I am excited to be back this Term to resume my career as a Humanities and Social Science teacher at the School and start my new role as Senior Mentor. Having been on leave for the best of the last five terms, much is new as it should be expected, in a dynamic environment like a school.

When Headmaster Tony Brooker showed me around Bunbury Grammar in 1980, I was mightily impressed, not by facilities, meagre and sparse as they were back then, but by the optimism for the future of the School – and a vision that I found hopeful and inspiring.

I have been very fortunate to have been able to play a role in the life of this School, whose vision I share. People who have purpose and meaning and who can find opportunity for joy and achievement are more likely to flourish despite the circumstances.

Many people will likely know me only in my most recent role as Deputy Head Wellbeing which I did in a permanent role from 2009 and stepped away from at the end of 2019. I am, however, at heart a teacher, specialising in History and the Humanities which I have taught at BCGS since 1981 and spent decades in charge of History and as Head of Humanities. Whilst we have enjoyed the high achievers, exhibition winners and the many students who have achieved academic acclaim, I sense the value of many who have had their eyes opened to issues or a different viewpoint. I am looking forward to getting my teeth into any exciting Humanities courses I get the chance to teach.

Many of the highlights of my time at school stem from the camps and co-curricular realm. I am looking forward to again be able to help this year assisting in the coaching of Football and attend my 26th Country Week – an event I value. Way back in 1993 I negotiated our involvement as the first non-government team to appear and organised and led our first foray to Country Week, which at that stage, was a real highlight for a football program. Since then, I have organised and led eight interstate football trips with great staff and students. It has been fabulous being part of the growth of the Country Week experience to enable as many of our students as possible to represent our School in their favoured sport.

Wanting the best for my family is one of the things that has kept me at the School. I was after all married here in 1994, Sandra also being a teacher at the School and our kids spent all their schooling years here – 77 years between the four of us! But I also believe in the place and what we try to achieve here. I cherish the wider School family, a community that has been special. I have enjoyed the wonderful staff, the intergenerational contact with families and the links with communities throughout the South West. The experiences have been great including the rich camps program, the international involvement through Round Square, the focus on service, the opportunities I have had to be involved with Student Leadership over 30 years…….

It is good to be back.