Newsletter March 2013 - Coolum Beach Christian College

Teacher Profile
SARAH DWYER
You’ve seen her running around the sports fields and having a go at beating the
students in the swimming carnival, but few people have had the opportunity to
learn about one of the school’s newest recruits: Miss Sarah Dwyer, the
Physical Education and Drama Teacher.
Miss Dwyer was born and bred in Brisbane, spending most of her time in the
last 10 years around the suburb of Carindale. Her parents wanted her to have a
“private education” and sent her to a Christian school, Citipointe Christian
College, in Mansfield. Being brought up in a Christian environment gave Miss
Dwyer an understanding of faith, but it was while on a missionary trip to the
Phillipines in Year 11 that her faith became real.
“It solidified what I believed in and why I believed in it,” she said.
On finishing school, Miss Dwyer decided to take a gap year and explore the
world. She visited places like America, the United Kingdom, Japan and the
Phillipines. “I love travelling,” she said. Her favourite place was "London,
followed by the Great Wall of China".
After her travels, Miss Dwyer started University at the Christian Heritage College where she obtained her teaching
degree, majoring in Physical Education and Drama.
While Miss Dwyer was studying full-time, she was also working as a Youth Worker for the Department of Child Safety.
This, sometimes difficult experience, has given her the ability to look beyond what appears to be pure defiance in a
misbehaving child. “Some of the stories (in Child Safety) were really heartbreaking," she said “One has a window of
opportunity to inspire and change a life, to show these children there is more to life than what was handed to them,” she
said.
Miss Dwyer worked with children over the age of 12 who had been removed by the State from the care of their parents.
“Children under 12 go into foster care, then they go into a residential facility,” she explained. “I worked in this facility.
“This taught me a lot, it built my character, as there is more to a person than meets the eye. "The kids I worked with
looked normal, but underneath there was much more than they were presenting.”
How she ended up at Coolum Beach Christian College can only be described as a God thing. "When I finished studying, I
decided to apply for at least one teaching job. I loved being a youth worker and the flexibility that came with the job.
However, when I started talking with Dr Chris Hurley, the College’s Principal and the conversation ignited the passion in
me to start the journey of being a teacher."
Now she is the envy of many of her fellow graduates – living in Marcoola and “learning to surf”. While she is still
“learning the ropes” at the College, she has many plans to introduce improvements. This will start off at the crosscountry
on March 28 where, for the first time, the various houses will have their own mascot. “I want to build up house
spirit,” she said.
Miss Dwyer's passion - next to God and teaching - is "snowboarding, I love snowboarding".
Written by Kathy Sundstrom
Ph: 5446 4780 * Fax: 5446 4893 * Email: admin@cbcc.qld.edu.au
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