Alumni 

As we count down to our 150 Years Celebration and school Community Fair on August 8th, each month we are profiling different former students to celebrate the diverse paths our alumni have taken since their time at Hurstville Public School.

Their journeys remind our current students that the foundation built here can lead anywhere.

This month, we are honored to profile four remarkable alumni.

Ian Soles (HPS 1964-1968)

From a nervous walk down Orange Street in 1964 to arriving at 7:00 am every morning as the school’s General Assistant, Ian's connection to Hurstville Public School has truly come full circle.

Early Memories & School Days

Ian’s journey began in Kindergarten, though it was nearly a very short trip. He vividly recalls walking toward the gates with his mother on that first day, feeling so overwhelmed he considered making a run for it! Fortunately, he stayed, spending the next four years immersed in HPS life before his father’s teaching career took the family to Coonabarabran at the end of 1968.

His memories of the 1960s playground are a nostalgic trip through classic Australiana:

• The Lunch: A salad roll paired with a tin of pineapple juice and an orange Sunnyboy.
• The Games: Endless rounds of handball with friends during recess and lunch.
• The Lessons: Learning the value of teamwork on the playground, a skill that Ian have carried with him throughout his personal and professional life. 

Lessons That Stuck

One of Ian’s most enduring memories is the creative teaching style of Mrs. Jackson. He still remember how she taught them her rhythmic method for spelling "Parramatta": “Mrs P; Mrs A; Mrs RRA; Mrs A; Mrs TTA.” He also recalls the school's focus on significant local events, such as the raising of the Warragamba Dam wall, which instilled an early sense of community responsibility and awareness regarding water conservation.

A Career in Motion

After finishing school, Ian embarked on an electrical apprenticeship in 1974. His career spanned nearly two decades with Whittle Pty Ltd, followed by roles with Optus and Taronga Zoo. Today, he is back on the HPS grounds, contributing to the community once again through his work as General Assistant.

Looking Forward

When he isn't keeping the school running smoothly or watching sport, Ian reflects on the lasting impact of his early years. He hopes that the current generation of students continues to find that same balance of rigorous learning and spirited play that defined his own time at the school.

Maja Naumoska (HPS 1991-1993)

For Maja, Hurstville Public School was more than just a place to learn, it was her first introduction to Australia. Today, the school remains the heart of her family life, as her three children follow in her footsteps as HPS students.

A Brave Beginning

Maja arrived in Sydney from Macedonia in July 1991. Just two weeks later, she walked through the gates of HPS to begin Kindergarten, without speaking a word of English. Though she remembers feeling incredibly shy, she found a lifeline in her teacher, Mrs. Sergeant.

"She was warm, intelligent, and endlessly patient," Maja recalls. Mrs. Sergeant’s kindness helped Maja feel safe and included during a massive life transition, a gesture that shaped Maja’s perspective on the importance of how we treat one another.

Playground Joy & Performing Arts

Maja’s school days were filled with the classic sounds and sights of the HPS grounds:

• The Soundtrack: Choir was the ultimate highlight. Maja’s early passion for singing at HPS led to a lifelong journey in music, including studying Jazz Voice and performing at local community events today.
• Recess: Playing skipping rope, "Bullrush," and "Stuck in the Mud" in the play area near the library.
• The Treats: Nothing beat a Sunnyboy or a Toucan from the canteen.

Education & Career: A Local Journey

Maja’s educational journey took her through several local landmarks. After her early years at HPS, she attended Carlton Public School and Penshurst Girls High School, before joining the senior college at Georges River College Oatley Campus. She was part of a notable local milestone there, graduating in 2003 as part of only the second-ever cohort to complete their senior years at the Oatley campus.

She went on to earn a Bachelor of Business in International Business and Marketing from the University of Technology Sydney, later following her creative passions to study Jazz Voice at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Today, Maja and her husband are deeply embedded in the St George area as the owners of two vibrant Rockdale businesses: a tutoring centre and a jiu-jitsu academy. Their family life and professional life are inextricably linked; their three children are growing up "on the mats" and in the classroom, balancing the discipline of martial arts with their academic pursuits.

