Spirit of Clayfield
Overview
The Spirit of Clayfield Awards recognise members of our College family - staff, students, Old Collegians and community members, for embodying our College values and inspiring others to let their light shine. Each year, these awards are presented at our Foundation Day Assembly.
This week, we are celebrating and recognising our Spirit of Clayfield Award Winners in the Old Collegians (Gold) category.
Overall Winner - Dr Hannah Bennett
Dr Hannah Bennett is recognised for her exceptional leadership, medical expertise, and commitment to community service. Since graduating as School Captain and DUX in 2006, she has built a distinguished career specialising in Anaesthetics and Pain Management in North Queensland.
As Clinical Director of the North Queensland Persistent Pain Service at Townsville University Hospital, Hannah leads a multidisciplinary team dedicated to improving outcomes for people living with chronic pain. Under her direction, the service has expanded its reach into regional and remote communities, developed innovative care pathways, and strengthened partnerships with local health providers and community organisations. She is particularly passionate about equitable access to high‑quality care, including improving evidence‑based treatment for women and girls experiencing pelvic pain and endometriosis.
Hannah’s achievements span numerous academic honours, including the Barbara Walker Prize for Excellence in the Pain Medicine Fellowship Examination and multiple awards from James Cook University. She is a Fellow of the Faculty of Pain Medicine, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, and holds a Masters of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.
A dedicated educator and mentor, Hannah contributes widely to medical training, professional committees, and public health initiatives. Her leadership, compassion, and advocacy continue to shape healthcare across North Queensland and inspire future clinicians.
Category Winner - Dr Judy Craft
Dr Judy Craft is a nursing‑focused bioscientist whose career has been defined by a passion for helping students understand the scientific foundations of chronic disease. While completing her PhD on patients undergoing coronary angioplasty, she discovered her commitment to demystifying complex science for nursing students—a commitment that has shaped her teaching across three Australian universities.
Judy is known for her deliberate, student‑centred teaching approach, using clear scaffolding to build confidence in challenging subjects such as pathophysiology. Her subjects often enrol more than 1,000 students across multiple campuses, yet her teaching evaluations consistently exceed school and university averages. Her national impact is significant: she is the lead author of Understanding Pathophysiology, the core nursing textbook used widely in Australia and New Zealand, designed to support deep learning and strong clinical reasoning.
Beyond the university setting, Judy provides professional education for registered nurses at Caboolture and Redcliffe Hospitals, delivering cardiology and respiratory pathophysiology sessions that regularly receive top evaluations and enhance clinical decision‑making.
Her excellence has been recognised through multiple university teaching awards, a Senior Fellowship of the UK Higher Education Academy, and leadership in initiatives supporting teaching quality. She mentors colleagues and postgraduate nursing students, has authored 49 peer‑reviewed publications, and continues to inspire future health professionals through her engagement with students at Clayfield College.
Category Winner - Jocelyn Loughman
Jocelyn Loughman, Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer with the Ministry of Justice and Community Services in Port Vila, has devoted her career to strengthening systems that protect and uplift communities. Since joining the Ministry in 2016, she has led the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, shaping policy development, implementation and reporting across the justice and community services sector. She spearheaded the first sector‑wide collaborative data‑collection process aligned with the Vanuatu 2030 National Sustainable Development Plan, improving accountability and outcomes across 14 agencies. Her leadership also established the Ministry’s first Sector M&E Network, embedding shared learning and continuous improvement.
Jocelyn’s work is grounded in participatory approaches and the belief that communities themselves hold essential knowledge for meaningful change. This philosophy guided her involvement in the Australia Awards Women Leading and Influencing (AWLI) program while completing her Master of Public Administration and Policy at ANU. Her impact was so significant that AWLI developed a case study on her values‑driven leadership.
Through AWLI and DFAT‑supported initiatives, she helped develop the MY Pacific concept, engaging boys and young men as partners in gender equality. The model has since been shared at regional and international forums. Across previous roles with World Vision, ADRA Vanuatu, JICA and Pacific community development programs, Jocelyn has championed gender equality, mentoring and institutional strengthening. She embodies service, humility and quiet, lasting influence.
Finalist - Tania Major
A proud Kokoberra woman, Tania exemplifies compassion, integrity and purpose. From her time at Clayfield College, she showed a natural ability to lead with empathy—qualities that have defined her career. At just 23, she became the youngest person ever elected to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), beginning a lifetime of fearless and principled advocacy.
Tania has become a national leader in conversations on youth justice, inequality and community-driven reform, advocating for solutions grounded in lived experience and cultural knowledge. Her work across Cape York and beyond has strengthened families and opened opportunities for young people.
Her extraordinary contribution was recognised when she was named Young Australian of the Year in 2007, reflecting the impact of her leadership and service. Despite this national profile, Tania remains deeply grounded, humble and committed to her community.
Tania Major embodies the Clayfield spirit, leadership through service, compassion in action, and enduring impact, continuing to inspire students, Old Collegians and communities across Australia.
Finalist - Meegan McLoughlin
After graduating from Clayfield, Meegan completed a Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) at QUT and began her career with Education Queensland, teaching across Brisbane, Logan and the Gold Coast while completing her Bachelor of Education. In 2010, she returned to Clayfield College, where she served for nearly 13 years.
Beginning in the Junior School, Meegan later moved into the Middle School and into leadership roles, including Indigenous Liaison Coordinator, where she supported students from Palm Island through close collaboration with families, teachers and community members. Her commitment extended beyond campus, travelling to Palm Island to strengthen relationships and encourage enrolments.
Meegan also served as Acting Assistant Head of Learning Development (Years 6 to 9), Lead Teacher, Head of Youngman House, and later Head of Careers and Pathways. In this role, she introduced the Clayfield Futures Expo, connecting students with tertiary providers and future pathways.
Meegan’s career reflects integrity, compassion and a lasting commitment to student success, embodying the true Spirit of Clayfield.
Finalist - Katherine Walker
Now the Teaching Principal of Yetman Public School in northern New South Wales, Katherine leads one of the smallest schools in the state, with just eight students. Despite its size, her impact is profound. Katherine teaches across multiple year levels, supports students with diverse learning and behavioural needs, manages curriculum and wellbeing, and even drives the school bus - bridging gaps that often exist in rural education with determination and care.
In her dual role as teacher and principal, Katherine demonstrates remarkable versatility, approaching every responsibility with humility, patience and warmth. Inclusion sits at the heart of her leadership. She has created a nurturing, flexible learning environment where every child feels valued, supported and encouraged to dream big, regardless of geography.
Living on a station outside Yetman with her husband and two young children, Katherine embodies the resilience, practicality and community spirit of rural life. Known for her energy, determination and fun-loving approach, she celebrates every success with her students while advocating fiercely for their opportunities.
Katherine Walker’s life and work reflect the enduring values of service, integrity and meaningful leadership, proving that true impact is measured not by scale, but by heart.