At the start of 2018, I joined the St John’s College staff in the newly (re-)created position of Vice-Warden. A qualified accountant and teacher, I have spent the majority of my professional life in secondary schools, with a particular focus on boarding and residential education.
Born and raised on the south side of Brisbane, I completed my secondary schooling at Villanova College in Coorparoo, and subsequently attended QUT to complete a Diploma of Teaching (Secondary) in Physical Education. Following my graduation, I worked as a teacher and boarding master at Downlands College in Toowoomba. After seven years at Downlands, I returned to full-time study and completed a Business Degree (Accounting) at USQ. During the course of this study, I also spent a semester at the University of Connecticut in the USA. Upon returning to Australia, I moved to the ACT and taught Economics and Business at Canberra Grammar School while also performing residential duties. During this time I met and married my wife, Lynne, and shortly after we returned to Brisbane where I secured employment as Director of Sport at my alma mater, Villanova College.
After starting a family, I returned to residential education by taking up a Head of Residence position at St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon. After three years, I returned to Brisbane in an identical role at St Joseph’s College, Nudgee. After nine years at Nudgee, I became Deputy Director of Boarding at Ipswich Grammar School, a position I held for six years. Finally, my most recent employment was as Sports Co-ordinator with Australian University Sport, the organisation which administers the annual Australian University Games.
In addition to my professional career, I have also been heavily involved in national and state sports administration. I currently sit on the Australian Schools Rugby Union Executive, and prior to this was Manager of the Australian Schoolboys Rugby Team from 2001 to 2006. During my time as Manager, the Australian team undertook two tours to the UK and two tours to New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Additionally, I also currently serve as an Australian Schoolboys Rugby Selector, a position I have held since 2001.
Lynne and I live onsite in Oakes House and have three sons in their late teens and early twenties. Brett, 24, is a project manager for a local construction company and currently referees Premier Grade Rugby in Brisbane. Scott, 21, recently completed his Bachelor of Aviation at Griffith University and is currently working as a commercial pilot for Air Fraser Island in Hervey Bay. Luke, 19, is currently in the first year of a baseball scholarship at a university in Texas where he is studying sports science and kinesiology. The final member of the family is our dog Muffin, a maltese shih tzu, who seems to have been adopted by the students as the College mascot.
It has been a privilege to secure a position on staff at St John’s College and contribute to the development of such talented young men and women in an academic setting. I have a great passion for seeing young people develop and do well, particularly in terms of making good choices and decisions. My initial impressions of St John’s are that it has a vibrant college environment with an impressive level of camaraderie and collegiality. The close knit connection that exists among the students is both noticeable and highly commendable. I am a firm believer in the great opportunities residential colleges provide for university students and am looking forward to working with the students to ensure they derive maximum benefit from all of the resources at their disposal here at St John’s.
by Glen Cronan, Vice-Warden
