Legacy of Richmond High School principal Colin Simpson will live on in scholarship
The sudden death of much-loved Melbourne educator and founding principal of Richmond High School Colin Simpson shocked students and staff. And now, his family has unveiled a program to ensure his legacy will live on.
Education
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Late Richmond High School principal Colin Simpson’s family wants to continue his legacy by creating a scholarship for disadvantaged students, just like he was growing up, to help keep them at school.
Mr Simpson, an alumni of the original Richmond High School, died suddenly of natural causes more than two weeks ago. His life will be celebrated at a funeral at Hawthorn Arts Centre on Thursday.
Growing up, Mr Simpson’s family struggled but he was able to turn his life around thanks to good teachers and the support of extended family members to become one of the state’s most admired educators.
His wife, Cathy Muhling, said when Mr Simpson was appointed principal of Richmond High School he felt his life had come full circle, from “Struggletown” Richmond to founding a new school which would bring co-ed options back to the suburb for the first time in decades.
“Colin, throughout his life as a principal, would always care for those kids that were disadvantaged. He would always make sure that they had what they needed,” she said.
“Colin grew up in Richmond and while he loved his parents dearly, they were very young when they had them, 18 and 19.”
“Colin would say: ‘I had that support and I had another life’ and he wanted to help others.”
Ms Muhling and the couple’s children, Lewis and Ava, have asked people to support the Smith Family’s Learning for Life Program in lieu of floral tributes. The program enables children who otherwise might not be able to afford to stay at school to be able to attend.
“Every year I want to raise money for underprivileged families, who for various reasons, can’t afford to provide their child with books and computers,” she said.
Ms Muhling said Mr Simpson, 59, continued to take children he knew were struggling “under his wing” to support them staying at school.
“Colin was so driven and he had come from so little and made so much of his life,” she said.
“Colin showed that you can have that background and if you are strong enough and you have the support you can do well.
“He gave every child a chance and he just loved it.”
There has been an outpouring of grief for the long-time teacher and principal, who was principal of the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School for 14 years, before his appointment to Richmond High School in 2017. The school opened in 2018 and next year will have students from Year 7 to Year 9.
Local Richmond MP Richard Wynne delivered the school after years of disquiet about education opportunities for boys after the Kennett Government closed the original Richmond Secondary College in 1992.
He moved a motion of condolence in parliament last week. The City of Yarra will also fly its civic flag at half mast on Thursday. Ms Muhling said the family had been overwhelmed by the messages of love and support.
“I guess I knew he had done a lot. Colin’s enthusiasm was infectious. He was happy to give people time and cared about students and teachers,” she said.
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Ms Muhling said while the move to launch Richmond High School was a big challenge, he had loved building a new school from scratch.
“He was passionate about innovation and forward thinking in education,” she said.
He recruited staff that may have been left field selections because they brought something new and he had students on interview panels.
“Colin was very good at assessing people,” she said.
Ms Muhling said they considered having a small funeral and perhaps a memorial but after a discussion with family and friends it was decided that everyone deserved a chance to celebrate Colin’s legacy, which resulted in the funeral at the Hawthorn Arts Centre on Thursday from 10.30am for an 11am start.
Students from Richmond High School and VCASS will perform at the funeral.
— Donate to the Smith Family Learning for Life in memory of Colin Simpson here