Kate Newitt is the principal of the recently de-merged Hillside Primary School. She spoke to Sam Porter about her role and her connection to the wider community.
What’s your connection to Brimbank and Melton?
My connection to Brimbank-Melton is through the incredible families and students of Hillside Primary School. Every day I see the pride, resilience and generosity that define this community. It’s a place where families work hard, support one another and value education.
Where is your favourite local place to spend time in the area?
During the 10 years I lived in Taylors Hill, my children were quite young, so we spent a lot of time at the local parks in the area. Places like Taylors Hill Park became part of our weekly routine, whether it was for playground time, meeting other families, or simply enjoying the oval spaces to play sports. We also regularly visited the skate park at Taylors Hill Community Centre, which was a great spot for the kids to stay active and connect with others in the neighbourhood. During that period of our lives, I really valued the sense of community in Taylors Hill and Hillside.
What, if anything, would you change about the area?
If I were to suggest improvements, I would like to see more local cafés, family-friendly dining options, and small businesses within the Taylors Hill-Hillside area so residents don’t always need to travel to neighbouring suburbs. As the community continues to grow, enhanced traffic management and road infrastructure would help ease congestion during peak times.
Finally, while there are wonderful parks and open spaces, expanding community programs, youth activities, and events would further strengthen the sense of connection in the area.
What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?
Something people are often surprised to learn about me is that I began boundary umpiring AFL football at just 10 years old. What started at a junior level quickly grew into something much bigger, eventually leading me to field umpiring at a senior level. Over the course of my umpiring journey, I officiated more than 400 games, which was an incredible experience and a huge commitment from such a young age.
As I progressed, I also became involved in mentoring programs, coaching and supporting young umpires as they developed their skills. I regularly ran workshops in schools to encourage young people to get involved in umpiring and to see it as a positive and rewarding pathway within the game. It was a significant and rewarding period of my life. Being a teenage girl in what can often be a challenging environment taught me resilience, confidence, leadership, and the ability to handle pressure. The skills I gained through umpiring have stayed with me ever since and continue to influence both my personal and professional life.
What are you most looking forward to about being principal of the recently-demerged school?
I’m most looking forward to continuing to build a school culture that reflects the values of our community; respect, inclusion, high expectations and care for one another. At Hillside Primary School, we place strong emphasis on both learning and wellbeing. Our literacy and numeracy programs ensure students build strong foundations, while our wellbeing and student leadership opportunities help them grow in confidence and character. As a new or recently demerged school, we have a wonderful opportunity to shape traditions, strengthen partnerships with families and create a shared vision for the future. I’m excited to work alongside our staff and community to ensure every child feels known, supported and proud to be part of Hillside Primary School. It’s a special time for our school, and I feel very privileged to be leading it.
