Old school ties part two: Where Victoria’s politicians and industry leaders went to school
They extol the virtues of public education but how many of our politicians actually went to posh private schools? Here are the schools and teachers that shaped our leaders.
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GREG HUNT: Federal Health Minister and Flinders MP:
1. Where did you go to school?
Mornington Primary School and Peninsula Grammar.
2.What did you like most, or least, about it?
I liked English, debating (not surprisingly), cricket, cross country and the lifelong friendships that I still have to today. I disliked school uniforms!
3. Were you a good student?
I wasn’t as diligent as my year 11 daughter Poppy is; she amazes me with her focus, but I was lucky enough to get a scholarship, which carried with it a sense of responsibility. I also loved learning about the world.
4. Who was your most memorable teacher at school and why?
Ms Hamilton-Smith in grade two had perhaps the most impact on me of the many good teachers who taught me. She helped me learn to love reading and also helped a seven-year-old boy, who was overweight and down in confidence, to have real confidence and belief.
5. What’s your favourite story from your school days?
Playing in three junior cricket premierships; two at local club level and one for my school.
RICHARD MARLES: Deputy Labor leader and Corio MP
1. Where did you go to school?
Geelong Grammar School
2. What did you like most, or like least about it?
I loved my time at Geelong Grammar. I had a unique experience in that my father taught there, so it’s not just where I went to school, it is where I grew up. It had a wonderful sense of community. It had an incredible ability to find a place for every kid.
3. Were you a good student?
You’d have to ask my teachers!
4. Who was your most memorable teacher at school, and why?
That is always a tough one, but Roger More. He taught me the beauty of maths which remains a passion to this day and he taught me the importance of bringing humour to life.
5. What’s your favourite story from your school days?
There are so many. Being at a boarding school I got used to falling asleep every night to the idle chatter in the dorm after lights out. There was something very comfortable in that.
CATHERINE KING: Labor infrastructure spokeswoman and Ballarat MP
1. Where did you go to school?
Burwood East and then St Christopher’s in Syndal for primary school. Emmaus College Burwood for secondary school.
2. What did you like most, or least, about it?
I really loved learning, the sense of independence getting myself to school and becoming more my own person and not just a reflection of my parents. I disliked the bullies on the school bus on the way home every day and the incredible awkwardness of school dances with local boys’ schools.
3. Were you a good student?
I would describe myself as a pretty average student. I was incredibly shy so probably didn’t put myself forward for as many things as I could have, but I loved learning. I particularly loved English, English Literature and history, so tended to do better in those subjects because I had an interest in them.
4. Who was your most memorable teacher at school and why?
I had some incredible teachers, who really challenged our perceptions of the world. I remember Mr Cussigh, our maths teacher, not so much for his maths teaching but the fact that he talked a lot about his own story and of Mussolini and the war. I can still hear his voice “Girls, fascism grows when people are not awake — use your voice!” I found out just recently that Mr Cussigh was the grandfather of Carina Garland, Labor’s candidate for Chisholm. I am not at all surprised his granddaughter has such a passion for representative politics.
5. What's your favourite story from your school days?
I don’t really have a favourite story but when I started secondary school it was an all-girls’ school that then merged with St Thomas More to become Emmaus. That created a whole new dynamic in the school. To my outrage the girls all still had to wear ties with our winter uniform but the boys did not. I am still pretty good at tying a tie!
ADAM BANDT: Australian Greens leader and Melbourne MP
1. Where did you go to school?
Primary school was Linden Park Primary in Adelaide and Rosalie Primary in Perth. High school was Hollywood Senior High School in Perth.
2. What did you like most, or least, about it?
At school I discovered running. The 100m hurdles was just plain cruel for a short kid, but the 1500m was where my stamina could shine. Running in the morning is a big part of my routine now; it clears my head and kept me sane over lockdown.
3. Were you a good student?
I was a big nerd. I really got into studying, especially maths and German. Fortunately I found a crew of friends that was fine with nerds.
4. Who was your most memorable teacher at school and why?
I had a lot of great teachers who had a huge impact on me. The main one that sticks in my mind though is a teacher who shall remain nameless, because he hosted a terrific end of year 12 party for us all at his place (and probably breached several Education Department regulations).
5. What’s your favourite story from your school days?
A bunch of us were lucky enough to crew a large sailing ship, and one day while out on the bowsprit changing the sails, some dolphins swam directly under us, following us for a few minutes, almost in touching distance. It was magic.
BRIDGET MCKENZIE: Emergency Management Minister and Nationals Senator
1. Where did you go to school?
Benalla East Primary School and Benalla High School, before moving to Tintern Grammar.
2. What did you like most, or like least about it?
I loved, loved, loved school. The best parts about school was sports, maths and science. But I didn’t like spelling.
