Toongabbie Christian College

IAN LINEY Teacher 1989-1995 & 2001-2003 Parent 2001-2003

The Other Side Camps and excursions often leave a lasting impression on a young person’s life, so in 1989, when I was invited to travel with the School as we took that year’s musical, The Drover , on the road, I couldn’t refuse. The Drover , written by fellow teacher Joe Clark, depicted the gospel of Jesus in a uniquely Australian context. For this adventure, the road meant a five-and-a-half week tour of the USA, taking in Los Angeles (including Disneyland), Texas, Atlanta, Washington, Utah and Hawaii. There are many tales to tell and I have many wonderful memories of that time away but, more than the events, it is the people I remember most. One person burnt into my memory is the Principal, Rev Peter Hester. I was at the end of my first year of teaching and the boss was still very much a scary figure to me. Keep your head down and stay out of trouble was how I liked to play it. If the boss doesn’t have a need to see me for anything then, in my mind, that was a good thing. A number of staff and supervising adults travelled in that party along with 30-odd students. One of those staff just happened to be - the boss. I still hope to this day he isn’t aware of some of the incidents that took place, particularly in Hawaii! Anyway, back to Rev Peter Hester. I respectfully and fearfully did as I was told whenever in his presence. As a young teacher, I saw a busy Principal who was strict and not to be crossed. Then, midway through the trip I found myself billeted with him in a home in Salt Lake City. I also found myself feeling a little under the weather health wise. In fact, I don’t know what caused it, but I was really crook. Vomiting is never fun, nor is diarrhoea. Put them both together and you know you are having a bad day and, sadly, that was me. That man I feared and respected emptied my vomit buckets, provided water to sip on to prevent dehydration and cared for me through that illness like my own father would. I experienced the love and care of a kind and gentle man at a time when I desperately needed it. I knew Rev Peter Hester was a man of God and knew the Word of God, but for that time he was also the hands and feet of Jesus serving me in my hour of need. I had only ever seen the Principal; that day my eyes were opened and I saw a godly man full of the Holy Spirit, and I counted it a blessing to serve under him for a number of years before he eventually left TBCCS to retire.

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