22 Sep 2017
The Legacy of Great Hawkesbury Public Schools - Luke O'Brien, Principal at Ebenezer Public School
It had been a busy day again. Being a principal can be a juggle. A Kindy mum approached me.
She told me her boy had told her that he now wanted to be a principal when he grew up.
I found it hard to make the leap to really appreciate what she had said. My natural reaction was to think ‘what on earth for?' Then I began to think.
I remember wanting to be a principal when I grew up too.
Mr Harold and Mr Small were our primary school principals at Berrilee Public School in the late 70s and early 80s. It closed in the 1990s with an enrolment of 2. In its heyday it peaked at 30.
They and the staff created a safe, gentle environment where children from the far tendrils of the Hawkesbury Valley could learn to become resilient, reflective adults. It was so much fun too. A haven away from whatever difficulties life was throwing at me where I could learn unhindered.
I looked up to those principals as this boy looks up to me now.
One of the biggest desires I had since then was to have something to do with helping kids grow. It had a lot to do with the teachers and school leaders who surrounded me as a student and as a teacher myself.
Somehow, after travelling across Australia to teach, slowly discovering myself and ourselves as a family, I found myself landing a job at beautiful Ebenezer Public School.
Now I have the responsibility to carry on the legacy of those I looked up to, a legacy of great, naturally-gifted educators, some of whom came together at this year's 40th Ebenezer Art Show to celebrate teaching here.
I was able to tell them the kids are still great and the school is thriving. I am also able to look back at what that kindy boy said to me and really get it. Places like Ebenezer Public School are cherished inclusive community havens that have a profound impact on our young people. The leaders, teachers and communities in the Hawkesbury have created and continue to nurture great schools.