What skills, talents and personal characteristics do you need to work in a tuckshop?
You need to be flexible and to be able to think quickly on your feet. It’s not just about cooking but juggling multiple things at the same time. There is a lot of planning and preparation that also goes on behind the scenes. To top it off, you need a good attitude and be prepared to have fun while you’re at it.
What do you love/enjoy most about managing the tuckshop?
I love being part of the Fintona community. Additionally, the opportunity to be creative when designing menus – especially for special events like Halloween or Humanities Week – is an enjoyable aspect of my role. Watching our students grow, mature and graduate is one of my favourite parts the job.
Do you have a memorable experience or fun anecdote about tuckshop life that you can share?
While preparing for the promotional video for Finterror Lab – an interactive haunted house created by our talented IT team during the 2024 Fintona Festival – a student had the golden opportunity to throw food at my face. It turned out to be such an amazing event. I had so much fun getting dressed up and joining in the festivities. Would I dress up again as a zombie chef? Absolutely – 100%!
Other than being a source of food/drink, what role does a tuckshop play in school community?
We create a safe and fun environment for our students and staff to decompress from the busyness of school life. Whether it’s someone’s favourite drink, some choc chip cookies, a “dad” joke, or just a chat over the coffee machine, we try to make everyone’s day just that little bit more special.
What are the most popular items in the school tuckshop?
Even though we’re not supposed to have favourites, these items top the list: chocolate chip cookies, chocolate brownies, sausage rolls, butter chicken and garlic pitas.
Tell us about life beyond the tuckshop … what else do you do with your time?
I have a random collection of things I enjoy doing in my spare time – from strength training in the gym, to collecting Labubus (if you know, you know), hanging out with my corgis Georgie and Penny, and playing retro video games. I’m always open to exploring new places, cultures and food! Oh, and horror movies bring me joy!