2026 Year 1

1A: Charlee Gough (Team Leader)

My name is Charlee, and I am so excited to be apart the Year 1 teaching team at South Melbourne in 2026. This year I have been very fortunate to be a part of SMPS as a teacher in both Grade 1 and prep. I have loved working with the students and celebrating their growth. 

A little bit about me, I grew up on the Bass Coast and attended school on Phillip Island, (although sadly, I am not a proficient surfer). Growing up I loved dancing, musical theatre and was a competitive swimmer. I am a very proud mum to my cavoodle puppy Alfie. 

I am looking forward to another amazing year in prep as a part of such a wonderful, welcoming, and vibrant school community and building strong relationships with my students and their families. 

1B: Róisín Rea

Hello SMPS students and families! 

My name is Miss Róisín and I will be teaching Grade  in 2026. This is my sixth year in teaching and my second year at SMPS! 

I grew up in the southwest of Ireland, where I taught for four years before moving to Melbourne in September 2023. I have loved being a part of the SMPS community this year.

I have a dog named Roo who now lives in Ireland with my mom. She sends me daily updates and pictures of Roo and all the exciting adventures they go on together. 

Outside of school, I spend a lot of time rowing. I row for a local club in Melbourne and get to compete all around Victoria. Last year my crew and I were lucky enough to win the State Championships. When I’m not rowing, I still enjoy being active; running, walking and cycling. I like to relax by drawing, colouring and listening to my favourite music. 

My favourite thing about Melbourne has to be the beautiful clear blue skies. 

I hope you have a wonderful holiday and I look forward to seeing you all next year. 

1C: Anna Kemper

Hello SMPS community,

Originally from the United States, I made the exciting move to Melbourne in July 2024. Back home, I loved escaping the cold by spending time along the coast, hiking through the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains, and attending basketball games at both college and NBA level.

When I’m not at school, you’ll usually find me discovering new restaurants, taking long walks along the Yarra, or exploring Melbourne’s vibrant markets. It’s been such a joy to immerse myself in this beautiful city and meet so many wonderful people along the way.

I can’t wait for another amazing year at SMPS, filled with learning, growth, and fun!

1D: Jake Mortimer/Orlaith Kenny

Hello SMPS families!

My name is Mr Jake, and I am so excited to help your child become the best human they can be in 2026. 

It will be my third year at South Melbourne Primary School, and I’ve loved getting to know our vibrant community of students and families. The best part of my day is being able to greet every student and hopefully brighten their day with a smile or kind word. Growing up, I loved all things Science. This particularly extends to my love of animals, and I can’t wait to introduce some of our planet’s amazing creatures to our students. 

When I’m not at school, I enjoy catching up on Disney, Dreamworks and Pixar movies. (I loved the KPop Demon hunters craze in 2025!)

2026 is going to be a year to remember and I can’t wait to share it with such an amazing community. 

Kind Regards,

Mr. Jake

Hello South Melbourne Primary School Community, my name is Miss Orlaith. I have been at SMPS since 2020. This year, I will be working as both a Classroom Teacher and a Learning Specialist. 

I am originally from a small country in Europe called Ireland. I grew up across the road from my grandparent’s farm and therefore I spent most of my childhood on their land with the farm animals. As I have grown up, I still love the outdoors and animals. 

In my family, I have my mum, my dad and my brother. My parents live in Ireland and my brother lives in London. I moved to Australia in 2019 with some of my friends. I am now an Australian citizen. I love living in the vibrant city of Melbourne however, sometimes I do miss my family. I went back to Ireland for a holiday in 2025 to spend time with them. 

I have been teaching for 10 years. I have spent the majority of my career so far in Years 3-6. 

During my free time, I like to go running, walks along the beach, grabbing a coffee and hanging out with my friends. I cannot wait to get to know you and your families. We are going to have lots of fun learning together. I am really looking forward to another amazing year at SMPS!