“I said that soon after I came here three-and-a-half years ago and I still feel that way,” Peter said on his last day at the school on Friday.

The school, he says, mirrors Goondiwindi.

“I’m not sure the community of Goondiwindi realises what it’s got,” Peter said.

“Goondiwindi is a great place and we don’t probably appreciate how great,” he said.

Peter and his wife Christine had hoped to call Goondiwindi home for a few more years but ill-health has forced them to bring forward their retirement plans.

Peter was diagnosed with diabetes last year.

“My feeling is that the school and the town deserved more than a principal running at half-speed. You just can’t do it,” he said.

Instead, he has made way for new principal Gerard Quinn. Mr Quinn is from the Sunshine Coast.

He will take up the position when school resumes in a fortnight.

Mr Johnson said he wanted to leave so the new principal could get his feet under the desk.

He leaves not just with good thoughts about the town and the community.

He praised the efforts of the P&C and staff.

“The P&C have done a wonderful job since I’ve been here,” he said.

He pointed to its fundraising efforts, a new playground and a new tuckshop which is about to open later this month as examples.

“I’d also like to thank the staff for their efforts,” Peter said.

But it wasn’t just the school that benefitted from Peter’s professionalism during his time in Goondiwindi.

He was also President of the Macintyre Young Writers.

Peter and Christine will make their new home in Tamworth.