In profile: Huw Davis
Outside School Hours Care (OHSC) Coordinator and Collegian
Can you tell us about your role and current projects?
My role is to make sure that the kids who stick around after school have the most fun they possibly can (while sneakily learning things). A lot of what we do is driven by the kids and what they are interested in and passionate about. I have the immense privilege to be able to see the kids that I work with both as dedicated and diligent students when I help in classrooms as an SSA, but also as kids mucking around and having fun during their time at OSHC. This dual perspective is wonderful for me as I get to celebrate all their big achievements in and out of the classroom.
Our big project this year is trying to spot and photograph all 2,710 different species of animal, bird, fish, insect and crustacean that have been seen within a 5km radius of Radford. At this point we have spotted 16 different species, mostly insects and birds but we were lucky enough to get a water dragon photo sent to us by a member of our community. I will put out the call now: if anyone sees any cool animals, snap a photo and send it in to us at OSHC! We’ve got a big job ahead of us and need all the help we can get!
What do you like best about your current role?
I am a big kid at heart myself, so being able to join in the fun experiences we have here (see the photo of me being slimed, below) means I have the best of times. I love being able to forget the big bad world for a while and just enjoy the innocent fun and excitement that children feel when they try or see something new, or even something old through new eyes.
What did you do before joining the Radford community?
Golly, I have been connected to the Radford community for a very long time. I think the last time I wasn’t connected in some way was in 2006, so primary school, I guess? Really though, I have been studying to become a humanities teacher. I want to share my love for and giddy excitement in the worlds of History, Politics, Geography, Economics, Philosophy, Theology and almost everything else (because to understand History you need to understand the whole universe) to the young people I will teach.
What do you enjoy outside Radford?
I am a complete and utter nerd! I love gaming in all its forms, whether that be electronic or tabletop, in particular Dungeons and Dragons where I write and run my own campaigns. I also love reading political theory books, one of my favourites being the tragically misunderstood Machiavelli, and spending as much time as possible with my lovely wife.
Anything else interesting to share?
Radford has changed just enough since I left that I find myself getting completely lost in familiar surroundings (finding out that the Bookroom had moved was a nasty shock, although my Year 7 locker is still there and intact), but it still feels good to be back at my second home. Also, go Banksia!
