OUR TEAM
Craig Winter
Chair
Craig sits on a variety of Boards around Australia and overseas for NFPs, NGOs and commercial entities with governance experience spanning 20 years.
With a background in Commerce, Marketing and Law, Craig currently owns and operates seven successful businesses on the Fraser Coast and beyond, and has in the past started, owned and operated businesses in the hospitality, retail, manufacturing and service industries, at one point coordinating over 3,200 staff nationwide.
He continues to act as a consultant and business mentor to local small businesses.
Mike Radic
Deputy Chair
Michael has an extensive background in education, and counselling and guidance, and a life-long passion to help and empower those living on the fringe of society.
With a B.Ed (Honors) and a M.Ed (School Guidance and Counselling), Michael has been able to use his hands-on approach to helping homeless youth to enrich his academic ventures. His role within the organisation is as a Director, and with his ability to use his creative thinking and innovative problem-solving skills.
Michael has a hectic, yet rewarding home life with a large family whom he treasures.
Sylvia Collins
Company Secretary
Sylvia has been passionate about adult literacy for over 40 years. Whilst volunteering as an adult literacy teacher in the 70s, Sylvia realised the immense and adverse effects that having low-literacy skills had on so many. From generational disadvantage to low self-esteem, disempowerment, and disengagement; a lack of basic literacy and numeracy skills are detrimental within a community – especially within the disability community.
After years of both working and volunteering in adult education, with an onus on the disability sector, Sylvia, now joined by her husband, continues to donate her time, skills and compassion to people within the MKLC learning family on Wednesday nights.
And through her position on the Board of Management, Sylvia is able to continue working towards the passions that have held her fast for such a long time.
Lance Stone
Treasurer & Managing Director
Lance Stone has had a varied professional life, but has always held a passion for community education and training. He firmly believes that through education, lives can be changed.
His many skills and qualifications, passion for education, recruitment and training, and friendly and approachable manner has brought him to the position he now holds as MD. Although often searching for more hours in the day, this role allows him to follow his passions; both professionally, through his constant strive for improvement within the local training sector; and personally, through his involvement in local charities, regional groups, and the priceless time he spends with his family.
He seeks to enable a better life through education for all those within the community.
Ross Higgins
Director
Current Employment: Principal, Aldridge SHS
Education Background: Attended Pialba (1966 – 67) and Walkervale (1968 – 1972) State Schools before completing all his High School years at Kepnock State High School in Bundaberg. Ross completed his first tertiary degree (Bachelor of Human Movement Studies) in 1984 and then in 1991 completed a Bachelor of Education Studies. Both degrees were done through the University of Queensland.
Teaching History: Began teaching in 1985 as the first itinerant PE teacher at Kilkivan & Goomeri State Schools. Transferred to Gin Gin SHS in 1986, Ross was promoted from there to Curriculum Subject Master at Doomadgee State School in 1990. After 2 years at Doomadgee, Ross’ long association with Aldridge SHS began when in 1992 he became the school’s first Health & Physical Education Subject Master.
From 1993 to 1995 Ross was Deputy Principal at Bamaga SHS with a number of acting stints as Principal at both the High School and at Bamaga State School.
In 1996 he was relocated back to Aldridge SHS as Deputy Principal where he remained until the end of 2001.
From 2002 to 2005 Ross was Principal at Monto SHS. After 4 years travelling from Maryborough to Monto each weekend, he took up the Principal Advisor Education Services position for the Wide Bay South Education District to allow him to be back with his family. This role required him to provide advice on a number of differing aspects to Principals from Hervey Bay to Gympie.
In 2007, Ross took on the role of Principal of Maryborough Central SS. For the next two and a half years (excepting for 14 weeks acting in the Executive Director Schools role in Wide Bay West), Central was home until in mid 2009 he was offered the opportunity to return to Aldridge as Principal.
For the last 4 months of 2016 and first term of 2017, Ross filled the role of Assistant Regional Director, Darling Downs & South West Region, where he held a supervisory brief with all 26 Secondary Schools in the Region.
Teaching Areas: Physical Education & Modern History. From 1986 – 1989, Ross was a member of the Queensland Studies Authority Health & Physical Education panel for Wide Bay.
Community Involvement: Golf (member of Maryborough Golf Club), Rugby League (played for Wallaroos 1992, 1997 & 1998), Human Powered Vehicle Race Committee (2007 – 2009), Chair – Fraser Coast TESS 2020 to present.
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