Introducing our new Head of Middle & Senior School

How long have you lived in the Illawarra? 

I have been living in Wollongong since 1998. I came here to study a Diploma of Education after growing up in Malaysia and completing my undergraduate degree in Canada. 

What do you love about the Illawarra?

It reminds me of my hometown, Penang, in Malaysia. Penang is an island and has a lot of hills as well. I love how the Illawarra has both escarpments and beautiful beaches. I also love the people God has blessed me to meet here.

Can you introduce your family to us?

I am married to Matthew who serves with the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (AFES), teaching the Bible to international students at the University of Wollongong. He also serves nationally with AFES, training and equipping others to do that in other university campuses throughout Australia. God has gifted Matthew in languages. He speaks and writes fluent Indonesian, Japanese and Mandarin. In some ways, he is more Asian than I am because I don’t speak any of it fluently. We have attended Wollongong Baptist Church for more than 20 years now. 

God has blessed us with two children: Annabelle, who is in Year 12 at Smiths Hill High School, and Chris in Year 11 at ICS. We are thankful that they both love Jesus, and serve him in the kids’ ministry at St Michael’s Anglican Church, where they attend.

What do you love about Christian education?

I love the freedom to pray and read the Bible in Christian schools. It is a privilege to work in partnership with parents who want their children to be discipled and to be trained in godliness. It is also such an opportunity for Christian schools to point others to Jesus and to be the light in this world of darkness. I also love working with other brothers and sisters in Christ, encouraging each other to grow in godliness, and the privilege to teach subjects from a biblical perspective, including Maths! 

How long have you been working in Christian education and what schools have you worked with?

I have been working in Christian education for 23 years (since 1999)! I started at Nowra Christian School in 1999, then moved here to the [then] Illawarra Christian School (Tongarra Campus) in 2000. I left in 2008 to become Head of Mathematics (and other subjects) at ICS, Cordeaux Campus. Then in 2015, I moved to become Head of Secondary at Nowra Christian School, which was my most recent role. 

What was your favourite subject at school and what is your favourite subject to teach? 

My favourite subject at school and to teach is Mathematics. No surprises there!  

Who is your favourite historical figure from scripture - and why?

This is a difficult question because it is hard to pick just one favourite. If I had to pick (at the moment), I would say Nehemiah because he was asked to go back to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. I love how God used him to lead his people in the face of challenging circumstances and persecution. 

What are you most looking forward to as you move to Calderwood? 

God has changed me since I left here over a decade ago. The world has changed. Teaching has changed, but God’s truth is timeless. I look forward to helping play a role in guiding CCS to face the challenges of this new COVID era, with the hope and guiding light of the gospel of Christ. 

What will you miss most about the school you are leaving? 

Life is about relationships. God has existed eternally as Father, Son and Holy Spirit in loving, other-person-centred relationships. What I will miss from NCS is what I am looking forward to here with CCS, that is, the relationships with people: staff, students, parents/carers, families and the community in general. 

What is your favourite scripture and why? 

Luke 19:10: 'For the Son of Man (Jesus) came to seek and to save the lost.'

It’s the verse God used to bring me to faith in Christ, and the heart of God’s mission, which ought to be the heart of our mission too.

We are looking forward to getting to know Mrs Meek better as she joins our school community. Why not make a point to introduce yourself to her when you see her around the grounds?