Cathy had always wanted to be a teacher and would often play ‘school’ much to the annoyance of her siblings, who played the role of the students. After leaving Loreto Toorak, Cathy studied teaching, majoring in Physical Education. Teaching jobs were scarce in the late 1980s, and she was fortunate to secure a position teaching Year 7 and 8 students in Wangaratta. This was her dream job, teaching Physical Education full-time and playing sports most days of the week.
Following this period, Cathy was teaching in the western suburbs when she applied for a position to teach PE in Rathfarnham. When she heard she had been successful, she burst into tears as she felt as though she was coming home. Cathy taught in both Rathfarnham and the Senior School and loved every second. She particularly loves bumping into former students, be it in the education sector, school reunions and/or past pupil masses and hearing about their journey post school.
Cathy has always made the most of opportunities that have come her way, from her own School days where she particularly enjoyed the sporting side and participated in as many activities as possible, to professional opportunities she has been offered. She fondly recalls being selected in a group of students to attend the first ever ski camp, coordinated by Mr Andrew Schmidt. The criteria were that you could not ski and had not had much experience in the snow. This camp was a highlight for Cathy as she had never seen snow and it set her up to enjoy skiing beyond school.
Cathy together with her husband Chris have raised four amazing human beings and is proud to say that their daughter is in her second year of teaching. There was always a juggle to manage between raising her family whilst teaching part time as well as being actively involved in their kindergarten and school communities, however Cathy looks back on these busy days with such fondness and the happiest memories.
In 2014 Cathy was offered the chance to return to study and was accepted into a ground-breaking course at ACU, Safeguarding Children and Young People against Institutionalised Sexual Abuse. It was during this period that Cathy found her passion for student voice and agency. This passion turned into completing her Masters in Education, Student Wellbeing. During this time, she became a Deputy Principal and then had the privilege of being appointed the Principal at her current school, St Mary’s Primary School St Kilda East.
Cathy recalls having many inspirational teachers at Loreto, including Sr Ruth Winship ibvm and Mrs Pat Schaefer. Athletics was her passion, and she remembers the infamous towelling jumpsuit and skirt, with students having fun, doing their best, celebrating the highs and supporting each other through the lows. Cathy has been inspired by Mary Ward, who said, “Women in time to come will do much”. The importance of bringing about change through education and educating girls had a huge impact on her. At the heart of Cathy’s Loreto Toorak experience, both as a student and teacher, was the importance of relationships and connections, illustrated regularly by the example of Mary Ward and her traveling companions, wearing those brown shoes!
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