Jenny Lindsay
Jenny Lindsay (Macauley 1972) is the oldest daughter of Tom and Mary nee Zencich, and attended Siena, Dominican Girls’ High School in Doubleview from Years 8-12, 1968-1972. Her sister Robyn Robertson (Macauley 1976) followed her to Siena, and her brother Wayne Macauley (1979), attended Marist College, Churchlands.
Jenny discovered her call to be a teacher during primary schooling at St Dominic’s; then one of the feeder schools for Siena Girls’ High School. It wasn’t until she came to Siena in 1968 she recognised she wanted to be a high school teacher and, ideally, return to teach at her alma mater. In February 1976, after Teachers’ College, Jenny realised her dream, working alongside many of her former teachers who had inspired those dreams.
In 1977 Siena, Brigidine and Marist Colleges united to form Newman College, and Jenny has since seen Newman transform into the thriving co-educational school we are today. Over the years she has seen and done it all, and taught myriad subjects, from Speech and Drama to Religious Education. Just as she experienced when she was a young teacher starting out at Siena, some of her former students are now her colleagues. Many have also sent their own children to Newman, which has maintained the sense of connection and led to the profound experience of Jenny having taught the children of some of her former Year 9 students from the 1970s and 1980s!
Jenny’s family have been hugely significant in their support of her during the nearly 30 years she taught Drama at Siena and Newman Siena. Her father Tom, husband David, and sister Robyn all helped construct and paint backdrops for productions whenever required, while her mother Mary joined the staff, making or serving afternoon tea or supper, during interval. Later, her daughter Rachel Heilers (Lindsay 1996) and son, Adam Lindsay (2001) helped in all kinds of capacities backstage, including stage management.
Aside from teaching, Jenny has also been a key driver of social justice initiatives, from organising Christmas hampers for Vinnies, to starting a student-led Social Justice group in 2006.
In 2019, Jenny retired from full-time teaching and was recognised with the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Marist Education Award’, honouring her decades of service.
Throughout her years here, Jenny has felt tremendously supported by the College community, which has seen her flourish from a student to a wife, mother, grandmother and, sadly, with the loss of her husband David in 2012, widow.
Unfortunately, COVID ruined Jenny’s 2020 plans to travel. Instead, she had both knees replaced and, since March 2021, has been working back at Newman as a relief teacher, continuing her significant contribution to our School as she has for nearly five decades.
