Ian misses by a whisker

A EUDLO resident missed out on an Australia Day honour by just one kilometre.

Ian Griffith, a Caloundra State High School teacher who has helped place almost 2500 students in work experience during the past seven years, was nominated for a Caloundra City award by the school’s deputy.

But he failed to meet one criterion - he lives in Eudlo and not within the Caloundra City boundaries.

Mr Griffith was nominated for his contribution to the Sunshine Coast Schools Industry Link Program, Scouting and the school.

"I live one kilometre over the border, but I was happy just to get the nomination," he said. "I do my job and it’s rewarding to see kids getting employment out of it."

Mr Griffith, who has taught science and computing at Caloundra State High for the past 17 years, is also the school’s work education co-ordinator, placing students in all sorts of jobs and industry from marlin boats in Cairns to television stations in Brisbane.

He was a founding member of the growing Sunshine Coast Schools Link Scheme which promotes work education, six months ago.

Mr Griffith, who lives on his Eudlo farm with his wife Paula and two children, is also a Scout leader at Palmwoods, secretary of the Palmwoods Sporting Association, a member of the Eudlo Rural Fire Brigade and spent 18 months as the secretary/treasurer of the Queensland Council of P and C Associations.

He was assistant sports master at Caloundra High for three years and helped found the school’s camping program, teaching students bush survival skills.

"I am thrilled to have been nominated for an Australia Day award. The nomination’s good enough for me," Mr Griffith said.