Growing up nearly a lifetime ago – firstly in Eudlo, then Nambour and Maroochydore, most of my memories are a blur to me.
The clear memories are of the people who made an impression on me – people such as the police sergeant who kicked me in the backside with his size 10 boots for being a d*ckhead.
Schoolteachers who pulled me into gear also left a lasting impression.
To this day, I still remember the things they liked and didn’t like.
Jim Johnston, the headmaster at Eudlo, was a hard taskmaster but very fair.
If I played up, he would make me spend my lunch hour picking up pine cones.
Needless to say, I still know a lot about pine cones.
He had a thing about handwriting.
Now, every time I scrawl something down I think of him and then try and write it better.
That was nearly 60 years ago.
Another was Mrs Barber at Nambour who was small in stature but big in heart and made sure things were done in a correct and respectful manner.
She particularly liked hard workers, which I wasn’t.
But when I feel a bit slack, I often think of her, as well as Old Mate, of course, who hammers me and could somehow be related to Mrs Barber.
My point is, they left lasting memories: from the policeman to the teachers, plus plenty more.
They all had our wellbeing at heart to show us the right way.
I mention this because recently at my grandkids’ Talara Primary, principal Stephen Adams retired after 23 years there and I am sure he will leave a lasting impression on my two and the thousands of others who went to that fantastic school.
This is my seventh year of going to the school randomly on Pa Pa duty and seeing a principal who would be on crossing duty or herding cats in the parking lot on pick-up time, always with a smile and a hello.
He would always be there at school sports day doing whatever needed to be done, deeply respected by the kids and staff.
Teachers (and police for that manner) are taken for granted a lot of the time but plenty like me can still remember what part those people played in their lives.
Well done and thank you, Mr Adams.
Enjoy your retirement and be comfortable knowing you leave a lasting legacy.
Ashley Robinson is chairman of Sunshine Coast Falcons and Sunshine Coast Thunder Netball and a lifetime Sunshine Coast resident.
The opinions expressed are those of the author. These are not the views of the publishers.
