Ms Nicola Johnson 

International Water Polo Referee

Ms Nicola Johnson (nee Smith, Class of 1988) is currently the national performance pathways manager for Water Polo Australia as well as the assistant coach for the Women's Water Polo at the Queensland Academy of Sport.  Until just three years ago Nicola was in education, spending 26 years at Stuartholme School, first as a teacher and eventually working her way to deputy principal of staff services and operations.

Straight after school, Nicola attended QUT and studied a Diploma of Education (Accounting and Mathematics) and then a Bachelor of Education. After teaching for about 7 years, she also completed a Masters of Education (Leadership) at ACU. 

Thinking back to her days at State High, Nicola says that Mr Bill Sole was an inspiration for her and was the reason why she wanted to become a teacher, especially a Maths teacher.  She also did lots of sport at school, including swimming (captain in 1988), lifesaving, netball, ball games, cross country, water polo and athletics. She was a prefect in 1988 and awarded the Service and Leadership award at Speech Night in year 12.

When asked about personal highlights, Nicola says they vary between family, work and sport.  Becoming a mother has been incredibly special as she has watched her daughter grow and achieve her own goals in school and sporting arenas.  Being appointed as deputy principal at the age of 29 was never an aspiration but she was rewarded with the position for her hard work and by seizing opportunities during her educational journey and she ended up holding this role for 16 years.  A sporting highlight includes becoming the first female FINA (international) water polo referee and then being appointed to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games, again as the first Australian female and only one of four females from around the world to receive this is an honour. She also states that realising the success of the Mermaids Water Polo Club that she and her husband started eight years ago, seeing it grow into the number one junior female club in Australia in such a short time and watching those girls love their sport as well as achieve local, state, national and international success has been an absolute honour.

"I loved being at State High and having so many opportunities in and out of the classroom and being supported by the staff to achieve these goals. Something that I will never forget was the atmosphere every year at Chandler for the QG swimming carnival, standing on the blocks with the stands full to capacity and having your name and BSHS chanted at the top of everyone's voices. I still get goose bumps when I think about it".

Nicola's advice to current students would be to get involved in as many things as possible at school. "The more effort you put in, the more you will get out of your years at school. Enjoy every day as your high school years can be the some of the best years of your life".