Jayne Brown (class of 1994)

When Jayne Brown moved from Burnie High School to St Mary’s College in 1992, she faced the ‘culture shock of her life’ in an all-girls’ school, although it was not an unpleasant shock.

Jayne has fond memories of the new friendships she forged and the fun times drinking hot chocolate in the former Senior Common Room, which is now the Adrian Doyle Chapel.

One of her closest friendships, with Nicole (Gannon) Shanny, endures today; in fact these two buddies now co-teach Year 4 in the Junior School!

Jayne belonged to Presentation House and, in Year 12, held the role of Deputy Captain of Presentation. To this day, she always makes sure she takes charge of that House in any sports carnival.

She also played hockey and tennis, although she admits that in tennis she and Bernadette Connor were more content to devour the Tim Tams than to win a game.

Jayne recalls the enjoyment of walking up and down the hill for lessons at St Virgil’s College (now the site of Guilford Young College), sitting on the Top Grounds (now the College Green), sharing lunchtimes in the sun with friends, and the wonderful teachers, some of whom she now counts as her colleagues at the College.

On leaving St Mary’s College, Jayne attended Flinders University in South Australia and graduated as a speech pathologist, working with adults with brain injuries. She then travelled and worked overseas for the next three years, working in many London hospitals as part of this experience.

Returning to Hobart, Jayne decided to change direction and commenced a Bachelor of Teaching, which eventually led her to St Mary’s College. She married Adam Brown, an old Virgilian—a fact unknown to her in the day. They have three children, Molly, Ruby and Toby.

At present, the family is on a caravan adventure around Australia for six months, and having made their way up the centre of the country, they plan soon to head down the West Coast.

Jayne ruefully admits that home schooling her three kids in the caravan sometimes presents more challenges than teaching a whole class at school!

Margaret Rootes
Heritage Officer