What happens when boarding school isn’t in your family “DNA”… and then suddenly it is?
In this episode of Letters From Home, Amanda sits down with Robert Bevern – a NSW Police dad whose family story is a powerful reminder that sometimes the biggest decisions don’t begin with a grand plan. They begin with a simple moment of curiosity.
Rob is a born-and-bred Northern Beaches local. His wife, Traci, grew up on a property outside Casino in northern NSW. Their policing careers brought them together in Sydney, and later a promotion took the family to the Central West – what was meant to be a three-year posting turned into ten years in Dubbo, and a country lifestyle they’ve grown to truly love.
And then came one cold, wet Saturday in 2023.
With netball done for the day and nothing much planned, Rob and Traci took their girls along to the Dubbo Boarding School Expo “just to have a look.” They didn’t have questions prepared. They didn’t think it would go anywhere. Their eldest, Lilli – then in Year 6 – was adamant they weren’t sending her away.
But as they walked the aisles, spoke to schools, and began to understand the options, something shifted. They realised that if Dubbo’s secondary options didn’t feel like the right fit, they wanted a Plan B – and for Lilli, a strong swimming program mattered. From there, tours followed, and the decision became real in the most unexpected way: a phone call from St Catherine’s swimming coach, who had been tracking Lilli’s times and wanted to know how her application was going.
Rob shares the emotional reality of that “snowball” moment – the tears, the long conversations, and the importance of letting Lilli have a genuine voice in the choice. He also speaks honestly about what helped her settle: routine, opportunity, and getting involved from day one.
If you’ve ever thought, “Boarding school isn’t for us,” this one will leave you with a simple, reassuring message: keep an open mind – and go and have the conversation.
Also in the show notes: a related listen on choosing the right fit – “Big or Small? Finding the Right Boarding Fit with Nonie Ayling.”
