Staff Spotlight
Back by popular demand, our students will spend a few minutes interviewing our staff to gain a little insight to their passions, hobbies and even culinary preferences! In this edition, Mr Michael Meagher and Bu Prema Devathas are interviewed by Evie Taylor and Emily Maniscalchi, respectively. Enjoy!
Michael Meagher
How long have you worked at Heathmont?
This is my third year at Heathmont
What is your role at the school?
I’m Flynn House Leader, and teach Science and History.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Honestly, sharing my own passion and love for my subjects. I enjoy sharing my own nerdy excitement about Biology or World War 2, and hopefully in doing so I convince some students who don’t necessarily love those subjects that maybe they’re not so boring after all. It's even more rewarding when students reciprocate and share their own passions and excitement with me too!
When you were little what did you aspire to be?
For the longest time I wanted to be a palaeontologist, digging up and studying dinosaur fossils all over the world. I even briefly looked at Bachelor degrees in that field when finishing Year 12 (there’s one at Arizona State University if I remember right!) before coming to the realisation that maybe it wouldn’t be as close to Sam Neill in Jurassic Park as I hoped.
What skill would you like to master?
I’ve always wished I could be more musical and learn an instrument, but I always talk about a story where I tried to teach myself guitar via YouTube. I got somewhere with a few chords but then broke my dad’s old guitar by entering the same room as it once and took that as a sign that maybe playing music is just not for me.
What book/tv series/podcasts are you right into at the moment?
Right now I’m reading Fire and Blood by George R. R. Martin while watching House of the Dragon which has been good so far. I’m also reading Napoleon the Great by Andrew Roberts after I visited Paris in the school holidays, which paints an interesting picture of one of the greatest military leaders in history. I’m also listening to a podcast called Real Dictators, charting the life of different totalitarian leaders like Hitler, Stalin and Kim Jong-il.
What would you sing at karaoke night?
I’m a sucker for Mr Brightside by the Killers, but also have an ongoing joke with a few mates after a terrible rendition of Hotel California one night that we always have to attempt it without bothering to check the lyrics first.
Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life?
Probably someone like Simon Pegg? Bit more of an everyman actor with a sense of humour rather than a big star.
Do you collect anything?
Depending on your definition of ‘collecting’, I collect books, Star Wars Lego and vinyl records.
If you could tailor a subject for you to teach to have something that you want to share, what would it be, and what would you share?
I did learn about a discipline called ‘Big History’ at university, which essentially looks at human history as one part of a greater history of the Universe. That’s pretty much my thing, connecting how nature has shaped human societies and development. Read a book on the topic called Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond, fascinating stuff for those interested.
Hope you find those enlightening!
Mr Michael Meagher
Interviewed by Evie Taylor, Year 10
Prema Devathas
How long have you worked at Heathmont College?
About 14 years
What is your role at the school?
Indonesian teacher
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Inspiring in young children a passion for continuous learning, including learning of other languages and cultures as this enables children to see the world from different lenses.
What is your ideal way to unwind and relax?
Play or listen to music.
What’s your most fond childhood memory?
Learning to ride the motor-bike with my brothers.
When you were little what did you aspire to be?
A tour guide
What was your favourite subject at school?
Mathematics.
How many languages do you speak?
I spoke 5 languages while growing up and learnt French in the University.
What skill would you like to master?
Learn to play the piano by ear!
What book/tv series/podcasts are you right into at the moment?
Nothing in particular but I like listening to inspiring people like Billy Graham.
What is your favourite sport to watch or play?
Swimming.
Do you play a musical instrument? If so, which one?
The guitar.
What would you sing at karaoke night?
Golden oldies and ABBA.
If you could choose to be anything for a day, what would it be?
To have the power to stop wars but let peace, justice and kindness reign over the world.
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Roti and beef rendang.
If you were a super-hero, what powers would you have?
Power to remove sickness, sadness and poverty from the world.
What’s your favourite holiday destination?
Snorkelling off tropical islands where the water is warm and the marine life is amazing.
Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life?
Maybe Witney Houston!
Do you collect anything?
Colourful scarves, from my travels.
Bu Prema Devathas
Interviewed by Emily Maniscalchi, Year 10