During his principalship of Matthew Flinders Anglican College, Mr Stuart Meade successfully led many legacy projects at the College, including the completion of the five-year Flinders Masterplan. The Masterplan brought to life the Year 7 Precinct, the Flagship Centre, the Wonderarium and the state-of-the-art Infinity Centre which opened for learning in January 2024 and was officially opened on Wednesday, 22 May 2024.
Stuart also supported Flinders’ smooth transition to the ATAR in 2020, developed and designed two strategic plans, and respectfully guided the College community through the uncertainty and challenges of the COVID pandemic.
Stuart has supported the College’s active and meaningful ongoing commitment to its reconciliation journey. In 2022, the College commissioned an artwork by Wakka Wakka artist and David Williams of Gilimbaa that represents the College’s past, present and future. The artwork will be used to help strengthen relationships between First Nations communities and the College.
Under Stuart’s tenure, the College uniform has been modernised for the first time since our foundation in 1990. The new uniform was introduced in 2022 with a more streamlined design to improve affordability for families and better suited to our tropical climate. The new uniform also gives our students choices that support their personal preferences around style, activity levels and comfort.
As College Principal, Stuart has continuously encouraged an innovative culture and a commitment to reinvigorated approaches to the curriculum. In 2023, he celebrated with the Flinders Primary School community when it was awarded Australia’s Primary School of the Year (Non-Government) for its bespoke curriculum and innovative approach to teaching and learning. He also supported the launch of a new research institute in the Flinders Discovery Institute to build a strong culture of collaboration and innovation.
In the Secondary School, our Year 9s of 2023 have been the first to experience the reinvigorated Year to RISE program. Our elite student athletes are supported to balance their academic and sporting lives through the new Flinders Elite Athlete Program. While Music EDGE supports music excellence in the Middle School.
With an aim to foster global connectedness, one of Stuart’s proudest achievements is securing Flinders as a Round Square school in 2019. Our Round Square affiliation provides students and staff access to awesome global experiences and connects us with a network of more than 230 like-minded schools. In 2023, six students and two staff experienced an awe-inspiring trip to the international Round Square student conference in Kenya, while six Year 8 students boarded across Kinross Wolaroi School in Orange, NSW and Scotch College in Melbourne, Victoria in Term 4. And in 2024 there will be 15 of our Year 10 students engaging in short-term exchanges with schools across the globe.
Stuart’s commitment to building a strong school culture and spirit has seen him share with students his favourite books and resources on resilience, community service and belonging. He’s also wholeheartedly kept the spirit of the Beast alive in our community, encouraging us all to embrace this symbol of Flinderians at their best (and to give the Beast mascot a hug and a high five!).
There is no doubt that Stuart has been a good sport, agreeing many times when asked to participate in student and Old Flinderian projects over the years. Whether dressing up in his best loud board shorts, polo and tie for charity fundraisers, bravely walking barefoot over a carpet of lego (!) or wearing swimming goggles to endure a bin of iced water being tipped from overhead, Stuart’s courageous antics will go down in Flinders folklore!
Stuart’s wife, Susie, has also contributed her time, care and energy to our College community. Over the past seven years, Susie has attended countless events to support students, staff and families, and has volunteered as a member of the College’s Foodbank community service meal project.
Close to Stuart’s heart and indicative of the responsibility he feels for the young people in his care, he has encouraged every student to proudly build their unique personal brand, to recognise and appreciate their family, friends and support crew, and to commit to being leaders in their own lives, in their families and in the wider community.
We sincerely thank Stuart for being a fine role model and for believing in every student’s potential to lead a rewarding, positive and successful life, with people to lean on and care for, and limitless opportunities to embrace and explore.
Stuart Meade: Bio
Stuart Meade has enjoyed a distinguished career. He joined Matthew Flinders Anglican College in 2017 as an established leader and retired in 2023.
Stuart was previously Headmaster at one of Australia’s leading schools, Hale School in Perth, which he led with distinction for 14 years. Prior, he served as Deputy Headmaster at Cranbrook School in Sydney and Newcastle Grammar School.
Stuart holds degrees from UNE and USQ, including a Bachelor of Arts, a Diploma of Education and a Master of Education, and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Stuart has served on the Board of the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia, was Chair of the Principals’ Advisory Panel of the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (West Australia) and is a member of the Australian College of Educators and the Australian College of Educational Leaders. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders.
In 2022, Stuart was honoured as a Life Member of Australian Schools Rugby Union. The ASRU recognised Stuart’s “selfless dedication to the development of our youth through rugby union” spanning 34 years – from 1987 when he coached the 1st XV of Cranbrook School Sydney to 2021 when he retired as Vice President.
Stuart’s overarching philosophy is that a school, in the context of a Christian community, should seek to inspire students to learn, lead and serve as they strive for excellence. Stuart believes the core of any great school is the quality of teaching and the calibre of its teachers. He also believes the values which are the foundation of Christian principles should underpin the leadership of the school and provide the moral compass for the students which will enable them to be well prepared as they take their place in the wider world. Stuart says that a school striving for excellence must understand that its role is not simply to achieve high academic standards but also to develop and nurture the young hearts and minds entrusted to it.
