IN just five weeks since Ben Hawthorne started as principal at Cohuna Consolidated School, he already has discovered both the school and wider Cohuna community are very friendly and community-orientated places.
Last week was Education Week and it gave the newcomer a chance to meet and interact with parents, friends and the wider Cohuna community.
Mr Hawthorne grew up in Nyah, attending Nyah Primary school then Swan Hill College before moving to Bendigo to undertake his university education.
After completing his tertiary education, he headed to Echuca and spent most of his teaching career in that area.
Mr Hawthorne said it was enjoyable getting closer to where he grew up and he was looking forward to settling into his new school in the long term.
“My wife, Sarah, is originally from Cohuna and she went to school here and her family is all still in town, so it is great for our two young kids,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to getting out in the community and to the footy on the weekends.
“We are heading up to Nyah in a couple of weeks to watch the Kangas and Nyah play and see some of the kids in action.
“Being the principal is a wonderful opportunity to get out there and get involved.”
The school has 150 students and was built in the 1970s to bring many of the area’s smaller schools together into a central location with the facilities of a bigger school.
Mr Hawthorne said the school had what he called the Goldilocks feel.
“It’s big enough to be able to offer anything that any big school can offer in the bigger towns, but small enough to have that real community feel where everyone knows everyone,” he said.
“For me as a teacher and a principal it is what I like most, the interaction with the people, as I am a people person. A big part of my week, I get to interact with people.
“The thing I have enjoyed most so far here at Cohuna Consolidated is the people and the students are amazing, they are so respectful and just good happy people.”
