51黑料

"Be open to possibilities and to things that may not be right in front of you.鈥�

Bright cherry red blazers, the basketball courts and footy fields, firm friendships and waking early on chilly Saturday mornings to play team sports 鈥� these are some of Cameron Agars鈥� earliest memories of Yarra.

鈥淭his place was a different world from primary school but I loved it. I came here with one friend but there were lots of opportunities to meet new people,鈥� he says.

Many of those opportunities were on the sports field. Cameron played basketball and did athletics and competed at district level.

鈥淚 loved being part of team sports. You each bring skills and complement each other.鈥�

Cameron wasn鈥檛 a fan of English Literature, but he enjoyed debating and public speaking 鈥� valuable skills as Principal of Mentone Park Primary School.

鈥淎fter Year 12 I didn鈥檛 think I鈥檇 be a school principal, but I鈥檓 so glad that I am where I am. In my later years at Yarra and at uni I did sciences and was looking at physiotherapy, but I changed direction.鈥�

Some significant challenges faced by his family influenced Cameron鈥檚 pathway. After his younger brother was involved in a car accident, Cameron began volunteering to help people with disabilities and acquired brain injuries.

About 18 months later, his father died suddenly of a heart attack.

鈥淚 knew I couldn鈥檛 bring my Dad back but I could help other people. You have to work with the cards you are dealt. You can cry, but then you have to look at what you can change that doesn鈥檛 involve blaming someone else for what has happened or asking 鈥榳hy me鈥�,鈥� he says.

Cameron became an integration aide and realised the classroom was where he gained the greatest sense of reward. He returned to study and became a primary school teacher.

鈥淎s an integration aide, I worked with an autistic boy in Prep and I realised that, through teaching, you could help people and make a broader difference. Now I鈥檓 at a school with 250 kids and 200 families and the parents are very involved with the school. My door is always open and when we see a need or an issue, we deal with it.

鈥�2020 was a year like no other and emphasised that student wellbeing must always be the priority. In 2021 we want to embed more flexible learning for the students and that鈥檚 an exciting development to be part of.鈥�

Cameron鈥檚 memories of Yarra are positive ones and he encourages current students to take heed of the school motto.

鈥淗ave an open mind, listen to what is happening around you and then create your own journey,鈥� he says.