STAFF NEWS

Bri Bennett is a born and bred Echuca girl and is known for putting in the hours to ensure that our students have access to fantastic sporting opportunities and facilities. We spoke with Bri about one of her recent major accomplishments – the opening of the MAG Fitness Centre.

“I always loved PE and Sport as a student myself and knew I wanted to do something within that field after I graduated from secondary school. My running coach, Russell Parsons, was a huge role model in my life that helped me make the choice to go down the path of teaching.

I began my first year of teaching at MAG in 2015, which was my second year out of University- I am now into my 7th year at MAG. I studied a Bachelor of Education (Physical Education) at the University of Ballarat (now known as Federation University) and graduated in 2013.

The opening of the MAG Fitness Centre has definitely been the highlight of my year at school so far. It has been a surreal experience - to actually see a dream of our faculty come into fruition is amazing! We are aiming for the centre to be utilised across many different facets; assisting curriculum development and knowledge of concepts in our subjects. This is particularly important for Year 11 and 12, as we now can offer a workout space for students before and after school, during lunchtimes and as a study break for our HSC students.

We are always planning for the future in PDHPE! We have big dreams about continuing to instil a love for moving with our students by building our resources and programs. Ideally, we are establishing lifelong healthy habits and routines in our students, that will have beneficial effects on their health, happiness and outlook”.

Alan Davidson moved from the other side of the world to take up an offer to work at Moama Anglican Grammar way back in 2007. In that initial year he taught the first Year 5 class in a portable classroom near the current Under-Cover Area. He’s now in his 15th year of teaching at the school, and is third after Kathleen Kemp and Maris Carmody in terms of length of teaching service.

Alan, who originally hails from Falkirk, Scotland, became acquainted with the Echuca-Moama region when he completed a year of teaching exchange at Echuca East in 2002. When the opportunity came up for his family to move to Australia on a longer-term basis, he jumped at it. Alan, his wife and new baby arrived in Echuca to begin their new lives – the plan was to spend the first three years in Moama and then see where they ended up… Alan has kept himself very busy playing an active role in both the general community and within the school community. He was one of the founders of the Moama-Echuca Border Raiders Soccer Association where he has spent many years as either player or coach. He often found himself up against some of the students that he’d previously taught.

Around the school, Alan is well known for heading up some of the more ‘fun’ activities, including developing activities focused on the FIFA World Cub, Olympic Games, and his annual coordination of the Kris Kringle morning for teachers in December. As an avid photographer, Alan’s photos can often be seen featured in the school’s newsletters, social media posts and other materials.

Alan loves that having stayed in one job for so long, he can easily see the progression of his students, “I enjoy the teaching on a day-to-day basis, watching the students grow. It is wonderful to see my students continue on through high school, and then to run into them down the street and still be able to say hi and have a conversation with them. I’m lucky to have these ongoing connections – watching the cycle of students going off to university or into careers and then connecting with them again when they return to town”.