Five minutes with Mrs Sue Hassall

When we think of Mrs Sue Hassall, we think of a determined leader, backpack firmly strapped around her waist, cheering on students through wild rivers, up majestic mountains and across untouched terrain. To put it simply, when we think of Mrs Hassall, we think of our Duke of Edinburgh Leader. After spending five years as an Outward Bound instructor, combined with her love of the outdoors, there is no one better suited to the role. And after seeing her own children grow in confidence and skills through the Duke of Edinburgh Award, she knew she wanted the role to support more young people through the program. When Mrs Hassall isn't pitching tents or tending to a campfire, she's teaching English. In this interview, we traverse Mrs Hassall's 17 years at Radford College, unearth her love of reading (often by torchlight) and roam through some of her most memorable (and hair-raising) outdoor education adventures.

You've been part of Radford College since 2008. How have you seen the school evolve over the years, particularly in the English department?

A compelling issue the English department faces is managing students’ use of AI and the distractions on their devices. Many teachers are using paper notebooks in addition to devices, and our assessment tasks are creatively designed to circumvent the use of AI. English teachers have also needed to find creative ways to maintain students' focus when reading extended texts, as many tend to view technology instead of reading novels nowadays.

As an English teacher, what do you find most rewarding about teaching literature to today’s students?

I find it rewarding to see students strengthen their analytical thinking, grow their imagination and develop an understanding and empathy for characters in difficult situations by examining novels, plays, films and oral texts. It is rewarding to develop students’ accurate and concise written and spoken expression and to see enjoyment and growth in their thinking with increasingly challenging texts.

Do you have a favourite book or piece of literature that inspires how you teach English?

The texts I enjoy using are dependent on the age of the students and the purpose of the unit of work. For example, Romeo and Juliet is engaging for Year 9 students new to Shakespeare and the ancient Athenian play, Antigone, by Sophocles, illustrates the universal wisdom of needing to recognise and admit an error for senior students.

What inspired you to take on the Duke of Edinburgh Leader role, and how have you seen the program impact students’ personal growth?

I wanted to assist other students with building their confidence and developing their abilities after seeing the positive impact the Duke of Edinburgh Award had on my own children.

Can you share a memorable moment from a Duke of Edinburgh expedition?

We had a group walking from Mt Kosciuszko to Charlotte Pass via the scenic rim walk, and a storm swiftly rolled in. It rained heavily, and the swollen Snowy River thundered noisily down its course, creating majestic waterfalls but making the river impassable. We erected our flapping tents in the howling gale at lunchtime, and for 18 hours, we stayed in our small, buffeted nylon shelters until it was safe to cross the river.

People would be surprised to know...

For the five years I was an Outward Bound instructor, I lived outside, mostly sleeping under a plastic flysheet and only sleeping in a bed for about a month each year.

I navigated, walked, skied, rafted and canoed in dry bush, tropical jungles and snow environments, generally cooking on open fires, carrying my gear and being responsible for groups of adults and children. I went on to write the first outdoor education standard practices and exams to teach and assess the skills outdoor educators need to ensure safety in the field.

Consequently, I still curl my toes with joy when it is raining at night, and I am in a warm bed with a solid roof and walls that stop the wind, and I no longer need to read by torchlight.