Rock and Water Master Instructors - Biographies

Freerk Ykema is the founder of the Rock & Water Program. He has worked as a Physical Education and Remedial Teacher and Counsellor at Schagen in the North of the Netherlands in a comprehensive school. In 1995, Freerk trialled the Rock and Water course at his school to help address boys' motivation and self-confidence. Rock and Water is a most well known course in the Netherlands and has become a standard subject in the curriculum of many Dutch schools. The program won a national award in The Netherlands for targeting boys’ education. Freerk is currently training teachers in countries throughout the world to deliver the Rock and Water program to help boys (and girls) achieve their real potential.

Brian Hayes is a teacher with over 25 years experience in high schools, as a history teacher and deputy principal. Brian is a Master Rock and Water trainer for the Family Action Centre, and has taught the program in schools through out NSW and interstate since 2001. After extensive training with Freerk Ykema, Brian became the first Australian 3 day presenter, and has presented accreditation courses all over  Australia since 2007. Brian is currently principal of the Hunter Valley Martial Arts Centre, Newcastle with a student body of over 550 students. He has extensive experience in developing programs to improve outcomes for boys, with a particular focus on pedagogy and strategies to enhance social and emotional development.

Carl Marshall is a Physical Education Teacher at Murwillumbah High School in the far north of NSW. He has been teaching Rock and Water for 8 years. Throughout his 27 years of teaching he has taught in secondary schools and colleges in various systems around Australia. He has been a successful teacher to students in Learning Centres and in Learning Enrichment Programs. As an outdoor education teacher for 12 years he developed non traditional programs that were particularly successful with disengaged students. His wide experience has helped him to develop successful outcomes for students who where otherwise failing.

Robin Schofield has been a Resource Teacher of Learning and Behaviour since 2000, working  in Secondary and Intermediate schools, including co-ed and single sex. He is widely experienced in many aspects of special education including the Autistic Spectrum Disorders and learning difficulties.  Robin trained in Rock and Water in 2007 and is now the Master Instructor for New Zealand. He has facilitated Rock and Water programmes in a range of formats across the schools in which he works, as well as helping develop school wide programmes, organising three day trainings for professionals,  mentoring and training teachers and developing the programme in New Zealand. Robin is committed to promoting the Rock and Water programme in schools, organisations and communities across the country.

Ray Messer is a Master Instructor with the Rock and Water Program, a Consultant on Adolescence and Education and a Student Welfare Coordinator at Parade College, an all boys secondary college in Melbourne (~1800 students).
Ray has been in education for 15 years teaching in both co-ed and single sex settings here in Australia and also the UK. He has spent time overseas investigating educational trends and issues. Ray has undertaken undergraduate studies in Melbourne, Canada and is currently completing a Master of School Leadership at the University of Melbourne.
Ray has a real passion for connecting with young people and helping them through the maze of adolescence.

Tim Brenton is a founding Director and Manager of Services to Young People for the South Australian based company, Connected Self. Tim has been instrumental in developing a brand of Rock and Water strongly recognised and used in South Australian schools and youth agencies. Connected Self has transformed elements of the Rock & Water program into other forms of intervention such as mentoring and case management for young people.

Tim currently delivers the Rock & Water program to young people across Australia, in particular South Australia. Since 2004, Tim has delivered the Rock & Water program in private and public schools, remote aboriginal communities, boarding schools, rural communities and youth agencies (government and non-government) across the country. Tim is a Master Instructor for the University of Newcastle and currently delivers Rock & Water training in South Australia. Tim is a former professional basketballer, Senior Youth Worker and Special Programs Coordinator for the South Australian government and is married with two beautiful daughters.