A legacy of care and compassion
Obituaries
Jennie Sanderson - Born October 26 1950, Died July 7 2025
The Tenison Woods College community shares the profound loss of the Sanderson family at the passing to eternal life of their dear colleague Jennie Sanderson.
Jennie was a long serving teacher, director of Wellbeing and assistant principal of the college, whose contribution to the college community spanned 24 years until 2020. Those who knew Jennie appreciate that her efforts laid the foundation for a Tenison Woods College built on the power of relationships, care for others and a commitment to deliberately creating community. Jennie’s discerning wisdom was matched by her deep compassion for those in need, and she was a steadfast, loyal support to many who were privileged to know her.
At Tenison Woods Jennie taught English and SOSE. Her students always knew they were in the safe hands of a capable and caring teacher who would enable them to achieve their very best. She was highly successful in guiding her more capable students to achieving high SACE grades, with many gaining perfect scores of 20. Equally she enjoyed enabling her more challenged students to achieve their best. She loved teaching classes of Year 11 boys who thought a subject like English was ‘the pits’, a subject they had to do if they were to gain their SACE. She was able to connect with and engage these reluctant learners and would have them enjoying the subject before the semester’s end. These were some of her favourite students; she would refer to them as ‘my boys’.
In 2001 when Tenison College transitioned to Tenison Woods College, Jennie became the new college’s first Director of Wellbeing, a role she held for most of the next twenty years. At the time that Jennie took on this role, wellbeing was a little understood discipline. With no prior model in place, she completed all the hard work in establishing its credibility in the school community. With gentle strength and resolve, all the while respecting people’s journeys, she developed the frameworks, programs and approach the school and broader education sector now embrace and receive training in.
Few people know the true extent of the work Jennie did in supporting students, families and staff as they faced challenging times. She had a rare ability to make sense of troubling situations, always approaching these with compassion and empathy. She never demanded the limelight – the glamorous stuff was not her. Jennie also worked to help many beyond the school community. She made significant contributions to Substance Misuse Limestone Coast, to the Mount Gambier parish, the Parish Pastoral Council, and to the Sunset Community Kitchen to name but a few.
Jennie’s contributions to the college community were acknowledged formally in 2024, with the Jennie Sanderson Junior School Leadership Award, which acknowledges a female and male junior school student who have made a significant personal contribution to the wellbeing of their fellow students and the college junior school community through their relationships, commitment and leadership. The award acknowledges Jennie’s significant contribution in laying the foundation for a Tenison Woods College that appreciates the nuances of a thriving school, built on the power of relationships, care for others and a commitment to deliberately building community.
Whenever asked how she was able to retain her equilibrium in the face of the challenges of her role, she would always reply that her husband Ian ‘is my rock’. As in life, Jennie faced her health challenges and passing to eternal life with characteristic grace and dignity, strengthened by her deep faith and knowing she was deeply loved by many. At this time we offer our prayers for the repose of Jennie’s soul and the support of her devoted husband Ian, as well as Jennie’s cherished children Michael, Fiona and Katrina and their families.
– David Mezenic, principal of Tenison Woods College
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