In profile: Kate Beacroft

Kate Beacroft, Acting Art Teacher (Term 4)

What do you like best about your current role?

Seeing how creative the students are. I think all children are artists; what they create is so authentic. We have some exceptional artists at Radford and their work amazes me. Getting to know students from across multiple year levels is also great (and the ultimate memory challenge!).

Can you tell us about your role and current projects?

I am teaching Art to Years 1, 2 (two of four classes), 5 and 6. One of the biggest projects right now is working with Year 6 on their creative element for Exhibition – I have been sourcing materials, and even had the good people of Bunnings helping me cut PVC pipe on the weekend for one creative piece!

In Year 5 we are about to start designing kites for Kite Day later this term. In Year 2 we are exploring symbols and making artworks using symbols we have created to represent ourselves and our interests. And Year 1 have been using their skills of observation to draw bees and flowers, as well as exploring texture by creating honeycomb with bubble wrap and acrylic paint!

What did you do before joining the Radford community?

I worked in the media for 20 years, most recently in Communications for a Federal Government department in Canberra. Before moving to the ACT, I worked in magazine publishing and TV production in Sydney. I started my career as a writer and sub-editor for an entertainment magazine, then moved to what was formerly the Packer empire, ACP, and worked on mastheads including Grazia, Madison and DOLLY, where I was the deputy editor.

After about ten years in the publishing industry, I moved into television. For three years I was the senior producer on Channel 7’s The Morning Show, where I wrote scripts, produced video packages and booked talent for live interviews.

I moved to Canberra after meeting my husband, started a family, moved back to Sydney, then spent two years in Ottawa, Canada, while working towards my Masters in teaching… before coming back to Canberra in 2019!

What do you enjoy outside Radford?

I love writing, and I have a half-finished manuscript on my computer – not that I envisage having the time to finish it any time soon. I also enjoy running, playing netball and reading. Most of all, I enjoy spending time with my family – bike riding and going on nature walks around our beautiful bush capital.

How did you manage lockdown?

My two children are in Kindy and Year 1 and my husband is an essential worker, so managing everyone’s online meetings and learning activities was pretty hectic! At the end of most days, however, we switched off and went for a walk, either around our neighbourhood, or up on our local nature ridge.

Do you have anything else interesting to share?

When I was in Year 12, I wanted to become a teacher … but one of my teachers told me not to! “It’s the worst job ever,” she said. So I studied media and had a wonderful career, but here I am: 20+ years later! I could never quite move on from that dream…