Episode Overview

In this episode of the Bridge Building Podcast: From Technology to the Trades, we celebrate the extraordinary career of DATTA QLD's 2025 Teacher of the Year, Terry Grieger. With over three decades of service to Design and Technologies education, Terry has turned classrooms into creative workshops where theory meets real-world problem-solving.

Terry shares how he brought CNC milling to Far North Queensland in the 80s, built working printing presses with his students, and even ran radio-controlled yacht regattas—all while nurturing critical thinking and ingenuity. As he approaches retirement, Terry reflects on the joys and challenges of teaching, his hopes for the future of the subject, and the legacy he leaves behind.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Terry's journey from Pittsworth to Cairns to Ipswich and beyond

• How he introduced CNC technologies to Queensland schools in the 1980s

• Why meaningful, hands-on projects matter—like student-built cannons, wind chimes, and working yachts

• His philosophy on teaching: embracing absurdity, sparking joy, and fostering growth

• What's next for Terry in retirement (hint: trees and tinkering)

Links and Resources:

• Explore DATTA Queensland: dattaqld.org.au

• Email the podcast: [email protected]

Connect With Us: Host: Stephen Anderson Email: [email protected]