Northam Primary School acting principal Alby Huts introduces himself to the Northam community.
I migrated from the Nertherlands with my family as a young seven-year-old in 1954. We embarked at Rotterdam and after about four weeks on board the Johan Van Oldenbarneveldt, we disembarked at Fremantle.
As soon as we disembarked we were transported via bus to Northam to live at the Holden Migrant Camp for several months.
During this time I attended Avonvale Primary School for about two months before we shifted to the Dunreath Migrant Camp in Redcliffe.
My next connection with Northam occurred from 1997 to 2001 when I was the District Director of Education for the Midlands District while based in Northam.
During my first 40-year career in education, I have been a primary teacher, secondary mathematics teacher, Head of Mathematics in senior high schools and District Superintendent of Education in the Pilbara, Midlands and several metropolitan districts.
I have been a senior policy adviser to a Minister for Education and an executive director with the Department of Education.
I was acting deputy director of Education in the two months before my retirement.
I retired in October 2006 after 40 years with the WA Department of Education.
Since then I have been a principal in Tom Price, Narrogin, Boddington, Brookton, Katanning, Corrigin, Merredin College and now Northam - more retirements than John Farnham.
