Farewell to Long-Serving Staff Members

ROSALIE REEVES

Rosalie’s contribution to the School has been nothing short of remarkable. Stepping into the School in 1995 with an obvious energy and passion for education, coupled with the drive and determination to make a significant difference, it was evident that she would leave a long-lasting legacy. After 24 years of working tirelessly—including 10 as Head of Primary School—to ensure the Primary School flourished, Rosalie decided earlier in the year to take some long-earned leave to spend with family and to study and travel ahead of her next career ventures.

During Rosalie’s tenure at CGS, the School saw many incredible accomplishments. With immense dedicated and fortitude, she has led, amongst many things, the introduction of the IB Primary Years Programme, and she was the architect of CGS Care and the Primary Horizons Programme. She oversaw virtually every detail of the physical transformation of Southside and has been a driving force behind every other major renovation in the Primary School in recent years. Of course, she also led the Primary School’s transition to co-education and has overseen the flourishing growth of our Primary School community in recent years. Most importantly, as a teacher, parent, and friend to many, she has enhanced the lives and education of thousands in her time here. She has done so with care and personal knowledge of countless students and their families, connecting warmly with children from Pre-School to Year 6 and well beyond, following the progress of many through their graduations from Year 12. Equally at home in class in the ELC, on the sports fields, on camp, reading stories at Northside, helping students craft their service projects, enjoying the talents of all students in the Primary School, or playing a role as an educational leader, Rosalie was involved in all aspects of the Primary School, bringing a commitment to professionalism and a close attention to detail. In addition to being passionate about teaching, she has always also been a passionate learner. Whether it be exploring new ideas, reading, attending professional development, or simply questioning the norm and pushing the boundaries of the status quo, Rosalie challenged and supported both students and staff to think differently and innovatively. Rosalie has been an agent of change, an organiser, and a life-long learner who is continuously focused on the big picture in all her endeavours and dedicated to nitty-gritty thinking. Rosalie has been an outstanding and gifted educator; however, her passion and love for the children in her care are her true strengths. Canberra Grammar School has been privileged to have experienced her leadership. We wish Rosalie the best of luck in her next endeavours.

SALLY GATES

Assuming the role of Operations Manager in November 2007, Sally was involved in the day-to-day activities of the School as well as in strategic planning, which included project coordination, implementation of school-wide systems, and risk and compliance. Her strategic view and understanding of the entire institution implied that she had a hand in most of the significant improvements the School has seen in her time at CGS. Some of Sally’s most notable achievements during her time at CGS have been helping the School transition to co-education, organising Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trials and implementation of mobile devices, functions of the Primary School Library building, rolling out CGS Connect 1.0, organising the Year 10 Outdoor Expedition, creating an excursion framework for applications and risk assessments, ensuring business improvement and improved operational efficiency, the introduction of smart forms, and monitoring CGS registrations and compliance.

Sally was also involved in many CGS Co-curricular programmes, including various domestic and international cultural and community service experiences. Sally also coached the Dragon Boat teams at the school, state, and national levels, taking large groups of athletes to national and world championships! Sally could always be relied upon to help in any way around the School, and she loved the unique culture CGS had to offer for students, staff, and the community.

JEANNINE KEENAN

Not many staff members can say they have worked at CGS for more than three decades. Enter (from stage left) Jeannine Keenan! Jeannine started her career at CGS in 1988 and has taught many children, including those of her previous students. Her three daughters also attended CGS from Pre-School to Year 2. Jeannine has been a Piano Teacher and accompanist at CGS for most of her career and has many fond memories, both personally and professionally. During her time at CGS, she has met many wonderful staff members and musicians throughout the Primary and Senior Schools, some of whom are lifelong friends. She especially loved the one-on-one aspect of piano teaching. She was able to introduce and guide students on their musical journeys and see them develop and grow musically and as young people.

Jeannine will fondly remember, in particular, two overseas excursions in 2007 and 2009 with the CGS Chamber Choir. They performed in the Notre Dame in Paris, and at the Anzac Services in the villages that were the battlefields of the Somme (Amiens, Villers Bretonneux and Bullecourt), the Dawn Service at the Australian War Memorial in London, followed by the day service in Westminster Abbey. They were experiences she will never forget. During her time at CGS, Jeannine enjoyed being the accompanist for choirs in the Primary School, with many rehearsals and performances such as Eisteddfods in Canberra and Sydney, charitable functions for the Canberra community, School concerts, and musicals and other events, including Christmas concerts her own children were a part of. Jeannine announced her retirement in June 2020 and is now looking forward to spending more time with her family, especially her grandchildren and being in the garden.