We’re proud to have celebrated International Women’s Day this year by featuring three inspirational women from our Alumni and current teaching staff. We celebrated the day at school with our students and staff on Friday 11 March.

Fiona Bechtold

Sandringham College Teacher

Fiona Bechtold, having recently returned from family leave, has been an integral part of the Performing Arts program at Sandringham College for 25 years. Fiona has taught Drama & Theatre Studies across all year levels, directing and producing musicals and performance nights, inspiring and supporting developing Performing Artists. Fiona is currently completing a Master in Education in Indigenous Education. Fiona is also an Alumni of Sandringham College.

What does being a part of the Sandringham College community mean to you?

I have spent half of my life as a member of Sandringham College and it genuinely feels like a second home.

Starting as a student at Highett High, I was one of the first cohorts at Sandringham College when 5 local schools amalgamated in 1989. It was in these teenage years at the Bluff Road Campus that I was inspired by some amazing teachers who many years later would become colleagues and mentors.

The memories I have of my own education in these very walls, or of the students who have faced both successes and challenges, motivates me to work with enthusiasm and integrity to create engaging, provoking and inspiring educational opportunities built on positive relationships of respect and trust, inclusion and celebration.

What has been your career journey?

In my life it seems that all roads lead back to Sandringham College.

I was one of those kids who was never really 100% sure of what I wanted to be when I grew up. I studied everything from Art and Drama through to French, Chemistry and Physics. I was inspired by passionate and caring teachers, one of whom, Charles Slucki, suggested I study Performing Arts at University. As a tiny little 17 year old I auditioned and was accepted into a course and spent 3 years learning Theatre History, Acting, Singing, Dancing, Design and having the time of my life!

Upon graduation I was lucky enough to be offered a job in Sydney with a physical theatre company, ERTH, and moved to Sydney starting a career in the acting industry. I toured Australia, worked with legends and again had the time of my life!

I eventually returned to Melbourne to work in the acting industry closer to home and my family. During this time I undertook a teaching degree in case I ever needed a ‘secure’ job. What I discovered was that I loved teaching, I loved sharing my passion with young people and seeing the ‘light bulb’ moments when their learning finally made sense. I was quickly offered a job at Sandringham College, working alongside inspiring teachers. Sandringham College supported me as a young teacher and has provided me with many professional development opportunities to grow as a teacher and an individual. I have been able to take part in Overseas Performing Arts tours, Adelaide Festival trips and theatrical experiences. I have been provided leave to study and teach in Los Angeles, time to prioritise my young family while engaging as a sessional lecturer at Melbourne Uni and to work as Director of Programs at Drama Victoria. Each time I applied for leave, following my passions I have been told ‘make sure you come back!’, and I always have, renewed in my love of teaching and learning. Back to a community that embraces young people, their energy and their potential.

Maria Angelico

Sandringham College Alumni

Maria Angelico has paved a significant film and television career since graduating from Sandringham College. Maria’s breakout was the lead role of Julia in the Network Ten series Sisters. She most recently been seen in the ABC series The Newsreader and New Gold Mountain for SBS. She played the key role of Angie Sanford in ABC’s six-part miniseries Stateless, starring and executive produced by Cate Blanchett, as well as a lead in Iso series Retrograde also for the ABC.

Maria is also producing a musical comedy drama, Unbeweavable, which has recently secured Story Development funding from Screen Australia. Maria was a director’s attachment on the 2019 NYC set of Awkwafina is Nora from Queens – mentored by writer, director and producer Lucia Aniello. She also created, wrote and starred in her own web series, Movement, which screened at Tribeca Film Festival.

Other credits include features Blessed and Hating Alison Ashley, and for television, My Life is Murder, Mr. Black, How to Stay Married, sketch comedy Orange is the New Brown, Glitch, Get Krackin’, Wentworth, Underground, Rush, City Homicide, Trip for Biscuits, and recurring roles in We Can be Heroes, and Blue Heelers. She also appeared in web series Footballer Wants a Wife and Other People’s Problems.

Maria is popular on the voiceover circuit in Australian and US markets. She is the voice of the Winter Queen in World of Warcraft: Shadowlands and has voiced a number of audiobooks, games, the animation series Zero Point and commercial campaigns.

Maria can be seen performing her one woman show The Disappearing Act at The Malthouse 12th – 24th April.

Malthouse Theatre - The Disappearing Act—By Maria Angelico

What does Sandy mean to me?

Sandy to me is the place where I first felt supported and encouraged to truly be me, creatively. I had moved around and changed schools a bit growing up and I was often too focused on “who I should be” to fit in, but at Sandringham College the arts faculty had a genuine interest in who I was and how I could be expressing that in my creativity, so my confidence and self image strengthened. It’s also to me, a place of friendship. So many of my close and long term friends are those that I made at Sandy.

How did Sandringham prepare me for my career?

To go to a school that truly values and encourages the arts instilled in me a confidence that a career in the arts is achievable and legitimate goal, not “just a hobby”. It also helped me recognize that doing well in an arts subject is as worthy as doing well academically which I believe is rare with many schools. At Sandy I found my first community of creatives in the faculty and students and in my years of experience in the industry, I’ve now learnt that so much that sustains us and and inspires us as artists is having our own creative communities, so I’m forever grateful for Sandy for providing that so early in my life.

Brie Healy

Sandringham College Alumni

Brie created her company, 'From Dust Creative Arts' in 2016, based in the Pilbara town, Tom Price in WA. 'From Dust Creative Arts' services regional towns and remote communities throughout the Pilbara region with classes and workshops in dance, music and circus. Often they reach 6 -7 towns annually with 1500kms travel clocked up weekly!

Brie's career has earned her a few accolades over the years.

2018 Finalist - Paraburdoo Inspirational Women's Awards
2019 Telstra Women's Business Awards, WA Emerging Leader
2020 'Business News' 40 Under 40 Award
2021 Runner Up - PICCI Small Business of the Year

Sandringham College was my home for two years. It was my safe place, free of judgement. A place of celebrating uniqueness and individuality. A place this misfit felt she belonged.

Sandringham College prepared me so well for a career in the arts. The array of arts subjects on offer provided a much richer experience than my local schools (I travelled 2 hours on public transport each day!). Teachers taught more than just practical skills, but also helped to guide us to celebrate our own successes and push toward a future we dreamed. Their passion for the subjects they were teaching inspired many of us to pursue careers in the arts and their words of encouragement and wisdom gave us the strength to give challenging paths a go.These teachers were mentors who became friends - who I continue to be inspired by.

Sandringham College played a massive part in where I have ended up; running dance programs in outback Australia. After being immersed in arts opportunities, I became inspired to take those opportunities to areas that do not often have access to quality arts programs.

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