David aims to help guide students and promote High School

Friend and mentor to many of the Shire’s young generations, David Pierce, now has a new role to help guide them further into their future amid a sea of challenges.

He has accepted the newly created position of Narrabri High School public relations and community liaison officer.

The current COVID-19 crisis notwithstanding, the future for young people is bright.

“Challenges, yes,” agrees Mr Pierce, “but more than that, fantastic opportunities.”

Mr Pierce has for 20 years been proprietor of Authentic Trademarks in Narrabri, operating his own business after reaching senior levels in the retail industry for major companies.

He declined an opportunity to take his business career further with a posting overseas, instead opting to return to his home town and develop his business.

Authentic Trademarks became a benchmark for cutting edge fashion retail for young people.

However, after 20 successful years, Mr Pierce decided it was time for a change.

The change came with the opportunity to take up the role as Narrabri High School public relations and community liaison officer.

The position is a new one, a first created at Narrabri High School.

And it offered exciting opportunities for Mr Pierce to further  pursue his passion for mentoring and encouraging young people along life’s journey.

Mr Pierce started in the new position at the beginning of term.

His previous years’ experience has prepared him for his role.

“I learned from young people how to mentor young people into the possible career path of their lives, to give them the opportunities to realise that you can explore so many different things –  and in this day and age there are so many options to explore what you really want to do.

“Now, if you want to be in a music band, be an engineer, there are different ways to achieve that.

“I am not the careers’ advisor,” Mr Pierce emphasised.

“My job is to do all the social media work, liaising with people and organisations like The Courier, radio and television and draw on my contacts gathered over the last 35 years to help in creating the opportunities for High students and allow them to explore different opportunities.

“It is just using my experience to build bridges to opportunities.

“The response has been so positive,” he said.

“The students have been really engaged. When I move around the school and photograph them, say for the Instagram page, and tell them why I am doing it, they are proud to be part of the school and part of the community.

“They really want to project themselves.”

Nowadays, the  world offers many new avenues.

“When I was at school we were limited in what we had as opportunities, and now with the opportunities the world has become such a small place,” Mr Pierce said.

“Just because we are in a small country town doesn’t mean we can’t be proud of ourselves and stand out.”

Mr Pierce deals with students from Year 7 to 12.

He works with the Clontarf Aboriginal program, special education classes, and his engagement with students ranges from music to art to hospitality to science.

The new position has not existed at Narrabri High before, but nowadays progressive schools are moving ahead with similar initiatives.

“It is important at many levels and for the school’s role in the community to be promoted,” said Mr Pierce.

“Just opening doors to the opportunities that are available in our town will be one of my principal aims.”