James Petrie: Ballarat High School teacher and Waubra Kangaroos farewelled at St Patrick’s Cathedral

A large crowd has gathered for the funeral of popular teacher James Petrie after his shock death rocked Ballarat.

Friends and family spread from the pews into the entrance and wings of St Patrick’s Cathedral to see off Ballarat footy player and schoolteacher James Petrie on Thursday afternoon.

The city was devastated by the unexpected death of 33-year-old Mr Petrie, a stalwart of the Waubra Kangaroos Football Netball Club and a PE teacher at Ballarat High School, on February 26.

At the funeral, Mr Petrie’s father called him “one of the most respected, loved, and compassionate men you would ever meet”.

He praised him as an “exemplary teacher” and for his “high level of commitment” to students and other staff.

After a pause, he spoke of his son’s “demons of depression”.

“To me, it was as if James was stranded on a frozen lake,” he said.

“He was in the middle, and we could not reach him; it was too dangerous and we couldn’t carry him.

“Last year, as James began to realise something was changing in him, he reached out to seek and search for recovery or a place that could be comfortable with him.

“James’s story has no end. His story for mental health is loud and strong. If we remain silent, nothing will happen.”

The hearse leaves teacher James Petrie's funeral at St Patrick's Cathedral in Ballarat.

Mr Petrie’s older sister recalled growing up with him and making a playground of their backyard and out the front of their house.

“We would play outside from dawn till dusk making our own fun, doing things we probably shouldn’t have, and having the best fun doing it.”

A high school friend detailed his first encounter with Mr Petrie in Year 7 at St Patrick’s.

“Skinny kid full of confidence, spiked up blonde tips … biceps no bigger than the penny he was holding,” he said.

“Charismatic lad that thoroughly enjoyed the banner of all-boys school provided: anything to do with sports Jim found himself in his element.”

James Petrie, 33 (centre) was a stalwart of the Waubra Kangaroos Football Netball Club in Ballarat.

Earlier, club coach Matt James said his mate’s death came out of the blue, and had been shocking and devastating to those who knew him.

“He was just a really, really well liked, popular guy that was a real leader at our footy club,” Mr James said.

Mr Petrie played in the club’s 2019 premiership, and stayed with the club as a younger cohort of players came through the ranks in last year.

Mr Petrie had also previously coached the club’s under-18 side.

Mr James said: “He was, in a way — father figure is the wrong term — but just that little bit older than the majority of the group and was a real leader on and off the field.”

He praised Mr Petrie as the kind of club man who was “willing to get his hands dirty”, and said his death would be “raw” for a long time to come.

James Petrie spoils a mark during a clash against the Hepburn Kookaburras in 2014.

James Petrie, pictured on a road trip across the Great Australian Bight, died over the weekend aged 33.

As news of his death spread, parents and students of Mr Petrie’s from Ballarat High School also paid tribute.

Speaking on behalf of his classmates, Isaac Jantzen said Mr Petrie had a way of “lighting up a room and putting a smile on all our faces”.

Isaac said Mr Petrie — known to many students as “Peach” — was a role model who “had a positive impact on all students at Ballarat High School”.

He said Mr Petrie drove his students to do their best, whether on or off the sporting field.

“Mr Petrie got satisfaction from seeing us students succeed,” Isaac said.

“This week, and the weeks to come, will be hard for all of us that were privileged enough to work alongside Peach. He will be sadly missed.”

A former student, Kate Tanti said Mr Petrie was “forever helping all of (his) students to be the best version of themselves”.

“If only I could have told you how much of an impact you had, not only on myself but everyone who got the chance to meet you,” she said.

James Petrie was praised for his commitment as a teacher and to the Waubra Kangaroos football netball club.

Parent Sharon Klien said her son, Dylan, remembered Mr Petrie as “the best teacher he had ever had”.

She said Mr Petrie was always there for his students, and had supported her son through some tough times.

Ms Klien said she would be forever grateful for when Mr Petrie went out of his way to help her son when he was unwell at a school camp.

In a statement, Ballarat High School said it was with “extreme sadness and grief that we acknowledge the passing of a much-loved friend, colleague and teacher Mr James Petrie”.

“Our heartfelt condolences go to James’ family, his partner Jane, her family, friends, work and sporting colleagues,” the statement said.

Mr Petrie, born in Benalla in 1988, followed in the footsteps of his mother, Anne, and father, Julian, when he became a teacher.

His partner was also heavily involved with the Waubra Kangaroos.

One of four siblings, Mr Petrie had been a teacher for almost a decade and was a keen traveller, photographer and outdoorsman, having trekked the Kokoda Track with a group of students in 2019.

He was buried at the Ballarat New Cemetery.