Brian William Debus OAM, passed away peacefully on Thursday 13 January while spending Christmas with his family in Brisbane.

Brian was a unique character, many would say ‘one of a kind’ or ‘one in a million’. He remained a relentless and staunch advocate for public education, equality and social justice throughout his 50 years with the NSW Department of Education.

Born in Sydney in 1943, Brian attended Bankstown Central Public School and Punchbowl Boys High School. After completing his training at Newcastle Teachers College, he began his teaching career at Bankstown West Public School in 1962 at just 18 years of age.

Brian’s love of rural and remote teaching began in 1965 when working at both Wanaaring Public School and Louth Public School.

Brian returned to Sydney as ‘Teacher in Charge’, to take on the challenge of Cooinda SSP in Fairfield. With no published curriculum or programs, his innovation and ingenuity became the keys to creating successful pathways for teenage boys with disabilities. Reward came at the end of four years with inspection and his first promotion. Brian was made Deputy Master at Henty Public School before attaining his first Principal appointment at Wamoon Public School, a two teacher school on the outskirts of Leeton in 1974.

Eager to lead a school with a high indigenous population, Brian sought and gained appointment to Wilcannia Central School in 1976. Brian worked passionately to expand the experiences of isolated students. He persuaded the NSW Department of Education to allow the school to buy a bus. This was a real breakthrough and thereafter opened the doors of opportunity and travel experience for all regional and remote NSW students.

Brian was the Principal of Narooma Public School from 1979 - 1990. In Narooma, he re-established a local theatre group which had been in recess for many years. This continued over twelve years and performances ran two or three times a year. He was a set designer, director and actor in various productions that were linked to HSC subjects.

In 1991, Brian was appointed Principal of Griffith Public School and remained there until retiring (the first time) in 2002. During this period, his school received three Director General Awards for Excellence in Community Engagement, Multicultural Activities and Community Integration.

After a brief retirement 2002 - 2005, Brian returned to education as Principal of Menindee Central School in 2005, a small K-12 school in Far West NSW. He remained there until 2013. During this tenure, his passion for indigenous education flourished. Working closely with the local aboriginal community, he co-developed a strategy to address attendance rates, build cultural affirmation, make learning significant and engaging, increase HSC completion and create career and educational pathways.

Achievements:

• Griffith and Broken Hill PPC President, State Delegate and member, NSWPPA State Treasurer and Executive and NSWSPC Finance Committee delegate
• Regional Chairman to review Performances in Schools, South Coast and Riverina
• 2003 awarded Life Membership of the NSWPPA in recognition of his outstanding contributions to public education and the Association
• 2009 awarded the O’Farrell Fellowship by NSW Department of Education and NSWPPA to study Indigenous Education in USA
• 2010 founded what developed into the City Country Alliance of Schools (CCAS)
• 2012 awarded the NSWPPA State Social Justice Award
• 2016 honoured by the Australian College of Educators
• NSWPPA Professional Award for significant contribution to the Professional Development of colleague Principals at the School, Area and State level
• Awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours for his outstanding service and work with the Menindee community
• 2017 – current, selected by Australia Day Council (NSW) to be an annual Australia Day Ambassador

Brian was politically savvy and relentlessly persistent in fighting for policy change, funding support and building partnerships that could address inequity. His tenacity usually won out, and students, teachers and principals were inevitably the beneficiaries. An ideas man, Brian modelled to school communities and associations to ‘dream big’ and to keep ‘thinking outside the box’. He was a champion of making a difference!

A great friend and colleague to many, many people, Brian will be sadly missed by all.

Brian is survived by Tricia, their children Sasha and Tara, and grandchildren, Oskar, Hugo and Iris.

Due to the current COVID circumstances, the family have undertaken a private cremation and will look to coordinate a memorial service later in 2022.