A Lasting Legacy

When it came time to choose a school for her own children, Maja knew exactly where to go. She wanted them to experience the same culture of inclusivity and excellence that she found in 1991.

"People may not always remember what you say," Maja says, reflecting on her time at HPS, "but they’ll always remember how you made them feel."

Dr Edmond Wang (HPS 2000-2002)

Edmond’s educational journey began at Hurstville Public School, where he started Kindergarten in 2000. After completing Year 2, he moved on to Redlands (Sydney Church of England Co-educational Grammar School). His academic trajectory continued to be marked by high achievement; he was accepted into an Opportunity Class (OC) and later a selective high school, eventually securing a full scholarship to pursue his dream of studying medicine.

Professional Life

Today, Edmond serves on the frontline of healthcare as an ICU doctor at St George Hospital. In the high-stakes environment of intensive care, he relies on the foundations of discipline and quick thinking established during his early schooling.

Reflections on HPS

• Earliest Memory: The expansive "big playground."
• Favourite Spot: The handball courts.
• The Taste of Childhood: Nothing beats the nostalgia of the canteen’s Maggi noodles.
• Standout Event: Performing in the Schools Spectacular, a vibrant highlight of his primary school years.

From Garden Insects to Medicine

Edmond credits a specific teacher for sparking his lifelong passion for science. A memorable project involving a walking stick insect found in his garden served as the catalyst for his interest in biology. This early curiosity eventually blossomed into a dedicated career in medicine.

Lessons for Life

"The importance of teamwork, learned through countless handball games in primary school, is something I continue to apply in both my professional and personal life."

Whether navigating a busy hospital ward or collaborating with colleagues, Edmond carries the spirit of the HPS playground with him.

A Note for the Future

Edmond hopes that the HPS Library never change, preserving the unique character and quiet inspiration it provided him as a student. When he isn't at the hospital, you can find him running to recharge and maintain his personal balance.

Andrew Yu (Class of 2013)

A true Hurstville Public School local, Andrew grew up within the school’s gates. He called HPS home for the entirety of his primary school life, a seven-year chapter spanning from 2007 to 2013. He credits his time in the Opportunity Class (OC) as a pivotal moment that set him up for future success. Following his graduation from primary school, Andrew moved on to North Sydney Boys High School, continuing a trajectory of academic excellence that began in our classrooms.

Today, Andrew is a driven entrepreneur navigating a "9-to-5" that is anything but typical. He is currently focused on expanding his Acai and dessert business, a journey he finds incredibly rewarding not just for the growth, but for the constant challenges that crop up and the satisfaction of tackling each one head on.

Balancing business with a strict commitment to health and fitness, Andrew uses the gym to maintain his edge. He treats his fitness with the same goal oriented mindset as his company. Right now, that means staying focused on hitting a massive 180kg deadlift goal!

Nostalgia & Memories

Like many alumni, Andrew’s memories of HPS are tied to the vibrant social life of the playground.

• First Memory: Walking into his Kindergarten classroom for the first time.
• Favorite Spot: The handball courts, which he notes as the one thing he hopes never changes about the school.
• The "taste" of HPS: If he could go back in time for one snack, it would be the classic ice cream cones from the canteen.
• Major Milestone: The excitement of the end of year fair, a highlight of his seven years at the school. 

A Lasting Impact

Andrew reflects fondly on his Year 4 teacher, who played a massive role in his development by helping him prepare for and enter the OC class. It was also during his time at HPS that a spark for public speaking was ignited, a skill that undoubtedly serves him well today as he leads his own business ventures.

From learning the value ofteamwork during recess to finding his voice in school projects, Andrew’s story is a wonderful example of how the lessons learned at HPS stay with you long after you’ve walked out the school gates.