Acclaimed TV presenter imparts wisdom at local high school

JOURNALIST Peter Overton has told students in a school address that it’s “cool to be a good bloke or a good woman,” and “it takes courage to stand up and support your peers.”

Hiranya Patel, Brooke Harris, Nine News anchor Peter Overton, Bridget Bevan and Joshua Haithwaite at Northern Beaches Secondary College Cromer Campus. Picture: Adam Yip

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RESPECT and courage were two of the big themes in a talk to students by Nine News news reader Peter Overton.

He spoke to 100 Year 10 boys and girls from the Northern Beaches Secondary College Cromer Campus.

The address was the culmination of the school’s term three programs for Year 10s: The Men We Need and Girl Rising, for boys and girls respectively.

Overton said his time at school in Lane Cove was the foundation for the person he had become.

“My message (to the students) was that it was cool to be a good bloke or a good woman,” he said.

“And that it takes courage to stand up and support your peers.”

Cromer Year 10 students with TV personality Peter Overton following his address.

He cited his family, his teachers and those school years as being the bedrock for who he was, and where he was, today.

“I turned 50 this year and I know my teacher and mentors are still important to me,” he said.

He said courage was also what was needed to face issues of mental health.

Student Byron Edwards said they learned that respect was not only in relation to others but also to yourself.

Another pupil Mia Slakelar said she was impressed with the way Overton balanced work, life, family and friends.

“I think the way he dealt with the issue of mental health was very important,” she said.

Nine News anchor Peter Overton celebrated his 50th birthday earlier this year and 25 years at Nine with his career mentor, Brian Henderson. Picture: Braden Fastier

Head teacher Jon Hanna said the program was about empowering young people, and to challenge the notion of what it means to be a good person.

“In the program we looked at the market forces, like alcohol and video games, and asked ‘what is filling the void’,” he said.

Mr Hanna approached the news reader after hearing him speak at a Young Men’s Health Forum, inviting him to address the Cromer students.

“We need positive role models,” he said, “I think Peter Overton is a genuine, respectful man paying it forward to the community.”

Fittingly, the television personality cited “respect” as a key theme.

“This is self-respect and respect for others, as well as for your family and peers,” he said.

Overton said he would tell his own children the same things as he told the assembly.

“I said the world was not perfect and it was not fair,” he said.

“If they take something of these ingredients to navigate them through life ... that would make me happy.”