General News
18 June, 2026
“O’Captain, my Captain,”
“The Heart of Clifton State High School,” Pete McKenzie, was farewelled at a stirring assembly to celebrate his 47 years at the school on Monday.
Half the town seemed to be in Clifton State High School’s hall for an assembly to farewell long time staff member, and heart of the school, Peter McKenzie.
Last week we sat down with him to get some insight into this community man.
At Monday’s assembly one could see Peter reflected in teary eyes, smiles, hugs and handshakes of the school that knows and loves him.
It’d be easy to understate or overlook Peter’s contributions from the outside, especially when most you ask can’t quite describe what it is that’s so special about think.
Over his 47 years he has been more than his role as a janitor and later School Facilities Officer, more than a first aid officer or a friendly smile around school.
What seems to be the case is that amongst his diligence, cheer and humility, Peter sees people.
Business Manager Carole Welch in her speech described how personal Peter was with everyone.
“It’s also hard to imagine someone getting to know over 250 staff members throughout the years, and in true Pete style he had nicknames for most of them,” she said.
But Richard Collyer summed up the man best when he gave background for his nickname for Pete.
“Sometimes I would quote the Whitman poem, ‘Captain my Captain’ not in the historical context of that poem, but in the context of that last scene from the Robin Williams film, ‘Dead Poets Society’, where his students give him the ultimate compliment - because such a compliment is well deserved for Pete,” he said.
“So, Captain, my captain - the time has come.
“I know retirement was a big and maybe even difficult decision there and I know that, like me, you always found there were hundreds of reasons not to retire,” Mr Collyer said.
School Vice Captain Charles Turkington shared a memory from when he was 8 and a bushfire was blazing about his family’s property.
He recalled Peter distracting him and one of his siblings from the terror of the fire, by telling them how a fire engine worked.
Mrs Welch described Pete as: “A community hero and heart of our school.”
Peter McKenzie was gifted a statuette of a heart on a plinth adorned with the words “Heart of the School”.
He was also gifted a painting of him at the school gates, in his fire captain uniform, with his Covid-era-hand sanitizer, his first aid kit and a big smile.
After the assembly Peter headed through a guard of honour, formed by staff and students.
It was no fast thing, as he had plenty of hugs, smiles and handshakes to make.
Much of this town won’t have known a Clifton State High School without Peter McKenzie - it’ll be plenty of years still until his name is forgotten.
“Oh, really good, beautiful day. Really good to have the kids perform. It was good to see so many people come. That was pretty special,” Peter said not long after the end of the assembly.
But beyond that, Pete was feeling somewhat begrudgingly about the fact that he had to retire.
“Oh, its a shame, but I’ve got to retire that’s it.
“I’d rather still be here.”
There’s no doubt that much of Clifton State High School wishes the same.
Monday morning was evidently a celebration of a man so true of character and genuine of heart that he couldn’t help but make this little community of Clifton a better place, just by being in it.
Great innings, Pete.
