Kate Conway (class of 2006)

Kate Conway commenced her education at St Mary’s College in Year 9 in 2003. She has many happy and fun memories from her time at the College and has packed quite a lot into the ensuing years. Kate is very happy to return to the school as a teacher assistant and throw herself, once again, into life at St Mary’s.

The extra-curricular pursuits of Kate were many and varied. From the start she was a devoted and committed member of Mr Weston’s choir, which led to many  enriching and rewarding experiences. She played hockey and took part in the Athletic Development Program, and also played softball, including at first grade level. Her positive school spirit was demonstrated by her coaching Junior School teams in both hockey and softball.

Kate also loved the fundraising and social action activities of life at St Mary’s. She recalls being active each year in the Biggest Morning Tea, even making a giant papier-mâché teapot in Year 12 to collect the donations in. She also took an interest in Vinnies and recalls the fun her Year 12 cohort had in knitting blanket squares for blankets to be given out by Loui’s Van. Kate felt sorry for anyone who had to put her squares together, as they were anything but square!

Kate remembers lots of pranks and laughter during these school years: 27 year 12 students crowded into a four-wheel drive (but not driving it!); greedily scoffing leftover food from hospitality functions; re-arranging pictures in hallways and students screaming in their tents after a Port Arthur ghost tour.

The many opportunities to participate in school life are among Kate’s favourite memories of St Mary’s College and she feels very lucky to have been a part of the school. She made lasting friendships, with two of her school friends being Godmothers to two of Kate’s daughters.

Kate started her career in education by studying for a Bachelor of Education at UTAS. She later deferred her studies to complete her Certificate III in Education Support and to focus on parenting and family matters. Following this, she took up posts at Glen Huon Primary School running a ‘healthy lifestyle program’ for students and families. At Huonville Primary School and Huonville High School, she worked with a focus on behaviour management and resilience. Kate now brings her prior work experiences and life experience to the mix at St Mary’s College.

Several years after leaving school, Kate married Chris, a chef, and together they had three daughters. After eight years of hard work in hospitality, as well as raising small children, Kate and Chris enjoyed a long-awaited honeymoon travelling in the UK. Tragically for Kate and her little family, Chris died suddenly in 2016.

They were to find happiness again however, and today Kate and her daughters share a happy blended family with partner Jonathon and his son and daughter. Life for them all in the Huon Valley is very happy and busy.

Margaret Rootes
Heritage Officer