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Farewell Retiring Staff The very best wishes go to our retiring peers who are congratulated on their contributions to Star, and who will be greatly missed. Gail Clayford – Humanities/Religious Education, 37 Years When you reflect on what it is to be a strong Star woman, there is no better example than what we find in Gail Clayford. Whether on stage dancing to the beat of an African drum, climbing a steep hill or on the Flying Fox in Myrtleford, to riding a bike in the middle of the Mekong Delta, Gail is a fine example for all who have the privilege of working alongside her. Gail has been an exemplary leader for both staff and students alike. Gail commenced at Star following a recommendation from the Principal at Avila College, 37 years ago, and only 18 months after she and her husband, Eustace, and their son Grantham, arrived in Australia from South Africa. After one day of teaching, Sister Josepha Dunlop called her and informed her that she had the job. This was the beginning of her journey where she has carried out many different roles including years of Pastoral leadership for Years 7, 8, 9 and 11, as well as teaching Humanities, Religion and Business Studies. Gail introduced the BOA Course at Star of the Sea College (Business, Office and Administration) and initiated Star’s connection with Moorabbin TAFE to support the students with their studies in this course. After completing her Certificate 4 Training, she taught this course for 15 years at the College.
Charmaine remained well informed about changes in disability funding and available support services. She was a leader in her role and was often asked to consult with Catholic Education Melbourne to assist with the development of policy and strategies needed to support students. Her guidance and genuine goodwill have been appreciated by so many of her colleagues and she regularly receives correspondence from students and parents who have been the recipients of her care, understanding and her vast knowledge. Charmaine has a cheeky wit and a wonderful sense of humour. She also has a great ability to stand firm when students need a champion for their cause. She leaves Star having left her mark on several generations of young people. We wish Charmaine well in her retirement where she will undoubtedly have great fun and joy catching up with her friends. Bernadette Dorning – Technology/Science, 24.5 Years The first word springing to mind about Bernadette Dorning is ‘hospitable’. She was responsible for introducing VET Hospitality to Star, inspiring many to follow successful career paths into the industry. A generous and social person, she raised the profile of the Food and Health Faculty as the Leader for 10 years, bringing innovative ideas to teaching and learning. Her renowned organisational skills were a signature of sorts, reflected in her advanced photocopying and neatly labelled folders, keeping order and calm in an otherwise demanding school environment, something her students and staff appreciated.
Charmaine McKee – Learning Support, 30 Years
A specialist in her field and as an experienced VCE teacher, she presented at HEV conferences and was a writer of support material for Health and Human Development study and an examination assessor for the VCAA. Over the years she has assisted in the design of kitchens over various parts of the College and more recently, the state-of-the-art facility, the Trasna Food Technology Centre.
Charmaine has always been a strong advocate for Star students. She provided sage advice to both colleagues and parents, facilitating a positive and rewarding school experience for the students in her care.
Her generosity was especially highlighted on the 125-year celebration of the school’s foundation, when cupcakes and lollies with the College Crest were made for every member of the College. Along with Bernadette’s
There are many highlights throughout her teaching career at Star and she will be missed for her wisdom, her kindness and her ability to see the beauty in all that she experiences. We wish Gail every success in her retirement and know that her sense of adventure will continue to shine through her future pursuits.
Hospitality students catering for many Art & Design exhibitions, she has traveled with school trips to Italy and Vietnam. Bernadette was able to contribute her cultural knowledge of food, enhancing the students’ experience of different cultures. Sharing her passion was a joy. In retiring, Bernadette will be looking for more adventures with her husband Tim, including travel when it is safe, gardens to redesign, crafts to master, books to read, yoga and long walks, and of course friends to entertain. Julie Christiansen – Learning Support, 24 Years Julie has been an integral member of the Learning Diversity team for more than two decades. Julie was an advocate for the students she supported at Star every single day. She is one of the kindest and most empathic people we have ever worked with in Learning Diversity. Julie has always been devoted to achieving the best for her students, tireless in her patience and gentle in her approach, to gain their trust and to build their confidence. She had an ability to make everyone feel valued. Her work to support the Mathematics Faculty in designing appropriate programs for students with special needs was much appreciated by teachers. Julie’s ability to make Mathematics a relevant life skill kept her students coming back for more. There have been many young women who have blossomed because of the magic of Julie, who nurtured and encouraged them to become all that they could be. Many of her teaching strategies and tools have become the status quo for teachers working with students who have special needs, and this is the greatest compliment to her of all. Julie served on various committees during her years at Star. For the past three years, Julie was a member of the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) team. We thank Julie for her dedication and wish her happiness in the next phase of her life. Ciara Mortale – Languages (Italian), 23.5 Years Chiara started at Star in 1998. She was initially employed to teach Italian on a part-time basis, but soon after took the full time role of Year 8 Mentor Teacher, teaching Religious Education and Italian. During her teaching at Star, Chiara has instilled a love for Italian in her students, and she has developed strong relationships with them as well. She has been a wonderful role model and
