Meet our Chaplain

Rev Dr Rosalie Clarke

Kinross Wolaroi School is a long way from Reverend Dr Rosalie Clarke’s home – the hilltop town of Eshowe, which stands 500 metres above Zululand’s coastal plains in South Africa. “I lived in Zululand during my school years and attended the same school from Preschool to Year 12. Then I moved to Pietermaritzburg for university. Zulu people had a big influence on my life and ministry,” KWS’ new Chaplain said.

Rosalie’s feet first landed on Australian soil in 1992 – she had married an Australian, a lecturer at her university whose family had a dairy farm in Denman. “We came and went throughout the ‘90s and moved permanently to Sydney in ‘99 where we had two children,” Rosalie said.

Growing up during Apartheid meant Rosalie’s eyes were wide open to life’s challenges from a young age. Perhaps it was this experience that grew her caring heart and ability to bring people together. “I seem to have a gift for relating to people and my presence seems to have a calming effect, which helps to build community across divides,” Rosalie said. “I believe my South African experience and my grapple with institutionalised inequality as a young adult gave me more awareness in this regard.”

It was also perhaps what gave Rosalie her rebellious streak. While Rosalie has always connected to God, she has at times questioned her faith. “My faith and my relationship with the church are the two most important things in my life.

However, they have not always been easy,” Rosalie said. “I am a questioner and have thought hard about things.

However, I have learnt that I will always have some questions and how to live with them. I also love the answers I have found – some of which have come easily and some of which I have spent a lot of energy searching for.”

Rosalie loves people and thrives on engagement with children. She also enjoys seeing people grow and look at things through different perspectives. “As Chaplain, I hope to encourage people to go on their own explorations of faith, to know God personally, and to be able to critique the Christian tradition in helpful and encouraging ways,” she said. “I also hope to share many fun and memorable times with everyone.”

On an average day, Rosalie will share teachings from the Bible, nurture faith and offer care to KWS’ students, staff, families and broader community. “My weekly responsibilities will include conducting High School and Junior School chapels and teaching Religious Education to the Junior School and early Senior School years,” she said. “Currently, I lead a devotion at staff briefings and provide a pastoral presence in the school community. I’ll also be involved in planning retreats, hosting Christian events, contributing to our social justice and community engagement programs and facilitating Christian groups on campus.”

Rosalie was previously a Chaplain at St Charles College in South Africa where she also taught Senior History. She also holds a Doctorate of Philosophy and a Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal; a Master of Education from Macquarie University and a Bachelor of Theology from Charles Sturt University.

The Uniting Church selected Rosalie for the role at KWS based on her profile and after her interview, Rosalie was invited to lead a School Chapel Service in February. “I have always wanted to be a school Chaplain. I love children and young people and have the utmost respect for teachers. I also know how challenging school communities can be given the number of stakeholders involved and recognise how families’ lives are impacted by school requirements. So, I was happy the church matched my experience to KWS. I am very happy with country life and being in regional New South Wales,” Rosalie said.

Settling into the role has been relatively easy thanks to the “warm and welcoming people” at KWS, but also challenging in a year stifled by COVID-19 restrictions, Rosalie said. “The restrictions have been frustrating, but they have also given me a wonderful opportunity not to be too busy too soon. It has been great getting to know the staff and students and I look forward to being more integrated into the community next year.”