Vale Bill Kennedy

The NSW Secondary Principals’ Council is saddened by the loss of one of our stalwarts – Bill Kennedy

Many members will know Bill’s name, but some may not be aware of the significant contribution that he made to the association.

The Bill Kennedy Medal was initiated at the 2008 Annual Conference of the NSWSPC to recognise the outstanding work of Bill Kennedy on his retirement from the position of NSWSPC Executive Officer. Bill was a long-standing member of the Council, including at one stage NSWSPC Deputy President and Deputy President of ASPA, prior to his retirement as Principal of Bulli High School.  He was awarded SPC Life Membership in 1998.

After Bill retired he took up the role of Executive Officer of the Council. Bill performed this role for ten years, giving further distinguished and sustained service to the Council. Major hallmarks of Bill’s service included a passion for supporting the work of both the Council and principals for the good of NSW Public Education, provision of expert advice and wise counsel, and the tireless undertaking of his work in a positive, helpful and selfless way.

You can hear an audio recording of Bill, Brian Ralph and Chris Bonnor discussing the history of SPC at State Assembly, 5/3/2010 at this link: https://www.nswspc.org.au/members-area/council-operation/history/history-of-nswspc/

In late August he once again showed signs of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma back in his system and by mid-September a visit to the specialist confirmed that things were definitely not good. He was admitted to hospital on Friday following significant deterioration in his health. I know that Kath (his wife) and Jennifer (his daughter, who also works at Wollongong Hospital where he was admitted and spent several days by his bedside) were there by his side when he died. Bill was 83.