Trudie Burton

Being an educator was not an early fit for Trudie Burton. 

Growing up in a small town in the UK and attending only one school from infants to high school, Trudie did not class school as her “favourite place” although she did have a fond attachment to both English and drama, as they gave her the gift of expression and she reveled in writing poetry and directing her own short plays.

Being a child of her era and growing up through the late 60s and early 70s, Trudie has always had a love of music and fashion of these times and ultimately it lead her into a retail and then administration career after school.  It was then at the age of 26 she met her New Zealand born husband and made her first move across the pacific, leaving everyone and everything she knew, filled with excitement for a new adventure.

It was in New Zealand that Trudie started her family and became the loving mother of a beautiful son and daughter.

It was also at this time that her yearn to move to Australia, a desire she had had since she was a child, started to become stronger.

“My dad looked into moving the whole family to Australia when I was young, he was thinking of becoming a ‘10 pound pom’ but he chickened out at the last minute and we never came,” Trudie said.

“I guess it was then that my intrigue and love for the place called Australia began”.

In 1996, Trudie and her family made the jump and moved to Brisbane.  The next thing on her list was to find a new career.

“Once my children were in high school I started thinking about a career for myself and I naturally fell into child care, being a mum it was easy.”

Then in 2003 after her neighbour mentioned she worked in Montessori education, Trudie began to investigate the Montessori way and successfully got her first assisting position at the Caboolture Harmony Montessori Children’s House.

“I fell in love with the philosophy, and the peace and respect of the educators, children and parents, it felt like I had found myself,” she said.

From there it was a quick rise to the top thanks in part to an amazing mentor: Julie Wyatt and a deep passion for her new found direction.

Trudie began to take Montessori workshops and then began teaching her own class.  Soon after, Trudie moved from teaching toddlers to cycle one, and is now leading her own team of educators as director of the Caboolture Harmony Montessori Children’s House and loving it.

“I believe Montessori to be a wonderful education and a wonderful philosophy for life and I love being at the helm of a very special and very dedicated team,” Trudie said.

Trudie is a living embodiment of Montessori values and a dedicated and sincere educator, here to help you at every turn of your child’s development.

And where does the Montessori philosophy of life take Trudie, when she leaves the centre? 

Onto the road of course!

“I have just taken to spending LOTS of time with my husband on his Triumph Bonneville,” she said.

“It is truly exhilarating having the wind in your face and being immersed in the smell of the seasons with the trees and flowers, it makes you feel alive.”

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