Skool Daze – Prominent Gold Coasters talk about school days

skool DAZE

Attending school and getting an education is an all-important part of shaping us for life’s journey. We asked some prominent women for their memories from their time in class during those formative years.

Nicole Daley

Owner and director 5th Avenue Jewellers Where did you go to school for primary and senior? Wilderness in South Australia, Guardian Angles and St Hilda’s School Southport. Favourite subject and why? Geography - I have always been interested in travel and learning about other countries Favourite teacher and why? Darren Daley (my husband) he is a qualified teacher and taught me Gemmology and Diamond Grading. Best memory at school? Getting picked up from school in a stretched limo to start a crazy night out, getting half way home when the limo driver told me I had a call and it was my mum, except it wasn’t my mum it was another Nicole’s mum so we had to drive back to school and swap cars. Academic or sporting achievement? Achieving my diploma in gemmology and becoming a jewellery valuer before I was 25! What did you want to be when you grew up? Initially an environmental scientist. Is your life now what you expected it to be? If so how? Yes. I have worked in the family business since I was 5 and it has always been in my blood. I have always loved jewellery and Gemstones and I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else. I even dream about jewellery designs so I know that it truly is meant to be and I am doing the job that I was born to do.

Teigan Fortnum

Business, Sales and Events Manager, Executive Assistant to Director Tony Rigas at The Pink Flamingo Director of Hutch and Co Enterprises “Hutch” Solo Music Artist Publicist and Manager Stepmum to 8 Year Old Where did you go to school for primary and senior? Tower Street Primary School Sydney and Sheldon College. Favourite subject? Dance and Drama. Favourite teacher? Miss Box - Dance Teacher. Best memory at school? Graduation, I knew I was destined to go places, see the world, grow a business, be a part of something and I have certainly ticked a lot of boxes with many more to tick off. I knew the world was waiting for me and I just needed the freedom to figure that out outside of school. Academic or sporting achievement? Dancer of the Year (this was a pretty big deal at my school) we had our own academy awards. What did you want to be when you grew up? Lawyer - I love looking at situations wrong and right. Is your life now what you expected it to be? If so how? It is better, I now work at the number one world-class entertainment destination on the Gold Coast The Pink Flamingo, have an amazing partner who blows my mind in the music industry that I manage and a step mum to an 8-year-old who is going to grow up to be just like his dad and take us all by storm with the talent brewing in his blood. I never thought my life could be this busy and full of happiness and success. To now own a business that has endless opportunities in the entertainment industry is a position I never thought would be mine.

Merrin Robson

Shopping Centre Manager

Where did you go to school for primary and senior? I changed schools a bit as a child but most of my primary school time was at Kotara South Primary School and then Kotara High School. Favourite subject and why? Science - I love researching and finding answers to things I don’t know. Science for me is about testing boundaries, finding out how things work and why they react the way they do. When in highschool I wanted to be a marine biologist and study Orca’s. Managing shopping centres is slightly left of field from that dream.

Favourite teacher and why? Mrs Neilsen was one of my science teachers. She had a great way of explaining things that actually made you more inquisitive and wanting to learn more. Best memory at school? I was a bit of a social person at school, somewhere around the middle of the highschool hierarchy. But 2 or 3 times a year at sporting events I was popular, how? easy? I was given a high great big “Boom Box” as a birthday gift and although it was heavy enough to tear a shoulder, I’d carry that thing around everywhere at these events and everyone wanted to be near the music.

Academic or sporting achievement? If you know me, you know I’m not much of a sporting hero, but I’ve never played and lost a grand final. I’ve only played in 2 with my indoor volleyball team - Olympic Rejects, but it’s bragging rights I’m proud of. What did you want to be when you grew up? I always wanted to do something science based. A marine biologist or a criminal profiler, let’s just say I wasn’t one to follow my career goals back then. Is your life now what you expected it to be? If so how? Oh wow, no not at all. I never expected in my wildest dreams I’d be doing the things I am now. When we moved to the Gold Coast back in 1999, I was a cake decorator by trade and thought I’d be doing that or hospitality for years to come. Within 15 years I worked my way into Centre Management and through the ranks to Centre Manager experiencing every aspect of the industry along the way. It proves that just because things don’t go the way you planned, doesn’t mean they can’t work out even better than you’d imagined. Use the setbacks and distractions to work with what you have to create new pathways. I have the most amazing friends and family, I live near the beach, have a job I love, have small shares in a couple of race horses and get to travel every year. I also sell Senegence skincare and make up in my spare time meeting new people and making some extra dollars for holidays and pretty things, a far cry from a cake decorator in a bakery.

