Two schools have lost their handyman this week, as Kalianna Primary School and Eaglehawk North Primary School said goodbye to Mick Surplice.
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Mr Surplice has worked at Eaglehawk North for 19 years, and Kalianna for 14.
It’s his no-fuss, can-do attitude which stands out to staff at both schools.
Craig Barnett is Principal at Eaglehawk North.
“He comes in, he works, he just does anything he can for us,” he said.
“The kids love him, parents love him, he’s just a wonderful person to have in our school.
“Here’s nothing to hard for Mick to do, and if he can’t do it, he knows somebody who can.”
It’s the same for Leonie Pearse, business manager at Kaliana.
“He’s fantastic, he is a jack of all trades,” she said.
“He is a most lovely person, he’d go out of his way to help you, nothing was too much, too big, and all of the staff are really going to miss him, as well as the students.”
Coming to the end of his working life, Mr Surplice doesn’t know what to feel.
“I’m a bit overwhelmed, well I never thought this day would come to tell you the truth,” he said.
“You work all your life, and suddenly it’s all over your working career.”
In his time at Eaglehawk North, he has seen the school grow, and grow, and grow.
It’s the kids he will miss the most.
He is a most lovely person, he’d go out of his way to help you, nothing was too much, too big, and all of the staff are really going to miss him, as well as the students.
- Leonie Pearse
“I’ve known the kids for years, so I’ll probably miss them more than anything else,” he said.
“You’re part of the school having been there for so long.”
And the kids will miss him. Students spoke of his help on the school’s bike track.
Year 5 student Taytan has been helped by Mr Surplice on the bike track.
“He came to the school and he helped us build a new bridge over the bike track,” Taytan
“He normally helps us down at the bike track, and I’m really going to miss him, because he helps [us] out.”