2023 New Staff

Damon Kennedy

Hi, my name is Damon Kennedy and I am the new Laboratory Technician here at Maffra Secondary College. I have been a lab technician in secondary schools over the past 25 years, as it a job I love doing so much and I am extremely passionate about. I have recently moved to Maffra and I like the friendly lifestyle and community spirit the town has to offer. I am look forward to settling in and becoming a part of the school and the wider community.

Britt Tancred

Hey Maffra! My name is Britt Tancred and I’m excited to be joining the Health and PE Team at MSC this year. I’ve been teaching in Melbourne for the past 2 years at Kurunjang Secondary College and I taught at a primary school in Shepparton for a year before that. I have recently moved to Briagolong with my fiancé and our 2 dogs (Dalmatian and GSP). I love pretty much any sport, but I really enjoy playing football, tennis, cricket and golf. I look forward to getting to everyone in the coming weeks.

Xander Brooks

HI, my name is Xander Brooks and I’m completing a certificate III in sports and recreation at the school, I ‘am a past student who completed year 12 last year. I’m an avid sports player in my personal time playing at local clubs for both football and basketball, I also don’t mind getting outdoors and exploring. This year I hope that I can assist both teachers and students into enjoying this year. 

Leanne Venables 

Hello – I am a Mother of 3 children and a Glamma to two beautiful little girls, have been married to my hubby Ian for 30 years, who is also a teacher. I’m a cancer survivor and in my down time when I get it, am the State Commissioner for Vocational Education & Training for Scouts Victoria – this means that I look after all the VET qualifications that Scouting offer.  I am also a keen sewer, as well as being on the committees of the Pakenham & Yarram Agricultural Shows which I love. 

I have only been an educator in the Secondary System for 12 years, before that a successful business owner of 2 hairdressing salons, and teaching in the states finest hairdressing colleges as well as TAFE – Yes a Tradesperson in Hairdressing & Beauty, where I still stay current in the styles of today. 

I have taught at a large college in Cranbourne North, where I was a foundation staff member. Here I delivered Textiles, Food, Woodwork as well as implementing the VCAL program at the college – I was fortunate enough to be awarded VCAL teacher of the year integrated programs in 2017. 

We moved to Yarram Secondary College in 2020 and moved again this year to start a new chapter of our life, and to be closer to our children & their businesses. 

I am very passionate about teaching, and more importantly in the applied learning space, teaching students about pushing their own limits and stepping out of their comfort zones, knowing that they will be ok on the other side, also seeing how proud they are when they have achieved what they have set out to do.

This year at Maffra Secondary College – I hope to see this happen with all the students that I teach, as well as to see what they have to offer their community. 

I look forward to a fantastic 2023 and beyond 😊 

Mrs Lynette Hipwell

It is an exciting step for me to move to Maffra SC having been at Rosebud SC for 20+ years but now I am very close to my 8-month-old granddaughter, Harriet. I am passionate about the future opportunities’ education and life-skills can bring to students. I teach 8 – 12 Food Studies here but can also teach Textiles, Health & Woodwork. I really enjoy teaching students about cooking good food, exploring all aspects of where food comes from, safe and efficient food preparation, health and nutrition and opportunities in the hospitality industry. I am very community minded having been part of many sporting and community clubs and organisations, such as Scouts. My other passions are camping, 4WDing, hiking and sailing, which I am looking forward to spending lots of my time doing as I explore this area.