Wendy McRae provided outstanding service to Caulfield Grammar School as a teacher at the Wheelers Hill Campus from 1984 to 2006. She taught across a wide range of learning areas, including physical education in her early years and personal development, humanities and the creative arts in her later years. From 1988 to 1994 she was Coordinator (Head) of Girls’ Sport at the campus, and from 1998 to mid-2006 she was Assistant Head of Holmes House. Alongside sport, drama, dance and the creative arts have been Wendy’s passions, and from 1997 she was Coordinator of Drama at Wheelers Hill Campus. In this role she was an active participant in many school productions. She also taught the dancing and helped organise the Year 10 Presentation Balls.
While Wendy was teaching at Wheelers Hill, her husband Tony was a highly respected mathematics teacher at Caulfield Campus, and her two daughters graduated from the Wheelers Hill Campus.
After leaving Wheelers Hill, Wendy continued to pursue her passions in a variety of ways, including as a Casual Relief Teacher. She also maintained a strong connection with Caulfield Grammar School and a strong interest in the lives of the many students she taught at Wheelers Hill. This has been demonstrated by her wonderful support, together with Tony, of the CGA’s reunion program over the years. She has attended countless class reunions to catch up with her former students and hear their news. She has also attended other CGA and School functions and maintained close contact with many of her former teaching colleagues at Wheelers Hill. In addition, as a registered civil celebrant, she has officiated at many ceremonies (particularly weddings) involving members of the Caulfield Grammar School community.
Sadly, Wendy’s husband Tony passed away earlier this year. The great respect and admiration that the Caulfield Grammar School community has for the McRae family was shown by the large number of past and present staff members, past students and other members of the school community who attended the Celebration of Tony’s Life at the Cripps Centre, Caulfield Campus.
Experience shows that the attendance of current and past staff members at class and other CGA reunions is greatly appreciated by the many Grammarians who value their role not only as educators but also as friends and mentors. Wendy’s passion for Caulfield Grammar School, and her interest in the members of the school community, has been maintained right through to the present. She is a worthy recipient of a Fellowship of the Caulfield Grammarians’ Association, which was awarded to her at the October Golden Alumni Luncheon.
