Meet our Senior Hub Team

Hello my name is Peter Falla. I grew up in Sale attending 545 Sale Primary School moving to Guthridge Primary School in Grade 2. My secondary schooling was at Sale High School. I am a seventh generation “Gippslander”. I have one sister who lives in Sale.  I have 4 children and 3 grandchildren, with another on the way. I attended Hawthorn Institute of Education to obtain my teaching qualification. We have 2 dogs and 1 cat. They are Sunny, Roscoe and Marli the cat. I love to spend my free time boating, camping, fishing and working in the vegetable garden. My favourite holiday places are Thailand and Mallacoota. 

My photo was taken in 1991 at Bairnsdale Technical School.

Hi. I am Belinda Anderson, born and bred in Orbost, East Gippsland. I attended Nagle College before I moved off to Melbourne as a naive 17 year old to study Science with the aim of becoming a teacher or a real Scientist, perhaps even a Geologist. Too many rocks that all looked the same to me led me to pick up a Bachelor of Education to accompany my Bachelor of Science. Ticking the 'anywhere' box with the Education Department way back then, finally landed me at the College where I am the VCE Coordinator. I still look forward to every day and find it hard to think of my daily activities as 'work'.  I have a daughter who attended Bairnsdale Secondary College and is now at university studying toward becoming an optometrist and a son, currently at our College.  Apparently, he is a pretty handy welder. He would love to pick up an apprenticeship as a boiler maker sometime soon. 

Hi, I’m Mandy Holmes and I am the VET/VCAL Co-ordinator at the College, I also teach VCE Legal Studies. 

I was born in England but at the age of 4 moved to New Zealand with my family. We lived there for just under a year before moving to South Africa for 6 years. At the age of 11 we returned to England.

I went to school in a Shaftesbury, Dorset, in the South of England. Shaftesbury is famous for its Gold Hill (Google it! No Gold to be had, only a steep hill, quaint cottages and cobble stones) I completed my degrees at Bournemouth and Southampton Universities.

In 2009 my husband Chris and I made the huge decision to emigrate to Australia. What a brilliant move that was! We have been extremely happy since arriving here 11 years ago.  I have two beautiful children, Daniel (30) who is currently stuck in England, trying hard to return to Australia (we miss him so much) and Sophie (28) who is a primary teacher in Melbourne. Chris and I have a very spoilt pup called Pip and 7 chooks.

After arriving in Australia I taught for 5 years in Trafalgar and then Chris and I both started teaching at the College 6 years ago. I love my job! The students (and staff) in VCAL keep me smiling every day.  I love the contrast of teaching VCE Legal Studies too. I consider myself an extremely lucky person to have had the experiences I have and to have met so many wonderful people along the way. Life is not always perfect, but it's what you make it, so make it count and make it memorable!

Hello my name is Michael Cassidy. I grew up in Bairnsdale quite close to the Secondary College. I moved away when I finished secondary education and returned to the region with my wife and young son around 3 years ago. 

My wife and I had lived in various places in the Northern Territory, NSW and even on a remote island in the Solomon Islands for a year before settling in Bairnsdale. Recently we welcomed another son into our family and I’m finding great joy in watching both explore, develop and grow.  

We love living and working in Bairnsdale and the four of us spend lots of time exploring the natural environment on our doorstep. When I’m not being Dad or working I like to spend my time surfing and riding mountain bikes. As a family we go travelling a lot and on weekends and during holidays can usually be found/lost in the mountains or on the coastline of Victoria and NSW. Since settling here I have become interested in organic gardening and have developed native gardens, veggie gardens and an orchard at home.

Hi. My name is Janine Rooks and I’m the Year 11 Coordinator, but I also teach English and have done lots of other teaching in different schools over my career. I’m by far the oldest in the senior hub (no I’m not telling you!).  I taught at Lakes for 12 years before coming to BSC, so some of your parents might know me.  I am the youngest of 5 children; my dad died when I was very young.  My mum (my hero) lived until she was 93! I was actually born here and grew up in Bruthen, but then lived in Melbourne for a lot of years, before coming back to East Gippsland. I love to spend any free time travelling, especially caravanning, exploring new places (Vietnam was my favourite so far – spectacular country and the warmest of people) and also gardening. This year I look forward to us all being vaccinated and then being able to travel to buy a new dog! 

Hi my name is Jess Overy-Spargo and I have been working at the College for 8 years. During this time I have worked in a number of areas across the College some of which include the office, College deaf program, integration support and the 8/9 Learning Hub. I have just recently moved to Wy Yung, where I live with my partner and our Jack Russell Terrier, named Gordon. I love spending my spare time outdoors, catching up with friends and painting.

Hello my name is Yvonne Rooney, I was born in Dublin Ireland. We emigrated to Australia (by boat) when I was 4 years old. I have 2 brothers and 1 sister. I grew up in Omeo then moved to Melbourne for career opportunities. 

I moved to Bairnsdale 6 years ago with my 2 beautiful children Mikaela (21), Riley (18) and our naughty Jack Russell 'Harry the Horror'. I love that we are closer to our extended family.  

I feel privileged to be employed at the Bairnsdale Secondary College as the VASS Administrator and Enrolment/Transition Officer. I work alongside an amazing team in the Senior Hub. The highlight of my job is working with students, developing positive relationships with them and seeing them achieve their goals. 

Hello, I am Sue Monahu. As Careers practitioner I am privileged to work with students in their senior years and support the Senior Hub team in the important work they do.  Assisting students discover and navigate their post school pathways and helping them succeed in transitioning to employment or further education and study is a role that enables long term relationships and trust to be developed. I am fortunate to be able to travel this journey with students.  2021 brings a move into the new Careers space in the Malgobila building, we are super excited to be able to offer students an expanded Careers service.   

Hello my name is Michelle Lancaster. I spent my early years on a dairy farm in Woodglen, and moved to Stratford where I lived until turning 18. I’m the eldest of four girls in our family. I started my cooking apprenticeship when I was 16 and studied at The Gordan Institute in Geelong. 

I cooked and travelled until I was 30 and settled in Lakes Entrance where I was married. I had a career change and studied to be a Florist with Majorie Milner School of Floristry in Kew. After having three boys, my husband and I bought Van Berkel Flowers which we ran for 10 years.

I have been at BSC for 4 years and now work in Careers / VCAL organising work placements and work experience for our Senior Hub students. I have two Jack Russell’s and spend my free time with family and friends. I love to travel and explore.  I love my job and find it very rewarding when I see students achieve their goals and are successful in gaining employment in their chosen fields.

My name is Vicky Halford, real name Victoria, a lot of people don’t know that!  I grew up in Dandenong, then lived in Narre Warren with my husband until moving to Nicholson with our 4 children 18 years ago (the last one, Kristy, was born in Bairnsdale and graduated BSC in 2020). 

I am the eldest of my family and we all live locally now with our families, including our parents. Our family love getting together for any reason and welcome anyone and everyone to join us!

I started at BSC 7 years ago as an aide and love being part of BSC and our amazing Senior Hub Team. I have a very loving Staffy called Rusty and enjoy reading, fishing, golfing and relaxing.