Wednesday, 2 August 2023

Grant Nichol

Katie HALL (Footscray) (10:03): I am very pleased today to be paying tribute to a teacher who changed my life, and I am very pleased to have the member for Monbulk in here with me as I acknowledge the remarkable 49 years of service to Upwey High from Grant Nichol. Grant started his career as a civil engineer with the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works. In mid-1978 he became a youth worker with the Uniting Church, focusing on camping, leadership training and social justice. In 1989 Grant started at Upwey High and never left. He was to stay for 49 years, and he will probably make it to 50 years because he says he cannot quit cold turkey and will be back to help with camps and emergency teaching.

Grant was no ordinary teacher. He organised every school camp, taking busloads of year 9 kids to Central Australia, and he seemed to enjoy it, remarkably. He is one of those people who remembers everyone’s name. He knows where all the students are working and travelling; he coordinates all the school reunions. Grant encouraged and believed in me. He encouraged my interest in politics over decades, from work experience in the Senate office of Jacinta Collins to the school strikes I went on, and now he comes out and hands out for me on election day. Grant Nichol is someone who has changed thousands of lives. Thank you, Grant.