Staff Introductions

We would like to introduce our dedicated boarding staff to you. Our supervisors have many varied skills and hobbies, and we encourage you to introduce yourselves when you see them. Of course, we can’t forget the dogs of boarding, each house has at least one and we find they are perhaps the most effective supervisor when a student is missing home. 

Please also find the staff roster so you know who to expect when you enter the house. Sometimes rosters are swapped for various reasons, but mostly they remain the same. We encourage you or your family members, when picking up or returning your child, to come into the house and let the supervisor know you are taking your child. This allows us to hand over the duty of care.

We encourage our boarders to be thankful to all the people that help them throughout their day. We ask our boarders to say thank you to the people who do their laundry, bus drivers, nurses, dishwashers, chefs and kitchen staff. There are a lot of people who look out for the students and help them and we encourage them to show appreciation.

Anchorage House

Anne Robertson | Head of Anchorage House

Anne was appointed Head of Anchorage this year. Anne has previously worked as a Boarding Supervisor at GSG and ASHS Residential College. Anne has an extensive background as an Education Support Teacher.  Anne holds a Bachelor of Arts, Primary Education and Bachelor of Education, majoring in children with special needs. Anne enjoys gardening and spending time with her two sons and extended family. 

Caiden Henderson

In-Residence Supervisor (IRS) Caiden is from Mount Barker and graduated from GSG in 2020. He boarded at GSG for two years.  He enjoys I.T. and drama and understands what it is like to be a boarder. Caiden holds a Certificate III in Business and enjoys being a part of the boarding community. 

Cheryl Baum

Cheryl started with GSG boarding last year in Michaelmas and is now enjoying working in Anchorage. She works as an Education Assistant during the day. Cheryl is renowned for her quiet and calm manner and enjoys spending time with her adult children and family. Cheryl’s children previously boarded at GSG, so she understands the highs and lows of boarding. 

Ken Crabbe

Ken has worked in Anchorage for a year and was our Recreation Officer in 2020. He is a teacher by day and enjoys taking our boarders on outings. Ken also works in Eclipse this year and enjoys watching football and keeping active, he is a dad to two young children.

Roly

Roly is an eight year old greyhound who was a winner in his day with $65,000 in winnings. Roly is old and tired and his bones ache, the boys can’t walk him for long as he starts to limp. Roly is enjoying boarding a lot more than Anne thought he would and is always asleep on the floor in Anchorage.

Endeavour House

Tara Ball | Head of Middle Boarding and Endeavour House

Tara was appointed as Head of Endeavour House in 2019 and Head of Middle Boarding in 2021. Previously her two older children boarded at GSG. She now lives onsite with her four children and her husband Glenn travels to Albany from Dumbleyung on the weekend. She has a Bachelor of Education and Masters in Education, specialising in Students at Risk. She has a teaching background, teaching for six years at Nyabing Public School and enjoys gardening and a good latte. 

Sienna Ball 

Sienna graduated from GSG in 2020 and is currently studying a Bachelor of Nursing at Charles Darwin University.  Sienna was a boarder at GSG for four years and is no stranger to the trials and tribulations of boarding, she is the In-Residence Supervisor (IRS) for Endeavour and enjoys cooking, hockey and being social. The girls seem to be enjoying her company, she has had a lot of practice being a big sister and this is what we like about having young people in the house. 

Amber Freeman

Amber has worked at GSG in boarding for nine years and works during the day doing the laundry for Middle School boarders and driving students to appointments. She is bubbly, fun and warm and the girls love her brownies and toasted cheese for Wednesday night supper. Amber often takes the girls out on the bus over the weekend for an adventure. Amber has two adult children and is excited that she will welcome a grandchild this year.

Dee Goodgame

Dee has worked at GSG in Endeavour for a year, she is also our Yalari Support Officer, supporting our Yalari Scholarship students. She is from New Zealand and has lived in Australia for eight years. Dee is calm and quiet, and the girls enjoy sitting and chatting with her on Friday and Saturday evenings. Dee owns a vineyard, enjoys travelling and spending time with her dogs.

Monty and Molly 

Monty and Molly are poodles and they are active and busy. Monty (pictured right) is eleven and is perhaps a little senile as he thinks he is a guard dog. Molly has a beautiful gold colour to her coat.  She is still a puppy at one year old and takes the girls socks, teddies and knitting if she gets a chance. 

Eclipse House

Brenton Rice | Head of Eclipse House

Brenton is in his second year as Head of Eclipse House and lives with his wife Greta and daughter Hazel, they are expecting a second child in June. Brenton enjoys the beach and taking the students out on Recreational activities. He holds a Certificate IV in Residential Care and is a carpenter by trade. We are still searching for an IRS to support Brenton in Eclipse. 

Taylor Colton

Taylor has been appointed as Boarding Supervisor and Teacher of Marine Science.  Taylor was employed at Guildford Grammar School and recently relocated to Albany.  Taylor is an energetic, passionate and creative individual who is looking for a new phase of adventure, learning and personal development.  Taylor holds a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Health, Physical Education and Outdoor Education. 

Ken Crabbe

Ken is new to Eclipse House this year.  He started at GSG in 2020 working in Anchorage and as the Recreation Officer. He is a teacher by day and enjoys taking our boarders on outings. Ken also continues to work in Anchorage and enjoys watching football and keeping active, he is a dad to two young children.

Peta Spinks

Peta Spinks has worked in boarding for 11 years and her husband Jeff was one of the original grounds staff when GSG opened. Peta is friendly, warm and efficient and famous with the boarders for her brownies for supper. Peta is an enthusiastic supervisor, who always has time to chat with every individual.

