Ron Tooth
Dr Ron Tooth is the founding Principal of the Pullenvale Environmental Education Centre and an applied educational researcher and leader in environmental education. Ron has worked with a creative team of ‘teacher artists’ at the Pullenvale Environmental Education Centre for many years to pioneer and refine the Storythread Pedagogy. Ron has an extended history of professional engagement with teachers and students through the Pullenvale Environmental Education Centre, as well as through his scholarly inquiry into the forms of narrative and place-based pedagogy that emerged from this prolonged professional engagement. He is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Education at the University of Queensland and is currently working on a joint Australian Research Council Project with the university that is focusing on Place based Pedagogy and Learning Beyond the Classroom.
Tonia Pickering
Tonia joined PEEC as a Teacher Artist in 1987, with a Bachelor of Education and a background in classical ballet, jazz and contemporary dance. She believes passionately in the power of story, dramatic play and imagination in teaching, and has created many PEEC programs; writing and illustrating the storybooks which accompany them. Tonia’s belief in the value of children learning and playing in the natural environment has greatly assisted her work at PEEC. As a formidable “treasure seeker”, she believes greatly in the potential of reusing and recycling - creating wonderful new uses from things others no longer want. Tonia also teaches communicative performance to Pre-service teachers at Griffith University, and dance classes to women.
“Its about the joy! Education in and for the environment should be joyful! We are not in the business of terrifying children! Our use of story and play allows us to tackle big serious issues in a way that is exciting, respectful and empowering!”
Lucinda Shaw
Lucinda was excited to discover an alternative context for arts based pedagogy outside the classroom when she began creating and delivering PEEC programs as a Teacher Artist in 1999. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Drama, Art and English), and Graduate Diploma of Counselling, Lucinda’s qualifications inform her desire to create meaningful experiences for young people in nature. Her background in teaching within secondary schools, TAFE, and Griffith University, combined with extensive professional performance experience as an actor, singer/songwriter, and theatre worker, contribute to her multi-faceted approach to education. She is also the Visual Artist in Residence, contributing to PEEC’s successful Artist in Residence Program.
“I enjoy working here so that I can use my skills for good not evil.”
Madelaine Winstanely
Madelaine discovered Pullenvale Environmental Education Centre when she was employed as an actor/musician in a joint production between Kite Theatre and PEEC in 2001. Having just returned from England where she had been touring with a children’s theatre company, she was determined to continue working with children in a context that combined the arts and education, but until that moment hadn’t known how. In 2004, fresh out of university with a newly acquired Bachelor of Education in addition to her Bachelor of Arts (Drama), Madelaine began as a Teacher Artist at PEEC. Since then she has been constantly amazed, inspired and challenged by the powerful work created and delivered by the teaching team at the Centre. When she is not teaching, Madelaine is busy raising her two beautiful children and feels very privileged to journey alongside them as they forge their own connections with the natural world.
“The excitement and joy that the students experience is infectious. There is nothing better than finishing a day feeling that you have inspired someone and been inspired in return.”
Merryl Rigley
Merryl was thrilled to combine many of her passions when she joined PEEC as a Teacher Artist in 2005. Merryl completed her first degree, a Bachelor of Arts (Drama) in Brisbane. Excited about the possibilities for powerful arts based education, she continued studying whilst working in England, later qualifying for a Bachelor of Education (Primary). Merryl hopes to inspire others to develop respect for themselves, for others and for nature and enjoys sharing the potential of drama pedagogy to achieve this with Pre-service teachers at Griffith University. Outside of PEEC, Merryl loves dancing flamenco, encouraging her garden to grow and traveling to new environments whenever she gets the chance.
“Helping kids connect to nature and appreciating it in ways that they never thought they could…..and scones on the fire on a winter morning.”
Kate McGoldrick
Kate McGoldrick discovered PEEC in 2007 when visiting with her prep class. After seeing her students engaged in environmental play she was inspired to find out more about this place that valued respect, the environment, play, stories and learning. Her background qualifications in Bachelor of Arts (Drama), Post Graduate Diploma (Early Childhood) and her love for nature, combine to fuel her passion to work with children at PEEC. Particularly interested in Early Years Education, Kate enjoys giving children a positive experience in nature to carry with them throughout their lives. When she’s not here, she’s getting her feet sandy on a beach volleyball court.
“Having such respectful, inspiring and like minded people to work with.”
Donna Smith
Donna Smith began teaching at Brisbane Urban Environmental Education Centre in 2010 and joined the team at PEEC at the end of 2010. She currently works one a day week at PEEC and loves every minute of it! Donna graduated with a Bachelor of Education (Primary) and has recently completed a Graduate Certificate of Environmental Protection. Her background includes working in outdoor education, through which she discovered her passion for teaching students about the environment and how to live sustainably within it.
“The people, the feeling, the philosophy, the passion”
Karl Fagermo
Karl holds a Bachelor of Education (Primary) and a Certificate of Amenity Horticulture and joined PEEC as a Teacher Artist in 2011. Karl brings a deep love and an ever-expanding knowledge of Australian native plants to PEEC. This was developed through his former occupation in landscape design and construction that concentrated on planting diverse and beautiful native plants to provide habitats for native fauna. Karl enjoys being a positive male role model and believes that outdoor education plays a vital role in giving students skills that they will use throughout their life. Outside of PEEC, Karl is an avid organic gardener and plays lead guitar in a ‘pub rock’ band.
