As we celebrate International Women’s Day today, Beaconhills College is proud to highlight the work of College staff member Danielle Gardiner, who not only maintains our school’s beautiful grounds but brings a hard work philosophy and good humour to her role.

As a key member of the Beaconhills College maintenance team, Danielle spends her days tending to the school’s landscapes, ensuring a thriving environment for students and staff. Soon, she’ll help introduce an aquaponics food production system, which combines aquaculture (fish farming) with hydroponics (growing plants in water), where nutrient-rich water will nourish hydroponically grown plants.

Before joining Beaconhills, Danielle ‘built her skills’ as an apprentice carpenter, working hands-on in a traditionally male-dominated trade. She has also worked in private psychiatry and disability support, helping individuals with disabilities manage farm and garden maintenance as well as animal husbandry.

These experiences deepened Danielle’s appreciation for horticulture and her passion for empowering others in their daily lives.

Beyond her work at Beaconhills, Danielle is a dedicated football player, playing senior women’s football for the Narre Warren South Saints.

For young women considering a career in a physical job, her advice is simple: “You’re only confined by the walls you build yourself.”

Happy International Women’s Day!