Claire Teale

Claire has been employed this year in boarding and is full of energy. Previously she was a Manager at CBH and decided to embark on a career change and is now studying a Diploma of Nursing.  Claire has coached and umpired hockey and is a sports trainer for the North Albany Football Club.

Lola

Lola is a lovely dog who enjoys her time out in the boarding house, she sometimes escapes the yard and wanders around boarding precinct much to the middle boarder’s delight. 

Breaksea House

Vanessa Bromhead | Head of Senior Boarding and Breaksea House

Vanessa is the Head of Breaksea and Head of Senior Boarding, having moved to Albany last year to be closer to her family, particularly her nephew Brayden who is in the care of her parents.  Vanessa has a Bachelor of Education in Secondary Humanities and is doing her PhD at Murdoch University. She has been teaching for 22 years and was previously the Head of Senior Boarding at Knox Grammar School, an all-boys school of 3000 students. She teaches English in the Day School and is passionate about boarding. Vanessa is interested in boarder wellbeing and their mental health and is currently researching this area. She also loves spending time at the beach and with her family, who live locally.

Ella Sloss

Ella is the IRS in Breaksea and has just completed a Bachelor of Commerce and is enrolled for in a Master of International Diplomacy and National Security. She was President for Curtin Women in Business and is passionate about netball. Ella has already made lovely connections with the girls and they are enjoying getting to know her.

Michelle Hourston

Michelle has worked in boarding for a year and is organised and efficient. She enjoys volunteering in the local Opshop and is always willing to lend a hand. Michelle has two children, Louis and Grace who are both GSG graduates and enjoys working her farm.

Nicole Scott

Nicole has worked in GSG boarding in Breaksea for 10 years and her husband Adam is the Head of Middle School. They have two adult children, Riley and Sophie, both GSG graduates. Nicole is friendly, calm and kind. The girls look forward to her coming on shift to sit and chat and take them out for recreational activities on a Saturday.

Peta Spinks

Peta Spinks works across both Breaksea and Eclipse Houses.  In addition to her fabulous baking skills she is an expert at flower arrangements.   You will see many of Peta's creations at Valedictory events, she is also skilled at making corsages for Year Twelves for the Ball. Peta is a very proud grandparent and has a lot of family time with her grandchildren. 

Bailey

Bailey is a one year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and is calm and quiet. He knows when the Breaksea girls are upset and knocks on their door to go in. Bailey gives hugs and can’t wait to be old enough to go into the Day School as a therapy dog. He likes to spend time with Molly in Endeavour, and invites himself over whenever he gets an opportunity. 

Michaelmas House

This year Michaelmas House is not housing students, as we could fit all our boarders into the other four houses.  Michaelmas is being used for administration, prep four nights a week and to host meetings and social gatherings.

Dianne Franzinelli

Di is our Boarding Administration Officer and is enjoying the peace and quiet of Michaelmas. Di is very organised and efficient, and we value her hard work. Di enjoys craft and spending time with her family. Her husband Martin is a Police Officer and drives the Closed Weekend bus run, her son Bryn graduated GSG last year and is an apprentice Chef at Monty’s Leap and daughter Grace is a current GSG student.

Day Staff

Amber Freeman

Amber works during the day driving our boarders to and from appointments on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.  Amber is married with two grown children and is expecting her first grandchild very soon.

Jennifer Colgate

Jenny is the previous Head of Michaelmas and she and her husband Peter have worked in boarding at GSG for ten years. She drives for appointments on Fridays during the day. Jenny loves her coffee and a chat, also helping with washing the white shirts if necessary. 

Katrina Marmion

Katrina has supervised in the past and is now enjoying driving during the day on Tuesdays. This is the orthodontist day and is usually very busy. When our day drivers aren’t running students to appointments, they are washing the white shirts and helping our new students with their washing.

Bus Drivers

Steve Button

Steve has worked in GSG boarding for 15 years, his wife Lee-Anne was the previous Head of Endeavour. Steve is a friendly and helpful bus driver for the after school runs and drives the boarders to all their sport and after school commitments. The bus leaves GSG on weekdays every half hour and picks up in town on the hour. These drivers drive until 10.00pm some nights. 

David Elliot

David has worked at GSG driving the bus every Saturday for the past 14 years. This is our busy sport day and he quietly and kindly goes about his business. David is an engineer and runs his own business during the week. 

Bill Van Helden

Bill drives the bus some weekdays and on Sundays, he is very efficient and is always calm. Bill also transports boarders between boarding and home on the Eastern bus run for Closed Weekends and the start and end of term.  Bill enjoys spending time with his children, grandchildren and dog Ally who is a therapy dog in the Day School. 

Martin Franzinelli

Martin is a Police Officer and the husband of our Administration Officer, Di.  He is also one of our bus drivers.  He loves a long drive and is very happy transporting boarders between boarding and home on the Western bus run for Closed Weekends and the start and end of term.  Martin is a keen hiker and loves searching for and photographing native orchids.

Nurses

Liz Cosh

Liz is a warm and kind nurse. She is also the mum to two boys, Charlie and Louis, who are current GSG students. She is always available for a talk with our boarders and is keen to check on their mental health. Liz works in the Health Centre from Monday to Wednesday. 

Rebecca Davies 

Rebecca is an efficient and friendly nurse who is also the mother to three lovely school age boys. She works from Wednesday to Friday and loves to laugh and care for others.

Dining Hall

We would like to introduce you to our kitchen staff in the next edition of the Buzz, which will be published at the end of Week Six.  Did you know that you are always welcome to join us for a meal?