10 Jun 2020
What is the best thing about BCS and Bingara?
The best thing about my town is that it is a small caring community, which values its traditions and its people.
Our school may be a small one but the teachers and support staff are second to none, they make you feel you are worthy of whatever you choose to do in life, with a careers advisor who moves heaven and earth to get you into a traineeship or apprenticeship of your choosing. The smaller classes are great as you are given extra support you may not have in a bigger school plus the teachers actually care about you, probably because we are a small town and everybody knows and looks out for each other.
As children we were safe riding our bikes, swimming in the river, or going to friends’ places and I can guarantee if you done something wrong, the news would beat you home.
All of these things make me love where I live because it makes me feel safe and at home. Yeah maybe a small town is not for everyone but it has been for me my whole life. It gives me comfort knowing that I leave my home to go to another place I can now consider home as well. And you know what the best thing about this place is? The local people. Elderly or young, crazy funny, cool or kind, they're your people!
What is your favourite BCS tradition or memory?
There are many fond memories of school tradition, one being Thomson Cup. There was always a buzz of excitement of who was going to win the march and who would come up with the best theme, although Mr McGowan and marching practice was a total killjoy but we appreciated it in the end, especially when Laver won every year!
Anzac Day was very traditional, being able to march with pride as a school on the day and going to the RSL for a memorial service. This year was very different but the school still made it memorable. I was very proud to be able to share my thoughts of Anzac Day.
No student of BCS will ever forget Orange picking day, heading down to the RSL to commemorate the fallen but not being able to sit still, waiting for Mr Cole (or your principal) to give the ok to GO! Very exciting when you are young and just as great when we were older as we got to help all the infants climb up the trees to get the biggest, juiciest oranges. We would also collect baskets full to deliver to the hospital and the elderly in town. No one else does this anywhere and the whole town guard the oranges with their life until Orange picking day.
A great memory would be the high school trip to Tassie, a double decker bus loaded with Mr J, Mr McGowan, Ms Smith, Mum and accompanying (brave) parents, we headed to Tasmania for 2 weeks. We covered a lot of ground, seen amazing things, and laughed until tears ran down our cheeks. Who could forget someone eating Mr J’s specially prepared lunch! Or someone (dad) not only touching but picking up the stuffed Tasmanian devil with a clearly marked label DO NOT TOUCH next to it plus naming it “Stuffy”. We returned as a family for Lucie’s 18th and would love to go back, it is a beautiful spot in our own country.
Where are you now? Occupation?
Currently, I am in Richmond Sydney working for the RAAF as a Plumber, leading air rescue crew.
What are some of your achievements? School/ life/career?
My focus at school was footy and at the time I thought this to be a good idea; I played on the Westmont shield, Buckley shield, in the Schoolboys cup and North West side, also representing Group 19 for 4 years running. I was also on the School Representative Council through secondary. In year 11 I gained an apprenticeship with Geoff McCosker plumbing being school based, Geoff gave me a good start and for this, I am forever grateful. I completed 6 years of trade plumbing with TAFE New England covering all areas of specialty plumbing, roofing and draining. During my apprenticeship, I also worked for Paul Hagen and sons, contractors building the hospitals in Bingara, Warialda and Tingha. This gave me a good start in commercial plumbing, which became my focus. I have worked on many big projects in Tamworth, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast.
After finishing with Lazer Plumbing in Tamworth, after 9 years, I decided to travel to Scotland and work. I stayed over there for 12 months returning to Brisbane to work again on commercial projects. From a young age though, my heart lied with joining the defence force, so I applied for the RAAF as a qualified plumber, was successful with gaining entry and am now in Richmond.
What is an interesting fact about you? Places you have travelled
I love History, both ancient and modern, but I am passionate about ancient and this was my best subject at school. Mr J and I would talk for ages on different topics, he was an absolute legend of a teacher and I absorbed all he knew like a sponge.
I have travelled to Tasmania, Scotland and England and if you love history I would highly recommend the highlands in Scotland, and Tasmania.
Do you have any words of wisdom for the students?
Find something you like doing or want to do, grab it with both hands and have a go. Your teachers are there to listen to you, and to guide you, and believe it or not they get great satisfaction out of your achievements. One of the most important traits to develop when you’re in school is dependability. If you say you will do something, do it. Make it impossible to forget things, like submitting homework, bringing your book to school, or asking your parents to sign a consent form. Use a diary, a sticky note or an app to ensure that you don’t forget. Be dependable. I have found these are great tools and you will soon learn that not only at school but also with work, your diary is your bible and dependability is priceless (thanks mum).
Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
Don’t feel as if you need to have it all figured out at a young age you will be old soon enough. As a teenager, I used to think that I would have everything figured out by the time I finished school. But I still don’t feel as if I have everything figured out, and I don’t think I ever will. Life is a continual journey of learning and maturing so my advice would be, learn to enjoy the journey.
