Local Daz receives an OAM
Daz Gauld, OAM says he cannot afford this lifestyle in Sydney: “Malcolm Turnbull doesn’t have this view!”
I met Dr Darryl Gauld, known as Daz, at his first night in Rainbow Beach – at the pinnacle of local events, the Rainbow Beach Fishing Classic weigh-in. Little did I know that I was talking to a man so passionate about education and inclusivity, that he was about to receive a 2017 Award of the Medal of the Order of Australia. Now ‘in his prime’, he is heading a new private university in Sydney where he leads by example, sharing messages of lifelong learning and acceptance.
by Michelle Gilmore
If it takes hard work to win an OAM, then Dr Darryl Gauld is deserving. Our dynamic new resident started his work life on the family dairy farm and mowed lawns for pocket money.
To put himself through university, he drove a taxi, worked at the Bonanza Steakhouse and taught himself to be a DJ at Brisbane’s premier gay nightclub, the Silver Dollar.
His volunteer roles are too numerous to mention but how he fits them in when working seven days a week for ten plus years as principal of a respected Sydney private school, I don’t know.
The OAM is the ‘pre-eminent means by which Australia recognises the outstanding and meritorious service of its citizens’, and in the Australia Day 2017 Honours List Daz was lauded for three things: “service to education, and to social justice and human rights”.
As principal of Macquarie Grammar School in inner Sydney, he was known for his catchphrases that he didn’t just say, but lived by.
As a principal, Daz implements a Safe Schools policy which included attendance at parades like the Mardi Gras
‘Put love in your heart’ is something he would end all assemblies with and the theme won the school the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade Gold Award in 2013.
Macquarie Grammar was the first school to join the parade and has continued to win awards with their floats, also entering the Lunar New Year parades.
Marching in the Mardi Gras was a brave move, where Daz was “walking the talk” of the school value of inclusivity, where “actions speak louder than words”.
For five decades Daz has volunteered to improve the lives of LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) people in Australia across many organisations, working behind the scenes, including when he was employed by an Anglican school.
He has strived for acceptance of all, regardless of sexuality, race or religion.
Although he received positive feedback, being a tireless advocate for change and the Safe Schools Coalition, it has come at a price: with trolls and death threats.
“I have no doubt there are many people, not one or two, who want to speak out, and would love to implement our policies but don’t want to put their life at risk. I have principals ring me, gay and straight, and tell me that.”
But his mission is clear, “I would like to see something done about bullying, violence and illegal drugs at schools.”
Moving back to Queensland last year with his partner of 26 years, Phill Horne, has been a huge change: “There’s a sense of light here, the bird life, clarity of air, and there are whales jumping, pods of them! We were so excited and neighbours, Fiona and Nigel Worthington, just yawned at us.”
In fact, Daz said, “I’ve been visiting this beach for over 50 years – since it was just a bait shop.”
Daz looks out his windows, “It doesn’t get any better than this – and Tin Can Bay with the foreshore is a gorgeous, pretty town – we need to constantly remind ourselves that we are living in paradise.”
When President of Team Sydney, he hosted an inaugural Combatting Homophobia and Transphobia in Sport conference opened by his ex-sports teacher, Wayne Bennett
Maryborough born, and part of six generations raised up the Mary River, he attended Brooweena and Sunbury State Schools, and finished as high school captain at Biggenden.
“There was no homophobia, no bullying, no violence or illegal drugs at my school or university. Without a doubt it led to me going into the education profession.”
Four degrees and an award winning doctorate later, he is still educating.
His 2003 research entitled, Competencies, processes and personal characteristics of effective teachers, contributed to the current Australian Professional Standards for Teachers 2011 and a chapter in a textbook in 2013!
“Most learning and teaching is in the workplace – lifelong learning. Learning doesn’t stop after school. This is when you choose something you really like – and you can zoom in.”
But he would like to see our youth get serious about jobs and study, and not expect work to come to them.
“They might have to pack up and leave for a few years – then come back, open up a business and employ people and do things for the community.”
When asked if Daz has come up against prejudice, “Every gay person has come up against that”.
“It is definitely not homophobic here – but we waited for six months to tell our friends of the move.”
He is not so kind towards Queensland schools, “We need to drain the swamp.”
He says too much money is being wasted, Queensland has postponed the introduction of the HSC/ATAR, has some of the highest rates of teacher absence, and some of the lowest student attendance and academic results in the country.
“When people are bullied, you get a huge increase in home schooling; I can confirm it is on the rise.”
His research, and now Australian Standards, reinforce, ‘know your student and how they learn’ and ‘create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments’, which has the potential to save lives.
Suicide is the number one cause of death in young people. “That is not just dropouts but school captains, too – because they see no way out,” explains Daz.
“What are all those bureaucrats on fat salaries doing about children suiciding? They need a shake up.
“Every member of staff and all students have the basic human right to feel safe at school; with this award I trust I am able to speak out, to encourage positive change.”
