General News
3 December, 2024
Outback families make trip into Isa for Boarding Schools Expo
Families came from far and wide to check out the options for their children.
Despite living and working more than 600 kilometres apart, Dale Brock and Sammy-Jo Pegler arrived together for the Mount Isa Boarding Schools Australia Expo this week.
The duo are both graziers and mothers to two children each.
Both are also confronting the fact they will have to place their children into boarding school in the coming two years.
Working as contractors in the beef industry, far from any high schools, they explained to North West Weekly that they had spent many years preparing for their children to live away.
In fact, both said they believed boarding school would enable their children to become more independent and prepared for the realities of life ahead of many of their peers.
“We both went to boarding schools – I think you can always tell a young person who lived away from home when they were at school,” Dale said.
“We aren’t just parents, we are also employers – and when we are looking for young workers, we see boarding schools as a positive.
“You don’t have someone to wash or iron your shirt for you – if it doesn’t get done, then it is your responsibility.
“I think it makes younger people take more responsibility and think for themselves a lot faster – they have to learn to grow up.”
While some arrived at the expo with generations of family that had attended boarding schools, there were other families exploring the option for the first time.
Mount Isa resident Kellie Baillie said she was investigating boarding school as an option for the final years of high school for her son, Boh.
Attracted by the opportunity for her son to greatly increase his sporting and academic abilities in a wider pool of young people, Kellie said the family had still not made up their mind on whether it would be appropriate.
“It is good to just come here and ask your questions,” she said.
Boarding Schools Expo Australia director Amanda Ferrari said she was pleased with the early turnout at the event.
“There is a lot of information being provided to people attending that will allow families to make the decision that is right for them,” she said.
Ms Ferrari said she hoped to hold the expo in Mount Isa every two years.