Tracey Steinrucken

“I had influential teachers at Yarra who helped shape my career.”

When Tracey Steinrucken arrived at Yarra for the first day of Year 9, she was newly arrived from South Africa. Tracey migrated to Melbourne with her family and says the difference in lifestyle was stark.

“One key reason why we left South Africa was safety. You couldn’t go for a walk to the shops, go into the city in the evening, or travel on the train or bus as a child. I’d never been on a bus or train there,” she says.

“Coming to Melbourne and not having to look over your shoulder was a huge difference. But the love of sport and the outdoors was something that South Africa and Australia shared.”

Tracey threw herself into school life at Yarra and enjoyed a range of subjects, stage-managed a school musical and she was involved in athletics, swimming, diving, soccer and softball.

“My parents had a lot to do with how I approach opportunities – I think you put yourself in the way of opportunity. I took on anything that presented itself to me and if I try to do something, I try to do it in the best way possible,” says Tracey.

As a prefect, Tracey was also part of a group of students who successfully lobbied Yarra to introduce pants as part of the uniform for girls.

Scoring well in her VCE, Tracey did a double degree in Commerce and Science but took a gap year before beginning university studies. She spent six months working for the Camp America program in the forests outside California and then travelled Europe.

“I was a rock climbing and high ropes instructor, I rowed, made campfires and chased bears! I was out of my comfort zone that year but it gave me a great sense of independence and I still have friends all over the world because of that experience. I thoroughly recommend it.”

Since graduating, Tracey has built a successful career as a scientist. Based in Brisbane, she has been with CSIRO for 10 years, working in health and biosecurity. As a plant pathologist, she studies plant diseases and natural weed control methods to safeguard Australia’s crops. Currently she is developing new technology to diagnose diseases in Australian crops before disease symptoms show.

“Science is rewarding because I’m always learning and investigating new questions,” she says.

“The best thing I’ve learned is to take every opportunity, to learn from it and to have no regrets.”