General News
12 March, 2025
Teacher marks 90 years
Renowned educator Graham Osborne has celebrated his 90th birthday with family and friends in Warracknabeal.
The festivities were held at Yarriambiack Lodge on February 22.
Mr Osborne shaped the lives of countless students across Victoria during his 50-year career.
Born in Cobden on his father’s birthday, he grew up on a dairy farm at Jancourt as the second-eldest of four boys.
He endured the hardships of the great depression, walking to school in all weather, eating tomato sauce sandwiches for lunch and changing clothes only at weekends.
In 1944 his family moved to drought-stricken Buangor, where he attended Buangor Primary School.
His teacher, Mr Hughes, inspired his future career with his compassionate and encouraging approach.
Mr Osborne attended high school in Ararat, making a daily 30-mile bus trip.
His dedication earned him a scholarship to teacher’s college, where he later became dux of Ballarat Teacher’s College, though he only learned of this honour at a reunion years later.
His passion for cricket led him to lifelong friendships and, ultimately, to Ballarat, where he met Marjorie, the love of his life.
The couple married in 1956 at Warracknabeal Methodist Church.
Mr Osborne began teaching in Kiata, where he taught Grades 1 to 8.
As his reputation grew he earned promotions that took him to Geelong, Brim and, eventually, a country district relieving teacher role, where he visited 80 schools in three years.
His career included many memorable moments, including a Wimmera mouse plague prank that saw students release mice in a colleague’s classroom, making local headlines.
He became vice-principal of Minyip Primary School and later worked in Dimboola and Nhill before returning to Warracknabeal to care for Marjorie’s parents.
Officials recognised his expertise and enlisted him to help write a controversial new sex education curriculum.
He later became principal of Cohuna Consolidated School, the highest position in his field, and remained there until retiring in 1990.
Even after retirement he continued relief teaching and consulting until 2007.
Beyond education, Mr Osborne sang in the Uniting Church choir, played cricket, umpired football and spent time with his 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
He documented his life in Chalk & Talk – A Teacher Remembers, a book he wrote over two years.
A resident at Yarriambiack Lodge for the past 10 months, Mr Osborne stays sharp by reading the newspaper and solving crosswords.
Throughout his career, he saw many educational changes but took pride in that every student he taught learned to read.
To this day, many of his former students still respectfully call him "Mr Osborne".