What years did you attend Arden?

Pre-School, 1990 to Year 6, 1997.

Staff 2020-2024.

Describe you Arden education in three words:

During my time as both a student and a staff member, I found Arden to be a caring, Christian community.

Do you have a favourite memory from your time at Arden?

Spring Fairs at Beecroft Village Green, French Days, visiting Parramatta dressed as a convict, Year 6 Multi-Cultural Day, Bible Reading eisteddfods, spending time with my Godparent and later my Godchild, handstand competitions on Big Nelson, performing with the choir at the Sydney Town Hall and the camps in Years 4-6 are all fond memories of my time at Arden.

My most lasting memory however is being selected to put my cross-stitch pincushion in the 75th anniversary time capsule in 1997. At the time, I remember sitting with my friends working out just how old we would be in 2022 when the time capsule would be dug up. Never in my wildest dreams could I have predicted that I would be working as Arden’s Archivist at the time and it would be me who took the same pincushion out of the timecapsule and put it on display in the Heritage Centre in Cook House. Such a surreal moment! Working as the Archivist during the School’s Centenary celebrations in 2022 was certainly a career highlight.

Another highlight as a staff member was being involved in the School’s inaugural musical, Seussical. Having spent the weeks leading up to the musical working on the costumes, surrounded by feathers, sequins and fabric, to see the students bring the costumes to life was such amazing experience. Seussical also provided a wonderful opportunity for me to get to know some of Arden’s fantastic students and work alongside colleagues from both the Junior and Secondary Campuses. 

Do you have a special memory of a teacher?

I was fortunate enough to have Mrs Cox in both Years 3 and 6. I absolutely loved being in her class as many of our Friday afternoon Art and Craft lessons were spent sewing - everything from tapestry pencil cases and Christmas decorations to cross-stitch pincushions. As an avid sewer, even in primary school, I would complete these projects in one or two weeks, instead of taking the whole term. Over the coming weeks, Mrs Cox would come to me with increasingly difficult sewing projects. The last project I was given in Year 6, an embroidered lavender bag, still remains unfinished. At the time, I thought it was just a way to keep me entertained during Art and Craft. However, coming back to Arden and working alongside Mrs Cox as a member of staff made me realise that this is just one example of many where she has gone above and beyond to ensure her students are nurtured and engaged learners.

What activities did you enjoy while you were at Arden?

I involved myself in all things Music. I was in the Choir and played the recorder in the Music Club. In 1995, it was announced that Arden was starting its very first Concert Band. Excited to be part of this new venture, I went along to the information evening, thinking I would play the clarinet. As it happened, I could not get a note out of the clarinet and instead came away signed up for trumpet lessons. Like me, most of the students who signed up for the band had never played a woodwind or brass instrument before. Mr Bruce, our conductor, was very patient as not only were we individually learning to play our instruments, we were also learning to play music as an ensemble. Somehow, we performed at the Spring Fair in September of the same year!

What have you focused on since your graduation from Arden?

As there was no Secondary Campus when I graduated from Year 6, I completed Year 12 at William Clarke College in 2003. Rather than go straight to university, I took a gap year and headed to Finland as a Rotary Youth Exchange student. As someone who had never been overseas, it truly was a life-changing experience. I immersed myself in another culture, living with three host families over the course of the year. I travelled to Russia, Europe and Scandinavia and spent two weeks on a dairy farm in the Finnish countryside. Looking back, I know that my year in Finland helped me grow up in many ways and suspect I would have found university life a struggle had I gone straight from school.

From 2005-2009, I studied a Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Museum Studies and Heritage at Macquarie University. This was followed in 2012-2014 with a Masters of Information Studies (Records and Archives Management) from Charles Sturt University.

Fresh out of university in 2010, I became the School Archivist at a large private school in Sydney. I was initially appointed for 12 months of maternity leave cover and ended up staying 11 years!

