Former Ballina High School teacher honoured
A former Ballina High School teacher and rugby league player is among four people from the Far North Coast who were awarded 2007 Director General’s Awards for Excellent Service to Public Education and Training recognising their outstanding contributions to education.
Greg Porter, now Head Teacher at Kingscliff High, was among 42 teachers in schools and TAFE NSW, volunteers and administrators presented with the awards by Michael Coutts-Trotter, Director-General of the NSW Department of Education and Training and Managing Director of TAFE NSW at a ceremony in Sydney.
Other local awards went to:
Colin Andrews, a Head Teacher at Kadina High School;
Christine Watson, a visual arts teacher at Wollumbin High School
Evelyn Webb, a literacy and numeracy teacher at TAFE NSW, North Coast Institute in Grafton.
The Department of Education said Greg Porter’s contribution to student outcomes and the ideals of public education at school, regional and State level has been and continues to be outstanding.
“Greg has contributed to school sport at all levels, in particular Combined High Schools Rugby League. As a Head Teacher Administration he has made valuable contributions to initiatives to enhance school procedures,” it said.
“He has devoted countless hours to enriching the lives of students in terms of the curriculum and on the sporting field. His students have achieved high academic results because of his quality teaching and his commitment to providing strong guidance and support. His commitment has lead to his being held in high regard by colleagues, students and parents.”
As a rugby league player, Mr Porter was blessed with great pace and was a star winger for Ballina in the Group One competition in the mid 1970s.
As well as teaching at Ballina High, he also coached the school’s First X111 rugby league team.
