Also, for those who feel they want to ‘do something’ but feel helpless, we encourage you to forward donations to The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation – www.pmhfoundation.com or telephone 9489 1100.

Jane and Blake.

The contribution Brian made to our school over 15 years has been enormous. He was an integral part of many aspects of our business, from the Library to Camps, to the Gifted and Talented Program to Assemblies, Sport and Computers and of course the Chooks.

Brian formed many strong relationships with staff members, parents and students at Rosalie, and as has been described many times over the past week, was “larger than life”.

We will miss his contributions and his antics. We have those wonderful memories to treasure as we move forward with a big smile on our faces.

Our best wishes go to Brian’s wife Tricia, daughter Emma and son Dylan.

Impressions of Mr Moe

Mr Moe took the Pre-Primary children for Library even though he wasn’t meant to. He took the Pre Primaries in his own time, but that was Brian for you. Big, generous Mr Moe.

Every year was the same. The commencement of Library, finally being able to use that Spiderman or Saddle-club library bag, was a big moment for the “littlies”. Our first trek across the oval from the sanctuary of Pre Primary to the “big school”.

At the Pre Primary, after a solemn pep talk about the importance of books and a chat about libraries being quiet places, it was time to line-up. Now getting a class of wriggly squirmy excited five year olds to line-up is no mean feat, let me tell you. Degree of difficulty 10.5 on the Richtor Scale. After the usual “argey, bargey” threats bribes etc we manage it. 25 angelic creatures holding hands in pairs snaking our way towards Mr Moe’s Library.

As we reached the netball courts the large man at the door came in to view. Then he began to jump up and down flailing his arms and gesticulating wildly. “Run Munchkins Run” he bellowed. “Run from the mean lady!” And with that 25 children went for broke – giggling and laughing all the way, line abandoned, in a huge unruly pack into the Library. Aghh…..thanks Brian!

Mr Moe made Library fun. He made life fun. He read aloud to young children and in doing so instilled in them a love of books. What a gift! He was a wonderful role model for all children, particularly our young boys.

On behalf of all the Pre Primary children over the years, we want to say thank you Mr Moe.

Rosalie kids lose their chook man
Reproduced with permission from the Post Newspapers, February 2007.

Mr Moe, the chook man of Rosalie Primary school, died suddenly last week. Brian Moebius, the hugely popular teacher, father, cyclist, swimmer and all-round enthusiast, inspired many children in 14 years at the primary school. A memorial service will be held at the school on Monday, February 26, at 2.30pm, with past students and families welcome.

His funeral on Friday was decorated with bunches of red and black balloons for his beloved Essendon Bombers football team.

Last year he and two workmates went on a football pilgrimage to Melbourne and saw three games in one weekend.

Friends and colleagues farewelled him to the strains of his favourite song, Girls On The Avenue.

His wife Trish and children Emma and Dylan were used to him taking on many projects. He plunged with passion into many areas – and gave many hours beyond the call of duty covering a range of jobs from breeding chooks to installing computers.

He started the school tradition of holding a dawn service on Anzac Day.

He rode a bike from his home at Carine to Rosalie every day and was planning to ride to Sydney. Often he would get to and from Rosalie the long way – from Carine via South Perth or Mount Henry.

He was a nationally accredited swimming coach who renewed his bronze certificate each year so that he could escort school excursions to Rottnest and other water activities.

Staff member Helen Krynen said: “The school community has been saddened by Brian’s sudden death. His energetic and dynamic personality, with his kind and caring nature and love of teaching will remain with us.” She said he had been looking forward to the marathon bike ride. “When I said I was worried about the risk of road trains, he laughed in that loud larrikin voice of his and said: “You are worried about me but I’m not worried about me’.”

One of his specialties was raising prize poultry and involving children. Because of him, Rosalie Primary owned Ali, the only legal rooster in Subiaco territory – and he was a champion. Ali took off first prize at the Royal Show, closely followed by Betty, the school pullet, which collected second prize in 2003.

The school’s stunning success among 600 exhibits at the Show delighted Mr Mobeius (known widely as Mr Moe). Mr Moebius said: “It’s part of helping city children understand an egg doesn’t come from a carton; that our rooster is a magnificent creature. They can appreciate the beauty of his comb and wattles, his beautiful saddle feathers and the hackles that go up on the back of his neck – that’s where the saying comes from.”

The school specialised in Barnevelder poultry, a Dutch breed that is strong, does not mind being handled, has a good temperament and lays lots of eggs with hens that are rarely clucky. This slack mothering meant that in the breeding season Brian had to be at the school at 10 o’clock several nights in a row because the eggs in the nest had to be rotated four times each 24 hours to keep the embryos healthy inside. In nature, a hen would rotate its own eggs, but the Barnevelders have been bred for their laying and seem to have lost some of their broody instinct.

Greg Johnston, a teacher and cycling mate, said: “Brian was also a genius on the computer. He brought us from being Luddites in a school with no computers to having 16 in the library and a wireless network being installed now to use 15 laptops as a mobile lab around the school. He was a live theatre fan and once played the role of a policeman with the Stirling Players. He was a cricket fan who would go around with his ear glued to the radio in Test time. The kids loved his friendliness, the corny jokes and the nicknames he gave them, including Jimbo, Henry, Blossom and Crunchie, which all stuck. He loved to write poetry and he had a huge appetite.”