From blackberries to the Birrarung

I started my journey with Steiner Education in an old Hall in Hope Forest in South Australia in 1991. Willunga Waldorf School was just beginning. Our play equipment was a giant fallen tree, and we picked blackberries and made nests out of pine needles. It was magical!

From the Hall my class – now with four students – moved to my teacher’s living room, which she had creatively set up as a classroom. Outside the window was an old gumtree, which regularly had kookaburras watching us through the window. We loved singing rounds of “kookaburra sits in the old gum tree” to them in morning circle. After main lesson we would jump in our teacher’s car and drive down Old Willunga Hill to where the rest of the school (Class One and Two) were now located in Willunga.

My parents were part of a generation that didn’t just enrol their children in a Steiner school – they built it- on a dusty paddock with a gnarled old almond orchard and a swale. It was a far cry from the beautiful buildings and luscious gardens that are there now, but as kids, we loved it! We had space to roam, we played in the swale and made cubby houses in the almond trees, and the school grew around us – built by hand by our parents and teachers.

I don’t know how many working bees we attended over my schooling years, but I feel that this sentiment of coming together and giving generously to build something for the community has shaped who I am and how I live my life. I want to emulate this spirit of generosity and shared purpose for my children.

When our teacher wanted her living room back, we moved into a garden shed. Really! On hot days we would put a sprinkler on the roof to try to cool it down, and spent hours planning how we would dig out a bunker underground to escape the heat.

We upgraded to an old dental van, then a storage room off the staffroom, and finally, in Class 5, we got our own classroom. Heaven!

Reflecting on this now, I’m struck by the confidence our parents had in Steiner education – they were comfortable sending their children to a school with no fancy facilities (or even classrooms!), because they saw the value in the approach and the Steiner curriculum. What we lacked in facilities, was made up for with care, depth and creativity.

The primary years in a Steiner school are wonderful – full of imagination, exploration and play.  I loved the care we took making our work beautiful. I loved all the plays – Boudicea; the Greek gods; the Norse Myths… They helped me build confidence and enriched my understanding of the subjects we were learning. I loved building a “chariot” (aka a go cart) and racing in the Greek Olympics. I loved all the camps – getting out into nature with my classmates – canoeing down the Glenelg River, camping in the Flinders Ranges and making bread at Camp Coorong. The lantern walks and other seasonal festivals are woven into my fondest childhood memories…

In Class 7, we moved up to the much bigger Mount Barker Waldorf School. We went from a class of 8 students to a class of thirty-eight - which was a huge shock to the system!

I stayed at Mount Barker until I graduated in 2001. I really enjoyed my secondary years – especially the camps and the strong bonds I developed with my classmates – many of whom are still close friends today. I really appreciate that we had to study all subjects – not just those that we were good at – it helped me to push myself and develop skills that I may never have learned if I stayed within my comfort zone. The exchange program and Year 12 project in particular equipped me with valuable skills for life.

After school I spent a year travelling, volunteering in Ethiopia and India. Then I studied Psychology, followed by a Bachelor of Education, specialising in Special Education. I knew that I wanted to make change in the world, and education felt like the right path.

Steiner education nurtures respect and care for the environment, each other, and the world around us, and this foundation inspired me to move into environmental education. I now work in local government in the environmental policy development and education space. My work is focused on the circular economy, which emphasises systems thinking, innovation and collaboration - which is exactly what Steiner education promotes.

I have two children – Jules in Class 6, and Elja in Class 4. From the beginning, I knew I wanted them to experience the richness, imagination and depth of Steiner education. I want them to enjoy the wonder of childhood, nurtured by the themes of goodness, beauty and truth, and a valuing of gentleness. I wanted them to also have lifelong friendships, and a strong sense of community. Ben, my husband, who attended a prestigious private school, saw that I had really enjoyed my education, and am still friends with many of my classmates, and he thought this was a good future for our children.

Sophia Mundi’s location was perfect for us. We walk or ride along the Birrarung river each day, watching the seasons change.

My kids are both thriving at Sophia Mundi. They’re always excited to go to school and genuinely love learning. For me, it’s the creativity and beauty woven into every aspect of Steiner education that makes their school experience so joyful and full of wonder.

To continue the spirit of community-building and generosity that shaped my own childhood, I now serve on the Sophia Mundi School Board and helped revive the Parents & Friends group andhe Autumn Fair after the long pause during Covid lockdowns. I believe that education is one of the most powerful tools for change, and that working together can achieve great things. Sharing this journey with my children - and watching them grow into well-rounded, purposeful, and creative individuals who care - about others, the environment, and the world around them - is a joy. These are the very qualities that a Steiner education nurtures.

- Inger Boerema

Parent & Board Member