30
St Catherine’s News Autumn 2021
Honour, well deserved JEANETTE GUNN AM The Member of the Order of Australia (AM) Award given to Jeanette Gunn on Australia Day was a fitting reward for the years of hard work she has put into Water Polo in Australia.
I have known Jeanette as a colleague and a good friend for over 30 years and throughout that time, she has always worked hard to promote the sport amongst all people. Yes, she has had the reward of a Gold Medal in The Sydney Olympics, but that was after many years of taking the Australian Women’s Water Polo team to far flung places with very basic accommodation. These trips though were essential to help the Team develop into the powerhouse they became and to establish the strong bond and understanding that good teams need. As the Manager of the Australian Women’s Water Polo Team from 1995 to 2008, Jeanette utilised her extraordinary interpersonal skills to make sure the team worked cohesively together and to also establish good working relationships with the other teams from throughout the world.
Jeanette worked hard behind the scenes to ensure that the Women’s Water Polo competition was included in the Olympics in time for the Sydney extravaganza. It seemed unfair that the Men’s Water Polo Team had been part of the Summer Olympics since 1900, but the women were not recognised. There were huge celebrations when it was announced that Sydney would include the women in 2000. What a competition that was! The tension during the finals was palpable as Australia kept working hard to defeat their arch nemesis USA in the final minutes of the game. If that is not enough, Jeanette also worked hard to develop the sport at school level. She is enthusiastic and allows any student who would like to ‘have a go’ to be included. (I remember her telling my daughter who was acting as goalie to duck under the water if the other side was aiming for goal. She recognised that no matter how she tried, my daughter would be unable to stop a goal.) This care for the students allowed the girls to flourish in the sport and her outstanding knowledge and skill in coaching enabled several of her students to reach the elite level in the sport. Jeanette is also a superb teacher of Mathematics with a passion for the subject that is infectious. She works with students at their own pace making sure they are able to understand how the
concepts link together and supporting the girls to develop the skills they need to manage this subject. At the same time, she has a keen intellect that can stimulate the very brightest students to achieve to their full potential. Her interest in all aspects of teaching is apparent as she is a VCAA assessor and earlier in her career she also marked the IB examinations. This used to cause great concern as the papers would need to be sent to her whilst she was travelling with the Water Polo Team in different parts of the world. It is amazing that they all got to her and the fact that they were all assessed and returned within the limited time given is a testament to her amazing dedication and organisation. Many of the girls at St Catherine’s seek Jeanette’s wise counsel on a wide range of subjects. She has been Head of Year and VCE Coordinator as well as a Senior Mathematics teacher and water polo coach during her time at this School. The girls always think they were lucky to have her as she always makes time for them. In recounting just some of the things she has achieved over the years, there is little doubt that the AM award was definitely an appropriate acknowledgement of all she has done. I feel proud to have her as a friend. Mrs Janette Matt Mathematics Teacher
