And they are - they will both retire at the end of the year.
Mrs Direen has been at Balaclava for 21 years - three as deputy principal and 18 as principal. Mrs Lamond has been at Balaclava for 24 years. She started as a beginning teacher and spent 18 years as the deputy principal.
''We have been joking about leaving together for two years. We have been a really good team. It is a long time to stay in one place but it has gone so fast. We both feel like this is the right time. The school is in really good heart . . . whoever comes in is walking into a wonderful place,'' Mrs Direen said.
There have been changes at Balaclava School during their tenure, such as two new classrooms, a library, playgrounds upgraded, a fitness track and a school roll that has grown from 112 pupils to more than 250.
''When I came here we were painting the staff-admin block and we are starting to do it again. We have gone right around the school since I started,'' Mrs Direen said.
Mrs Direen said the school was ''like a country school in town''.
''It's a lovely place to be. It's got to be a happy place. I want children to want to come to school . . . they won't learn unless they are happy at school,'' she said.
Mrs Lamond said Balaclava was a place where ''staff come and very few leave''.
''It has always been a very rewarding place to work. You see so much progress ... the pleasure you get from seeing that. I haven't taught in any other schools. We have a great culture here of respect. We are all one happy, hardworking, committed team. There is great collegiality and collaboration. The community are supportive,'' she said.
One of the highlights for Mrs Direen and Mrs Lamond was the school's 50th jubilee earlier this year.
''That was very satisfying for us especially in our final year,'' Mrs Direen said.
She had always wanted to be a teacher, she said.
''I never wanted to do anything else. I used to play schools with my dolls. There are so many positive rewards, seeing children achieve, learn and do well. You make a difference. There is nothing nicer than working with children,'' she said.
Mrs Direen and Mrs Lamond have ''loved'' their time at Balaclava but will miss the children, their smiles, the parents and their fellow colleagues.
''We have loved it. We have both got grins on our faces. It feels quite right and we feel quite good about it ... we know we are leaving it in good heart. It has been part of our lives for so long ... we will miss everything about it. But we will come back to visit and have a cup of tea,'' Mrs Direen said.
Spending time with family and friends, gardening, travel and volunteering are on the cards for Mrs Direen and Mrs Lamond now. Their last day is December 18.
