Annesley Junior School playground named in honour of old scholar and former teacher Daphne Gum Students Ella, 9, and Henrietta, 8, at Annesley Junior School's new playground which is named after old-scholar and former Annesley teacher Daphne Gum OAM, 97. Picture: Wundke Samuel Source: adelaidenow GROWING up in Crystal Brook, Daphne Gum dreamed of going to Methodist Ladies College, now Annesley College, and becoming a teacher. Realising that dream began in 1929 when Ms Gum, now 97, and her family moved to Adelaide and she started at the school. "I had heard of MLC for many years when we lived in the country," Ms Gum says. Then we came to the city to live and to come to MLC was just the joy of my life at that time. Almost 85 years since the Ashford resident's first day at the school, Annesley Junior School's upgraded playground was last week named in her honour. It's just a beautiful thing that they have done ... I can't think of anything else that's named after me," she laughs. Ms Gum, who started and finished her teaching career at Annesley in two separate stints, was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1960 and awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 1996 for her services to education and helping children with cerebral palsy. She still volunteers one day a week in Annesley's library and at Ashford Special School. "As quite a young child I only ever wanted to be a teacher and I've done it all my life," Ms Gum says. It's just part of me to want to share with children. Ms Gum unveiled a name plaque at a ceremony last Monday (May 27). Annesley Principal Cherylyn Skewes said the school had no hesitation in naming the refurbished playground in Ms Gum's honour. "Daphne is part of the history of our school and it was a privilege," she said.