HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER
Growing up my life revolved around playing sport and in my final years of school I started to do some coaching. I enjoyed the opportunity to develop as a player in all kinds of sports and pass on what I learnt to others. This set me on my path to becoming a Physical Education teacher. A graduating Year 12 student once gave me a card at the end of her final year and wrote that I had inspired her to become a sports teacher. Knowing that you’ve had such an impact on a student for them to want to follow in your footsteps is a pretty special feeling. I love hearing about all the interesting things happening in the lives of the students in my Mentor Group both in and out of school. It’s my role to assist them in achieving their goals in both, and I enjoy working through the hard times and celebrating the good ones with them.
The students also have an amazing range of co-curricular opportunities and I enjoy the small part I have played in making some of these happen. Whether it be out on the footy field, snorkelling at Rottnest, surfing in Yallingup, riding elephants in Thailand or playing hockey and netball in New Zealand and Fiji, seeing the students develop skills outside the classroom has been something I have really enjoyed and am grateful for the chance to be a part of.
Something I’m particularly proud of from my time at MLC is growing our IGSSA cricket programme. It’s the programme’s seventh year and we’ve been in the final for both age group competitions each year. We’ve grown from one team of eight players to having 50 total players across five teams and it is exciting to be a part of this growth in women’s cricket.
Creating the IGSSA 25 Club at MLC is something I am proud of. This recognises any student who has competed in 25 IGSSA sports teams across their time at the College. We have awards that recognise our best sportswomen, but the 25 Club is different in that it doesn’t matter if you play in the A team or the Z team, if you are committed, anyone could be rewarded with induction into the club.
Fun Fact: Jon was the WA Cricket Association School Ambassador of the Year last year.