Alan said in his retirement speech,

“The past forty years have been an interesting journey for me, probably not so much for my daughter Alyssa who was dragged from one end of the state to the other and back again.”

“But we did live in some interesting places”.

After starting his career at Whalan Public School in 1977 he went from there to Wallacia.

In 1987 he received a promotion and went to Broken Hill as the assistant principal, at what Alan called the most interesting school in the state -School of the Air (SOTA).

In 1989 Alan moved on to Mudgee Public School as deputy principal. It was then he realized that he was entrenched in the country and doubted he would ever move back to the city full time.

In 1995 he moved to Rylstone as principal for three years and was then anxious to move on to the next step in his career.

It was Gulgong’s gain when in 1998 Alan took up the position of principal of the Gulgong Public School where he has remained for the past 20 years.

“A lot of very good things have happened and been done. Great staff have passed through,” he said.

“Excellent students and very supportive parents and community have been features of the last twenty years for me.”

Alan over the past twenty years has become an integral part of the Gulgong Community. He is always first to lend a hand when needed.

He has been very active in community events such as the Henry Lawson Festival Weekend and usually leads the parade with his students all dressed in traditional dress of the gold rush days.

He is also seen at the festival with his Paparazzi group, whom Alan has encouraged to become accomplished photographers, taking “Old Time Photos”.

I am sure I speak for the whole community of Gulgong when I say “Thank you Alan for everything you have done for the children and Gulgong itself.

Congratulations, may you have many years of retirement enjoyment.

To follow other news from our beautiful school visit www.gulgong-p.schools.nsw.edu.au.