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Known as Patti to her friends, Pat Stehbens was so alive, vibrant, full of fun. One of her friends reflected, "I just thought she was wonderful. Bright, intelligent, an absolutely marvellous friend."
Pat was born as the second child to William Rudolph Leslie Stehbens and Lily Vera (nee Ellis), in Drummoyne, Sydney in 1924. At the time her mum and dad had separated. Raised in the Depression by her mother, life then was very difficult. She attended Leichhardt Public School and then Fort Street Girls High School. She trained at Sydney Teachers College. Upon graduation she taught at Finley, Adaminaby, Glenorie, Plumpton, Castle Hill, and was Deputy Head Teacher at Leichhardt.
Pat joined the staff of Sydney Teachers College in 1971. The educational methodology of Dr Maria Montessori was important to her.
Pat specialized in the educational development of children who suffered from some kind of disadvantage, and much of her professional life was as an educational counsellor. When Dr Evelyn McLoughin, Dean of the School of Primary Education decided she wanted a trial run of a Childrens Centre in the Teachers College, Patti Stehbens along with Maryanne Rogers and Ann Gray were given the responsibility. The Centre worked with children who had learning difficulties, and trained student teachers to work with them. The centre required good teamwork, and Pat's role included giving the psychology lectures to the student teachers. She was admired for her ability to communicate difficult concepts. She was rigorous in her academic discipline, and was able to inspire her students. The Children's Centre was truly successful and continues to function today, at Sydney University. {Lineage: Vera Patricia Stehbens d/o William Leslie R Stehbens s/o Ludwig Rudolph Stehbens s/o Claus Johann Stehbens s/o Detlef Staeben s/o Frantz H Stebens]
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