SCHOLAR, debater, family man and sportsman; Ken Palmer was all of these and more.
It is always a challenge to describe succinctly the influence a complex and passionate person has had on the many people who have had the good fortune to cross his path. In the case of Ken Palmer, the influence is best expressed as "inspiring".
Mr Palmer was a man of many parts: a scholar, sportsman, family man, an educator and an activist. The common thread was a finely-honed sense of balance that allowed him to convert idealistic aspirations into defined actions and achievements.
Kenneth William Palmer was born on February 1, 1938, at Ashfield, the eldest child of Bill Palmer and his wife, Elsie (nee Ebert).
The family moved from Ashfield when Ken was nine and settled in Concord West.
A two-year arts degree at the University of Sydney followed by 12 months at teachers college, was the starting point for an outstanding career as an educationist. He later completed a bachelor of arts at the University of New England.
His first appointment was to Warialda Central School in 1958. In 1957, he had met a young nurse, Jan Coles. It was the beginning of a lifelong partnership that touched many people and influenced many communities. They married in 1958 at St Pauls, Burwood, and shortly afterwards moved to Mudgee when Mr Palmer accepted an appointment to the teaching staff at Mudgee High School.
In 1963 the family returned to Sydney when Mr Palmer moved to Cronulla High School. He was then appointed head teacher (English and history) at Arncliffe Girls' High and later head teacher (history) at Blakehurst High and Kirrawee High.
He suspended his school teaching for a couple of years in 1975 to accept a post lecturing in History Method on the University of NSW Diploma of Education program.
Mr Palmer was then appointed as deputy principal at Kingsgrove North and Port Hacking high schools, before becoming principal at Marrickville High in 1986.
As an educator, Mr Palmer supported special school learning programs such as the successful "Write it right" initiative.
It was his achievements as principal at Marrickville that brought him to the attention of the then director of the Metropolitan East Region, and in 1992 he was appointed as cluster director, Botany cluster.
It was typical of Mr Palmer's humility that when first approached about leaving his beloved Marrickville High he expressed worries that his lack of experience in primary schools could be an impediment. He was quickly assured that it was not the type of school he taught in that had brought him to notice.
Rather, it was his thorough understanding of teaching and learning coupled with his personal qualities of building relationships and getting the best out of people.
Mr Palmer retired from teaching in 1994.
Throughout his teaching career, Mr Palmer still found time to participate in many community activities. The Palmer house was one of amazing generosity of spirit. It was a place of welcoming support and refuge for many Indigenous people, including Burnum Burnum and Mum Shirl, who were regularly welcomed there, sometimes simply to have a yarn or share a meal, at other times to live with the family for a while.
The Palmer family was also a host family for visiting Colombo Plan students from 1970. Students from Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, the Seychelles and Sri Lanka all shared Ken and Jan's home at various times. The couple become part of the team that established Kirinari Hostel at Sylvania Heights, to provide accommodation for young Indigenous people from country districts to complete their studies in an environment that would help them reach their goals.
He was also passionate about human rights and held an open and unqualified welcome for refugees.
He and Jan felt deeply the injustice of the policy of lengthy incarceration and were regular visitors to Villawood Detention Centre, helping refugees with their freedom applications, health and other personal issues.
Politics was also an important part of Mr Palmer's life. He was a life member of the ALP, president of Caringbah branch for many years, secretary at times and held many other positions on state and federal electoral councils. He was often a delegate to annual State Conferences as well.
He worked tirelessly during election campaigns assembling and erecting signage, letterboxing and working the booths on polling day. Whatever was needed to be done, he was there to help.
His garage was always a hive of activity at election time, where many a political poster was affixed to a stake.
Mr Palmer kept fit, regularly running on the sand at Cronulla. He ran in athletics carnivals and marathons, kayaked and rowed.
His bike was an integral part of Mr Palmer's life. He rode it thousands of kilometres.
Mr Palmer's busy career was never at the expense of family. He spent much valued time with them bushwalking, running marathons, holidaying in the wilds of Tasmania and remote Australia, driving the support vehicle on a fundraising mission by bicycle from Perth to Sydney in the year 2000, and so it went on.
Mr Palmer died recently from injuries after being struck by a motor vehicle while he was riding his bike.
He is survived by Jan, children Karen, Michael, Naomi, Anthony and their spouses, 11 grandchildren, and his siblings Bill and June.