Kyabram’s educators, community leaders and sporting groups have combined to pay tribute to former Kyabram P-12 College principal Lindsay Cooper.
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Mr Cooper, who died on December 18 at the age of 65 after a two-year battle with cancer, was principal at the college from 1997 until 2009.
His wife, Helen, said he was teaching right up until November last year, via Zoom, helping students be the best they could be.
Lindsay is survived by his children Jodie, Brent and Jason, step-children Ryan (wife Hannah) and Kristy (partner Ben) and grandkids Zoe and Jack.
“Coops”, as he was described by colleague Mick Walsh, was a “supportive, creative and dynamic leader” and “a principal who always had the best interests of the students at heart”.
He began his teaching career at Traralgon and Morwell, in 1978-79. Appointments at Kealba Secondary College and Sale Secondary College followed before two years with the VSTA as assistant secretary.
After briefly returning to Sale he was principal at Nathalia Secondary College in 1993 and then vice-principal at Niddrie (now Rosehill Secondary College).
Following his time at Kyabram he worked until 2021 at Carey Grammar and Marymede College.
In explaining Mr Cooper’s perspectives on education, Mr Walsh said, “His perspectives made a lot of us in Ky start thinking about what we were doing, and why. Ky was already a great school with our students achieving impressive results, but Lindsay got us wondering how could we grow further.”
Mr Walsh said under Mr Cooper’s leadership, the staff learned to accept setbacks, celebrate little wins, learn from failures and relish successes.
“Lindsay was always on the ‘even better’ voyage for our school, seeking change which would deliver growth, and he both encouraged us and led from the front as we went in pursuit of it,” he said.
“It was akin to what it would have been like to live in the days of the Renaissance. Coops was like Galileo, DaVinci and Copernicus all rolled up into one. And it became quickly apparent that Lindsay was a leader who knew the difference between a human being and being human; people came first and he valued his students and colleagues.”
Judy Greer said Mr Cooper had a vision for how the school would need to be ready for the changes that were needed to prepare for the 21st century.
“His emphasis was on the diverse needs and aspirations of each individual that made up the student and teaching population,” she said.
“He believed KSC had an exciting future and that it was best that everyone took part in ensuring that it was everyone's preferred future.
“Developing community links was another of Lindsay's passions. He joined with Bob Drysdale to plant the school's Lone Pine tree in September 1998. The Lone Pine ceremony has become a highlight of the school year to this day. Lindsay always made sure that an interesting speaker was available each year.”
She said by 2004, the KSC process for staff development was attracting interest across the state and to this day many of those members of staff who are still teaching, reflect on the challenges and opportunities afforded them by Lindsay's vision and enthusiasm.
“By 2004, Lindsay's dream for education in Kyabram, ‘Achieving Excellence Now and for the Future’, began to take shape,” she said.
“There was ministerial approval to plan a complete rebuild of Kyabram Secondary College facilities. Exploration of a new model of education in Kyabram began.
“The dream of a purpose-built school, based on three learning centres, did not come to fruition, but the rebuild of the College campus is continuing.”
Cheryl Sweeney described Mr Cooper as having “a vision and bucket loads of energy”.
“Lindsay was an inclusive leader and valued all his staff and encouraged his teaching and non-teaching staff to develop professionally and to go out of their comfort zones and embrace new challenges,” she said.
Long-time teacher Dave Slimmon referred to Mr Cooper as “social Lindsay”, describing him as a challenging and thoughtful school leader who treated everyone with respect.
Anne Puckey said Mr Cooper had scanned the world to find the best ideas and philosophies to engage students in curriculum that catered for their individual needs.
“He cared about students, not just cared for them,” she said.
“Lindsay was passionate about the pastoral needs of students, as well as their educational needs. He introduced programs that catered to all students’ dreams and aspirations, whether it be tertiary studies, vocational studies, apprenticeships or employment.”
Liz Spicer said Mr Cooper was a visionary man and the instigator, along with local ministries, in launching chaplaincy in Kyabram.
That program has now been extended to two chaplains and Mr Cooper facilitated many fundraisers with his own ideas.
“He would often give us ‘pep’ talks, which were more like mini sermons. That would surprise us all. He was fun and always had your best interests at heart,” Ms Spicer said.
“You could have words with him and he wouldn’t hold a grudge. I would say my best time in the last 21 years was under his leadership. He was a very caring man.”
Helen Walsh said in her many years of teaching she had “never met an innovative colleague and educational leader quite like Lindsay Cooper”.
She said he had a drive to “make things happen” and improve student learning in a way, and to a level, that she had not seen before.
“Lindsay believed in the importance of serving others, and upheld the values of respect and kindness, all from his own upbringing,” Mrs Walsh said.
Gavon Armstrong was involved with the establishment of a Lone Pine and watched on as Lindsay, in his role as Captain of Valley View Golf Club in 2001-02, successfully engaged local businesses to help bring his fundraising ideas to life.
Helen Armstrong retold a story of Mr Cooper, a keen cyclist, riding his bicycle from Kyabram to Axedale, to join the Year 7 students on camp.
“At first they thought he was a trickster who had just ridden down the drive from the front gate. Then they realised he really had ridden all that way, and thought he was crazy,” she said.
“It didn’t take any of us very long to work out that Lindsay always gave everything his best shot and expected the same from all of us.”
Mike Sweeney spoke of his contribution to the Kyabram cycling scene, explaining how he put his stamp on a ride that involved a small, but dedicated, group of cyclists.
He altered the long-held start of 6am to 5.40am and introduced listening to the racing tips while riding as a point of interest.
“On many occasions despite a route already being selected and agreed upon, Lindsay would turn up and modify all pre-determined plans,” Mr Sweeney said.
“Lindsay was great at arranging social cycling rides such as from Echuca to Port Fairy; numerous trips from Kyabram to Cobram as well as to Maryborough and all throughout central Victoria and along the Murray,” he said.
In 2009, along with a group of fellow Kyabram cyclists, he rode from Adelaide to Darwin raising in excess of $43,000 for prostate cancer research.
Doug Cobbledick said Mr Cooper’s organisation of in-services for schools in the Nathalia network made a lasting impact.
“Lindsay had a short stint as coach of Nathalia Football Club and for a time was on the committee at Picola FC. But his lasting contribution to sporting life in Nathalia was to Little Athletes. Lindsay was one of the driving forces in establishing Little Aths in Nathalia and we now have one of the strongest groups in the district,” Mr Cobbledick said.
Mr Cooper was in Nathalia a few years ago to open the new long and triple jump runway and dedicate it to the club’s longest serving member.
The Kyabram Secondary College motto Carpe Diem (seize the day) fittingly reflects Lindsay Cooper’s outlook on life.