“Working here is a logical union of my skill set and it is a great way for kids to learn… they also feed me regularly.”
Daniel Rekdahl
Daniel joined PEEC as Botanist in Residence in 2006 with a desire to vegetate the centre with native plants. He has currently planted more than 1000 plants, including many he has cultivated and grown from seed himself in PEECs nursery. Daniel is a field botanist with an Associate Diploma in Environmental Science and Horticulture. His love for nature developed at an early age when his childhood home backed onto Moggill State Forest and he spent his formative years exploring the bushland around Pullenvale. Daniel has developed a deep knowledge and respect for the natural environment and the culture and tools of Aboriginal people of Australia. His initial role has since expanded to include consulting on the ecological content of the programs at PEEC and supporting PEEC Teacher Artists in the delivery of programs. Daniel also undertakes additional hours as Unit Support Officer and Cleaner at PEEC, maintaining the compost and creating a framework of sustainable interaction with the local environment. Daniel leads community workshops and tours of the local area and is heavily involved in the regeneration and rehabilitation of local land. Daniel is also an independent consultant for local council, community ,private clients and the Herbarium.
“Powerful history, past, present and future.”
Pippa Depalo
Pippa enjoys utilising many of her creative talents in her role as the Office Manager at PEEC. Her history with PEEC began in 1996 when she volunteered to help create props; a job she still enjoys doing whenever the opportunity arises. In addition to general office duties, Pippa is also responsible for Desk Top Publising, including the design and layout of all Program booklets. Pippa’s love of the natural world has always been strong, and she has been a registered wildlife carer since 1994, specialising in Possums, Antichinus, Bandicoots and Gliders. Her expertise frequently comes in handy for helping to identify wildlife found by PEEC staff and for various articles in local publications. Outside of PEEC, Pippa enjoys reading a wide range of books, observing nature and cooking baked treats for the staff to enjoy.
“This is where I belong. I feel comfortable here. We all have the same ideology.”
Lydia Iseppon
Lydia joined PEEC in 1994 in a cleaning role and enjoys contributing to a place that teaches students to care for the environment. Over the years, her role has expanded greatly to include: library support; resource manager – the maintaining, storing, setting up and striking of props and sets; and program bookings. Lydias administration skills were developed before finding PEEC when she worked for 26 years at the Brisbane City Council where she worked as secretary to the Director of Management Accounting Branch. Lydia devotes much of her personal time to one of her greatest passions, caring for native wildlife. She has been a registered carer with B.I.R.O (Birds Injured Rehabilitated & Orphaned) since 1995 and enjoys sharing her knowledge and love for native wildlife with visiting students and in ‘The Creature Corner’, a column she writes monthly for The Local Bulletin, a free publication available in the Pullenvale area. (Click here to read one of Lydia’s columns). Outside of PEEC, you are likely to find Lydia on the Hockey field, another of her passions.
“If students take that feeling away to care for the environment, it’s a feeling for life, it stays with them. That’s a good thing.”
David Jackson
David Jackson is a Drama educator with over a decade of experience in State, Non-state, Regional and Metropolitan schools. After a five year professional secondment at Queensland Arts Council he is now based at Pullenvale Environmental Education Centre. David’s current roles include; Earth Smart Science Facilitator and Values Education Research Assistant (UQ). In 2009 David completed his Practice-Led Research Project (QUT) in documentary filmmaking. His associated exegetical work explored the way in-schools productions offer learning experiences to students.
“Everything slows down everything is peaceful here and I can be at one with nature and my thoughts.”
Denis Kovacevic
Denis joined the PEEC team in 2010 as the Unit Support Officer (USO). Denis’s responsibilities include maintenance and construction of sets and props, ensuring the grounds are safe and impeccably kept. Denis’s skills have been honed by a devotion to renovating, project managing and building a number of homes. He enjoys the flexibility and freedom of working at PEEC and feels that he can utilise skills, such as planning, creativity and designing from his previous endeavours.
“This job is not work”
Tracey Barrie
Tracy started working at PEEC in 2008 as an Administration Officer. Tracy assists in compiling the program booklets and materials which are sent to schools for each program. Tracy also updates financial records for the Centre. Tracy enjoys the variety and surprising range of duties she has at PEEC, and combined with lovely staff and surroundings, she feels it’s fun to come to work each week. A passionate reader, Tracy continually shares her latest read with staff.
“The lovely staff and surroundings make your work day at PEEC a nice place to be.”
Anne Wright
Anne Wright discovered PEEC as an Art Specialist at a primary school and joined PEEC as a casual Teacher Artist in 2010, leading a range of visual arts workshops in the Arts Office. With a Bachelor of Education (Primary), Anne loves that she gets to do art with students for the whole day. She enjoys the hands-on, student-directed learning that she can offer and supporting developing young artists to gain new skills, perspectives and enjoyment in an environment different to school. Outside of PEEC, Anne likes enjoying life, meeting people and spending time with family and friends.
“I love this place and the surrounds. The philosophy and freedom of the work… but yet the kids are engaged! An enjoyable real-world education.”