Concordia proved to be the right cup of tea for life-long educator
Former Queensland Businesswoman of the Year and highly credentialled educator Jill Lange-Mohr credits the solid foundation she gained at Concordia Lutheran College for paving the way for her success in life. Jill, who was a Concordian between 1972 and 1976 when she finished Year 12, spent 44 years working as an educator before receiving an Order of Australia (OAM) in 2020 for her services and contribution to education.
Jill is now the Chair of the Board of Lutheran Education Australia, overseeing 78 Lutheran schools across the country.
“Concordia built upon the solid foundation of being raised in a devout Lutheran, Darling Downs, farming family,” Jill said.
“I treasure this tremendous opportunity. My time at Concordia not only taught me the academic skills that you need for your life, but also the important social skills of getting along with people,” she said.
“I absolutely loved the vast array of opportunities that attending Concordia afforded me. I got involved in just about everything on offer: choirs, the musical, sport each term and also on the weekends.
“Concordia isn't a large school which means that you can't fly under the radar, and you aren't 'just a number'.
“It’s a 'boutique' school and there can be no better influence on a child's life for their education journey to be in such an environment.”
Jill was a boarder at the school for the majority of her time at Concordia, although she did spend one semester as a day student in Year 11 living with her Aunt and family close to the College campus.
“I felt the need to have more of a family life, even though my Aunt was the Head of Girls Boarding at the time, and I enjoyed the camaraderie of the girls, it was good to have a break and gain a different perspective of life at school,” she said.
“I really enjoyed being a boarder although I didn't always enjoy going back to the classroom for study every weeknight and on Saturday morning, it did embed a disciplined study routine that I still benefit from today,” she said.
Although her working life has taken her all over Australia with stints at Springfield as founding principal of St Peters Lutheran College’s campus there, and Geelong where she was Head of College of Geelong Lutheran College, she still stays connected to Toowoomba.
“I have a group of friends from the Concordia days that I keep in touch with,” she said.
“In 2016, I organised our 40-year reunion. It was great to catch up with most members of our class.
“My Year 12 Art Teacher, Don Williams from Chicago, had a significant influence on my life as well and when I left Concordia, I went to QUT to become a Secondary Art Teacher.
“Don and I are still in regular contact today.”
Her family’s connection to the school goes back even further.
“My grandfather, Alexander Hugo Paech, was an original Board member when the College first opened in 1946 and I was delighted to be asked by former Head of College Richard Hauser to write a chapter of the 50th anniversary College history book,” she said.
She also recalled a funny story about her father.
“As boarders we all used to joke about the 'quality' of the food, and I remember saying to my Dad that even the tea wasn't that great.
“He told me not to be so fussy! Then, on my last day of school, after the end of year chapel service, all the students and families had afternoon tea.
“Dad had a cup of tea and took one mouthful, gave me a funny look, and didn't finish his cup of tea. I will never forget that!
