A man of many hidden talents MIKE HOWELL, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Did you know that Roger Smith had a number of pathways before pursuing a career of teaching - becoming an actuary or being a professional tennis player? Upon completing his secondary schooling at Mentone Secondary College, Roger Smith was faced with the dilemma that had plagued many a Year 12 student before him: Which career to choose? He had an ATAR score which presented him with many tertiary opportunities. He had a strong interest and proficiency in computing, but medicine was also on the cards. Not to mention his interest in sport - particularly: tennis.
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The one thing Roger knew for sure was that he wanted a career where he could interact with people. Ultimately, it was his Maths teacher who posed the question that would shape Roger’s future career: ‘Have you considered teaching?’ Roger first studied a Bachelor of Science (Hons) at Melbourne University and then went on to Monash and completed his Diploma of Education,
later going on to obtain his Bachelor of Education. Along the way, Roger remained a passionate tennis player. He competed firstly at local levels, but moved on to spend some time on the international tennis circuit. Mostly competiting in Australia and New Zealand tours, Roger even won a couple along the way! However, he discovered that the road to professional tennis was a difficult one, with his prize
