The role of the Monivae College Board is to set strategic direction and priorities for the school so that the school can continue to achieve its core objective of providing quality education to its students.
In 2011 the Board is busy with the new Monivae College Strategic Plan which will help shape and govern Monivae for years to come.
Laurie Cogger - Chairman
Laurie completed his matriculation at Monivae College in 1973 and immediately commenced work with a Hamilton based Chartered Accounting firm whilst studying for his degree by correspondence.
After working for a number of years he left in 1978 to complete his degree full time. He graduated in 1980 and immediately commenced work in Chartered Accountancy firms in Hamilton. He first entered into public practice as a partner in 1985. Laurie is currently a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and a senior partner in CoggerGurry: Chartered Accountants, a Hamilton based practice that services clients in every state and territory of Australia. He has also been heavily involved in investment advice and financial planning since the mid 1980s. In 2004 he obtained Certified Financial Planner status and is now also a principal in Financial Planning firm CG Wealth.
Laurie also has a number of business interests involving Agriculture, Retail and Property.
Since 1997, Laurie has been a Director of Monivae College and held the position of Board chairman since 2004. He has also been a director of Monivae College Foundation Limited since its establishment in 1998.
In 1982, Laurie married Fiona Shaw who grew up on a farming property at Coojar (between Coleraine and Harrow/Balmoral). They have three children; two attended Monivae College, Christopher, Timothy and Molly who completed her Monivae studies in 2009.
Andrew Brown
Andrew was born and raised in Penshurst before moving to Melbourne after completing his secondary schooling. After living, studying and working in Melbourne for 14 years, he moved back to Hamilton in 1997. Andrew works as a financial advisor with an accounting firm in Hamilton.
Andrew and his wife, Old Collegian Joanne, (nee Smith '83) work locally, whilst their eldest son, Joel, is currently in Year 9 at Monivae College and their youngest son, Harry, is in Grade 6 at St. Mary's Primary School. Andrew is currently in his third year on the Monivae College Board.
Bruce Farquharson
Bruce was originally from Cobden. He married Rowena, (Old Collegian ‘84) and moved to Hamilton in 1995 with his four children, all of whom have attended Monivae. Two of his children are currently still enrolled and are completing their education.
Bruce plays full back for the Hockey Monivae Cobras and tennis locally for Mirranatwa. He has been involved in the Tapini (PNG), Kalumburu and Bathurst Island cross cultural programs with Monivae.
Bruce has worked for the Country Fire Authority (CFA) for 23 years in operations, community safety and training. His current position sees him looking after 30 Fire Brigades. Bruce has been on the Monivae College board since 2001.
Geoff Kearns
Geoff grew up in Dunkeld and attended the Dunkeld State School at primary level and then moved on to Monivae for his secondary schooling. He is a qualified building surveyor and works at the Southern Grampians Shire Council in Hamilton as Manager Regulatory Services. Geoff is married to Geraldine and they have three children, who all attended Monivae.
His daughter Sarah has a degree in PR and marketing and is employed by the Greater Geelong City Council, Daniel has a double degree In Science - Commerce and works for UBS in Melbourne and Elise is studying Commerce at Melbourne University.
Geoff's interests include travel, spending time with his family, working with his hands making/building things and playing golf. He has been a board member for the past 14 years.
Terry McMeel
Terry married Frances and they have four children, Jack who completed Year 12 at Monivae in 2008, Ellen who completed Monivae in 2009, Michael who is in Year 9 and Anna, Year 7. Terry and his family live on a farm at Buckley Swamp running a mixed farming enterprise including sheep, cattle and cropping.
He is a partner at LMB Linke P/L Stock and Station Agents in Hamilton. Terry became involved with the Monivae College Board in 2008. He is currently the president of St Mary's Monivae Football Club and is a member of the St Mary's Parish Pastoral Council.
Helen Morrison
Helen has most of her background growing up in Hamilton. She attended La Trobe University and subsequently taught at Horsham High School for four years. She spent time overseas and returned to Hamilton to work in the family real estate business. Helen married David in 1987 and they have two children, Jess who is studying at Melbourne University, and Oscar who finished at Monivae in 2008. Helen has been on the Monivae College board since 2003.
Kay O'Connell
Kay is married to Old Collegian Ian and they live on a property at Strathkellar. Kay is the Practice Manager at CoggerGurry Accountants in Hamilton and also runs a computer support and bookkeeping business, which employs two people part time.
Kay and Ian have three children all of whom attended Monivae College. Since 2006, Kay has been on the board, and her interests include walking, gardening, cooking and travelling.
Kevin Safe
Kevin came to Hamilton in 1965 and was employed for 30 years with the Hamilton City Council, this included 17 years as the City Engineer. In 1995, Kevin was appointed as the CEO of the newly formed Glenelg Region Water Authority and remained there until his retirement 10 years later.
Kevin married Carolyn just prior to coming to Hamilton, and they have five children, all of whom attended Monivae. Kevin and Carolyn also have 14 grandchildren. Kevin joined the Monivae College board in 2008.
Kassandra Carlson
Kassandra was born and raised in Ararat. Kassandra studied at Deakin University's Geelong campus where she graduated with the degrees of Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Laws in 2002. Kassandra and her husband Christian relocated to Hamilton in 2002 where Kassandra completed her articled clerkship. Kassandra was admitted to practice as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2003 and has since practised as a solicitor within the Hamilton and Casterton communities.
During her time in Hamilton, Kassandra has enjoyed serving as the Secretary of the Hamilton Squash Club and as a committee member of Western District Rural Financial Counselling Inc. Kassandra is presently serving as the Secretary of Mulleraterong Centre Inc. Kassandra and Christian's first child, Charlotte, was born in 2010.
Sabrina Watt
Sabrina Agee Watt grew up on a remote cattle ranch in northern Nevada. She worked at the U.S. Senate in Washington D.C. before settling in Balmoral in 1990. She and her husband, Gerard (Old Collegian ’73) operate a fine wool growing business.
They have two children Janet (currently boarding at Monivae) and a son Marcus. Sabrina has a BA in Journalism and History and is employed as Executive Administration Officer at the Balmoral Bush Nursing Centre.
Her interests include writing, travel and community work.
Fr Bob Irwin
Fr Irwin is the Director of MSC Education and as such is the MSC representative on the Monivae College Board.
Mark McGinnity
As Principal of Monivae College, Mark is also appointed to a position on the Board.