Brian Debus has been announced as this year’s ambassador and many may remember him for his days spent as principal at Wamoon Public School, Parkview Public School and even Griffith Public School.

Mr Debus was trained at Newcastle Teachers College 1960-61 and started his teaching at Bankstown West at the age of 18.

After this he went west to Wanaaring and Louth in charge of one teacher schools.

Returning to Sydney he spent four years at Cooinda Special teaching up to 12 boys with multiple disabilities.

During this time he married his wife Tricia and had two girls Sasha and Tara, with born at Wagga Base Hospital.

Brian received his first promotion to Henty Central School and then took up his first principalship at Wamoon.

During this time he worked to achieve his BA degree over five years through the University of New England.

He majored in politics and education. Professor Colin Tatz engendered in him a passion for Aboriginal Education, which he pursued in his next appointment at Wilcannia Central School and through his teaching career.

Changing pace and environment Mr Debus was appointed as the principal of Narooma Public School on the far coast of NSW where he stayed for 12 years.

After finding the cultural scene there challenging he established a theatre group for 12 years, which presented shows up to two or three times a year.

Mr Debus both directed and “acted” in various productions. His most exciting role was Jack Jack in the Spring Heeled Terror of Stepheney Green where sustained three broken ribs while leaping from the grave yard over a tall building.

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His teaching accolades continued when he was appointed as region chairman to review performance in schools for the South Coast and Canberra which he continued as Riverina chairman on his next appointment.

Mr Debus was appointed briefly in 1991 to Parkview Public School before being appointed as principal of Griffith Public. During this time he became involved in primary principals affairs being three times elected as Griffith district and state councillor and state treasurer 2001-02.

During this time he worked with the principals of the high schools to fully integrate Kalinda Special School (where his wife was principal). He retired at the end of 2002.

Being retired for two-and-a-half years, Mr Debus was enticed back to schools as principal of Menindee Central.

He gained a post graduate certificate in quality education in 2006-07 from the University of Newcastle.

At that stage the school was seen as failing.

During the next seven-and-a-half years things changed:

Mr Debus retired from Menindee at the end of 2012

At Menindee he established a partnership with a large Sydney primary school.

This has grown into the City Country Alliance covering 58 schools joining rich multicultural schools on the north shore of Sydney isolated country schools in the north, far and south west schools.

Mr Debus continues to enjoy surfing and snow skiing and is a subscriber to the Sydney Theatre Company and Ensemble Theatre.