“I always planned to go up to age 64 or 65, and I was going to do one more year, but I got to the stage about six weeks ago where I thought ‘you know what? I think it’s time to go’,” he said.
“There are a lot of things that I’m involved with, and I decided it was time to spend a little more time with them and not have to worry about planning weeks and terms at a time.
“I think that 44 years is enough now, and I’m going out on a high: I don’t want to be one of those boxers that keeps coming back for one more fight.”
Mr Davidson has been teaching at Moama Anglican Grammar since 2007 when he taught the school’s first Year 5 class, but started his career in Scotland after finishing school.
“I joined the Royal Air Force when I left school with an electronics aircrew apprenticeship, and the RAF and myself decided to go our separate ways after about a year; and in 1974 I applied for air training school, teaching school, and cartography or map-making school,” he said.
“Teaching school got back to me first and accepted me, and I’ve never looked back.
“I’ve only ever taught in primary school; I’ve taught for 17 years in Australia, and 27 years in Scotland.
“In primary school classroom teaching you do a bit of everything, maths, English, geography, science, PE — I’m a generalist primary teacher.”
Mr Davidson has been reflecting on his time as a teacher, and the students who have passed through his many classroom doors.
“My first class — who I still keep in touch with in Scotland — are 52 years old, and have their own children and grandchildren,” he said.
“You should see them: they’re bald, they’ve got grey beards — that’s just the women.
“I’ve taught 1300 students, thousands of others on a part-time basis.
“Even just the ones in Australia are doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, architects, web designers, photographers, tattoo artists, some of them are teachers and have been working for 30 years — I’ve got a huge list.
“I’ve taken the morning roll over 9000 times; I’ve written 2600 semester reports; 2600 parent interviews; been on 40 school trips; I’ve taken 50,000 photos; dressed up in 30 Book Week costumes; organised parties for World Cups, Olympic Games, productions, everything.”
Mr Davidson’s career at Moama Anglican Grammar started in 2007 with the first Year 5 class at the then new school, and so has been involved from the beginning of the junior school.
“I’m the second-longest-serving staff member after Kathleen Kemp, our deputy principal, she’s got a year on me,” he said.
“I’m the oldest person in the school at the moment at 64, I’m certain that would be the case.
“I’m retiring in — not that I’m counting — 10 days from (Wednesday),” he said.
“10 more days and that’s it.
“It hasn’t felt like 44 years, it’s flown by.
“I’m happy with where things are right now, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every single minute of every single year.
“Since I made the decision, I’ve felt really good about it, and I’m actually looking forward to (retirement), and I never thought I would.”
When asked for a high point of his career, Mr Davidson was stuck for a specific answer, summarising a well-loved career in education:
“I have hundreds of high points every year,” he said.
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