Sending one child to boarding school is a significant decision for any family. For Sharon and Michael Mekken, it was a decision they would make four times.
Over more than a decade, all four of their children, Cameron, Josh, Stella and Libby, have called Gippsland Grammar’s Blackwood House home.
Remarkably, each sibling went on to become Boarding Captain, a reflection of the leadership qualities they developed through their boarding experience.
When Sharon first sent her eldest child away 10 years ago, it wasn’t an easy decision.
Like many parents living in regional Victoria, she wanted the best education possible for her children. But that meant letting go.
“There’s a part of you as a mother that doesn’t want to send your children away,” Sharon reflected.
“But we knew we needed to do what was best for their education.”
Living near Orbost, two hours east of Sale, Sharon and her husband were looking for a school that would challenge their children academically while providing a supportive environment where they could thrive.
When their eldest son Cameron expressed an interest in studying medicine, they began considering boarding at Gippsland Grammar.
What started with one child soon became a family tradition that would open doors and create opportunities for all four children.
One of the factors that ultimately convinced the family to choose Gippsland Grammar over a boarding school in Melbourne was the ability for her children to return home regularly.
“Even though the children were full-time boarders, they still came home most weekends,” Sharon said.
“That was a really important reason we chose Gippsland Grammar. For mothers especially, it’s reassuring to know you can still have weekends with your children.”
Now, as youngest daughter Libby prepares to finish year 12 as a Prefect and 2026 Blackwood House Captain, Sharon is almost bursting with pride as she looks back on more than a decade of association with the school and can see just how transformative boarding has been for her family.
“It has helped shape our children in many ways,” she said.
“They are well-adjusted, independent young people. They’re resilient, confident and able to navigate life’s challenges.”
The success stories speak for themselves.
Cameron (Class of 2019) is now a resident doctor working at Ballarat Base Hospital.
Josh (Class of 2021) has completed a Commerce degree and works in Melbourne while studying towards his Chartered Accounting qualification.
Stella (Class of 2024) is studying Speech Pathology at university, while Libby is preparing for her own next chapter, hoping to study a double degree in primary and secondary teaching.
Yet for the family, boarding has always been about much more than academic outcomes.
“Boarding life is honestly like a second family,” Libby said.
For Libby, arriving as a year seven student was both exciting and reassuring.
Her older siblings had already shared stories about life at boarding school and paved the way before her.
“I loved following in my siblings’ footsteps,” she said.
Like many boarders, Libby had to learn independence quickly. Keeping on top of routines, managing study commitments, doing her own washing and maintaining a clean room were all part of growing up.
“I’ve learned that I can be independent,” she said.
“I’ve learned that I am resilient when something goes wrong.”
Those are qualities Sharon has observed in all of her children.
“Strong organisational skills and independence are probably the biggest strengths I’ve seen develop,” she said.
Boarding often raises concerns about distance from family, but the Mekkens found the opposite.
Rather than weakening family bonds, they believe the experience strengthened them.
The four siblings remain close and share a unique connection through their years at Gippsland Grammar.
For Libby, one of the biggest surprises was how quickly Gippsland Grammar became somewhere she belonged.
“The place that was once a scary new school is now a place where I have found great friends,” she said.
“I am grateful for all of my experiences … in and out of the classroom, on camp and in the dining room at the boarding house, I am grateful for the friends and the memories I will cherish forever.”
As the last member of the Mekken family approaches graduation, there is naturally some sadness. But there is immense gratitude.
For the Mekken family, a difficult decision many years ago has become one of the best decisions they have ever made.
Looking back, Sharon says she would make the same decision again in a heartbeat.
“It’s not always easy letting your children go,” she said.
“But watching them grow into confident, capable young adults has made it all worthwhile.”
Summing up six years of boarding life in a single sentence: “Gippsland Grammar feels like home.” – Libby Mekken, year 12 boarder.
