It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our good friend, colleague, past President and Life Member of the West Australian Council of State School Organisations Inc., Mr Robert Fry.

When Rob first came to WACSSO in 1993, he was a member of the Hedland SHS P&C Association and held the position of Councillor for Pilbara East for the next ten years until 2003.

On Rob’s initial nomination to State Council he stated that he wanted to liaise with all schools in the electorate to ensure all needs and concerns were well represented. We can definitely say that whether he was representing his electorate of Pilbara East, or all schools in Western Australia, he was unwavering in his resolve.

From his beginnings as State Councillor for Pilbara East, Rob quickly took on a number of leadership positions. Including a position on the Office Liaison Group from 1998 to 2003, Vice President in 1997 to 1998 and then Senior Vice President from 1999 to 2002.

In 2003 Rob was successfully elected as the 26th President of WACSSO and re-elected, much to the Organisation’s benefit, for four consecutive terms.

During his time, Rob made a significant contribution to the establishment of the Western Australian College of Teaching. As the parent representative to the College, Rob chaired the Registration and Representations Committee for many years. This committee was charged with developing the policy regarding process of registration to ensure every teacher entering the profession was a fit and proper person to do so. He was held in high regard by members of the board and worked hard to ensure we maintained the privilege of representation with the Western Australian College of Teaching.

Rob represented the Organisation on several different committees, advisory groups and forums, including the Rural and Remote Education Advisory Council. Living and working in Port Hedland he was passionate about the needs and rights of students in rural, regional and our most remote schools.

In conjunction with his WACSSO role, Rob championed public education on the Federal level as a Vice President on the Australian Council of State School Organisations, he was active on the ACSSO Finance Committee, and tried to drive constitutional change to improve the governance and operations of the Organisation.

In 2011, in front of hundreds of delegates and guests at the WACSSO Annual Conference, Rob was honoured with WACSSO Life Membership in recognition of eighteen years of outstanding voluntary service to the Organisation.

Rob was a man inspired by the power of community and fortified by the love of his family, without whom he could never have achieved as much as he did, and certainly not for as long as he did.

Rob has left behind a legacy of exemplary service, never failing to give freely and selflessly of his time to positively influence public education in Western Australia and on the National Level.

On behalf of the State Council, staff and Life Members of the Western Australian Council of State School Organisations, President Kylie Catto expresses her deepest condolences to Rob’s wife Helen, their four children Mat, Tim, Chris and Kate, and extended family and friends.

It has been a privilege and a pleasure knowing you Rob, may your memory live long in the pages of WACSSO.