The long-standing President of Port Macquarie Teachers Association, Mike Trotter, has been awarded Life Membership of the local association.
The award was made known at last Friday evening’s traditional Welcome Back to School Barbecue held at the Flynns Beach Surf Life Saving Club.
Mr Trotter was presented with a badge by General Secretary of the NSW Teachers Federation Jenny Diamond, who was special guest at the event.
Ms Diamond said the award of life membership to Mr Trotter was a fitting tribute.
“This fact was recognised at last Wednesday evening’s Unions NSW meeting when the Port Macquarie Association was identified as a leader in the field,” she said.
“All of us here tonight can point to the fact that much of this is as a result of the hard work of Mike and his executive team.
“However, and most importantly, the fact that the local executive can count on the support of the over three hundred strong informed association members who clearly understand the need to advocate and support campaigns which directly affect the wider membership, makes this association a leader in advocacy of educational and worker rights issues,” Ms Diamond said.
Mr Trotter has been President of the Association for seven years and is a Generalist Teacher at Westport High School where he has taught for over 20 years, including 15 years as Sports Organiser.
Mr Trotter has also participated on the State Council of the NSW Teachers Federation.
As a state councilor, Mr Trotter has had significant input into state education issues.
Mr Trotter said he was stunned and humbled by the news.
“The highlights of my term, for me, were the driving of the Public Education agenda at the local level during the various State and Federal election campaigns over the last decade, confronting Julia Gillard as then Education Minister over the Newman College and the proposed creation of a Trade Training Centre in Port Macquarie, and the positive feelings I gained by working with other association activists to ensure that as many of our local members were kept as informed and involved as possible in our campaigns,” he said.
“Port Macquarie Association is undergoing a generational change and with my pending retirement I will follow with interest the continuation of our tradition of activism by this association as referred to by General Secretary, Jenny Diamond. I believe that we will remain a positive advocate for Public Education in our community.
“Thanks to fellow life members, Wayne Webber and Ian Lawrence, also in attendance tonight.
“Finally, I would like to say how pleased I was to have my wife, Christine, and son, Daniel, and his partner, Cassie, with us here tonight.”
