CRAIG WILSON '84

Craig is a father of four married to Karen for 28 years. All four of their children are currently studying to be primary school teachers.
Craig has been teaching in both private and government schools since 1988 and is currently principal at a school in Colac. He travels to Colac from Lara each day.
Craig attended St Bernards from 1979-1983 leaving in Year 11 to do Year 12 at Footscray TAFE. He has two distinct memories of his time at St Bernards: washing Bernie the wonder dog for Br Carey and on Wednesday afternoons for clubs - planting couch grass on the turf wickets for the Old Collegians Cricket Club. Apart from attending sporting events at St Bernards for his kids, he thinks this is the first time he has returned since 1983. Maybe its time to reconnect.
Craig has always believed in volunteering in the community in which he lives and although was never a footballer, he has loved the game. This love of football saw him serve as Assistant Coach of the Vic Primary Schools Football Team from 2005-2008, with about 30-40 players who were future draftees, ie Joe Daniher, Crouch brothers, Clayton Oliver, Devon Smith, McCartin and Dylan Shiel – he gets a great deal of joy watching these boys play. He has spent 6 years on the match committee at Werribee Football Club including 3 years Chairman of Selectors working with Donald McDonald, Chris Bond, Alistair Clarkson and Simon Atkins.
Despite all this time committed to his football duties, it was vitally important that he spent time with his own children and he therefore coached them in various sports including football, cricket and soccer. He loved spending time with them and also made every effort to assist with his daughters sporting interests although dancing concerts were never a highlight of his year. His mother would say it is just as important as the football. Ultimately, he had to give up the Vic team and Werribee Football Club as it was impacting on his involvement with his own children’s sporting activities.
Apart from family, his other commitment has been to education. Nearly 30 years of teaching at: Penleigh and Essendon Grammar, Westbourne Grammar School, Thomas Chirnside Primary School in Werribee, Wallington Primary School near Ocean Grove and now Colac West Primary School as Principal, has provided him with many highlights and some incredible lowlights- he still hates it when he has to sit in on DHS and SOCIT interviews with vulnerable children - but every kid needs a champion and someone they can trust. What has driven him to continue as a teacher for 30 years? Certainly, not the money and its not the holidays - its the belief that education is the key to success in life and that every child has the right to this key.
By the way he still remembers the school chant - Razaa, razaa
CHOSEN CHARITY: Salvation Army
Craig has been teaching in both private and government schools since 1988 and is currently principal at a school in Colac. He travels to Colac from Lara each day.
Craig attended St Bernards from 1979-1983 leaving in Year 11 to do Year 12 at Footscray TAFE. He has two distinct memories of his time at St Bernards: washing Bernie the wonder dog for Br Carey and on Wednesday afternoons for clubs - planting couch grass on the turf wickets for the Old Collegians Cricket Club. Apart from attending sporting events at St Bernards for his kids, he thinks this is the first time he has returned since 1983. Maybe its time to reconnect.
Craig has always believed in volunteering in the community in which he lives and although was never a footballer, he has loved the game. This love of football saw him serve as Assistant Coach of the Vic Primary Schools Football Team from 2005-2008, with about 30-40 players who were future draftees, ie Joe Daniher, Crouch brothers, Clayton Oliver, Devon Smith, McCartin and Dylan Shiel – he gets a great deal of joy watching these boys play. He has spent 6 years on the match committee at Werribee Football Club including 3 years Chairman of Selectors working with Donald McDonald, Chris Bond, Alistair Clarkson and Simon Atkins.
Despite all this time committed to his football duties, it was vitally important that he spent time with his own children and he therefore coached them in various sports including football, cricket and soccer. He loved spending time with them and also made every effort to assist with his daughters sporting interests although dancing concerts were never a highlight of his year. His mother would say it is just as important as the football. Ultimately, he had to give up the Vic team and Werribee Football Club as it was impacting on his involvement with his own children’s sporting activities.
Apart from family, his other commitment has been to education. Nearly 30 years of teaching at: Penleigh and Essendon Grammar, Westbourne Grammar School, Thomas Chirnside Primary School in Werribee, Wallington Primary School near Ocean Grove and now Colac West Primary School as Principal, has provided him with many highlights and some incredible lowlights- he still hates it when he has to sit in on DHS and SOCIT interviews with vulnerable children - but every kid needs a champion and someone they can trust. What has driven him to continue as a teacher for 30 years? Certainly, not the money and its not the holidays - its the belief that education is the key to success in life and that every child has the right to this key.
By the way he still remembers the school chant - Razaa, razaa
CHOSEN CHARITY: Salvation Army