In profile: Howard Brentnall

Can you tell us more about your role?

I was fortunate to be appointed as Radwear Retail Manager, responsible for sales and ordering of the College sports and second-hand uniform items. I work as part of a team, supported specifically by the Sports department, P&F Association, Executive Assistant to the Principal – and generally by the whole Radford College community.

What did you do before joining the Radford community?

Born and bred in Melbourne, my background is in bookselling, mostly for tertiary institutions and schools – here and in the UK. My wife and I owned and operated a children’s bookshop for a while, to which we added print music. Four years ago, after our children left home, we moved two hours north of Melbourne to off-grid living in our mudbrick house on bush acreage near Rushworth. Plenty of projects to keep me occupied there!

What most appealed to you about working at Radford?

We moved to Canberra in January when my wife Wendy took up a leadership position with the competition, Canberra Grammar School, and happened to choose an apartment not far from Radford, passing it nearly every day. It’s motto of Truth, Compassion and Wisdom resonated with me and when the Retail position came up, it reminded me of happy times managing the Bookroom at Methodist Ladies' College, Melbourne, a school of similar size. So, it gives me an opportunity to hopefully give back something of what I have been given over the years, working again within a small team, within a larger team with common goals.

What do you enjoy outside of Radford?

Exploring and discovering more of Canberra, the ACT and further afield in southern NSW. This includes concerts – not just school ones! – theatre, sampling cafes with great coffee (and cakes), walking our dog, reading, playing tennis and following sport generally. Looking forward to Wimbledon and the Olympics soon.

I look forward to meeting many more of the school community over time.