Reps help nurture a rich learning culture

Independent schools often have fascinating histories which inspire staff long after visionary founders have passed on. At the Fahan School, in Sandy Point, Hobart, IEU Reps Tania Gath and Melanie East say the school’s pioneers created a harmonious community which continues to empower and “instil a deep love of learning” in each student. 

Hobart’s Fahan School was established as an “independent, non-denominational, day and boarding school for girls” from kindergarten to leaving age in 1935, with the goal of providing an education which would “enable girls to have an impact on the world”.

Hobart-raised co-founder Isobel Dieudonnée (Donnee) Travers (1898-1982), was a prize-winning scholar in history and science studies at Oxford University and taught in Sydney before becoming a lecturer in botany after returning to Tasmania. 

Despite limited financial resources, Donnee and fellow teacher Audrey Morphett opened the Fahan School with 19 students during the height of the Depression, focussing on the arts, the environment and sport, as well as academic subjects.

They capped enrolment at 300 to “maintain a family atmosphere and to develop every girl’s potential”.

The school’s rural environment, with its fields and many trees, aimed to inspire creativity and enlightenment in its students, and Tania and Melanie say Fahan School is now indeed a “diverse and exemplary educational institution”. They work closely with the IEU, members, and management, “to achieve a positive and long-lasting workplace culture”, Tania representing the Primary campus and Melanie the Secondary staff.

Fahan Secondary Rep Melanie East

Tania and Mel are dedicated to assisting staff and management on any matter that maintains the school’s famed harmony. They became union representatives in 2021 at a time of transition for the school, when it made the difficult decision to shut down its Boarding House, for so long a cornerstone of the establishment, after boarding numbers dwindled.

All IEU members on Fahan staff, from teaching to maintenance, continue to instil the founders’ belief that young women can achieve anything they want to, and they will “step confidently” into their futures after leaving school.

Fahan Primary Rep Tania Gath.

Tania and Melanie were excited to continue fostering productive relationships between staff, leadership and the IEU and say Fahan is a “positive and caring place to work” and they value working in a collegial environment. Their role is to work with all staff to “promote the benefits of creating and maintaining a progressive workplace”.

They say the Fahan School provides “quality and exemplary education” to young women because of the dedication and passion of the staff who are focused on the needs of its students.

In doing so, they are carrying on the vision of Donnee and Audrey, despite the fact they retired in 1956, and sold the school to the Presbyterian Church in 1960. 

Donnee’s words still guide Fahan’s day-to-day operation, for staff and students:

“Light destroys darkness, reveals truth, graces good deeds; it is creative”.