Former Central Coast principal and community volunteer James (Jim) Stewart Rutherford died on July 3 aged 97.
Many on the Central Coast would remember him as the former principal of Wyoming Public School from 1973 to 1975 before he moved to Killarney Vale Public School as principal in 1976 where he remained until his retirement in 1988.
While there he served a term as head of the NSW Primary School Principals’ Association.
When he retired, he immersed himself more in his volunteer work.
He was a long-time member of the Lions Club and a founding member of the Killarney/Bateau Lions Club where he remained a member until his death.
He was District Governor of the Lions Club in 1990/91.
Many locals would have seen him on Sunday afternoons at Bateau Bay Hotel passing the bucket around on behalf of the Lions Club for donations that would go to very worthy local charities.
He served on the local board of the Life Education Centre and was a member of The Entrance Anglican Church Parish Board.
He volunteered at the Anglicare Op Shop at The Entrance and worked for the Samaritans.
He received a Commonwealth Recognition Award for Senior Australians in 1999 and a Centenary Medal in 2001, was named Good Samaritan of the Year 2005 for the Central Coast and Wyong Shire Citizen of the Year in 2008 and received an OAM in 2009.
He and his wife, Dorothy (dec), who were married for over 72 years, enjoyed many years playing golf at Shelly Beach Golf Club.
They leave six children, 18 grandchildren and 36 great grandchildren.
JIM WAS PRINCIPAL AND MY TEACHER IN FORM 1 AT MENDOORAN CENTRAL SCHOOL DURING 1962, FOND MEMORY