Teacher was an inspiration

JOHN Barkla was introduced as ‘exactly what Berwick Secondary College needed’ when he first arrived.
John Hammill Barkla became Berwick Secondary College (BSC) principal in 1983 and served the school until 1986.
Mr Barkla, who passed away on Wednesday, 15 February, did not disappoint those who showed their faith in him.
A school eulogy showed that the college community was saddened by his passing after a short illness, but grateful for his presence.
“He was the fourth principal,” it said.
“The college’s condolences are extended to his family and his wife Anne at this time.
“It is often difficult to quantify the contribution made by those who lead but in John’s case it is simple.”
Prior to his arrival at the end of 1982 student welfare coordinator Elisabeth Drake reported: “I have just met the new principal and he is exactly what the school needs.”
These turned out to be prophetic words which were borne out in fact.
To encapsulate the contribution that a person like John Barkla made as principal one incident epitomised the man.
After a school assembly in the Berwick Leisure Centre a small year seven student, Janine Daniels, spied her principal, walked up to him and wrapped her arms around him to give him a loving hug.
John Barkla reached out to many students and as with Janine, he made a wonderful connection.
All the students were keen to talk to him on his lunchtime sojourns around the playground but precious few wanted to end up in his office if they had done the wrong thing.
It was this ability to reach people, both students and staff, which highlighted the impact he made at Berwick Secondary College.
John arrived in 1983 from Colac High School after a stint at Mirboo North as principal.
It was a baptism of fire at Berwick.
A few days after entertaining all the staff at his Upper Beaconsfield home the Ash Wednesday bushfires raged through the district changing the lives of the college’s community forever.
This highly compassionate principal responded by organising a moving memorial service in the leisure centre, providing the whole school with an outlet for its expression of grief over the loss of two students who perished in the conflagration.
This also brought the school together as it shared the losses felt by many families during the tragedy.
John oversaw the school’s growth and guided its development.
He instituted innovative curriculum change, initiated presentation nights and supervised the construction of stage three including the PAC.
Asked in a school magazine interview in 1983: “Do you think Berwick High School is a good school to come to?” he replied: “I think students coming to BHS have a lot of advantages — some excellent facilities… very good teachers who care for the kids and lots of opportunities to develop new interests.”
John Barkla only spent four years leading the college, but his influence was immeasurable.
He treated the students and the staff with the same measure of humanity.
Unfortunately, he was forced to retire through stress and ill health.
Later he managed retirement villages in Patterson Lakes with Anne.
His friends said his warmth and empathy must have inspired many of those he met after leaving his career as an educator and that Berwick was fortunate to have experienced such a wellloved leader.