School Council News

You might be aware that one of the parents in our school, Gary Baum, recently passed away. It is important that we pause for a moment out of respect, to remember and to reflect. 

While I didn’t know Gary well, we did happen to find ourselves sitting next to one another at a dinner earlier this year. Gary was immediately engaging and interesting to talk to. He was open and warm, and I found it very easy to chat with him. We shared a conversation about being dads and about being husbands. I heard about his life back in South Africa, how he had moved to Australia with his family, and we talked about finding the balance in work and life. I heard about his children, Sienna and Kiara, and got to spend a little time with Gary’s wife, Leanne. It was a really enjoyable evening because of the conversation we had together.

There are many in our community who were close with Gary, and I am assured that support and kindness is being wrapped around his family. Talking with Rohan, I know that the school is doing what it can to provide support as well.

Even with all of this, I can only feel it is heartbreaking that we have lost someone from within our own community.  

Gary’s passing reminds me that we don’t always know what is going on in peoples’ lives, and we don’t always know how they are handling the constant challenges of the everyday. While not a gender issue, unfortunately, it is well documented that men are particularly poor at sharing their feelings and making space for connection. So, again, I encourage you to please make the extra effort to reach out to one another, to check in and to have a conversation. I understand that Rohan will have more to say in this regard shortly.

As always, please feel free to contact me if I can help in any way – 0414 834 645.

To better times,

Danny Benjamin

School Council President

0414 834 645