Abbi Golightly

Partner and Accredited Specialist in Family Law – OMB Solicitors Where did you go to school for primary and senior? Primary School – Guardian Angels and High School – Aquinas College. Favourite subject and why? In High School – Legal Studies, unsurprisingly but also a close tie would have been Speech and Drama. The combination of the two subjects enabled me to both enjoy the theoretical aspects of law with the creative aspects of Speech and Drama which helped me develop my love of public speaking and thinking on my feet, which helps with Court work. The subject most useful to me now was secretarial studies, because I can now touch type which helps immensely with Court work and document preparation. Favourite teacher and why? My Grade 7 teacher, Mick Beard. He passed away last year, which was very sad, but he said to me on my last day of primary school (when Grade 7 was still in primary school), that I could and would do anything I wanted to do. Best memory at school? Grade 6 – the school trip to Canberra. It is like an institution at primary school to travel to Canberra! You visited Parliament House, the War Memorial and then had a couple of days in the snow. Being away from your parents for a whole week felt ever so grown up as a 12 year old! Academic or sporting achievement? I received a number of Academic achievement awards in Grade 12, including for English, Legal Studies and Study of Religion as well as the best player for the 15A Netball Team (I tell my daughter she gets it from me!!) I also achieved well with the school debating team (again unsurprisingly, I do love an argument!). What did you want to be when you grew up? For the most part a teacher. It wasn’t until high school when I studied legal studies that I could see a career in law would give me the opportunity to teach (via mentoring young lawyers) as well as practice law. Mentoring is now one of the most important aspects of my role. Is your life now what you expected it to be? If so how? My life is exactly as it should be. I try not to live with expectations and know that the universe will put me exactly where I need to be at any given time. I am grateful for everything that I have in life, my amazing family (which is my super talented, smart and funny daughter, partner, parents, brother and sister-in-law, my nieces and nephew) my career, wonderful friends (who I consider my family) and my health (but for a dodgy arthritis knee).

Nicole Carter

Selling Principal McGrath Estate Agents Southport Where did you go to school for primary and senior? In Johannesburg, South Africa Primary – Glenanda Primary, High School – Sir John Adamson. Favourite subject and why? English Comprehension and Essays – I enjoyed story writing. Favourite teacher and why? Mrs Visagie – Always believed I could be better and achieve more than I did at school (she was right). Best memory at school? Formal Dance. Academic or sporting achievement? Neither, school was not my thing. What did you want to be when you grew up? A dancer or something involving sales with people. Is your life now what you expected it to be? If so how? Not at all! I immigrated with my husband and 1 year old daughter to Australia to start a new life at 30, not even knowing Australia let alone the Gold Coast. Arrived here with all my possessions and opened a new Real Estate Franchise within 6 months of being here and had that for 14 years.

Liz Clift

Owner of Liz Clift International Bundall and Harbour Town Where did you go to school for primary and senior? Morongo Presbyterian ladies college Geelong, and St Hilda’s School Southport Favourite subject and why? Art, absolutely loved art history and excelled in art. Favourite teacher and why? Mrs Munro art teacher, she kicked everyone out of class except me, naturally I topped the class. Best memory at school? Best memory would have to be my Saturday morning detentions which were numerous. I skipped a year at junior school in Geelong and St Hilda`s in their wisdom held me back a year because of my age. I was obviously bored and played up thus the Saturday morning detentions. Academic or sporting achievement? I was basketball and hockey captain. What did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be an airline hostess for Qantas and travel the world. Careful what you wish for as I am now overseas 6-8 times a year. I was actually and inch too short to be a hostess. My second choice was fashion designer which of course I became. Is your life now what you expected it to be? If so how? My life is actually a lot more glamorous and exciting than I could have possibly imagined. Due to my many visits to detention I was politely told by Miss Granowski (Headmistress) that perhaps I wasn`t cut out for school life. I left after year 10 and eight months later starting winning fashion awards. My daughter Michelle Massey (now Speirs) was a goody two shoes and won the Headmistresses Award. Ironically I was invited back to St Hilda`s to talk to the seniors about aiming high in their chosen fields and not let anything stand in their way.

Rebecca Tuohy

Sales Team Assistant/ Sales Events Co-ordinator for SCA Gold Coast Where did you go to school for primary and senior? Maralinga Primary School & Chandler High School both in Melbourne. Favourite subject and why? Art or Drama. If you know me no explanation required Favourite teacher and why? Mr. Thomas my typing teacher in high school. Mr. Thomas was hearing impaired with a wicked sense of humour! Best memory at school? In typing class doing our daily warm ups, the class had all agreed to pretend to type and make no noise. Mr Thomas thought his hearing aids had broken. It was one of the funniest things but more importantly Mr. Thomas thought it was too and had a great laugh with us all. Academic or sporting achievement? I received a certificate in grade 3 for getting all my spelling words correct! What did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be an Interior Designer. I love all things home and still do. Is your life now what you expected it to be? If so how? When you are younger you dream big which is fantastic you should but then you can take a different path that leads you in another direction. Sometimes not taking the easy route can be the best thing you ever do. I’m so grateful for my beautiful daughter Alex that my late husband John gifted me all because I took a different path. Family is everything and great friends as well. Luckily I’ve been blessed with both.