Cause of death Cancer Years active 1956–2010 Nationality Australian Name Don Goodsir | Alma mater University of Sydney Role Author Awards Order of Australia Died October 6, 2010 | |
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Full Name Donald Henry Goodsir Employer NSW Department of Education and Training Books The Gould League Book of Australian Birds | ||
Occupation Teacher, administrator Residence Mosman, Sydney, Australia | ||
Donald Henry "Don" Goodsir OAM (21 May 1937 – 6 October 2010) was an Australian teacher, school administrator, author and environmentalist.
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Early life
Goodsir was born in Haberfield, New South Wales on 21 May 1937 to Harry Goodsir (a maintenance engineer) and Molly Moore. He was educated at Haberfield Primary School, Fort Street Boys' High School and William Balmain Teachers' College.
Career
At the age of 18, Goodsir was appointed to a one-room school at Bulby Brush School near Krambach, New South Wales, the same school attended earlier by Australian poet Les Murray.
After three years Goodsir returned to Sydney where he taught while completing an Arts degree at the University of Sydney. After teaching in England for three years, he served as principal at public schools in North Sydney, Lindfield, Maroubra Junction and Mosman. Frustrated that books on birds focussed on North American species, he approached the Gould League and wrote the text for two books, on Australian birds and mammals.
Goodsir went on to become an inspector of schools in Coonabarabran and a director of schools for Woollahra.
After retirement
Following his retirement in 1994, Goodsir undertook many voluntary community roles including:
Goodsir also served as a volunteer teacher training adviser in Thailand, Kiribati and, while suffering from cancer, the Solomon Islands.