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"Yarra never saw me as deaf...I was part of normal student life."

Gavin Balharrie has been profoundly deaf since contracting meningitis when he was 9-months-old. By the time he arrived at Yarra, he used sign language proficiently and he remembers the school arranging a full suite of resources to ensure he could pursue his chosen subjects.

鈥淵arra never said 鈥榥o鈥� to me. They organised resources and note-takers and whatever subject I chose, they made it happen,鈥� says Gavin.

鈥淚 even remember one of my teachers who had a moustache at the time shaving it off so I could read his lips more easily. I also had great support from teachers in the Hearing Unit.鈥�

鈥淢y time here was a fantastic part of my journey and encouraged me to understand that I could achieve whatever I wanted to.鈥�

Maths and Physics were Gavin鈥檚 strongest subjects and he also loved school sports. He joined the Year 8 cricket team and played football, volleyball and golf. Outdoor Education camps to the Snowy River are also a fond memory.

Gavin鈥檚 journey with Yarra has continued through the eyes of his daughter. Amelia began at the school in ELC - she will soon be in Senior School and so their generational connection has lasted.

Having been fully encouraged at Yarra, Gavin says it was a shock to enrol in a Bachelor of Building at university and to be asked by a professor if he was sure he wanted to continue because he was unlikely to find a job due to his deafness.

At his graduation, Gavin made the Dean鈥檚 Honours List. That professor congratulated him and admitted he鈥檇 been wrong.

鈥淢y maths and physics teachers inspired me to take the path I took into the building industry. The decisions I made then have influenced the 30 years of my working life so far,鈥� says Gavin.

As National Director of a cost management and quantity surveying company, Gavin is currently responsible for looking after defence assets around Australia.

He works with about 500 employees across the country and says he encourages his team to 鈥榗reate five others like you鈥�.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 best to coach people, share your knowledge, spread your skillset and capacity building, and to leave a legacy,鈥� he says.

Gavin is also involved in the Deaf Olympics and heads to Japan this year to oversee the golf at the event.

鈥淢y personal motto is onwards and upwards. Don鈥檛 let anyone stop you doing what you want to do,鈥� he says.