Greg Cudmore with a graduating class of students. Photo: Supplied.
If you have a yen to learn Italian – or to study Family Law – Greg Cudmore could be your one-stop shop. He runs courses in both subjects at Redlands Coast Museum. Italian and law may seem mismatched interests, but that’s what can happen when you’re a dedicated lifelong teacher and school principal.
Greg gained his teaching degree, got a job as a teacher, and was then faced with the need to teach specialised subjects. Undaunted and a natural student himself, he went on to university studies in politics, philosophy, legal studies and arts.
“I fell in love with studying,” he says, “I had no social life; I just wanted to accumulate ideas. I thought I’d do a PhD but was prevented because of my other ongoing studies so I settled for a Master’s in Education.
“When I retired there was a sudden void; I’m not a natural ‘joiner’ so I thought to I’d do something I like. I offered adult courses for seniors and found that I love it – and the students come with such enthusiasm and appreciation,” Greg says.
Greg has been teaching basic law for over 50 years, offering ten law units with a different aspect of law covered each term. The current term will cover Family Law. “Students who complete all ten units are awarded a ‘Bush Law’ degree,” Greg says with a grin.
Greg started learning Italian as a school student and it became a lifetime habit, reinforced by visits to Italy. His Italian classes cater for absolute beginners and those who already have some understanding of the language.
“Many students come because they’re attracted to the romance of the language, and some come because they’re going to visit Italy. It does require a lot of work and study; one class a week won’t be enough. Visitors to Italy have to be prepared for a lot of dialects and vernacular words, especially in the south, which has been impacted by incursions and invasions of other cultures over the centuries.”
Greg says that a bonus of learning a language is that the challenge for the brain is a powerful weapon against dementia.
For more information, email [email protected] or contact Redlands Coast Museum’s reception on (07) 3286 3494.
