Hazel Paton completed Open Foundation as a mature-aged student in 1987 at Newcastle Uni, then went on to complete a part-time Bachelor of Arts degree via Distance Education from New England University. Commencing four years of German language and culture in 1993 as part of the course awakened a consuming interest in languages and this, supplemented with many years of German conversation classes through Central Coast Community College, has enriched her learning experience. She taught German at the C.C. Community College for 18 months before moving from the area, and has taught it to High School students. She also completed two years of Spanish through Monash University via Open Learning.
A later interest in the French language led to a passion for all things French, and a Diploma of Modern Languages in 2006, majoring in French and Linguistics. Three trips to France, (with two weeks in-country language development classes at Cavilam University in Vichy in 2005), two trips to New Caledonia (with two weeks in 2008 at CREIPAC) and one trip in 2009 to Tahiti (with a week of classes) have simply fanned the flames. Hazel spent several years in conversation classes through Central Coast Community College to develop fluency in the language. In 2009, she completed Honours in French through Newcastle University.
Retiring from full-time teaching last year, Hazel is now enrolled in a Research Higher Degree at Newcastle University, studying the works of French crime writer Georges Simenon and how the events of World War II influenced his writing. She enjoys travel, cooking, handcrafts, gardening, aviculture at an amateur level, and spending time with her grandchildren. She still teaches at High School on a casual basis, and has her own language business with German and French students at her home. She has a Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training, and brings a wealth of world experience to her teaching.