Retired Lutheran principal is SA Citizen of the Year

Retired school principal Ophie Renner is the 2012 South Australian Citizen of the Year. He received his award from Governor Kevin Scarce at Government House yesterday, Australia Day, in recognition of his tireless community service.

Ophie can trace his motivation for service all the way back to a quote (widely attributed to Stephen Grellet) that he read in The Children's Hour, a publication made available to all school children, when Ophie was a young principal on the Eyre Peninsula: 'I shall pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.'

Thus a lifetime of service to others was born. Ophie, 82, wants to spend the rest of his days being faithful to his Lord's simple command to love and serve others.

'Our Lord makes no harsh demands on us. He doesn't demand that we be successful; he asks only that we be faithful', Ophie says, 'When my Lord welcomes me into eternal life, he's not going to say to me, "Well done, good and successful servant"; he'll say, "Well done, good and faithful servant".'

Ophie, who had been a school principal in the state and Lutheran education systems for 40 years, had previously been named a Gawler Citizen of the Year, 2012. But the announcement of the state award still came as a surprise.

'It was a real shock', he said. 'I don't deserve this. There are so many people working behind the scenes, unsung heroes, who don't get any recognition like this.'

But the Gawler community felt otherwise, flooding the award nominations committee with accolades for Ophie and evidence of his energetic and selfless community work. Even a quadruple bypass five years ago did not slow him down. 'I've just been recycled', he jests.

Once a teacher and always a teacher, even in retirement Ophie says his 'real love and passion is to help children'.

'Children are the future of our communities, of our state and of Australia. An educated nation is one that is rich, vigorous, prosperous and progressive.'

He is especially devoted to helping children who have reading or learning difficulties, and has tutored over 40 during his retirement, for no charge—'I just want to be there for any child who needs a hand'. He is also involved in raising awareness in the community about dyslexia and has played a leading role in developing a dyslexia support group.

'All children—no matter if they suffer from physical or intellectual disability or struggle with a learning disorder—deserve a fair go, the very best that parents, teachers and our education system can give them', he insists.

Ophie and his wife of 51 years, Ruth, live at Willaston and are members of the Immanuel congregation at Gawler, halfway between Adelaide and the Barossa Valley. Ophie has recently stopped delivering food parcels to needy families, which he had done for 15 years with the help of two others from the congregation. 'I'm getting tired', he says simply. 'I can't do as much now as I used to.'

During this retirement years Ophie has also volunteered at the Gawler Health Service, fundraised for Heartbeat Inc, started an ecumenical men's breakfast, served the Immanuel Lutheran church and school in various capacities, and is a member of Gawler Probus Club, Willaston Neighbourhood Watch and the domestic violence support committee.

His motivation for all this activity is quite simply his love for people. 'From children all the way up to the oldest people, everyone is interesting and I can learn from them', he says. 'Helping people of all ages gives me joy. Doing things for others, not for myself, nor for recognition, brings me a great deal of satisfaction.'

He paid tribute to Ruth, whom he describes as his 'greatest carer, supporter, encourager, counsellor and mentor'.

A feature story about Ophie will be published in a future edition of The Lutheran.