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Winton school mourns passing

SADLY MISSED ... principal Daniel McDonough touched the lives of hundreds of students during his six years at St Patrick's School in Winton

January 13th, 2009
HE was a true country gentleman and children were his life.
Primary school principal Daniel McDonough touched the lives of hundreds of students during his six years at St Patrick's School in Winton.
The dedicated teacher died tragically after an accident at a Townsville pub on New Year's Eve.
Daniel McDonough, 42, slipped and fell down a flight of stairs at the Seaview Hotel, suffering critical head injuries.
His North Queensland-based family made the heart-breaking decision to turn off his life-support last Friday.
His father, Kevin McDonough, said his son had spent his final days back home in the North celebrating Christmas and heralding the new year with family.
"Daniel's life was his school and his work," Mr McDonough said.
"Right from the beginning he wanted to get into education."
Mr McDonough said his son grew up at Forrest Beach and had attended Gilroy Santa Maria College and Ingham State High School before moving to Brisbane to study teaching.
He taught in Cloncurry and then Brisbane, before his ultimate dream was realised in 2003, when he was appointed principal of Winton's only Catholic primary school.
"He loved it. Having basically been brought up in the county he wanted to share his talents with the country," Mr McDonough said.
"Living in a small town he had his finger in just about every pie in town."
Daniel was single and didn't have any children.
But he cherished his students as if they were his own.
St Patrick's School secretary Caroline Cluff said Daniel was a cherished member of the school community, who would never fail to put a smile on her face.
"He was so well known, everyone is just devastated," Ms Cluff said.
"He was so understanding, he was just a beautiful person.
"Everybody knew him. He was always happy, always the life of everything.
"Even when I came to work cranky, five minutes later he would have me laughing my head off.
"He always had time. He never missed saying good morning.
"He was so much more than a boss or colleague, he was everyone's friend."
Ms Cluff said Daniel was devoted to his students and would spend his own time supervising kids playing on the oval after school.
"He did so many wonderful things for the school.
"He revamped the library, which was his pride and joy. He was so dedicated to the kids.
"He got new computers and new books.
"He also got the school oval redone.
"He did everything for the kids and not just our kids, for the children at the state school as well.
"The kids were his first priority.
"He didn't have any of his own children ... it was something he would have just loved but it wasn't to be.
"Some of the kids have been ringing me at home, crying. Everyone is devastated."
Ms Cluff said Daniel had recently moved into a house that was built for him on the school property.
"He had just moved in, probably only a month ago, it was something he said he wanted when he first moved out here and he only justgot it."
Ms Cluff said Daniel was also the president of the Winton Outback Festival committee and a member of the art gallery.
Daniel has two brothers in Townsville and another at Forrest Beach.
He also has a sister, who lives on the Gold Coast.
Daniel's funeral will be held at St Patrick's Church in Ingham at 10am on Friday, and students will hold a memorial service for their principal when school returns for 2009. LinkHere