Story
That community feel
words TODD KUCHEL
PHOTOGRAPHY sam kroepsch
Andy Thurlow was born in Guernsey, the second largest island in the Channel Islands, off the coast of France. His parents had met there after the war (World War II) and later reluctantly moved to England when Andy and his brother, Pete needed schooling. After island life, his parents couldn’t settle and saw adventure in migrating to Australia.
His parents’ roles were quite reversed for that era. Andy’s dad was an artist, writer, poet, and a great storyteller who would openly share feelings and tales of his war experiences. His mum was innovative, adventurous, hard-working, and a passionate farmer who became a go-to person in the poultry industry.
Growing up in Melbourne, Andy acknowledges that it was his year seven teacher who inspired him to become a teacher.
“I had a wonderful experience at Luther (Secondary) College in Melbourne, and because at the time Lutheran schools were popping up everywhere, the Church needed teachers,” Andy recalls. “They invited 100 or so of us to houses around Concordia College in Adelaide with the offer of a great community life and cheap board.”
Andy attended Flinders University and Salisbury CAE and had a fantastic experience at the Lutheran Teachers’ College. It was there that he met his wife Marlene, along with many life-long friends.
Andy and Marlene were married in 1975, and after graduating that very same year, he began work at Forbes Primary in South Plympton. Teaching later took him to Port Lincoln, Hahndorf and even Bethania in Queensland before finally he was invited to teach at Tanunda Lutheran School (now Faith Lutheran College, Junior School.)
Marlene’s parents and two of her sisters were already living in the Barossa so Andy and Marlene knew the area well.
Andy couldn’t talk more fondly of his time teaching at TLS.
“I loved my teaching, and I mean that!” Andy shares.
When Andy was in Port Lincoln, a principal very cleverly dropped a computer on a bench at a time when nobody knew what a computer was.
“I was curious,” Andy recalls, “So I started to play on it. It didn’t take me long to realise the impact, and advantages it would have on teaching.”
When Andy came to TLS, he had such terrific support in promoting computers from the principal, the school board and parents.
“As far as computing went, in the Valley, our school was on the front of this technological wave,” Andy shares. “They were challenging, but exciting times! It made sense for me to move from the classroom to the computer room.
“In the beginning many didn’t think computers were here to stay. I held classes for students, my colleagues, other teachers, and parents of the schoolchildren. We even ran evening courses for the local community on software which we now regard as basic.
“After eight years, laptops, networks, and wireless connection meant that I could happily return to classroom teaching. The kids got the hang of computers very quickly!”
“How blessed and fortunate we are to be a part of it. Because Marlene and I were happily involved in school, church and community life for so long, we feel like wherever we go now in the Valley we come across people who we know and love, children we’ve taught, their parents, or grandparents. We thoroughly enjoy that community feel.”
- Andy Thurlow
What resonates most for Andy is the community.
“How blessed and fortunate we are to be a part of it,” Andy says. “Because Marlene and I were happily involved in school, church and community life for so long, we feel like wherever we go now in the Valley we come across people who we know and love, children we’ve taught, their parents, or grandparents. We thoroughly enjoy that community feel.”
Before retiring, Andy felt the need for another creative outlet.
Due to his love of sport and writing, he asked Champion Paralympian (and Marlene’s nephew)
(the late) Kieran Modra if he could write his life story. ‘Kieran Modra: The Way I See It,’ was published in 2018, and is a popular publication.
“I’ve got the writing bug badly.” Andy beams. “After Kieran’s book I’ve written more biographies, a novel, a book of nonsense verses and the latest, ‘The Hugamug Club’ about five wonderful local ministers. I like to include the Barossa and my faith in my writing wherever I can. I want to tackle a children’s book next!”
In 2012, both Andy and Marlene purchased E-bikes and started riding to coffee shops.
This inspired Andy to create the Sprocket Rockets – a social cycling and coffee-ing club which began in 2019, when six friends cycled to have coffee at Hive at Angaston.
Because Andy wanted the cyclists to be visible, he purchased hi-vis vests and designed the logo, which made them look like a club.
“Many come from outside of the Valley to Sprocket Rocket weekly, even from Adelaide.” Andy shares.
“Their bikes are an eclectic assortment of nearly everything with spoked wheels, without a vroom-vroom motor – ranging from road bikes, hybrids, mountain bikes through to a growing variety of e-bikes. Just lately two e-trikes have joined in. Some cycle to blow out the cobwebs and chisel off the calories, but it’s primarily a fun club.”
Andy now has over 160 members on his Sprocket Rocket mailing list, and 30 to 40 cyclists who ride regularly on a Thursday morning, with a further 10 to 20 joining in for a coffee, cake and a chat.
“We have met so many lovely people through Sprocketting,” Andy beams. “Besides our weekly rides, we have day trips and an annual camp.”
Sprocket Rockets recently completed the 300th ride.
The Barossa Valley is a great place to bring up kids,” Andy says. “The people are great. It’s pretty, wonderful for cycling, and has terrific restaurants and coffee … Where else in the world will you find something like that? It’s brilliant!”
