“I was often singled out for being a foreigner,” Jan recalls. “Some children weren’t allowed to play with me. Those early experiences of feeling different shaped me; they made me independent and strong.”
Despite the challenges, Jan embraced her education and quickly learned English. She thrived academically and dreamed of becoming a teacher when she finished at St Aloysius High School in Hamilton.
“I’d always loved children and wanted to study education. But my parents couldn’t afford to send me for further schooling. And we were an Italian family – we couldn’t just leave home and our family.
“So I stayed in Scone and worked at an accountant’s office,” Jan said.
After her mother passed away from breast cancer at just 50, Jan’s life took another turn. Recognising the need for a hairdressing salon in Scone, she took a leap of faith.
“I didn’t know anything about hairdressing, so I hired a professional and started an apprenticeship myself,” Jan says. Her sister later joined her in the business, and together they ran the salon for 12 years until Jan shifted focus to raise her family.
Jan’s connection to St Mary’s only deepened over time. Her children, and eventually her grandchildren, attended the school. In the meantime, a nun from the school had asked Jan to assist with administrative work in the school office, a role that grew into a 13-year career. Later, she returned as a pastoral care worker, a position she held for another 12 years.
“My husband passed away two years after I returned to the school,” Jan said. “I was meant to retire the year he passed, but I knew I would be a wreck if I was at home all day, so I stayed at St Mary’s as a way of coping.
“The children helped me heal. On my first day back after my husband passed, I remember a group of girls coming up to me and saying, ‘Mrs. Waters, we’ll look after you.’ That moment helped my heart,” she said.
Jan’s impact extended well beyond the school grounds. She was a founding committee member of the Scone Chamber of Commerce and an active participant in the St Vincent de Paul society. Inspired by her mother’s battle with breast cancer, Jan dedicated over 20 years to clinical trial participation, driven by a desire to help future generations.
“I thought of my daughter, my sister’s daughter, and all the girls to come,” she explains. “I had to do it.”
She’s 82 years young, and she’s still very busy.
After clocking up over 70 years in the St Mary’s community, Jan resigned last year. However, she is yet to hand in her official notice.
“I still work in the canteen sometimes. Next year I’ll volunteer to do reading at school,” Jan said.
“I will always be here with a shoulder to cry on and ear to listen to any of our St Mary’s community.
“My focus is on spending more time with my family and just enjoying life. Doing whatever I want to do, whenever I want to do it.
“Whatever happens, I’m happy. That’s all I can say. I have a lovely family, lovely grandchildren, lovely friends. Life has been good to me. I’m happy.”
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