During the time that he was a teacher, master, deputy principal and principal of Goulburn High, from 1948 to 1988, more than 18,000 students passed through the school and almost 500 teachers.

His funeral at the Uniting Church was a fitting farewell and a reflection of the life a mentor, guide, colleague, mate, life skills coach, father, grandfather and great grandfather.

Close friend, work colleague and one time class mate, Ron Butterworth honoured a promise made several years ago to Jack, that he would conduct his funeral service if it was held in the Uniting Church and he was still around to do so.

Even the words of the hymns chosen, reflected the life that Jack Plews enjoyed sharing with others.

The tributes to Jack, prepared by his daughters Anne Kearney, and Jenny Isbel and former Trinity College Headmaster Joe Steyns could only touch on his life of 89 years.

Jack was the youngest of 10 children to Ernerst and Mary Plews, born in Gunning on April 14, 1923.

Life was tough growing up during the depression, but his parents realised the value of a good education and his father had apparently taught him to read and write even before he went to school.

He attended Gunning Public School from 1929 to 1935 and was dux in 1935. He won a bursary that enabled him to attend Goulburn High School. It was in 1936 at Goulburn High that he met Ron Butterworth. Jack would catch the 4.30am steam train from Gunning on Mondays, boarded in Goulburn during the week and would return home on the 5.30pm steam train on Fridays. He went on to become dux and school captain of Goulburn High in 1940.

The following year he started studying at the University of Sydney however this was interrupted by World War Two.

Following the end of his army service, Jack completed his Bachelor of Arts and Diploma of Education.

He married Joyce in 1946 and made a promise to bring up their children as Catholics. He had a great respect for the Sisters of Mercy and the Christian Brothers and was on the board of OLMC Goulburn in the 1950s and 60s and president of St Patrick’s College Goulburn Parents and Friends from 1962 to 1980.

Jack’s love of bushwalking, kayaking, hiking and swimming was not only passed on to his children but formed the basis of the Goulburn High School Oallen Ford camps. He and Ross Banwell enjoyed taking education beyond the classroom teaching skills that they would use in later life.

The influence Jack Plews had on the lives of those who knew him was evident by the wide cross section of the community who attended his funeral.

Former students, teachers and politicians and past and present, including former NSW Assistant Minister for Education (1965 to 1972) and later Federal Education Minister to the Fraser Government, Goulburn born, Wal Fife and his wife, Marcia. There were several past Goulburn High School principals.

People even travelled from interstate including former student Rod Wooley from Melbourne, who credits Mr Plews with encouraging him in the joys of cryptic crosswords.

Mr Wooley saw national service in the Australian Navy and went on to forge a career in journalism including working for The Australian, The Financial Times in London, and the BBC and ABC as their Middle East Correspondent.

Jack was highly decorated and bestowed with many honours. He was named Goulburn’s Citizen of the year in 1982; awarded the NSW Police Award in 1985; the service to children award in 1986; received Public Service Award in 1988; the NSW Premier’s Award and NSW Government Service Award in 1989; and the NSW Service medallion in 1992.

In 2001, the Governor General presented him with the Centenary of Federation Award and in 2006 he was made a member of the Order of Australia, Senior Division (AM).

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