NURIOOTPA High School grounds and facilities officer Trent Heneker has been recognised as more than just a groundsman, taking home a South Australian Public Education Award.
Mr Heneker, who worked in viticulture before he was employed by the high school  four-and-a-half years ago, was awarded the School and Preschool Support Award for using his job to help the school community.
His role sees him work with disabled students on landscaping projects, provide a “roadie service” for the school band, and assist students with their music assessments.
Mr Heneker said working with disabled students to build their confidence was a highlight of his job.
“It started out as getting the kids doing light beautifications around the school and leaf litter pickup,” he said.
“Soon it grew into being about landscape design, involving the kids in choosing where we were going to put plants, basic irrigation and mulching.
“For them (the disability unit students) it was about building confidence, self-esteem and social inclusion, and getting them to take risks – something a lot of us take for granted.
“They taught me so much about how they actually wanted to be taught.”
As a Nuriootpa High old scholar, Mr Heneker added he loved being back at his old school and going beyond his job description to make it a better place.
One of his teachers during his time at the school, and now Nuriootpa High student well-being leader, Jenelle Draper said she wasn’t surprised to see the former student awarded for his hard work.
“To see what his commitment is here today, everything he does he puts in 100 per cent effort,” she said.
“Every little spot at this school looks like it’s been beautified by Trent.”
Mr Heneker was presented with the award at an event at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Friday night.
He said he was “absolutely over the moon” and humbled to be recognised for his efforts.
“As I said in my speech on the night, I congratulated the other two finalists and said ‘everything we do at school is not for recognition, we do it for the kids’,” he said.
“When I first started working here four-and-a-half years ago, it was basically just a grounds job, having responsibility for all the gardens and beautifying the school.
“Little did I know it would extend to irrigation, working with disabled kids, utilising my viticulture and using my background as a professional musician.”