Thank you Gordon!

After over 20 years of keeping our ENPS community safe crossing McCulloch Street, our favourite crossing guard, Gordon Bell, retired on Friday 11th October. Unfortunately, Gordon has been unwell since his announcement, so we haven't had the opportunity to send him off in style and express our love and appreciation for all he has contributed to ENPS over the years, however when he is up to it, we will certainly let him know with a special assembly and farewell. 

McCulloch Street without Gordon's daily vigilance and warm hello is hard to imagine, but thankfully we'll still see him around ENPS at school events, perhaps volunteering as a classroom speaker, or stopping for a friendly chat on local footpaths. It's the end of a truly wonderful era on the crossing, not a goodbye. Gordon will continue to be a treasured member of our community and forever loved by ENPS students, families and staff. 

We'll keep you posted about a very special assembly send-off for Gordon. In the meantime, we chatted with this local legend about how he found his way to ENPS, and into our hearts...

An Interview with Gordon Bell

When did you start as a crossing guard at ENPS?

2002 or 2003, I’m not exactly sure but it was about then. 20+ years.

Were you a crossing guard anywhere else before our school?

I did a day here and a day there down at Lincoln Street, but this was my permanent school.

And what made you decide to take on the role all those years ago?

I lived just down the street and used to talk to the previous crossing guard. She was leaving, and asked "Would you like the job?” and I said “Yeah I’d love it”, and that’s what started it all.

I did the crossing guard role, and did about two, maybe three years in before and after care, when Camp Australia was there. It was terrific. I also did the school’s maintenance for about 15 years. I’d start at 7am in the morning, and open the school up, classrooms, gates, made sure everything was working, you know.. doors were open, everything like that, ready for the teachers. It was two of us then, Jike Jones and myself. Then I’d do the before care, and then at 8 o’clock I went out and did the school crossing. And then I'd come back and do the school maintenance. Then I did it in the afternoon again of course.

I used to do all the general maintenance, fix the plumbing, chop the grass, chop up everything, anything that was necessary… whatever they asked me I just went and did. We used to have to mow the old oval, we had an old ride on mower but it did the job. I finished up doing maintenance when I was 70, 13 years ago now… I stopped when the maintenance system changed. I've seen a lot of changes at the school, there's the upstairs, the library and all that, the new oval of course. Putting the hall in was a big building and a lot of work, we moved a lot of trees for that. We've had a bit of fun.

As a crossing guard, have you always been on McCulloch Street, or did you ever try your hand at Gillies Street or Keilor Road?

I didn’t want to do Keilor Road, it’s too dangerous, so I just stuck to McCulloch Street for 20+ years. The new crossing guard on McCulloch seems very nice too. But I haven’t yet had the chance to tell her to stop the traffic for staff when they're exiting the car park!

How did Gordon Bell spend his time prior to ENPS?

I did many years in general maintenance at the airport but had an injury and had to retire in 1987, and went to Seymour and spent a couple of years up there. I also had a hotel/motel down in between Portland and Mt Gambier, at a place called Dartmoor for some years, but had a couple of heart attacks and moved back to Melbourne, and got work with the school. Having the set of hotel/motels was probably 16-18 hours a day, and pretty hard because it was only a small little village, around 450 people including the farmers, but I enjoyed it. 

I also worked for Flemington Racecourse and Moonee Valley Racecourse for 15 years in the members area and also the float cart. But I finished up there when my wife got sick around 2018.

So you worked at the races on weekends and Friday nights, and as crossing guard at ENPS during the week? 

Yep, that's right. I think I only missed three race meetings in all the years I was there. 

Sounds like you like to keep busy! Any retirement plans?

As soon as I get better I’ll be heading up the Murray! I love it up there. Corowa, Wangaratta, Echuca, any of those places I just love it. I visit Echuca three times a year. I’ve travelled Australia fairly well, I’ve been in every state and every territory at different times, but haven’t been to Far North Queensland. Been down to Tassie quite a lot, and around Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia. Haven’t toured a lot in Queensland, that’s the only thing. I’ve been up to the Northern Territory, I went to Tennant Creek, I went to Alice Springs, I haven’t been to Darwin but I’ve been to a lot of other places. 

