Vale Deborah Lehner - Principal 1997 to 2016

Vale - Deborah Lehner (1949 - 2026)

Principal, 1997-2016

We were recently advised of the sad news that our previous principal, Deborah Lehner, passed away after a short illness. Deborah served as principal at Mentone Girls’ Secondary College (MGSC) for 19 years and during that time implemented a great deal of change, most of which is still visible today.

School transformation

Deborah’s leadership saw MGSC transform with many upgrades including the building of the gym, the VCE Centre, the redevelopment of the Performing Arts Centre including a Music Centre, new Science and Art rooms, the Junior Learning Centre, the Media centre, the refurbishment of the administration area and the development of the Middle School Wing.

Deborah wanted a school that can support a 21st Century Education with her vision being “the curriculum is rigorous, challenging and outward looking and is in the best environment we can afford”.

Leadership development

Deborah ensured staff professional development was well funded. This enabled staff of all levels of experience to access opportunities that would enable them to seek leadership opportunities. She ensured professional development was well funded, in stark contrast to many other schools at the time.

Her distributive leadership style enabled middle, senior and principal class staff members to lead their portfolios, empowering them to learn through experience. Many staff have gone on to more senior positions given the experience they had under Deborah’s leadership.

Empowering students

Student leadership at MGSC is one of its many strengths. Deborah ensured there was a leadership position associated with empowering young women to work together and lead change within their school but also in their community. The student leadership program has gone from strength to strength given the sound start it had with Deborah leading the school.

Community and Global connections

Deborah forged strong relationships with schools in our local community, including Sandringham College, Mentone Girls’ Grammar and Kilbreda College. She was an active member of the Beachside network including primary and secondary schools located from Mentone through to the city.

Through Deborah’s leadership MGSC began study/language tours of France, developed a sister school relationship with Japan's Nakamura Senior High School, and introduced the World Challenge tours of many countries. For many years MGSC hosted a student from Letsibogo Girls High School in Soweto and Deborah introduced the International Student program at MGSC.

(The main image is from the Assembly to farewell staff and students who visited from Nakamura Senior High School in 2012.)

Leadership beyond the school

Southern Women Principals’ Discussion Group

During Deborah’s career there were very few female secondary principals. She formed the Southern Women Principals’ Discussion Group (SWPDG) that ran for many years, with the purpose of bringing together women school leaders to meet, share and discuss their leadership journey in a non-political safe environment. The once-a-term meetings enabled professional friendships to be forged, where leaders could support the leadership journey of others. Deborah mentored women in leadership at a time where there weren't opportunities to do so.

Victorian Association of Secondary School Principals

Deborah was an active member of the Victorian Association of Secondary School Principals. This is the peak professional organization and advocacy body representing government secondary school principals, assistant principals, and aspiring school leaders across Victoria, Australia. Deborah was a VASSP member from 2007 - 2017 and was a State Committee Representative from 2012 -2014. Past members of VASSP recall Deborah being pivotal in supporting other female leaders.

The legacy

Upon her retirement Deborah reflected on her time at MGSC, recalling a school music performance held on the 11th of September 2001, now referred to as 9/11.

“We had a music performance that night and the mood was a bit sombre. I remember saying to the audience of parents that we all needed to hug our children and be thankful that this hadn’t happened in Australia. We are lucky to live in such a wonderful country”

I think this care for the students of Mentone Girls’ Secondary College is one of Deborah’s lasting legacies. She created an environment for young women to be encouraged to be brave, aim high and pursue careers of their choice. A MGSC student typically has a “can do” attitude which is one of the differences between our school and coeducational settings.

Deborah, her daughter Zoe and grandchildren attended our 70th birthday celebrations in 2025. It was a day for our community to celebrate, reminisce and reconnect with school friends and teachers. Our current principal Linda Brown held a “staff briefing” which was attended by past and present staff members. She acknowledged and thanked Deborah for the legacy she created, leaving MGSC in such a good position for the future.

In Deborah’s final school magazine message she wrote:

“I’m proud of my record of women I have mentored gaining promotion and going on to greater things”

Thank you Deborah for your leadership of our school and the impact this has had on the futures of our alumni and staff.

Prepared by Carol Duggan, Assistant Principal from 2012