When Carl Foster visited Bellingen Public School’s 5/6E class last term, silence ensued as students avidly listened to Carl speaking about the history of Bellingen.
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He described the shops in the main street, answered questions on why he became a mechanic and what is was like growing up in Bellingen.
Carl made such an impact that a small group of interested Year 6 boys decided they would make a short film about Carl and enter the ABC’s Unsung Heroes competition.
Along with teacher John Drake and school organiser Michelle Stockton, students spent an hour interviewing and filming Carl in his office.
Carl spoke about building the service station, gave advice to the boys about entering high school and told stories about the prickly bush which is planted along the side of the footpath.
As only children can, their questions got right to the heart of things: “What was Carl’s proudest moment?” The answer: the day he married June.
June was equally complimentary.
“It’s been a wonderful experience working together and living together,” she said
“We’ve been together for 62 years and married for 58 years. We have six children, 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Life has been good to both of us”.
Michelle told the Courier-Sun it was a “wonderful opportunity for students to interview the most recognisable person in Bellingen and appreciate that Carl sat in the same classrooms as they do. He is an inspiration.”
