Alumni Stories: 2000-2009
Alumni Stories: 2000-2009
Sam Dutton - Senior Adviser to the Threatened Species Commissioner
Class of 2005
In Sam’s current role as Senior Adviser to the Threatened Species Commissioner, his work is as diverse as meeting US Ambassadors, discussing policy with university professors and helping to put radio trackers on numbats in remote Western Australia. Sam has written speeches for Ministers, presented at international conferences and managed a team to achieve some amazing results.
As a leader in the Office of the Threatened Species Commissioner, Sam’s key achievements include:
· Establishing the first Threatened Species Commissioner.
· Launching the first national Threatened Species Strategy and the Threatened Species Prospectus.
· Mobilising more than $255 million for projects supporting threatened species outcomes.
· Creating one of the most popular social media channels in the government.
· Successfully advocating for changes in feral cat legislation across the country.
In previous roles Sam has also provided advice to the Cabinet of the Australian Government on issues affecting families, indigenous communities and the environment, provided analysis of state budgets and written recovery plans for threatened sharks.
But one of things Sam is most proud of is being named as a key contributor for the NSW Aboriginal Land Council publication “Our sites, Our rights”. This paper was used to campaign for changes to NSW law that empowers aboriginal people to manage their own cultural heritage.
Straight after graduating from Henry Kendall High School, Sam used the confidence he had developed to travel overseas and be a leader for a youth and community outreach program in rural Albania. He used the communication skills refined at Henry Kendall High School as the author and editor of the Ghana Baptist Convention newsletter in West Africa.
In 2010, Sam graduated with a Bachelor of Social Science (Politics) from Macquarie University and he has also completed a Diploma in Government and a Diploma in Project Management.
James Willoughby - Current PhD Student (Australian National University)
Class of 2005
"HKHS was very good to me. Those years were difficult, rather unstable. But Henry Kendall was a constant. That made a big difference. I wouldn’t say I remember my time there fondly. I was angry and sad and not suited to the place. But a lot of important things happened there. I am still best-friends with my old high school best friend. And there were a few times, when all the stars aligned and the planets were in their correct positions, that I learnt something.
I got into the University of Newcastle, in a Bachelor of Arts. It was the perfect place for me, more relaxed than some other universities. Something I really needed at the time. I was allowed to explore a variety of subjects. My first class was in philosophy. Looking back, it was obvious I fell in love with it on that first day. I read the textbook cover to cover in the first week. I didn’t realise that was odd until much later. Early on, I struggled academically. I lacked a lot of technical skills and I was distracted by some of my peers. But I kept on trying, kept on learning. Eventually I got the hang of it.
Here is a list of academic achievements: Bachelor of Arts, Honours Arts (thesis in creative writing), award for final year philosophy, Bachelor of Laws, Honours Law (thesis in legal theory), Diploma of Legal Practice. At the end of my time at the University of Newcastle, I was admitted to the NSW Supreme Court as a solicitor. Then I moved to the Australian National University (ANU), in Canberra. At the ANU I got another Honours Arts (thesis in philosophy) and now I am currently doing a PhD in Philosophy. As part of that, I teach. I model my teaching on some of my favourite HKHS teachers. I work hard. I am open about the teaching process. I treat my students with respect. I am patient and generous with my time. All things the best HKHS teachers do.
Most importantly, I met my wife, Tara, at the University of Newcastle Philosophy Club. Her interest in philosophy was fleeting. But luckily her interest in me was not. Even after a decade, we still laugh every day. So that is that. My life has been rich and surprising and very enjoyable. HKHS played an important part and I am very grateful."
Tracey Anne Cunningham- Business Owner
Class of 2005
"I left Henry Kendall High School in 2005. At the time, my dream was to become a hairdresser. I was also working in my family’s seafood business during and after I left high school. Five years after leaving high school, I was asked to be a Company Director/ Shareholder of our Company (this was a huge responsibility for a young lady in her early twenties). In 2016, I decided to become a business owner. I own a very successful and well-known seafood business located in Queensland on the Redcliffe Peninsula.
In October 2018, I gave birth to my first and only child Noah. Noah was born eight weeks premature. This was a hard time as it would be for any mother giving birth to a premature baby. But the support from my partner, family and friends is what helped me get through.
My years spent at Henry Kendall High School were some of the greatest years of my life and the memories I have from those years I will be able to share with my son. Mr Bob Lang, Mrs Vivian Thompson, Mrs Naree Lambert and Mrs Blakeway were excellent teachers/people and they helped shape me into becoming the best version of myself that I could possibly be."
The teachers and subjects that were most influential:
"Mr Bob Lang (Deputy Principal), Mrs Naree Lambert, Mrs Vivian Thompson and Mrs Blakeway"