BA(Murdoch) BEd(ECU) ALIA

This is his ninth year at the School, following 13 years in the same role at Aquinas College and 15 years at assorted Western Australian government schools.

Teacher Librarianship is something Greg “fell into” whilst studying teaching and it is a fall from which he certainly landed on his feet. He loves the role, which over the years has allowed him to combine his passion for working with boys with that of reading and research.

And it’s a role that is constantly changing. “When I started in my first school, there weren’t any computers,” Greg said. “There might have been an overhead projector, but that would have been the only kind of technology. Obviously technology has grown so much since then and now it’s constantly changing, which makes the role so interesting.”

As well as managing the School’s physical library, Greg also maintains and expands the virtual library and creates online packages for staff to help with their class projects. He said there was an increasing focus on “thinking and transmitting digitally”.

Greg works closely with students and staff with three main aims – to encourage as many boys as possible to develop a love of reading, to make sure the boys have the appropriate curriculum support resources at point of need, and the skills to locate useful information efficiently.

One of Greg’s most hands-on roles with the boys is through his Integrated Programmes for Years 7 and 8. During these classes he teaches the boys organisational skills, how to power search on the internet, assignment preparation and associated techniques like brainstorming, basic computing, as well as how to write bibliographies and take notes. These skills are integrated into collaborative projects with Art and Social Science, as well as one of their own choice, which is called a Solo Enterprise.

These classes run alongside the Literacy Programme, which is run by fellow teacher librarians Helen Knight and Margaret Chapple for Year 8s and 9s. A new programme next year will include Year 7s.

Greg said he was looking into establishing some games in the Library at lunch times, to try and encourage even more boys into the Library. “The aim is to pull in some kids who never read,” Greg said. “I’m also looking to get some eBooks in the Library. I will take whichever path I need to in order to get a kid to read. But in doing so, it’s important for them to read through their interests. Quite often they can progress from comics, to graphic novels and on to novels.”

In managing and running the Library, Greg aims to create a friendly environment, with service first and happy faces. “It’s a place where boys who love reading can come and hang out; for others it’s a safe retreat; and it’s a place where non-readers are becoming more involved.

“Really I just love the interaction with the boys. When you’ve been teaching for as long as I have, you sometimes question why you’re still doing it. It’s simply because I love working with teenagers. I’ve always loved working with boys. I enjoy their company and I enjoy watching them develop. And, of course, it keeps me young!”

Away from the Library, Greg is also heavily involved in the organisation of Pilgrimage of Hope, which gives him huge enjoyment.