In 1983, Josine "Josy" Ludwig responded to a newspaper advertisement from determined parents seeking a Montessori teacher for the Illawarra region south of Sydney. Josy joined the cause. In 1986, she commuted 1.5 hours each way to Sydney to earn her AMI 3-6 Diploma with Pat Hilson, despite already being a trained teacher and mother of five. She eventually went on to become Montessori trained from ages 3 to 18.
The journey led to the establishment of the first Montessori primary school in regional NSW in 1987 when the families took over Elonera School. Josy's connection with Willemien Duyker-de-Vries in 2000 influenced the school's direction, eventually offering senior secondary and the International Baccalaureate program by 2011.
Josy actively engaged with the school community through newsletters, workshops, and voluntary English classes for new migrant women during the 1980s, earning official recognition in 2017. Her commitment to improving educational opportunities continued even after retirement. She served on Elonera's Board of Directors from its inception until recently, with her birthday now marking History Week at the school.
Josy embodied Grace and Courtesy in all aspects of her work, from boardrooms to classrooms. Her passion for Montessori remained unwavering throughout her years as a Montessori student, teacher, mentor, and friend. Josy passed in 2024 and is sadly missed by the Montessori community.
