Andy Buerckner

“I feel the Yarra Spirit when I am in the school. It’s a very grounded place.”

The journey to becoming a Director of his own travel business has taken many twists and turns for Andy Buerckner. Along the way he has acquired diverse skills and a broad network of contacts that have been a valuable part of his success today.

“I did OK at VCE and when I left school, I wanted to try everything. I had no career path set out but I don’t think that is a bad thing at all. How do you know what you want to do for the rest of your life at 17 or 18? My parents trusted me to leave school and explore for a few years so I could find the career that best suited me,” says Andy.

He tried a few trades, did some bar work and sold water skis and snowboards before settling on event management. It’s a career that has enabled him to follow his passion for creativity and thinking outside the box.

Today, Andy runs a travel management business with his father and sister that combines his creativity and broad network with his father’s 40+ years in the travel industry.

“I’ve been lucky to see a lot of our amazing planet through travel. When I was younger, I spent a month backpacking in Vietnam with a friend. We jumped on motorbikes and saw both the tourist areas and the more remote side of the country, as well as going into Cambodia. I’d also highly recommend seeing the sheer beauty of places like New Zealand, Switzerland and Norway.”

Andy’s ties with Yarra remain strong. He is a Yarra Old Grammarians committee member and is keen to help students who, like himself, reach senior years at school without a clear idea of what they want to do next.

“I’d like to provide students with an encyclopaedia of YOGs willing to talk about what they do and to offer some real experience about their working life” he says.

“It feels like only yesterday that I was in Year 12 and graduating, but it also feels like an eternity ago as life continues to evolve”.

The School motto that focuses on looking upwards has continued to resonate, particularly during the pandemic when Andy’s travel business saw a dramatic fall in turnover and continues to experience significant challenges with ongoing travel restrictions.

“When you lift up your eyes you inadvertently lift up your chin, which has been important during a difficult year. You have to look up, keep your head up and maintain a positive attitude to achieve your goals” he says.