Monday was a "strange and sad" day for staff and students of Cedars Christian College.
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The always smiling face of Eric Brown was nowhere to be seen.
The much-loved school crossing guard finished up his 15-year stint at the Farmborough Heights-based college on Friday.
Cedars Christian College principal Steve Walton said Eric would be missed dearly by one and all.
"I have to say Eric is not only a lovely guy, he is perhaps the friendliest crossing guard you will ever meet," Mr Walton said.
"He was a bit of a legend. Rain, hail or shine he was there every morning and afternoon to look after the kids.
"Not a school day goes by where Eric doesn't greet passers-by cheerfully and he makes sure everyone knows his motto: "Smile and the world smiles with you".
He was a bit of a legend. Rain, hail or shine he was there every morning and afternoon.
- Cedars Christian College principal Steve Walton
Mr Walton said things got a little bit emotional when Eric informed the school he was leaving so he could look after his 95-year-old mother.
"He has a mother who is ageing and he needs to care for her so he needed to put in for a transfer to a school closer to where his mother lived," the principal said.
"He was a bit torn, a bit emotional when he told me that he would be moving on ... obviously being here 15 years and seeing the kids grow up made him a bit emotional.
"He really showed how much he cared for the kids in that conversation when he was emotional about leaving."
He added that Eric always made the walk across his road fun for children.
"It costs nothing to make others happy," Eric would say, "so keep a smile on your dial".
Mr Walton said as Eric was at the school for 15 years, everyone at the school, including last year's Year 12 graduates, would have known only Eric as the crossing guard the whole way through their schooling.
"He is a real part of our community," Mr Walton said.
"Eric's role could have been seen as a small role in the life of the school but he leaves as a bit of a legend.
"You check our Facebook page and you see graduates from 10 years ago writing about how much of a legend Eric was.
"I just think it goes to show no matter what role you play or what job you have, you can make a real difference in the world of people around you.
'Eric certainly did."
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