Approaching the end of his 38-year career, Mr Ferris said he had mixed feelings.

“I still love stepping into a classroom; when I walk into a classroom, I like to think the students know I’m happy to be there and that’s where I want to be, in that space with them, helping them,” he said.

“But I think teaching is... a career that requires a certain amount of energy and as you get older, you know - that’s why I’ve enjoyed being part-time [the past 18 months].

“I’ll miss the company of really good students, and there’s thousands of them, they’re all lovely, and the company of the staff.

“I’m just hoping I’ll be a really good grandfather when I retire, and do more family things.”

Mr Ferris was 22 years old when he began teaching at the then-Marist Brothers’ College at Junortoun in 1979.

His influence as an educator then spread far beyond Bendigo: after a few years at the school, he spent two years in Zimbabwe, an experience he said he had since always valued for giving him perspective on what was important in life.

He returned to what became Catholic College Bendigo for nine years, then served as principal at a small school north of St Arnaud and another school in Kempsey, New South Wales, for the next 11 years.

Family brought him back to Victoria and he returned to Catholic College Bendigo as a deputy principal.

Mr Ferris said he became a teacher having always loved school and the process of learning.

“I think one of the beauties of being a teacher is that… you just never stop learning,” he said.

Being able to pass on passions to students – his being history, politics and religious education – has been another rewarding aspect of the role.

While in Kempsey, Mr Ferris helped establish a still-operational institute for young people disengaged with traditional education.

He said seeing students find success in life, both those academically inclined and those who encountered difficulties in their education, gave him pride and “a deep sense of satisfaction”.

Fellow staff and students alike have expressed admiration for the long-serving teacher and say he will be sorely missed.

“John is an amazing teacher who leads from the heart,” fellow teacher Kerri Bowman said.

“He inspires, has great faith, and most of all loves kids.”

Year 12 student Charley Holt said she did not think she had ever seen Mr Ferris without a smile.

“John Ferris was one of the most compassionate teachers that I have ever met and he always managed to make everyone else's day at school a good day,” she said.

Mr Ferris that he and wife Christine – who he thanked for supporting him during their 40 years of marriage – would probably indulge in some travel in retirement.

But he said he was looking forward to the simple pleasure of being able to do what he wanted whenever he pleased.

Mr Ferris enjoys the fact that he will be spending his final hours teaching at the same place he spent his first.

“This place gave me such a good start and I had some really good mentors when I first started, and I think that’s crucial to young teachers, that they’re guided through those first couple of years,” Mr Ferris said.