As we continue our From the Vault series while travelling for our face-to-face Boarding Schools Expo events, this week’s episode feels especially timely.
We’re revisiting my conversation with Robert Bevern from Dubbo on the eve of our 2026 Dubbo Boarding Schools Expo – because Robert’s family story began at this very event.
Boarding school had never really been on the radar for Robert, his wife Tracy, or their daughters. They were living happily in Dubbo, their eldest daughter Lily was enrolled locally for high school, and the idea of sending her away was certainly not part of any grand plan.
Then came a rainy Saturday in Dubbo.
With a bit of time on their hands, Robert and Tracy decided to walk through the doors of the Boarding Schools Expo, just to have a look. Lily was deeply reluctant, her younger sister was upset at the very thought of her going away, and as Robert shares so honestly, they had no idea what questions they were meant to ask.
But that simple decision to stay open to possibility changed everything.
In this conversation, Robert talks about moving from Sydney to Dubbo for what was meant to be a short country posting, falling in love with regional life, and then discovering that boarding school could offer Lily opportunities they had not expected, particularly through swimming, community and the right school fit.
Since this episode was recorded, Lily has settled into her new boarding school and is thriving.
This is a beautiful listen for families who are curious but unsure. It is a reminder that you do not need to have it all worked out before you arrive. Sometimes the first step is simply walking through the door and saying, “Tell us about your school.”
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