From Panama Hats to Interior Design: Tina Kent (Fairholme Old Girl 1999)
March 24, 2025
Tina Kent | 1999 | Black House | Day Girl
'One of the things I loved about Fairholme was the emphasis on encouragement, empowering each other and celebrating each others’ achievements.'
For Fairholme Old Girl and successful interior designer, Tina Kent (1999), these seemingly small rules were more than just guidelines; they were a way of teaching the importance of maintaining a strong, consistent presence, both personally and professionally. She says in the same way the emphasis on kindness and respect at Fairholme wasn’t just about being polite, ‘it was about representing our values in everything we did, no matter the situation.’
‘The creative side of Interior decorating is equally as important as the communication side,’ she says. ‘I have to be able to communicate my ideas, the look of the room and practically how it will function to the client. At Fairholme, I remember being encouraged to speak on assembly, and have my own opinions in class, with the Principal and teachers.
‘I think Fairholme gave me the training to be able to speak about an area of knowledge with confidence. I also think having a go and being kind were two big messages that came out of school.’
When Tina walked out Palm Drive for the last time in 1999, she earned a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics degree and spent a decade working in the industry… until her passion for interior design gradually took centre stage. What began as a seed of interest in pretty and practical wares and fashion, soon evolved into a fully-fledged career shift, as she discovered a love for creating beautiful, functional spaces. Driven by her creative vision and a desire to bring aesthetic harmony to the environments around her, she embraced the world of interior design, where her unique perspective and attention to detail would flourish. Her brand, LCA (Lady Chatterley’s Affair), has gained such popularity among interior enthusiasts, she has recently expanded to include not only interiors, but home decor, homewares, fashion, accessories and workshops.
‘LCA started when Mum had an idea to design and manufacture beautiful coloured shopping baskets inspired by a vintage basket her grandmother had. We began wholesaling our LCA Baskets into boutiques and gift shops all over Australia. After the baskets were successful, we started adding other fashion accessories - leather bags, jewellery, children’s clothes, hats and shoes.’
But it was one ostensibly innocuous interaction with her Geography teacher in 1997 that has perhaps had the most impact on her career.
‘My Geography teacher, Mrs Sulewski (who was also my favourite teacher!) was incredibly practical but used to wear high heels to school every day. When I was in Year 10, I remember her saying, ‘Look at the demographic trends and choose a career that will be highly sought after.’
In 2010, Tina did indeed look at the demographic trends and started an online shop selling fashion accessories and soft furnishings. ‘I wonder if Mrs Sulewski knew just how huge ecommerce would become?’
‘I started my online shop before any of the major shops were online, and we used to send parcels all over Australia. Many of my customers were based in regional areas of Australia. Life was very busy and full with two babies and a small business. I was decorating our home and customers used to ask about soft furnishings and so over time I started to professionally decorate their homes… Interestingly, many of these customers are Fairholme Old Girls.’
This Fairholme Old Girl network support has proven to be a powerful and invaluable asset when it comes to growing her business. Tina says the strong, supportive community of past students, bound by the shared history and a deep commitment to one another, has provided a unique platform for collaboration and opportunity. In regional Australia, where connections can be somewhat limiting, the Fairholme Old Girl network has become a vital lifeline, fostering both professional growth and personal connections that have helped her business thrive.
‘At the time I didn’t realise how extensive the country girl network was in regional Australia. Since having an online shop and using mainly social media for marketing I can now see how valuable that network is.
‘Many of my customers are Fairholme Old Girls that I didn’t know at school, yet started supporting my business in its early days. Clients like working with people they know and feel comfortable with, and I find rapport with country women – and Fairholme Old Girls - very easy.’
Tina credits part of her success to this tenant; the power of women supporting one another in business, and in life. ‘One of the things I loved about Fairholme was the emphasis on encouragement, empowering each other and celebrating each other’s achievements,’ she reflects.
‘I was always very motivated by friends who were clever at school and, in turn, they cheered me on to achieve. At school, I felt like we were all encouraged as individuals to achieve, and then we celebrated the achievements as a group. There were so many activities and options at Fairholme for girls to be good at different things. I’ve had support and backing throughout my career from excellent females and it has been so valuable.’
The interhouse rivalry at the swimming carnival and dance competition, fundraising for Interact, the musicals with Toowoomba Grammar School, and the friendships between Day Girls and Boarders are all touchstone memories for Tina, and she hopes current students create their own lasting memories, finding joy in the friendly competition, the spirit of giving, and the bonds formed both in and outside the classroom.
‘Fairholme for me was about building confidence. I left school confident I could achieve at university, confident to be able to meet with, and speak to, people in all social situations, confident to make lasting friendships, and confident that I could achieve at anything I dedicated time and effort to.
‘I would encourage the current Fairholme cohort to get involved in as much as possible at school and try all of the things. A career can twist and turn and take on many different paths, but the skills of making friendships, finding the joy in what you do, and empowering fellow females are invaluable - and lasting.’
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School mates cast in lead roles for the Empire Theatre’s 2025 Junior Impact Production When Phoebe Hohn and Sammy Cheetham auditioned for this year’s Junior Impact Production, Soul Trading, they had no idea they’d be cast opposite each other in two of the show’s leading roles. Set in the year 2079, Soul Trading is a futuristic play that explores a world where every child’s future is shaped by their personal learning robot – except for one. Phoebe plays Geri, a quirky and fiercely independent girl who refuses to follow the AI-dominated path everyone else is on. ‘Geri doesn’t have a bot like the others. She’s different, and she’s proud of it,’ says Phoebe. ‘I love playing someone who questions everything and isn’t afraid to go her own way.’ Her co-star, Sammy, takes on the complex role of Neutron, a clever and rebellious robot who doesn’t quite fit the mould. ‘Neutron is actually an illegal robot that Geri secretly 3D printed,’ Sammy explains. ‘She’s bright, ambitious, and wants to live a free life – but Geri tricks her into thinking she’ll die if she leaves.’ Throughout the show, Neutron cleverly manipulates both humans and bots to bend the rules and follow her lead. For Sammy, this is her second year involved in the Junior Impact Ensemble. ‘Last year, I was part of Our Egg Named Larry, and I absolutely fell in love with the program,’ she says. ‘That experience made me want to audition again this year, and I was thrilled to receive one of the main roles.’ Phoebe and Sammy, who are also speech and drama partners, supported each other through the audition process and have relished the opportunity to bring this fast-paced, futuristic story to life together. Their characters’ dynamic is central to the narrative, and their real-life friendship brings depth and energy to every rehearsal. With the production set to hit the Armitage Centre stage this July, both students say the experience has pushed them creatively and helped them grow in confidence. ‘Performing in a space like the Armitage is a dream,’ Phoebe says. ‘It’s exciting and a little bit surreal.’ We can’t wait to see Phoebe and Sammy shine on stage as Geri and Neutron – two bold characters in a brave new world.
10 minutes with Ebbeny Williams-Cherry, 2025 Fairholme College Prefect for the Arts and lead character in Midnight: The Cinderella Musical.
