Farewell Mrs Grotherr

MAI THATCHER | Springfield Marketing & Events Officer

During Term 2, St Peters Springfield Head of Secondary Years, Mrs Sue Grotherr, farewelled staff and students having dedicated over 50 years to the teaching profession.

Sue’s incredible journey as a teacher began when she contemplated what the big city and university had to offer and left her childhood farm in Bundaberg. She had not planned to be a teacher, but accidentally fell into it. We, at St Peters Springfield, feel that this was no accident at all.

Mrs Grotherr has brought out the best in thousands of students across every year level from her first schools in Bundaberg to those in the Ipswich/Brisbane area since 1971.

Throughout her vast career, Mrs Grotherr has served across State, Anglican and Lutheran schools as a teacher, teacher librarian and in various leadership roles, including Head of Secondary Years and P-12 Curriculum Coordinator at St Peters Springfield. This is an amazing achievement that not many could claim.

Mrs Grotherr has worked tremendously hard to guide the hearts and minds of our secondary students and to lead the secondary staff at St Peters Springfield during her time here at the College. In doing so, she has always shown care, dignity and respect and the excellence that defines St Peters both in her work and in her relationships with all community members.

The College and the St Peters Springfield community have greatly appreciated everything Mrs Grotherr has done, from guiding students and staff in relation to academic and pastoral matters, organising many College events to creating the College timetable but most importantly, for the way she has gone about it all.

Mrs Grotherr has been a role model to us in the way that she has always considered the dignity of a person in every decision she has made and in the way she has strived to bring about the best possible outcome in every situation for our students, staff and families. Mrs Grotherr has been a kind, calm, fair, creative, dedicated and hardworking educator and leader with a can-do attitude.

Mrs Grotherr with her first ever class, Bundaberg, 1972.

We all have a memory of a favourite teacher at school. Someone who listened, encouraged, challenged and inspired us to do our best. Mrs Grotherr will undoubtedly be that memorable teacher for many of our students.

Students and staff at St Peters Springfield celebrated Mrs Grotherr’s achievements during a special assembly and staff meeting. Everyone within the St Peters Springfield community thanks Mrs Grotherr for her dedication and commitment. We send her with all our good wishes and God’s blessings as she writes her next chapter.

Mrs Sue Grotherr being presented with her farewell gifts from Senior students and Mrs Natalie Houston;