Five minutes with Ms Helen Batt
After two decades of dedicated service, Executive Assistant (EA) to the Chief Operating Officer, Ms Helen Batt, reflects on her journey at Radford College – a journey marked by adaptability, strong friendships, personal growth and an adventurous spirit. From her first role as EA to the Head of Middle Years to her current position, Helen has been a quiet constant behind the scenes. As she now prepares to embrace retirement, she leaves behind a legacy of commitment, kindness and community.
What brought you to Radford 20 years ago and have you always been in the same role?
My husband at the time had accepted a role in Canberra, so I applied for the position from Sydney. I drove down to Radford for the interview (straightening the wrinkles out of my outfit on the way!) and found out I was successful the following week.
I’ve worked in several roles during my time at Radford:
- EA to the Head of Middle Years
- EA to the Deputy Principal
- EA to the Assistant Principal, Students
- EA to the Chief Operating Officer
When you reflect on your time here, what moments, achievements or relationships stand out the most?
Over the past 20 years, I’ve made some wonderful friendships, including with my best friend, Jonquil Mackey, who sadly passed away.
I've also had the pleasure of working closely with former Deputy Principal, John Leyshon; former COO, David Perceval; and now current COO, Suba Tharmarajah.
Both of my amazing daughters were educated at Radford and I loved being involved in their school life – managing their soccer teams and attending every netball, basketball, rowing and hockey game I could.
I was also one of the original “gym junkies” – along with French teacher Ms Di Lefebvre, who is now the last original attendee – and I’ve been going three times per week (or whenever I could) for the past 14 years.
How has the College evolved during your two decades on staff?
The College has grown significantly – both in physical infrastructure and in the number of students and staff.
Now that I’m based in the administration area, I find that I don’t know as many of the teaching staff or students as I once did, which has been a noticeable change.
What are you most looking forward to in retirement?
I’m very excited about my retirement plans! My eldest daughter, her husband and their three children are currently posted in China for another 1.5 years, so I’m looking forward to spending more time visiting them.
I’m also planning to ride my bike, swim, keep up my gym sessions, hike, kayak, try bodyboarding and even give golf a go. Travel is high on my list too!
Plus, I want to finish building my sauna, personally landscape my garden and get involved in some volunteer work.
People might be surprised to know that …
I’ve become very proficient at travelling with just 7 kilograms in my carry-on backpack – and I can travel for up to 4–6 weeks with it, even including hiking and cycling gear! This way, I never have to wait at the luggage carousel or worry about lost bags.