As we continue our From the Vault series while travelling for our face-to-face Boarding Schools Expo events, this week we’re revisiting a conversation that feels especially meaningful in the lead-up to our Wagga Boarding Schools Expo.
Sarah Ryan lives with her family on a Merino stud at Quandialla, not too far from Wagga, where she also runs her much-loved creative business, Quandialla Candle Co. In this episode, Sarah brings such a warm, honest and practical perspective to the boarding school journey, shaped by her own experience as a boarder and now as a parent of boarding school children.
This conversation is full of the kind of real-life reflections that families researching boarding school often need to hear. Sarah talks about growing up in a small rural community, the realities of limited secondary options, long bus runs, the importance of keeping an open mind when researching schools, and why first impressions matter, but should not be the only thing families rely on.
We also talk about the emotional side of parenting from afar. The first drop-off. The quiet house. The change in family dynamics when one child leaves for school. The way children grow through challenge, discomfort and learning to live alongside others.
And then there is Sarah’s now unforgettable piece of advice for parents when things feel a little bumpy – go floppy. Not give up. Not stop caring. Just soften, breathe, work with the school, and resist the urge to turn every wobble into a crisis.
For families in the Wagga region and beyond who are currently researching boarding school, this is a beautiful, reassuring and very real listen. It reminds us that the journey is rarely perfect, but with the right support, it can help our children grow in ways we might not expect.
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