Several fine local identities have quietly left us during the last few difficult months.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Trevor Bensley was one of those Southern Highlands residents who passed during the height of the COVID-19 restrictions on May 7.
But his legacy and influence on a great many people has not been lost on those who knew and loved him.
Trevor's family has had a long association with this region and he followed his father and grandfather as a country school teacher.
As was done then, teachers with their families were moved around from school to school.
READ MORE:
Born in West Wyalong on November 6, 1931 Trevor was the brother of five older sisters.
He attended several schools until he was the first male to gain a Leaving Certificate at Muswellbrook High.
This earned him a teacher's scholarship to the pioneer course at Newcastle Teachers College where he graduated in 1950.
Here he made friends with the common interests of bushwalking, camping, fishing and shooting.
This led to the founding of the Kamilaroi Bushwalking Club and establishment of his life-long passions.
Students were 'bonded' to the Department of Education for five years and were required to serve anywhere in NSW.
Trevor started in Singleton and then became the Teacher in Charge at the one teacher school at Gouldsville (on the Putty Road). A job now considered almost superhuman!
Five years later he was posted to Medway (west of Berrima,) another one teacher school. This was close to his family, his beloved bushlands and the ski fields.
There, he broke a leg, and while in Berrima District Hospital in Bowral he met his wife Lorna Mouat, a nurse at the hospital.
Two years later they were married, bought a house in Mittagong and raised their children Stephen, Alison and Andrew in the Southern Highlands.
When Medway School closed Trevor transferred to Toombong Central School - part of the Renwick complex at that time operating for boys in difficulties.
He became principal in 1973 when Arthur Beasley, another keen bushwalker, retired.
To challenge the boys he introduced the Duke of Edinburgh Award and many outdoor activities.
He became an active member of the Bowral-Mittagong Rotary Club and the National Parks Association and shared his passions by organising camping and walking trips to Central Australia, Queensland, Tasmania and guided walks in the local National Parks and Reserves.
With help from the Nowra Department of Lands and senior boys from Toombong School he converted the remains of the Boxvale Railway track into a public walking track that has become a favourite outing for locals and visitors alike.
When special schools were rationalised he was offered large city schools, but he opted to stay in the Southern Highlands as principal at Burrawang and finally Bargo schools.
Mr Bensley, the teacher, retired in 1991 with a letter of thanks and appreciation from the Department of Education that said:
"...Sincere thanks for....your contribution to environmental education, the establishment of a nursery and native plant propagation program and the promotion of the 'greening of schools' project..."
Trevor, the conservationist, then trekked in the Himalayas and took friends on many of his favourite trails.
He and Lorna moved to a small farm at Alpine where he became active in the Alpine Bushfire Brigade and supervised a LEAP (unemployed youth) program to set up the fire shed and help with local environmental works.
He became a Life Member of the Probus Club and Convenor of the Mount Alexandra Reserve Management Committee and tirelessly applied for grants and organised numerous working parties to construct and improve the walking trails.
Trevor was a 'can-do' man.
He had sheds full of useful stuff to work with, a whole community of friends and helpers, and a memory full of entertaining stories.
In 2001 he was awarded Wingecarribee Citizen of the Year, Centenary of Federation Medal in 2002, and a Federal Certificate of Appreciation to Australian Volunteers.
Did you know the Southern Highland News is now offering breaking news alerts and a weekly email newsletter? Keep up-to-date with all the local news: sign up below.
