Staff Story

I came to Melbourne Grammar in 1999 as a private tutor and returned to teach Renaissance History in 2006 and have never left. Above all, it’s working with the diverse students we have here that keeps me motivated. 

I’ve always had an “I can do that” attitude. Alongside pursuing my teaching qualification, I initially had plans to become an opera singer supporting my studies with own antique shop. But the dream to teach at an all-boys school, and to run my own choir, was still there. 

By chance, I found a position at Scotch College as Head of Singing. I was the first woman to conduct the senior school choir at the Foundation Day concert, at a time when there were only four women on the Senior School staff.

Straight away, I found that if I showed my passion for what I was teaching, my students respected that.

Next, I decided to take my skills to a challenging school in Melbourne’s northern suburbs. While teaching there, I completed another degree in History Honours, writing the stories of Coburg’s war widows. 

My passion for history then led me to a role establishing a museum for the City of Greater Dandenong, then writing the history of Como House. This was a huge opportunity, and slightly intimidating, but again I was attracted to the challenge.  I have interviewed over 1,600 people from squatter’s descendants to Holocaust survivors, for publications and academic research

Here at Melbourne Grammar, one of the things I love most is working with students who are such individuals. I love the fact that our classrooms include boys who will end up applying for universities like Oxford and Harvard, along with other boys who exceed everyone’s expectations.

I’m also inspired by the way we work behind the scenes with other teachers, putting effort into the needs of each individual student.  What we do looks seamless, even though there is so much going on.

Teaching and writing about Australian History has been my great passion, and Melbourne Grammar is an integral part of that history. My husband attended the School from the age of four, we were married in the School’s Chapel of St Peter and our two daughters were christened there.

Writing poetry has also played a significant role in my life.  Ultimately, the real gift for any person, is to choose a profession, where despite the challenges, brings joy to your life each day.  The knowledge that you can motivate young men, not just to learn and understand about the history of their own country and the world, but to develop a greater understanding of themselves and their own passions, is inspiring.