Walk the Mile

The concerns about our environment and the impact that we have on it continue to be a regular topic of discussion. The changing weather patterns, our use of resources, consumerism and waste management are all issues that we can not only talk about but affect each one of us in different ways. They will also determine what sort of planet the generations of the future will live upon. In this discussi...

This conversation is with a former school board member, parent and media personality Sally Loane. We discuss what it takes to build communities in all sorts of settings and some of the obstacles to building community within our current environment. Sally’s experience on television, radio and through print media has provided her with many insights into what it takes to create and maintain strong co...

Ross and Sunny Lusted are two of our Primary School parents. They have had years of working in the hospitality industry and together have created restaurants and hotels around the world. Through their travels, they have learnt many lessons about community, culture and people that can only come through experience. In this conversation, they share some of their learnings and how it has shaped what t...

One of the great joys that I have received from standing at the gate each morning to greet the students is getting to know many of our neighbours. Don Spencer OAM is one of those people that I have got to know over the years and have enjoyed hearing his story. He has had a lifetime in the music industry, was a presenter on the ABC’s Playschool for many years and has established a charity which add...

I often hear people say they overthink things. But when can you do too much thinking? This conversation is with a former student, Eleanor Gordon-Smith (Class of 2009). Eleanor is a philosopher, academic and has been writing an advice column for the Guardian Australia for the last four years. She has also published a book titled “Stop Being Reasonable”. We discuss the value of thought, the nature o...

This episode addresses the issues that might occur when starting school: whether it be for the first time, a new school or a new year. Heidi Anderson (a very experienced Kindergarten teacher) and Ashleigh Smith (our current Year 7 Co-ordinator) talk about what is important when starting or returning to school. There are massive changes to consider and we know it can be overwhelming for some, stude...

Here is the second part of our Walk The Mile Podcast “Life is a Drama” . This is our first attempt at doing a podcast LIVE!! It was recorded late last term and all of our guests (Elizabeth Butcher, Peter Eyers, Deborah Galanos, Charlotte Friels and Poppy Lynch) are people involved in the performing arts, particularly the theatre world. We talk about what they get from the stage, the highs and lows...

This was our first attempt at doing a podcast LIVE!! Admittedly, I was worried how it might go, whether I could keep the style of conversation going in front of an audience and just having to adapt to a new concept. In the end, I think we experienced something quite different and it was great to feel the vibe in the Great Hall. This was recorded late last term and all of our guests (Elizabeth Butc...

Being a parent can be a rollercoaster of emotion, never really knowing what the person in your care is going to bring each day. Although there is plenty of advice out there, your child does not come with an instruction manual and it can feel like you are making it up as you go (speaking from firsthand experience here!). This is a conversation with a current parent at our Primary School, Angela McL...

It is estimated that in 2021, over 46 000 children were living in out of home care in Australia. And more and more kids get added to that number every day. The struggle to find adequate accommodation and care is also increasing. In this conversation, I speak to a parent within our community who has been a foster carer for a number of years, to a variety of children. She shares her own experience,...

Everyone in our society goes to school and you go to school to learn. But how do you do that? For many people, the act or process of learning is not so simple and can often have a huge impact one’s own identity and wellbeing. In this conversation, I speak to Cristi Wilsmore, the Deputy Head of Primary School (Teaching and Learning). Cristi explains what she has discovered about her own learning an...

In this episode I speak to one of our Alumni, Vivienne Smith (Class of 2008), about her career as an adventure documentary film maker and world traveller. We discuss her experience of different cultures and landscapes and how that has impacted who she is today. Viv also explains the new app that she is involved with that takes the viewer to the locations of a whole range of famous movies and telev...

Julie McCrossin is a well-known broadcaster, interviewer and alumni of SCEGGS. She spends much of her time asking people questions and facilitating conversations at conferences and other gatherings. In this episode, I get to ask her about her life and how her experiences and history have formed her passions and her beliefs. We discuss a whole range of topics, all bracketed by the ideas of purpose...

There is plenty of stuff out there telling us how we can find happiness. But what is it that we are looking for? Dr Caroline West is a SCEGGS parent and Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Sydney, where she teaches and researches on topics ranging from ethics to happiness. She is a popular public speaker and writer and is currently working on a book on the philosophy of happiness. I...

Everyone that’s ever been to school would have had to study Science at some stage. While it provides many answers to some of our questions, it is also a subject that offers a whole lot more. Dr Joseph Guss is part of our Science Department and in this episode we discuss the practice of science, how it connects with philosophy and belief, and what it means to teach scientifically. A very interestin...

Fashion has been fashionable since the dawn of time. The clothes we wear say a lot about us, the things that are important to us, how we see our place in the world. And fashion extends to all sorts of creative practices that we participate in. Madeleine Park has her own podcast which deals with this area of fashion and identity. We discuss her passion for fashion, her quest to gather a deeper unde...

SCEGGS has had a long tradition of producing accomplished female artists and encouraging all students to create and explore through their own artistic ability. Some would argue that it is not only important to education but to life itself. Heidi Jackson is the Head of Visual Arts at SCEGGS and has a deep passion for her subject that goes well beyond her role as a teacher. She even has an exhibitio...

When you can make a career out of something you are passionate about it has the opportunity to provide countless rewards, many of them unexpected. Abby-Rose Schmidt, an Old Girl from the class of 2012, talks about why she loves nursing, her philosophy of the profession and what it was like to be an ICU nurse during a pandemic. It’s a great story of compassion and serving others in their time of st...

The practice of mindfulness has become more popular over the last few years as our society deals with the chaos and busyness of life. The application of this practice can sometimes be difficult and approached with cynicism or caution. Amy Marrero is the Mindfulness Co-ordinator at SCEGGS and in this podcast she breaks down some of the misconceptions that we might have. Amy explains how she became...

Throughout sports history there have been a number of games that were once considered to be the domain of men only: soccer, cricket, rugby league, rugby union, AFL. It has been great to see how that has all changed and there have been  a number of competitions and significant women that have pioneered a path that has inspired countless girls to give it a go. One of our Old Girls, Emily Chancellor...

There are a wide range of causes and projects that, on any given day, we might be called upon to donate towards. In the end, it is up to the individual to consider what philanthropy might mean to them, how they might want to contribute, what they think is worthy of their contribution or even if it’s necessary. In this episode, two very active members of our parent body, Christy Boyce and Matt Jone...

The journey of a full-time athlete can be a unique and bumpy experience in the effort to succeed at their given sport. This episode is a conversation with Marina Carrier, an Old Girl from the Class of 2014, who has represented Australia in the Modern Pentathlon in the Olympics. She talks about her years devoted to the sport, the things she learnt, the highs and the lows. We also discuss what its l...

If you had the same school experience as me, Social Science was basically map reading and rock formations. From this conversation with our Head of Social Sciences, Zoe Thompson, I have been pleasantly enlightened to see how it is so much more and how it helps us to understand the world we live in, even on a daily basis. I hope you enjoy the discussion as much as I did.

Going to school is more than just sitting in a classroom and absorbing information. Pastoral care and wellbeing play an important part in many schools today. Laura Connolly is our Director of Student Wellbeing and she talks about the challenges and the vision that she has for her role and the students of SCEGGS. Laura only stepped into the position last year and it has come with many challenges. W...

This is another conversation with my very first guest, Peter Eyers, Head of Drama at SCEGGS. We look back over the year and discuss some of the things which have impacted the lives of many. There is also a very special guest at the end of the podcast so make sure you don’t switch off.