A Farewell Message

It has been an immense honour to serve this beautiful community

Today, after 43 years of service in independent schools, and nine immensely rewarding years here at Kinross Wolaroi, the time has come to conclude my deeply satisfying career.

It closes a journey that has been the privilege of my life:  working with young people, with families and with communities in the noble endeavour of education.

From the very beginning of my career, one spent entirely in boarding schools, I have held firm to the belief:  that education is about far more than academic achievement alone.  It is about providing a holistic education that nurtures good character.

As educators I believe we must possess a vision for learning that encompasses all aspects of life.  Not just the intellectual, but also the social, cultural, physical and spiritual dimensions where educational experiences are deliberately structured to develop the whole person.

As Aristotle reminds us:

‘Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all’

I firmly believe we must inculcate within our students, our future generations, the notion of what it is to live a civilized life, one firmly based upon strong ethical values.  Though our world is rapidly changing, demanding new skills and presenting so much previously unknown opportunity, the core personal values that one must possess to lead a noble and good life remain steadfast.

These age-tested values are based around respect for the human dignity of all and being a person of fine character.

To have been entrusted with this responsibility has been both humbling and profoundly rewarding.

Throughout my years in this profession, and particularly during my time here, I have been surrounded by colleagues of the highest professionalism and dedication.

Teachers, boarding staff, sports coaches and all who work in support of our students, embody a spirit of service that is the bedrock of this school.  Nothing of what we celebrate today could have been achieved without their tireless commitment.  To them, I extend my deepest gratitude.

I must also pay tribute to the families who make up this remarkable community. Drawn largely from regional NSW, you are people who embody authenticity, resilience, and generosity of spirit.

You are grounded and hardworking, and it is little wonder that your children reflect those same qualities.  To partner with families who hold a well-rounded education in such esteem—not simply as a pathway to opportunity, but as a means of shaping character and instilling values—has been an honour.

The boarding context has always been a constant in my life and vocation.  There is something unique, and indeed very special, about the relationships forged in a boarding school.

Days and nights are shared, challenges and triumphs are lived together, and enduring bonds are formed.  Boarding instils resilience, independence, and an appreciation for community that lasts a lifetime.  To walk alongside generations of boarders in that journey has been a great joy in my personal and professional life.

As I step away, I do so with a profound sense of confidence in the future of this school.  Its foundations are strong: a commitment to holistic education, a belief in the importance of values, and a community spirit that is second to none.

I know that the young people who continue their journeys here will go out into the world well prepared—not only to succeed, but to contribute, to serve, and to live with purpose.

To have devoted my life to this work has been an extraordinary privilege.  I retire with gratitude—for the opportunities I have been given, for the friendships formed, and for the countless moments of joy that have marked my time in schools.  Above all, I retire with immense pride in the young people whose lives I have had the honour to share, however briefly, along the way.

To our students: you are the reason for everything we do.  My hope for you is that you carry forward the values instilled here; that you approach life with courage, gratitude, and integrity; and that you find joy in contributing to something larger than yourselves.

Finally, I wish to acknowledge my wife Josephine, whose unwavering support has been the foundation upon which my career has rested.  Her warmth, generosity, and wholehearted commitment to school life over the past 43 years have been remarkable.  From entertaining students, staff, and families in our home, to offering care and encouragement to those in our boarding House, to travelling the world on rugby tours and attending countless school events, she has shared fully in this life.

She has been my confidante and sounding board, my constant source of wisdom and perspective, and the steady centre of our family during the many years when my time was consumed by life at school, in the boarding house, or on the sports fields.

I owe her an immense debt of gratitude, and I could not have done any of this without her love, support and patience.

And finally, thank you—each of you—for your support, your trust, and your friendship.  It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve the Kinross Wolaroi School community.

Good luck and God Bless.

Farewell Messages from the Community