Teacher Over The Moon About Landing A Loan

Newcastle Herald

Thursday May 13, 2004

By PAUL MAGUIRE

JEANETTE Rothapfel has an obvious passion for space and science.

And, after seven trips to the Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas, she has even been allowed to borrow fragments of moon rock and soil.

The Maitland High head science teacher is the first educator to be granted permission to take lunar samples out of the United States.

The specimens, considered priceless, were gathered by astronauts during several flights to the moon.

They made their Down Under debut yesterday in front of Maitland area infant and primary school students, the city's mayor Peter Blackmore and Maitland schools director Terry Maguire.

Mrs Rothapfel, who picked up the samples from a US official in Canberra, will have them for 12 months.

She expects to show them at universities and museums, in addition to infant, primary and secondary schools.

When not on display, the samples will be stored in police station safes.

``It's such an honour to be the first educator to be granted responsibility for moon rocks outside America," she said.

``I've become inspired as a teacher and learner through my involvement with the space program and I want to be able to expose others to the very special opportunities I've had."

© 2004 Newcastle Herald

Back to News Index | Back to Home