Hogan’s last stop

By Bridget Brady
IT WAS an emotional day for popular school crossing worker Arnold Hogan on Friday, as he said goodbye to Kilberry Valley Primary School.
Mr Hogan, 74, retired from the Hampton Park school on Friday, after safely crossing students at the school for five years. The end of the school term also marked the end of Mr Hogan’s 20 years of working as a school crossing worker.
He will undergo a knee reconstruction next month and thought it would be a good time to put the stop sign down.
Teacher Christine Turner said Mr Hogan was a real hit with the kids.
“When you mention him to people they say ‘is he the one that always waves to all the cars as they come past’. He got to know a lot of the kids and their parents and is really friendly,” Ms Turner said.
Mr Hogan said he would miss the students at Kilberry Valley Primary School a great deal.
“The kids are fantastic. That’s what makes you keep going all of the time.”
During an assembly on Friday, students said three cheers for Mr Hogan to celebrate his last day, which he said was “spine-tingling”.
“I will miss it very much. When you’ve been in school crossing for 20 odd years, it’s hard to get away. I had many gifts given to me on Friday; it was unbelievable. It was a very emotional day.”
Mr Hogan said he had watched children grow from preps to senior primary school students during his time at the school.
He had a strong relationship with the students and even arranged for one student to pass on the school newsletter to him each week. “I like to keep up with what’s happening with the school.”
Ms Turner said Mr Hogan would be missed.
“We’re happy for him but we are also a bit sad. We just wish him all the best and hope that his operation goes well and enables him to have a happy life after that,” Ms Turner said.