Cass Stuchbery

"I felt that Yarra cared about me and my wellbeing”

When Cass Stuchbery enrolled at Yarra Valley Grammar in Year 7, she quickly found her place in the music school.

“I played clarinet in primary school so when I came to Yarra, I joined the band and took part in my first musical in Year 8 – The Music Man,” she says.

“I also remember Les Miserables which was a huge production. We had beautiful costumes, our sets were from an amateur theatre company and we had such a great ensemble. Being on stage for that was a magical moment for me.

“I was definitely one of the kids who liked to hang out in the music school at lunchtime and after school. I took part in a lot of musicals and the PAC has a lot of good memories for me.”

In her senior years, Cass maintained her love of music but focused on Maths and Science subjects. After graduation, she combined Science with a passion for helping people and decided on a career in healthcare. She completed a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics and works as a dietitian in a sports clinic and in a weight loss surgery clinic.

“I encourage people to eat in a way that nourishes and respects their body. It’s important to eat regular meals, to not skip

breakfast, to stay hydrated and to eat vegetables!” says Cass.

“But it took me 12 months to find a job after uni and what got me through that was a good support system and persistence.”

That persistence may go back to her time in the pool at Yarra. Cass was a 50m butterfly champion but she had to work at it.

“In Years 7 and 8 I came second in house swimming - I kept losing to a girl from Arnott. So, I joined the swim squad and did the early morning training and the next year I won – a proud moment for me and my sports teacher!” she says.

Cass credits Yarra and the inspiration she received from teachers for playing a part in where she is today. Friendships have endured and her partner, Sam Berriman, is a fellow YOG.

“When I left Yarra I realised the value of being part of a community,” she says.

“I always felt that Yarra cared about me and my wellbeing. I wasn’t a cool kid – I liked Maths and Science and I played the clarinet! But I always had plenty of friends and there was always someone to talk to if you felt stressed. To me, the Yarra Spirit has always been about caring about each other.”