Kate Adriaans (2002)
The career journey of Kate Adriaans (OG 2002) has been anything but ordinary, spanning international vineyards, winemaking, teaching and the co-authoring of Chemistry textbooks used across Australia.
After graduating from Ballarat Grammar, Kate studied a Bachelor of Winemaking and Viticulture through Deakin University and Charles Sturt University.
"I really enjoyed Science at school, but I also wanted to do something that would lead to travelling the world," she said. "So I chose winemaking."
Following university, Kate went on an adventure that saw her work in some of the world's most renowned wine regions. Among her most memorable experiences was working at Inniskillin Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada, where she experienced the unique and challenging process of ice wine production.
"We had to wait for temperatures of minus 10 degrees for three days in a row before harvest could begin," she recalled. "I've never been so cold in my life, but it was an amazing experience."
Another highlight was working at Villa Maria Winery in Auckland, New Zealand, one of the largest wineries she had encountered.
"The winery operated 24 hours a day with two shifts. We would finish a 12-hour night shift, go out for breakfast together and then head home to sleep. It was absolutely crazy."
Kate also spent three years living in South Australia's picturesque McLaren Vale region while working for Memstar, a company specialising in reverse osmosis technology for wine production. The role saw her travel extensively throughout Australia's wine-growing regions, helping wineries improve wine quality and solve production challenges.
"I loved travelling to every wine region, meeting different winemakers and discovering fantastic local bakeries along the way," she said. "Using large reverse osmosis machines to fix wines was really interesting work."
While she enjoyed the wine industry, teaching was always part of her long-term plan.
"I always knew I wanted to be a teacher, but my mum, who was a teacher herself, encouraged me to go out and experience the world first," Kate explained. "When I was ready to stop moving around, I went back to university and completed my teaching qualification."
Today, Kate teaches Science at Frankston High School, where she enjoys inspiring the next generation of learners.
"Every lesson, day and week is different," she said. "I love helping students develop confidence in science, celebrating their progress and watching them grow over the years."
Kate's passion for education has also extended beyond the classroom. An unexpected email from a friend opened the door to another exciting opportunity: co-authoring Oxford Year 11 and 12 Chemistry textbooks.
"Oxford asked me to write an application chapter for a Queensland workbook, and from there I went on to write several chapters for both the Victorian Year 11 and Year 12 Chemistry textbooks," she said.
The experience has been particularly rewarding when students recognise her voice in the text.
"I love when my students read something and say, 'I bet you wrote that part,' because it sounds like something I would say."
Looking back, Kate never imagined her career would take her from winemaking to teaching and textbook writing.
"It's definitely not the path I expected, but I wouldn't change a thing," she said. "I have had incredible opportunities and experiences along the way. It's been a fantastic ride."
Kate credits Ballarat Grammar with helping lay the foundations for her adventurous spirit and lifelong love of science.
"My Round Square exchange to South Africa gave me the travel bug, which really set me on this path," she said. "I also loved Science, Chemistry and Physics at school. The teachers were fantastic, and I remember having a lot of fun in class."
If she could give her younger self one piece of advice, it would be simple:
"Keep saying yes to things. That's when the great opportunities happen."
Acknowledgement of Country
Ballarat and Queen’s Anglican Grammar School acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we learn, live and work, the Wadawurrung People, and recognises their continuing connection to the land and waterways. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend this to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.
Commitment to Child Safety
Ballarat Grammar maintains a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of child abuse and actively implements measures to identify and manage any risks of harm to students within our school environment. The care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people are central and fundamental responsibilities of the School. We are firmly committed to fostering a child-safe culture that provides an environment where students are safe and feel safe, where their participation is valued, their views respected, and their voices heard in decisions that affect their lives. Ballarat Grammar values diversity and strictly prohibits any racist or discriminatory practices. All members of our school community share the responsibility to care for children and young people by promptly raising any concerns regarding their safety, promoting their wellbeing, and protecting them from all forms of harm or abuse.