When Arden advertised for a School Archivist in mid-2020, I had to apply. My time at Arden as a student held a special place in my heart and with the School’s Centenary just two years away, I knew the role would be a professional challenge for me. My four years at Arden were some of the most professionally rewarding in my 15 years working in schools. My role expanded beyond archives to include community engagement, events and some marketing, giving me a whole new set of skills. I grew both personally and professionally as a result of several leadership opportunities, all the while being supported by my head of department and the Principal. Arden truly was a special place to work.

How did you know what career path to take after your graduation?

Both my parents love history. This meant that many of our family holidays were spent visiting historic houses, heritage sites and pioneer cemeteries. Even as a child, how people lived in the past always fascinated me. When time came to select electives in high school, I selected the Museum Studies course as it combined both the Arts and the Sciences and saw me study Palaeontology, Ancient History and Australian History.

Once I finished my university studies, there was no plan. I knew jobs in museums and the heritage sector were hard to come by, so during my studies, I volunteered and worked casually at a couple of museums hoping this would lead to a paid position. When nothing eventuated, I began applying for any job that came up. In the end, I got my first role as a School Archivist through connections. Becoming an Archivist was not initially something I had considered with my degree, but it did not take long for me to enjoy the work. Archives, whether they belong to a school, business, government or private collection, are full of stories. It was these stories that I loved to share with the community.

What is your current professional role? What does it involve?

At the beginning of 2025, hubby and I made a tree change to a small country town on the banks of the mighty Murray River. Since this time, I have worked at the Albury Library Museum as a member of the Learning and Outreach team. We are responsible for developing and delivering education and public programs for a wide range of audiences across both the library and museum. This includes everything from tours with school students, regular storytimes, family fun nights and Albury’s literary festival, Write Around the Murray. It has also involved dressing up in a blow-up t-rex costume to promote a recent exhibition. The variety of work each day brings, engaging with people from all works of life and having the opportunity to share my love of history and reading on a daily basis all bring me so much joy. I can honestly say I love what I do!

What advice would you give to Arden graduates or current students wanting to pursue a similar career path to you?

My first piece of advice would be to say yes at every opportunity. Saying yes can open you up to new prospects, new skills, new ways of thinking. It can open (or close) doors for you. It can allow you to determine who you want to be both personally and professional. Whether saying yes results in you finding your passion, or whether it teaches you a hard lesson, saying yes can assist you in clarifying your career journey.

Secondly, consider options outside of the capital cities. We often hear how our rural communities need essential workers - doctors, teachers, emergency services personnel. However, rural communities, particularly rural centres also need electricians, lawyers, baristas, town planners, garbage truck drivers, even museum curators. In the city, you may be one of 100 applicants. Outside of the city, you may be just what a company is looking for.

What do you believe Arden instilled in you as a person?

Although I grew up in a Christian family, it was during one of my Scripture lessons at Arden that I had an important “lightbulb moment” of my Christian journey. Despite always hearing about Jesus and his death and resurrection, I always believed that to get to heaven, I just had to be good. During Scripture however, it was clearly explained that in order to get to heaven, I had to trust in Jesus as the boss of my life. It had nothing to do with how many gold cards or merit certificates I received and everything to do with a personal relationship with Jesus. Hearing this in Scripture helped me understand that I am a sinful person who needs Jesus to be made right with God.

What brings you joy these days?

When hubby and I have a day off together, we love to go for a drive and explore towns up and down the Murray River - preferably ones with a good pie shop! I also love to sew. Quilts, clothes, presents for our nieces and nephews - it does not matter what! I enjoy getting lost in a good book. Historical fiction is my go-to genre.

My hubby is the Pastor of the Baptist Church in our country town. It has been a joy over the last 18 months to serve our church and town. Being part of a rural farming community comes with many highs and lows, but through it all we find joy in God and doing life as brothers and sisters in Christ.

If you are interested in being profiled in an 'Alumni Achievements' story, please email alumni@arden.nsw.edu.au.