Peter Yeo took a bit of convincing to apply for the job as the North West School Sports Association sports coordination officer, but he's glad he did.
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Yeo has taken over from Richard Rowlings, and is loving it, although he admits he is a bit "deer in the headlights at the moment."
"It's just a total change from all I know," he said.
He has spent the last 11 years teaching PE at Oxley High. Ironically he replaced Rowlings, when he moved into the North West role.
Yeo was at the time doing a bit of travelling and working in kids summer camps in the US. He had come back to Australia for a friends wedding, and got a phone call asking would be be interested in the job at Oxley.
Predominantly teaching PE, he was also the sports organiser for a time and coached the schools hockey, cricket and soccer sides.
When the North West job popped up it seemed a good opportunity for a change, but still be involved in sport. It has been a big part of his life since he started kicking around a soccer ball as a young kid in Broken Hill.
"Obviously I have a very big interest in sport and I was looking for a change from the school system," Yeo said.
He was initially hesitant to apply, thinking he didn't have enough experience, but was convinced by wife Laura to.
"It's crazy busy but it's been good," he said.
"It's a rewarding job and there is so much variety."
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Not just in a sporting sense, with the zone sending sides away to state carnivals in upwards of 15 different sports, but also what is involved in the job.
One day he could be helping with trials, the next preparing costings for the North West teams going away or for teams travelling to championships North West is hosting, or organising venues for trials and championships etc.
Commencing in the role at the start of the term, Yeo has been as much as he can trying to get out and show his face at the different trials, and around the region.
Things are really set to ramp up this week with the zone holding its primary and secondary swimming carnivals in Armidale. The primary carnival is on Monday and the secondary on Tuesday.
It will be a bit of a baptism of fire for Yeo with over 1000 kids competing over the two days.
He is also preparing for the CHS girls volleyball championships, which will be held in Armidale from March 24-26.
It is the first of four state championships the zone will host this year.
Term 2 is set to be particularly busy for Yeo, with North West hosting the boys secondary basketball carnival in Tamworth from April 28-30, the primary rugby league carnival, also in Tamworth, from June 23-25 and the secondary boys touch carnival the following week in Inverell.
"This first year will be about finding my feet and all the teething issues," he said.
Born in Broken Hill, Yeo moved to Tamworth when he was in primary school and played soccer, until he was hooked by hockey in his final year at Tamworth Public.
He also has a strong passion for cricket, and played for North Tamworth until about five years ago.