Perhaps Far North QLD could be on your retirement list?

It sure is. I’ve been told it’s magic up there and I’d like to get to Port Douglas and see what it’s all about.

So was there ever anything unusual, entertaining, or perhaps any big drama on the McCulloch St crossing?

I think the only thing I haven’t stood out in is snow. I’ve been in hot sun, rain, hail, but not snow. It’s been bloody close though! But no I don’t think there was ever any dramas, I loved it and had lots of fun with different mums and dads. They always invited me everywhere and looked after me. They really have been tremendous people, and the school has been tremendous. I love that it’s a very diverse school too, it’s extraordinary. As for Kate, I just love Kate - she’s one out of the box. Kate put the community back into that school, and it’s just magic. This is why I love the place so much, because of what’s been done to get the school back to what it was… movie nights on the lawn and other events, it brings the community together and makes everyone feel welcome. And that’s what Kate did, it took her some time to put things in place, but when she’s done it, she’s done it. I have a lot of time for Kate.

So many of our ENPS families express heartfelt gratitude for your service as crossing guard. You've kept thousands of children safe over the years! Do you ever bump into any past families?

There have been lots of years and lots of great families, and I’ve had a very lovely time. I’ve never had a cheeky student or anything like that. Everyone has been great, the staff, the families and the pupils. I do see past families sometimes. I have had some students come back to me after 15 years ago to say hello again, from different places and different jobs… most of them come back and say “Oh you’re still here?”. I say “Yeah, yeah, I’m still here”. 

Do you recognise them?

I do! I forget a few of their names or faces these days, but as soon as they say who they are yep, I remember them, and their mums and dads.

But you really do remember SO many names! What’s your secret? 

I don’t know. I was always pretty good with names, so once we’d spoken a few times, once it went in there, I could remember. It’s getting a bit vague now, because I’m getting a bit older, sometimes it’s a bit foggy. But I have a lot of friends there, it’s very very good. I’m very pleased. 

It’s remarkable how you’ve connected with families so easily. Even though you didn’t have time to stop for a long chat, you always managed to form a connection with people in just a quick passing.

It’s really about the kids. I get the opportunity to be standing there as part of their school journey, they see me at the start of their school day, happy, with a smile, a hello and giving them a high five. And I get to send them off home the same way, at the end of the day. I think that's very important for kids. It's been a joy, I love it, and it’s one of the best jobs I’ve ever had. I’ve had a few jobs, but this has been the most fulfilling, and the most rewarding. 

You’re truly one in a million Gordon and it won’t be the same without you on McCulloch Street. It helps us to know that this isn’t goodbye - you’re just retiring from the crossing guard role. We’ll still see you around school and the community.

Yes I’ll be around, I’m close by and I’ll still be doing things and chatting to the mums and dads and teachers. Sometimes I pop into the classroom to talk to kids and bring in old items to show them stuff, things that they haven’t seen before. I’ll probably be doing a bit of that. The Keilor East RSL Dawn Service is very important to me, I often led the school kids in for that. I was pretty well in with the RSL and I used to do a lot for them on ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day, and I hope to be doing that again. 

We can’t wait to give you a special send-off when you’re on the mend, but it will be bittersweet as you are so very loved by our community! We'll need plenty of tissues on hand. 

It’s going to be very hard to say goodbye. And very emotional. We might need to get towels instead of tissues!

Do you have any words you’d like to say to our staff and the ENPS community?

Geez, that’s probably the hardest thing, the hardest. There’s Ange Collins, Sue Elsbury, Carole Upton, Craig Mather, they’ve all been there as long as I have, there’s others too I think. It’s an incredible school, from the principals, to the office staff, the teachers, the parents and grandparents, and all others… but the biggest thing I think, is the pupils. They’re the ones I really love. I love all the rest of them too, but I really love dealing with all the kids. I really love that. 

We love you too Gordon. 

Thank you for keeping us safe, and congratulations on your well earned retirement!