Obituaries Australia

Rosemary Wardlaw. Barrington education district superintendent. Died in Launceston on June 20.

A key figure in Tasmanian education, Rosemary Wardlaw died suddenly at her Launceston home at the age of 51.

Mrs Wardlaw was superintendent of the Barrington education district on the North-West Coast, where she was instrumental in the development of a program of school accountability which is set to redefine the management of state schools nationally.

Minister for Education Sue Napier said: "Tasmania can ill afford to lose senior educators of Mrs Wardlaw's calibre and her loss will be deeply felt throughout the Tasmanian education community. "She was a highly respected teacher, principal and administrator.''

Mrs Wardlaw was born at Latrobe and was educated at two schools that later came into her area of responsibility, Moriarty Primary and Devonport High.

During her years at the University of Tasmania, Mrs Wardlaw was a member of the university national women's hockey team and she maintained her commitment to the values of sport in her coaching of school hockey and cricket.

She began her teaching career at St Marys District High School in 1968 and later took up various appointments at Queechy High School in Launceston.

She was appointed acting principal of St Helens District High School in 1990, principal of Ravenswood High School in 1992, principal of Kings Meadows High in 1993 and Barrington district superintendent in 1994.

Mrs Wardlaw was a life member of the Launceston Creche committee. She was also a keen participant in outdoor education activities, having led camps at Port Sorell, Mt Cameron and Maria Island, and was a past president of the Northern High Schools Sports Association.

She leaves a husband, Tony, and two children.