I am here on an acting role replacing existing principal Helen Wade who is on maternity leave.

I have 30 years of school principal experiences from working in four different schools across Queensland.

My most recent role was foundation principal at Siena Catholic Primary School at Sippy Downs on the Sunshine Coast.

I was responsible for overseeing the creation and opening of the school next to the University of the Sunshine Coast.

The school opened in 2002 with 142 students and rapidly grew to 685 students sharing a 26 acre site with Siena Catholic College making a total student population of 1600.

It was an honour and a privilege to be responsible for creating a new school community and selecting staff for such an enterprize.

I have extensive school experiences having worked in eight different schools across New South Wales and Queensland.

I commenced my teaching career on the Murray River in a new school at Barham in 1976.

My experiences have taken me to both city and country schools, predominantly primary schools but also in a number of different P-12 school environments.

I am familiar with the Mount Isa environment having been brought up on the land and having experienced a number of country school placements throughout my career.

I pay great acknowledgment to what education can do for bringing the best out in country children’s capabilities and giving them opportunities to encounter a world beyond their existing environment.

I myself have been fortunate to experience new learning through the Principal Professional Renewal program provided through this organisation.

These included attending a Summer School at Boston College in the USA, an Enrichment Program at Luvern University in Belgium and tracking the footsteps of St Paul through Greece, Turkey and Malta - things I never imagined as a student. I also have had a brief experience as an Area Supervisor supporting 13 schools for Brisbane Catholic Education.

After 30 years of principal experiences I made the decision to have some time out so I have enjoyed the past 12 on leave.

During this time I’ve been invited to become a member of a number of boards due to my experience in educational leadership, administrative capabilities and network capacity.

When Fr Mick Lowcock heard I was not committed to a position he consulted me about filling in at St Joseph’s. I have known each Fr Lowcock from their Townsville experiences in the mid 1980s.

I am looking forward to enjoying and connecting with the Mount Isa community.