David Campbell’s tough back to school, Covid lessons

Music and TV star David Campbell has revealed his shock at his family’s surprise new summer habit and different take on the return to school.

David Campbell will have you know that back in his old school days, the most enjoyable thing about the back-to-school shop was choosing contact paper to cover books.

“No wonder I was never excited about school,” he laughs.

“My kids have just discovered erasable pens. Anything that gets them positive about the learning experience I’m happy about.”

Officeworks has partnered with the father of three as the new school year kicks in after several years of Covid-related stop-starts. His children are heading into Year Six and Year One respectively, and David says they have been raring to go.

At Home With images David Campbell. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

“There may be a feeling of trepidation of the holidays ending, but there’s real resentment of having to spend so much time in our company. With so much home schooling last year, we’ve seen each other a lot,” he said.

With live performances on hold during Covid, the live music and theatre-loving family reluctantly found another activity to partake in.

“We are pale people. My wife is from England and I’m from suburban Adelaide. Going to the beach for either of us meant packing the boot and driving for an hour plus.

“Maybe it’s a midlife crisis but we’ve become a beach family. I even bought a cabana. We’ve been living here for four years and we’ve only now discovered the beaches. The kids love it.”

AT HOME WITH DAVID CAMPBELL

Who: David Campbell.

Where: Modern property in Sydney, “just over the Harbour Bridge”, with wife Lisa and their children, Leo, 11, and twins Betty and Billy, 7.

Favourite thing: We have a patch of grass for the kids to do cartwheels and Scully, our dog runs. It’s also where I take a break from the cacophony.

Magical music room. Darren Leigh Roberts

Inspiration: I don’t have any taste in that department, I would make everything bright and garish.

Home: is Where all my favourite things are: my family.

DAVID CAMPBELL’S FAVOURITE THINGS

Apple airpods max

Tuning out.

I mostly listen to podcasts and audiobooks on these. You can turn the noise cancelling on and off, so if the kids are fighting I can turn it on and ignore it … hopefully Lisa will deal with it.

T2 teamaker and favourite mug

Old and new faves.

I went off coffee for a while because I was becoming addicted, so I switched to tea. My sister Elly-May put me onto this. It brews the tea and strains it straight into my mug.

Piano

Really, we got this for Leo and in the last year he has really elevated his skills and grown so much. I get to sit in this room and hear him play and that is just so special.

Bike

No Lycra here.

I ride to work as much as I can to the Channel 9 studio (Today show) or the radio station (Smooth FM). Just so you know, I am not the guy in Lycra. I am appropriately dressed.

Backpack

Let’s face it, most dads my age would get a satchel, but I am a backpack guy.

At Home With images David Campbell, Photos by: Darren Leigh Roberts

Water bottles, keys, wallet everything goes into it. I have travelled the world five or six times with it.

Lego artwork

This was a present from Richard, Lisa’s best friend from high school. He converted a photo into Lego and built it for us, which is so perfect because we are a big Lego family.

Bobby Darin memorabilia

I am a huge Bobby Darin fan and when I did the show Dream Lover, the producers and Dodd (Bobby’s son) gave this to me. To meet the family and get this gift was incredible.

Record player

This was a present to myself last year. I hadn’t listened to vinyl since I left Adelaide in 1991. There’s no TV before school so it’s nice for the kids to listen to music in long form.

All pictures by Darren Leigh Roberts.

Originally published as David Campbell’s tough back to school, Covid lessons