Welcome to Mr Rob Gratton

Mr Rob Gratton follows Mrs Sue Kirke as Head of Primary – Halls Head Campus, who recently retired after 18 years service to Frederick Irwin Anglican School.

On Thursday 26 June, the Halls Head Campus community came together to celebrate the retirement of Mrs Sue Kirke, our much loved Head of Primary. The heartfelt service featured prayers and speeches from various members of the School community, many of whom reflected on Mrs Kirke’s meaningful connection. She first joined the School as a parent during its early years before becoming a valued member of staff.

There were many emotional moments throughout the Assembly, including a beautiful video message from the entire Campus, and concluded with a touching guard of honour. We are incredibly grateful to Mrs Kirke for her years of dedicated service and the lasting impact she has made across both campuses. We wish her all the very best for a joyful and well-earned retirement, and we now welcome Mr Gratton to our wonderful school.

Rob lives in Mandurah with his wife, Tina, and has two wonderful adult children, Luke and Kasey. Rob was born in Berri, a small town in South Australia along the Murray River. In the late 1960s, his family moved to a remote farm in Munglinup, near Esperance. Life on the farm was full of adventure, and he has fond memories of attending Munglinup Primary School. Midway through Year 7, his family moved to Libya, North Africa, where his dad worked on an agricultural development project involving the Libyan government and the WA Department of Agriculture. Living there was an incredible experience. Rob still remembers camping trips into the Sahara Desert, exploring untouched ancient Roman cities and swimming in the Mediterranean Sea.

Regarding his role at Frederick Irwin Anglican School, Rob is genuinely looking forward to connecting with the students, families, and staff at the Halls Head campus. He said that it is a privilege to build on the great work of Mrs Kirke and help guide the campus through its next chapter of growth and success.

Rob said that when he was a student, he was more interested in having fun and playing sport than he was in studying!

‘Looking back, I probably should have paid a bit more attention to the academic side of things, but I certainly made the most of my school friendships and activities.’ he said.

An interesting fact about Rob is, is that he rides a dual-sport motorcycle and loves exploring new places, whether riding with friends or heading off solo. He said it is a great way to relax and enjoy the great outdoors of Western Australia.

Welcome to AngliSchools, Rob!