STAFF IN PROFILE
By then I had two little ones and had followed my metallurgist husband through varying sites and commodities , finally landing in South Australia with our third baby , coming home to the red dirt of Roxby Downs . There I moved back into the workforce at Olympic Dam , working in IT and desktop publishing . A move then , to the big smoke of Melbourne , working as a Legal Assistant for five years before moving into our own start-up companies , proudly watching them grow to success , but not without some toll .
Then a lucky opportunity came along , to work at Scotch College in the ICT Department for seven weeks . That was in 2013 .
Could you tell us about your current role , and the activities in which you have previously been involved at Scotch ?
I loved my time in ICT , and the people I met while there . Once the seven weeks were up , I moved into the Principal ’ s Office , also as a leave replacement at the time , then back to ICT to job-share . Basically , I moved between the two offices before taking up the part-time role I currently hold .
I ’ ve also enjoyed the opportunity for a few other placements around the school , most recently in the English Department last year .
INTERVIEW :
JILL LAWRENCE
ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANT - PRINCIPAL ' S OFFICE
Let ’ s start by finding out about your background prior to working at Scotch . Would you mind telling us a bit about yourself ?
My mum grew up in the Swan Valley on the outskirts of Perth in Western Australia , skipping rocks along Susannah Brook , and roaming the Darling Ranges with her brothers . It was a big change for her when her family moved to Kalgoorlie in the Eastern Goldfields . It was here that she would meet my Dad , and where I was born , living along the Golden Mile , with a hint of sulphur wafting across the schoolyard by day , and a million stars in the sky at night .
Not surprisingly , my first job was in the minerals industry , a position I returned to after six months travelling through South Africa , Rhodesia , England and Europe at 19 years of age . I stayed on in the role of Executive Assistant in the same organisation , transferring to different sites out of small towns in Western Australia until a move to Stawell in Victoria gave me a new ( and much greener ), look at life .
What generally constitutes some of the highlights of your week and keeps on motivating you ?
While I have such a small footprint in Scotch life , my days are most enjoyable . I am motivated by the output of colleagues around me , and certainly in my time in English , to take a peek into the academic arena , to see the strength and commitment of staff working towards the best for each boy . Meanwhile , I love the visits to the tuckshop for coffee to connect and interact with all , on either side of the counter , delivering joy in a coffee bean !
On a personal note , would you mind sharing some of your passions and hobbies ?
I fear that horse-riding and world peace have passed me by , so to maintain physical and mental health , I choose yoga , gym , reading , reading and reading , although mostly historical fiction and generally , escapism . I love to spend time with family and friends , and with five grandchildren and one more in the coming months , the joy continues .
I am passionate about actively trying to relieve and remove stress from our lives , living a balanced life , and remembering what is important .
Everyone loves a good story , so are there any particular anecdotes or memories that you could share with us ?
There are many stories from the regular trips across the Nullarbor , some from fun times in our boat or Mustang , production of silver bars , lunch at Government House in South Australia , and attending a lecture at Harvard . However , this simple story sums up a journey across time to bring me to the place I am now .
In my early years , working as an EA , I met a young student who worked on the same site as I did . I was reminded by some of my position in the operation and of confidentially . I enjoyed the work and stayed within the company across 20 years . As for the young student metallurgist , he is still here after more than 40 years .
58 Great Scot Issue 171 – Edition 1 2024