3. Were you a good student?
I was a good student. But a lot of the time my reports said that I was very bright but easily distracted.
4. Who was your most memorable teacher at school and why?
Ms Hughes. She was a maths teacher I had in years 9 and 12 who was very tough and fair. She always encouraged me and also liked windsurfing.
5. What’s your favourite story from your school days?
I was playing four square and the basketball went through a window, which meant I had to sit on the “hot seat”. I was worried about my name going in the “little black book”, which I thought was going to ruin my career and the rest of my life. I also loved playing AFL with the boys.
TONY LOMBARDO: Global Chief Executive Officer, Lendlease
1. Where did you go to school?
I went to Holy Rosary on Gower St in Kensington, which was a five-minute walk from home. High school was Cathedral College in East Melbourne and St Joseph’s College in North Melbourne for years 11 and 12.
2. What did you like most, or least about it?
What I liked most about primary school was the diversity. Students came from so many different backgrounds – Greek, Italian, Vietnamese, Australian so I made friends with a lot of different kids and got to enjoy different cuisines going to a friend’s house after school.
3. Were you a good student?
I was, otherwise my mum would have killed me! Seriously though, I loved maths, that was my strong suit, and that was really because of my older brothers and sisters. I looked up to them so by the time I got to prep I knew my times tables because I’d been learning from them growing up. I also loved sport so I’d always be playing cricket, football or tennis at recess, lunch or after school.
4. Who was your most memorable teacher at school and why?
Mr Peter (we didn’t use his last name) was my grade 3 and 4 teacher and he took my class to our first North Melbourne Kangaroos football game at Arden Street as an excursion. My brothers made sure I was a Kangaroos supporter, but that was my first experience of a game and I became a lifelong Kangaroos fan after that.
Mr Peter would also like to trade lunches with me. Mum would make me salami or mortadella sandwiches and he would trade me his peanut butter sandwich for my “exotic” lunch, so then Mum started making him a sandwich on occasion.
5. What’s your favourite or fun story from your school days?
At Cathedral College, it was the sporting stuff. We were one of the smallest schools playing football against some of the biggest schools and when we won a game it was the team camaraderie that sticks in my mind.
In years 11 and 12 at St Joseph, school would finish at 1pm on a Thursday and Friday so my friends and I would walk to the Queen Victoria Market and get lunch or doughnuts, sometimes gelato, and hang out at the local cafes. My whole family would go to the market every Saturday, it was a big part of growing up in the area.
REBECCA CASSON: CEO Master Builders Victoria
Where did you go to school?
I first attended Dymchurch Primary School, which is situated in the village of Dymchurch, located between the sea and Romney Marsh, in the UK’s County of Kent. Later,
I attended a secondary school in New Romney, a small town on the edge of the Romney Marsh. The school is now known as the Marsh Academy, which Microsoft originally sponsored.
2. What did you like most, or like least about it?
I liked Dymchurch School because of the school visits that we did to study the history of the buildings of note in the local area, such as the Norman church, built in about 1150. Thinking about it, perhaps that is where my interest in building and construction began!
What I disliked about my school in New Romney was the severe bullying I was subjected to. I later discovered that one of the reasons for this bullying was because I looked different. I had a prominent scar on my left cheek because of an operation for childhood cancer.
Nevertheless, this experience made me quite resilient and more determined to persevere. I brought these important messages of resilience and perseverance to the fore during a presentation I made on International Women’s Day in March 2022. I told the women in the audience that they do not need to have a barrier-free life to succeed in their careers or be a CEO.
3. Were you a good student?
I needed to be a good student as my mum was a teacher in the local area and she knew many of my teachers. I always ensured that I positioned myself at the front of the class and, when I had completed my work, I moved to the back of the class where all the fun happened!
4. Who was your most memorable teacher at school and why?
The head teacher at Dymchurch Primary School, Mr Jones, greatly influenced my early years. He always encouraged me to be the best that I could be and gave me the confidence to believe that everything was possible. At my school in New Romney, my form teacher Mr Mason was an equally big influence and encouraged me to work hard to succeed. I have always highly valued the important role that great teachers play in the lives of young people.
5. What’s your favourite story from your school days?
There was a great international outreach program at my school in New Romney. I participated in that program through an exchange visit to the beautiful city of Budapest in Hungary. My parents and I made friends with the Hungarian family that I stayed with, and we have remained connected. This school program also sparked my interest in international engagement, public and cultural diplomacy and advocacy, which has formed
a key part of my career.
OTHERS
• Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews - Galen College(Catholic, private) in Wangaratta
• Victorian Sports, Racing, Tourism and Major Events Minister, Martin Pakula - Ormond Primary School, Haileybury College (independent, private)
• Victorian Education Minister, James Merlino - St Edmund’s School, Croydon and Mt Lilydale Mercy College, Lilydale
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