LORETO College Ballarat\u2019s longest serving principal in almost 150 years, Judith Potter has been named as an Honouree for the Zonta Ballarat\u2019s Great Women 2021.<\/p>\n
Widely recognised as a leader in girl\u2019s education and an advocate for equality, Ms Potter said while she\u2019s humbled to be acknowledged, none of her achievements were done on her own accord.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very lucky to have had a career that I have loved the area that I chose and anything that I\u2019ve achieved has been in working in collaboration with a whole lot of people,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think we\u2019ve achieved equality for women yet and I don\u2019t think women realise the amazing things they can do, so that\u2019s how that passion in education developed over the years.<\/p>\n
\u201cEquality is there so people are accepted for who they are and are not ranked in different lanes, we all have different gifts and talents, and we should be celebrating that, not looking through narrow criteria, that for me is something at the heart of my passions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Advocating for women\u2019s right to education from a young age, Ms Potter said much of the spark behind her hard work comes from her family.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy original passion for education comes from my parents, I come from a large family and we were given the understanding that the legacy they could give us was our education,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy parents were strong on the sentiment of it wasn\u2019t about the gifts you were given but what you did with them and that if you have gifts, you have a responsibility to develop them, not only for yourself but for the good of others.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m also one of the last generations who, when I had my job in high school didn\u2019t get the same pay as the boys so that\u2019s where some of my passion comes from.\u201d<\/p>\n
Over 14 years at Loreto Ballarat, Ms Potter saw campus amalgamation, inclusion of rowing, as well as the building of the Mary\u2019s Mount Performing Arts Centre and the Mulhall Centre as well as more recent planning of a new campus.<\/p>\n
Although Ms Potter admitted it was exciting to have a part to play in building this infrastructure, she said the most important thing for her was always opening possibilities to allow the pupils to develop and explore interests.<\/p>\n
\u201cGetting people to understand how amazing the people in Loreto are over the years, these are amazing girls who don\u2019t realise how amazing they are,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the end of my last year at Loreto, I said to the girls don\u2019t let the negativity of someone else diminish you and that there are enormous possibilities inside you.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said they should all have the courage to try things out, sometimes the thing that might not work can be a pivotal point to lead you towards what you want to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to her role at Loreto, Ms Potter was also awarded the Australian Council for Educational Leaders Vic Fellowship in 2016 as well as a longstanding member of The Invergowrie Foundation Council.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe foundation that was set up with a quest for the education of girls and women across Victoria and what we can do to enhance their education opportunities,\u201d Ms Potter said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe commissioned research that was undertaken by Melbourne University and Deakin University on what is currently being done at STEM particularly for females.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I think the language around STEM has put some people off but it\u2019s actually essential to know the basics to live in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Having retired from her role as principal, Ms Potter plans to continue giving back through her position of a Melbourne education board.<\/p>\n
\u201cI appreciate education so much so if I can give back on the board, that\u2019s something I would be very happy to do,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will balance my time unfortunately due to some health issues but I\u2019m someone that always needs a focus and something to work on, I\u2019m not someone who can just step right back.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked for some final words of inspiration, Ms Potter said it\u2019s important for girls and women to break the trend line of gender roles and bias.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t say I have to tick off every criteria to put myself forward but to have the confidence that you will learn on the job,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cKnow that the world is a better place for your involvement in it and how important you are.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LORETO College Ballarat\u2019s longest serving principal in almost 150 years, Judith Potter has been named as an Honouree for the Zonta Ballarat\u2019s Great Women 2021. Widely recognised as a leader in girl\u2019s education and an advocate for equality, Ms Potter said while she\u2019s humbled to be acknowledged, none of her achievements were done on her […]<\/p>\n