Michael Stock - Principal

I am privileged to be called to serve the St James Lutheran College community as Principal.

I have a passion for, and am deeply committed to Lutheran education and how it uniquely shapes the lives of young learners, equipping them for service in our communities and the wider world. I bring to St James a rich background in teaching and learning, pastoral care, restorative practices, organisational systems and information technology.

I have held leadership roles in various educational settings and having been blessed to work at a number of other Lutheran schools across the country. I have been involved in the development of new educational programs, buildings and campuses and enjoy it most when teaching my students in either Robotics, Information Technology, Media Arts, Film & Television, Music or Christian Studies.

I have a strong commitment to my own professional ongoing learning and repeatedly engage with further university studies in units that enhance my capacity to serve my community. I am intimately networked through professional associations and collegial networks across Lutheran schools and more broadly in the education sector.

I live in beautiful Hervey Bay with my wife Jacki while my adult children reside in Brisbane. I am an avid Lego enthusiast and I unapologetically share this interest with students and love fostering a love of creativity and innovation as we ‘play well’ together.

Kristy Blaikie, Head of Primary School

It is an honour and privilege to lead our Kindergarten and Primary School at St James Lutheran College. I am deeply passionate about school improvement and dedicated to building the capacity of our teachers, learning assistants, and support staff so that every child is inspired to be the best version of themselves.

Over the past 22 years, I’ve been fortunate to work in a range of roles across Queensland, including Principal, Deputy Principal, and Curriculum Co-ordinator and Teacher. These experiences have strengthened my belief in the power of collaboration and shared purpose that great schools are built by great teams working together. I hold a Diploma of Early Childhood Education, a Bachelor of Education, and a Master of Education in Leadership and Management.

I lead with a gentle and kind approach, grounded in the belief that when children are supported and valued, they thrive both in learning and in life. I am energised by innovation and find great joy in walking through classrooms where students are engaged in world-class learning experiences. My purpose is to nurture future leaders whether their strengths lie in academics, sport, the arts, or service. Students are always at the heart of my decision-making, reflecting our College motto: Inspired to Learn – Empowered to Serve.

Originally from the Sunshine Coast, I am a proud mother of three children and have called St James Lutheran College my ‘work home’ since 2022. Having spent many childhood holidays camping at Pialba, catching whiting, and soaking up all that Hervey Bay has to offer, it feels incredibly special to now work and raise my family here. When I’m not soaking up the sun in my garden, you’ll likely find me on the sidelines cheering for my children or helping out at Rugby League, Oztag or Netball.

Renae Brogden, Head of Secondary School

I feel truly honoured to step into the Head of Secondary role at St James. I spent a lot of my early career teaching in small country towns in South-West Queensland, working in a variety of different roles including curriculum leadership and pastoral care. I feel most at home working in small-to-medium sized schools where the opportunity to build strong relationships with staff, students and families exists. This is what drew me to St James 11 years ago when I was looking to relocate to the Fraser Coast. I fell in love with a little school where everyone felt like family and quite simply, never left!

I am passionate about working with adolescents and I love watching, and helping, them grow on their journey from small shy Year 7s to the outstanding young men and women that leave our doors at the end of Year 12. I believe that when students feel comfortable in their learning environment they are more likely to experience success, and for this reason I have always poured my time and energy into building classrooms that are safe, engaging and respectful. My personal philosophy of a relational approach to education and community mindedness align perfectly with the St James values and ethos and I am truly excited to lead our secondary school in this way.

Not long after I relocated to Hervey Bay in 2013 I met my (now) husband Shane, and along with our two little girls, we like to make the most of what our beautiful town has to offer. Weekends are about family time, whether that be hitting the parks with scooters and bikes in tow, making the most of our beautiful beaches, or spending time with extended family and grandparents. We are also keen travellers and love making use of school holiday time to pack up our caravan and explore new places.

Melanie Zipf, Business Manager

I am the proudest Business Manager in town! We have such a wonderful College here in beautiful Hervey Bay, and while I’ve seen phenomenal growth since I started in 2012, there is still so much more to come! I am so grateful for the sense of community that we have at St James, where staff, students and families work together, to love, to share, to grow and to serve….together.

I started at St James as the College Accountant, and in 2020 have taken up this new role to serve the St James Community in a much broader capacity. I’m responsible to the Principal, and oversee the Financial and Administrative functions of the College, along with Capital and Minor Works Projects, and Property and Facilities Management.

My extremely broad employment history, which ranges from Government and not-for-profit employment, to Agriculture and Construction, has gifted me a huge range of skills and knowledge which lend themselves perfectly to the Business Manager role at the College.

On a personal level, I’ve been married to Craig since 2000. We have two adult children, Tom and Abby, who live and work on the Fraser Coast. I completed a Bachelor of Commerce with the University of Southern Queensland, majoring in Accounting and Human Resource Management, as an external, mature-aged student. I have a deep love of learning, and intend to continue researching, learning and growing, as the world around me continues to change.