Chris Coker and Phil Jones both received recognition for Excellent Service to Public Education and Training, from the Department of Education and Training’s Director-General Michael Coutts-Trotter, in a formal ceremony in Sydney last Wednesday.

They were accompanied by Tenterfield High School’s deputy principal Peter Willis, who was responsible for nominating the two.

“To get two award recipients from the same institution is very rare, but just a fantastic achievement,” Mr Willis said.

Although he knew he had two deserving candidates, Mr Willis said he could never be overconfident and was pleasantly surprised on receiving the news.

“Our candidates were as good as any of the others assembled at the awards ceremony,” he said.

In announcing the winners, Mr Coutts-Trotter said the list of recipients reflects the fact that an effective public education system depends on strong partnerships of parents, volunteers, other community members and educators, not just good practice within the schools themselves.

“Diverse as their roles and contributions are, they all have one thing in coming: they have made a commitment beyond the call of duty to giving children, young people and adults in our public schools and TAFE institutes education and training opportunities second to none.

“Their legacy will last the lifetime of those whose lives they have enriched.”

The citation for Mr Coker, THS’s general assistant, said, in part, that he had worked beyond the demands of his position to maintain and enhance the school environment, support school-based cultural events, mentor students at risk and provide back up assistance to student learning activities.

“Exhibiting a ‘no worries’ attitude, Chris is called upon any hour of the day or night for assistance, including dealing with flooded areas of the school after severe weather, vandalism incidents, driving a mini bus of students to distant sporting and cultural events, attending school camps and caring for animals in the school’s agriculture block.