Liam McNally
At 66 years old, Gerard Darcy said most of his mates he went to uni with have retired, but this year he is being recognised for his 40th year as a teacher, and 33rd at Melton Secondary College.
He said that although his brain is almost “at its limit” for the amount of names it can remember, it’s getting the kids outside the school for physical education activities that keeps him in his job.
“That’s one of the reasons I’ve been able to teach for so long… that gets me outside the classroom and enables me to work with kids from a totally different perspective,” he said.
Mr Darcy has a long list of sport teaching highlights, his role as Melton Secondary sports coordinator, School Sports Victoria (SSV) Western Ranges Secondary Division coordinator, being awarded the SSV teacher of the year 2013, Managing the Victorian 13 year-olds athletic team at the Pacific School Games, and being team liaison for Tongan team, and Victorian Country Schoolboys Football team assistant manager.
More recently, he was also integral to establishing the new oval for Melton Secondary.
He also still appreciates interacting with students around the school and telling them “dad jokes”.
“I love it when the kids come up for a chat while you’re on yard duty,” he said.
“Some have really complicated lives, just being someone to talk to is a really important part of the job.
“They see you as someone important in their lives, and that in itself is important. We are role models for the kids and it’s important we treat that with respect and honesty.”
On May 21, Mr Darcy was recognised for his efforts at an event at Pullman on the Park, where he was presented with a certificate by Education Minister Natalie Hutchins.
“It was very humbling… our job it’s a lot of hard work, it’s a lot of perseverance…The award is a recognition of that and a tribute to my three kids who have been there the whole way.”
