Trinity Grammar deputy headmaster Rohan Brown welcomed back

Trinity Grammar deputy Rohan Brown has been welcomed back by the school after he was sacked for cutting a student’s hair.

Brown said he accepted the school’s apology for his dismissal. Picture: Tony Gough

Trinity Grammar deputy headmaster Rohan Brown tried to speak to the media but tears kept getting in the way.

“You think someone fairly big and tall could do this well, couldn’t you?”

Students and parents rushed to shake the hand of Mr Brown as he officially marked his reinstatement to the school after being sacked for cutting a student’s hair.

The fallout of Mr Brown’s sacking saw nearly half of the school council resign and put pressure on Trinity headmaster Michael Davies to follow suit.

But Mr Brown and Mr Davies put on a united front this morning outside the prestigious boys school as they both said they wanted to put the haircutting saga behind them.

“There is an apology I need to make to the school community for the disruption that was caused at the end of last term,” Mr Brown said.

“But I am so pleased to be back ... we make mistakes and I’ve made one.”

Mr Brown thanked the school community that rallied him behind him after his sacking.

A student strike and electronic billboards were just some of the tactics used by students, parents, and Trinity Old Boys to get Mr Brown’s job back.

“I’ve been here nearly 30 years, it’s a terrific school,” he said.

“There is a bit of me here. There’s a bit of the school in me.”

Mr Brown said he accepted the school’s apology for his dismissal.

He was offered his position back after an review led by former judge Ray Finkelstein QC found the school council did not have the power to sack him.

The boy whom Mr Brown cut the hair of has stated he never wanted his teacher to be fired.

When asked if he will hang up the scissors for good, Mr Brown said: “The obvious answer is yes.”

Parents clapped in the background as Mr Brown spoke and nearly a dozen mothers went up and kissed him on the cheek as the boys headed into school.

Questions still remain over Mr Davies’ ability to lead Trinity Grammar but the headmaster said he wanted to focus on the boys.

“You’d understand it was a trying time at the end of last term but we’re keen to put that behind us,” he said.

“Personally, I look forward to working with Mr Brown and the rest of our colleagues to make sure the focus is on, and remains with, the education and wellbeing of our boys.”