The travel was part of their jobs as itinerant teachers, when the couple first began work at Mount Isa School of the Air about 28 years ago.

The school principal of 14 years and former deputy principal, since 1992, has reflected on his beginnings as he prepares to say goodbye.

“I’m going to miss so much,” Mr Moes said.

“There’s such a great culture at this school.”

Mr Moes will leave the Mount Isa School of the Air to help set up a rural and remote centre for learning and wellbeing.

The Education Queensland project is an initiative Mr Moes will lead from Mount Isa but the role means he must leave the school.

Mr Moes said he remembered telling past students that when he began teaching their own children, it was then time for him to leave.

“I’ve been here about five years too long, by that formula,” he said.

“For the last four or five years, I’ve been enrolling kids of kids.”

Mr Moes said he and Annette used to travel 40 weeks of the year, driving up to the Gulf of Carpentaria, south past Birdsville and everywhere in-between.

“There was about 100 families and we’d visit one to two times every year, spending a day or night,” he said.

While the technology used to teach students has changed, the respect for education remote families have, has not.

“I’m going to miss the connections – knowing the kids, the families and what not,” Mr Moes said.

“The families are so focused on the education of their kids.”

Mr Moes said he and Annette had planned to stay in Mount Isa temporarily before quickly falling in love with the community, after moving up from the Sunshine Coast.

The couple set up home before raising three sons in the area.

Mr Moes said being a distance educator was an interesting and varied career, and a conversation starter.

He said distance educators taught small groups of children in online conferences and also provided one-on-one tuition.

“It’s pretty special,” Mr Moes said.

“(It’s gone from) radio, to phone to internet. Overwhelmingly, it’s been positive …”.