Family commemorates Central Victorian primary school teacher and principal Soraya Hepburn

Primary school teacher and principal Soraya Hepburn spent more than a dozen years trying to “help children feel loved and like they could achieve anything”.

Soraya Hepburn with her husband Daniel Swadling and children Adele and Mackenzie.

There are many families in Central Victoria whose children have grown up with the late Soraya Hepburn as a source of inspiration.

The “warm” and “compassionate” primary school teacher and principal, who died aged 38 earlier this week, spent more than a dozen years in education trying to give children the best possible start in life.

Soraya – or Mrs Hepburn to her students – was wife to high school sweetheart Daniel Swadling and mother to Adele and Mackenzie Hepburn-Swadling, 16 and 13.

The family grew up in the Werribee-Hoppers Crossing area, where Soraya lived across the road from Daniel when they were both teenagers.

They ended up in Beaufort, and she and Daniel eventually bought their own house in Ballarat.

Soraya grew up in the Werribee-Hoppers Crossing region.

“She was a big part of our lives,” sister-in-law Jacqui Swadling said.

“At times she and Daniel played mum and dad to us. They’d take us everywhere.

“They weren’t your typical teenagers that didn’t want to have anything to do with us: they let us annoying little sisters tag along and shared their lives and experiences with us always.

“She always thought about other people over herself. She was just the kind of person that made you happy and made you want to do better.

“Nothing was too hard if you needed her help.”

Soraya and Daniel first met in primary school.

Soraya taught at Waubra Primary School for longer than a decade, and was in her second year at the head of Natte Yallock Primary School.

Her family said country schools allowed her to have a “nurturing connection” with kids.

Sister-in-law Ashlee Swadling said she had received numerous messages from Soraya’s former students about her positive influence.

In fact, one of Soraya’s own daughters now has her eyes set on the same career as her mum.

“She felt like a teacher made a huge difference in a child’s life,” Ashlee said.

“Sometimes at home it can’t be all rainbows and Soraya wanted to make a difference and help children feel loved and like they could achieve anything.”

Soraya with part of her family.

Mother-in-law Helen Swadling said, to her, Soraya had been “another daughter” for 23 years.

“She came to live with us early on in the piece so she could be close to Daniel,” she said.

“They went out in Grade 5 and 6 originally – that’s how long they’ve known each other.

“She loved education and loved school so when she got into education her aim was to make every child want to come to school and find their passion, no matter what it was.”

Soraya sought to “help children feel loved”.

Sister Nicole Hepburn, along with her partner Tim Petch, Soraya’s twin brother Aaron Hepburn and his wife Monique Hepburn, as well as Soraya’s parents Sandra and Charles, said Soraya was a “bright light” who will “always be with us in her beautiful daughters and loving husband”.

“Words cannot describe how devastated we are from the loss our daughter and sister,” they said.

“Soraya meant so much to us all and while we take the time to grieve as a family we are finding comfort in our happiest memories of her.

“We would like to thank our family, friends, and the Ballarat community for their endless support.”

Love for Soraya was also expressed by Soraya’s brother-in-law Alex McKenzie, her father-in-law Scott Swadling, and Ashlee’s partner Jay Williams.