Meet Denise McMillan

Denise McMillan has dedicated the past 45 years to educating children.

Ms McMillan grew up in Jarrahwood, near Nannup, with her mother, father and two younger siblings and said even as a child she was destined to be a teacher, coming home from school and teaching her younger brother.

She and her family moved to Coorow when she was six for her father's work, before moving again to Perth when she was 10.

After returning to Perth, Ms McMillan started school at Our Lady's College, where she completed her schooling.

After school, she went to Graylands Teaching College and then on to Curtin University to study a Bachelor of Education.

At 19, she started her first teaching job at Mirrabooka High School, teaching English, drama, French and social studies.

After two years, Ms McMillan left Mirrabooka to work at Servite College when it was an all-boys school, leaving three years later to have her first son, Chris.

It was not long before she was back teaching - 18 months later, Ms McMillan started at Perth College, before finding out she was pregnant with second son Tim.

She returned to Perth College for a year after having Tim, before moving to Lesmurdie and taking up a job at St Brigid's, where she taught for nine years and held the role of head of English.

Ms McMillan then moved to Trinity College for nine years before landing a job at the Catholic Education Office as a consultant to secondary English teachers.

In 1998, she moved to MacKillop Catholic College as the curriculum co-ordinator and English teacher, and moved to Busselton with her family.

"We had owned a timeshare in Busselton and always had holidays here and loved it, so when the position came up it was a win," Ms McMillan said.

Now, after 18 years teaching at MacKillop Catholic College, she will retire next month.

"It was hard decision because I have become attached to the students, but I felt it was time," Ms McMillan said. "It seemed like the perfect time to retire because I started with the first cohort of Year 12 students at the school and I will see the last lot of Year 12 students graduate before the school amalgamates with St Joseph's."

Ms McMillan said she was looking forward to travelling, gardening and spending time with her grandchildren in her retirement.

She has always had a passion for drama and music, directing five musicals during her teaching career, and performs in a singing group called The Cleanskins.

Ms McMillan also is passionate about public speaking and debating, and has coached the subject at every school she has been.

She also has an associateship in speech and drama from Trinity College in London.

Ms McMillan said despite being sad to leave, it had been a privilege.

"I think you get to experience every emotion as a teacher, but the rewards of watching a group of kids you met as Year 8s graduate makes you feel very privileged to be part of their journey," she said.