Amy Clark on belonging, “critical mass” in small-town schools, and choosing boarding to give her boys room to grow.
In this episode of Letters From Home, Amanda chats with Amy Clark from Walcha on the northern tablelands of NSW, about the decision to send her children to boarding school – and everything that sits underneath that choice.
Amy shares her unique background growing up between Sydney and the Central Coast, shaped by horses, family expectations around education, and watching her siblings experience boarding school from the “outside looking in”. Now raising three boys on a sheep and wool property, Amy speaks candidly about rural family life, the intense juggle of parenting alongside agricultural work, and the practical realities that influence schooling decisions.
Together, Amanda and Amy explore the pressure on small-town secondary schooling when student numbers dwindle, the ripple effects of teacher shortages, and the often-unspoken guilt families can feel when they have local options, yet still choose boarding for broader opportunities and support.
At the heart of it all is Amy’s hope for her boys: belonging, resilience, strong friendships, and a solid foundation to step confidently into the world.
