Beloved maths teacher and Albany Senior High School stalwart Greg Cook retires after 50 years in education

Albany maths teacher Greg Cook has laid down the ruler and protractor after 50 years in education, speaking fondly of his 42 years at Albany Senior High School. Greg Cook, affectionately known to most as Cookie, retired at the end of the 2025 school year at age 71. He started his teaching career at 21 at Katanning Senior High School. During his five-year stint at the school, he met his wife and got married in the town, and made lifelong friendships, including his best mate of 48 years. After a short spell back in Perth, he and his family moved to Albany in 1984, settling in Bayonet Head. That year, Mr Cook got a job at Albany SHS, and began a four-decade legacy with the school. “I’ve had a fantastic career. I wouldn’t change a bit of it,” he said. “It’s the staff that make any school great, and so it’s the staff that truly made ASHS special for me, and such a great place to work. “There were so many amazing kids I had the honour of teaching there over the years, many of whom I still see around town, working professional jobs or running businesses.” Seven of Mr Cook’s past students have now returned to ASHS as teachers themselves. ASHS principal Melissa Walker said Mr Cook was a valued part of the school community who would be keenly missed by students and staff. “His dedication to students, colleagues and education leaves an enduring legacy that will not be forgotten,” she said. Over his years with ASHS, Mr Cook attended 36 school balls, 41 end-of-year awards ceremonies, and 12 country weeks. Although his primary role was the head of the maths department — which he held for almost a decade — he said taking sport teams to country week in Perth was one of his biggest annual highlights. “I loved sport and getting involved in school sport,” he said. “We took teams to country week every year, so I coached AFL, hockey, and soccer teams, and went to 12 country weeks. “I would have a countdown on my board in my classroom of how many days until the next country week. “I loved it as much as the kids did.” Mr Cook is recognisable to all staff and students by his uniform: a collared shirt and school tie, shorts, and long socks, the ensemble completed by a pen and notepad tucked into his top pocket. He said his uniform was always a fun way to display his school pride. “I liked to wear the school colours and tie, to show the kids they went to a good school and they should be proud of it,” he said. “I very much enjoyed being part of the school community and getting involved in things, and I wanted the kids to feel that as well. “School and education should be fun, it should be enjoyable, and I wanted the kids to love coming to school. “I always said you should have four laughs a day as an absolute minimum, so if I can provide two of those, that’s 50 per cent of what you need in a day, and that’s my maths lesson for you.”