Hello Jane!
Can you tell us a little about your family and where you live?
Robbo and I live on a farm not far from Wagga Wagga in the NSW Riverina. We have three children: James (12), Phoebe (10) and Willa (8). James is our eldest and will be the first to head off to boarding school in 2026.
Life is busy, as it is for most families in a similar season of life. Robbo is a stock agent and a livestock producer, fattening beef and sheep on our place, and I run my own shoe e-commerce business. Between work, school, sport and general life, there’s never much downtime, but it’s a life we love and wouldn’t have any other way.
What is life like on the land for your family and your kids?
There is always something to do on the farm alongside our jobs. Feeding stock, cleaning troughs, sowing crops. It’s a never-ending cycle that we manage and fit in around our larger family life.
The kids attend school in Wagga, about 40km away, so life can feel chaotic with after-school activities, sport training and travelling to weekend competitions. Winter is mostly spent in the car, with the slow cooker on repeat, but during the other seasons we really try to embrace where we live.
Water skiing, camping, being outdoors, cooking over the fire, to us the simple things that help us slow down and spend time together. Those moments are incredibly important to our family.
What do you do as a career, and how do you balance motherhood and raising children?
I work for myself, which I feel incredibly fortunate to do. I design, manufacture and import women’s shoes and run the e-commerce business and warehouse from our farm. My business is called Millwoods.
I don’t think I balance motherhood particularly well, but I do my best. I mostly work within school hours and in the pockets of my life: taking meetings in the car, answering emails while waiting in queues, or during half-time at sport. It’s messy, imperfect and constant, but it gives me the flexibility to be present when the kids need me, which I value enormously.
When did you realise boarding school might be the right path for your eldest?
Robbo and I both went to boarding school, so we understand the friendships, experiences and opportunities it offers, it something that we wanted that for our kids.
While we were in Sydney for another appointment last year, we toured three schools, thinking we should at least be prepared if boarding was something we considered later in high school. After visiting the schools, the difference in what was on offer compared to home was obvious.
We had hoped to keep the kids closer to home for at least part of their high school journey, but those tours really cemented the idea of a Year 7 start for James.
What were the biggest factors in making the decision?
Financially, this was a huge consideration. Once we commit to one child, we are committing to the same opportunity for our two girls. Robbo and I had many long conversations about the cost, what it means we don’t do, and more importantly, what it enables us to do.
My Dad was a great sounding board. Perhaps not the most conservative financial advice, but his words stayed with me: “Just say yes. you’ll find a way to make it work. Once he’s there, you’ll understand why, and you’ll never look back.”
Emotionally, a clean break and fresh start for high school felt important for James, and without doubt I know this is the right move for him. For us, though, deciding to let go of the day to day and parent differently for our firstborn has been incredibly hard. I’m not ready for the dynamic in our house to change, or for him not to be part of our everyday life as we know it now.
Boarding numbers were also critical. We live five hours from Sydney, and with two younger girls who deserve their own weekends and routines, we can’t visit every weekend. Knowing there will be a strong cohort of boarders staying in on weekends and understanding how the school supports that time with activities and structure gave us confidence that James wouldn’t feel isolated.
Was boarding school always part of the plan, or did it evolve over time?
It was probably always part of the plan, but we thought it might come later. We initially imagined the kids staying in Wagga for at least part of high school. Once we visited the schools and decided James would go to The Kings School, the plan evolved very quickly. It was hard to see another option once we understood what was on offer and how much it would benefit him.
How do you feel about the opportunities for your son at boarding school? What are your greatest hopes for him?
It’s not that opportunities wouldn’t have presented themselves if he remained in Wagga, but the breadth, exposure and consistency simply can’t be matched where we live.
My greatest hope is that James grows in confidence, independence and self-belief. That he finds his people, challenges himself, and learns to advocate for himself — while still remaining kind, grounded and connected to who he is.
Is there a moment that made you think, “Yes, he’s ready to go away to school”?
Yes and it wasn’t until he came home from the orientation and boarder sleepover in late November.
He was incredibly nervous in the weeks leading up to it and dropping him off was difficult. But when we picked him up, he smiled, really smiled and he was happy. When we returned the next day for academic testing, I didn’t need to encourage him to meet people. I got a wave and a “see you in a few hours, Mum,” as he went off to spend time with the kids he’d met the days before.
That was the moment I knew. Since that weekend, he’s been calm, settled and ready.
How have you been helping him prepare – practically and emotionally?
We talk a lot. About missing each other, that is going to be hard on both his side and mine, about change, and about why this decision is being made. We’ve been very clear that this isn’t because we don’t want him at home, but because we can’t offer him the same opportunities if he stays.
As the first child going, it’s been hard at times for him to fully understand, and there have been moments where it’s felt to him less like an opportunity and more like being sent away from the family. Keeping communication open, honest and ongoing has been the most important part of preparing him.
We’re also fortunate to have friends whose children are already boarding, and many who went to boarding school themselves, so these conversations feel like a natural progression as our children grow.
What strengths do you think he’ll carry from growing up in the country?
Resilience, adaptability and a strong sense of community. He understands responsibility, hard work and the value of pitching in. Growing up where we live has taught him to be comfortable with people of all ages and backgrounds, and I believe that grounding will serve him well.
What do you hope boarding school will give him that home can’t?
It’s not that home can’t, it’s that boarding school will expose him to opportunities, facilities and experiences that I simply can’t physically provide here. I firmly believe boarding will broaden his world in ways that complement what home has already given him.
As a mum, how are you getting ready for the adjustment?
I’m not sure I am. I’m trying to sit with the sadness while also reminding myself why we’re doing this. After we left The Kings School tour, I felt something I couldn’t quite understand at the time. It took a few weeks and more than a few phone calls with the enrolments team to work through it.
Ultimately, I knew King’s was the right place for James, and I think it was taking me some time to truly acknowledge and accept that. I know it’s going to be hard, but I also know it’s the right thing, trusting that helps.
What will you miss most about having him home every day?
Everything. His physical presence, his smile. The way he hangs off me just because I’m standing still. The girls screaming because James is annoying them again – and the laughter when they do get along. The huff when I ask him to unpack the dishwasher or put his clothes away.
But most of all, I’ll miss our in-person one-on-one time, when he asks me the same question every night as I tuck him in: “Mum, what did you really do today? How was your day, really?”
Here’s to a future of phone calls and texts. School holidays and long weekends will be even more precious and making this decision has already helped me slow down and enjoy the time we have now.
How do you see the boarding school collective being helpful as you and your son prepare for boarding school in 2026?
I’ve been there and done it as a child, but navigating this as a parent is a whole new experience. Being connected to other families walking the same path is incredibly reassuring. Sharing experiences, worries and wins helps normalise the emotions that come with this transition. Those small snippets of advice and insight make the journey feel far less daunting.
Find out more about Jane’s business, Millwoods Shoes.
